Maria David
THE Oshakati water purification plant has a nominal capacity of 40 000 cubic metres per day, and supplies 70% of potable water to around 40% of the Namibian population.
People in urban centres and rural areas of the Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions are served by this purification plant but due to population growth and ageing infrastructure, it can no longer satisfy demand.
To meet demands and ensure faraway communities have water, NamWater is refurbishing and extending the plant, increasing the capacity by an additional 50 000 m³ per day.
At the launch of the Oshakati purification plant extension, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein said the majority of residences in Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto are supplied with fresh water from the Calueque Dam in Southern Angola.
Water is transported in an open canal that runs over a distance of about 150 km from Angola to Oshakati.
He said government realized that the canal infrastructure that runs from the Omahenene border post to Oshakati needed to be reconstructed and restored to its original design to continue serving the people for many more years to come.
“The reconstruction programme is to be done in phases to Oshakati. Two contractors were awarded a tender to start with the first phase of reconstruction and it stretches for a distance of 5 km from Omahenene border post to Olushandja,” he said.
Schlettwein said other phases will commence once the first stretch is completed and pending the availability of funds.
NamWater has water treatment plants, located at Olushandja, Outapi, Ogongo and Oshakati.
The Minister said reconstructing the canal is crucial as it will ensure that the four treatment plants, especially the Oshakati plant, have enough water to purify.
Government received financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) towards the cost of the Namibia Water Sector Support Program (NWSSP). A portion of the funds is used for the provision of engineering consultancy services for the Oshakati Purification Plant Extension. NamWater is the executing agency (EA) of this project.
Chairperson of the NamWater board Thaddius Maswahu said one of the challenges they face in delivering services to the people is inadequate maintenance of water infrastructure.
“The end line consumers often do not have access to water as the demand has increased. Water is consumed along the way before it reaches these customers,” he said.
He added that they are committed to making a concerted effort in striving towards backlog eradication so that all citizens have access to at least a basic supply of water and sanitation.
“We need to arrest this problem permanently and raise a sufficient level of awareness to these communities about the need to take responsibility for the safeguarding of our infrastructure,” he said.
Oshakati mayor Leonard Hango said the water sector is critical for government’s transformation and developmental objectives.
“This project aims to make a huge impact in alleviating the water supply backlog within the northern regions,” he said.
Hango pledged to keep water rates low for every resident.
NamWater procured engineering consultancy services for the Oshakati extension project from Shah Technical Consultants.
