Little rain, little water
Water levels in major dams much lower than 2023
The City of Windhoek will likely be forced to adapt the current water-saving measures for the capital.
To date in the current rainy season, there has been no inflow into the three dams that supply Windhoek with water, with one of the dams being empty.No inflow has been recorded in the Omatako, Swakoppoort and Von Bach dams to date.
Exceptionally high temperatures since October last year also meant that water consumption in the capital was consistently above the municipality's savings target and meant that the available water supply was depleted faster than predicted.
The poor rainfall in the central area of Namibia (CAN) poses a serious threat to water supply in the area, which includes the capital. The area is mainly supplied with water from an integrated water supply system consisting of the three dams which are connected to each other.
A week ago the Omatako was empty and Von Bach and Swakoppoort stood at 13% and 44% respectively. The combined water level in the three-dam system is currently 22% of the dams' combined full supply capacity compared to almost 40% at the same time last year.
NamWater and the City of Windhoek warned in a statement that the ongoing poor rainy season means that the bridging of two rainy seasons is no longer possible and that further savings measures for residents are ahead.
Strategies
Last year, NamWater adopted strategies to try to ensure water supply to the area for at least the next two rainy seasons. This included managing the demand for water and a 10% reduction in water consumption, as well as predicted inflows into the three dams according to the long-term observed statistical model.
Water supply for the capital is also supported by water from the Windhoek aquifer and the new water recycling plant in Goreangab which, according to the national water supplier, has so far managed to ensure uninterrupted water supply. According to NamWater, the total content of the country's main storage dams was 57.8% last week. Water levels in the main dams are currently lower compared to the previous two rainy seasons.
A report from the Hydrological Services of Namibia, issued on Friday, confirms that dam levels are currently much lower nationwide than in the past two rainy seasons. According to this report, dams in the central and southern parts of the country stood at 25.1% and 65.3% respectively on Friday. At the same time last year it was 42.7% and 40.8% respectively at the same time a year ago.
The Olushandja Dam is currently the only dam in the country that is fuller than last year.
The water percentages in the rest of the dams in the country have halved since last year.
According to the weather report, light rain showers may occur all over the country until Saturday. Moderate showers are forecast for this week for the central north, far northeast as well as the central and eastern parts.
Meanwhile, many welcome showers fell over the weekend in various parts with the highest figure being recorded at Brakwater outside Windhoek. On the Namibia Rain/Weather Facebook group, figures of 23 mm at Aranos, 10 mm at Mariental, 8 mm at Keetmanshoop, 16 mm at Omeya outside the capital, about 70 mm at Brakwater, between 19 and 22 mm about 50 km north of Gobabis, 15 mm in the Kapps Farm area, between 17 and 42 mm of rain in the Khomas Hochland about 120 km west of Windhoek, Waterberg 12 mm, 5 mm at Gochas.
In Windhoek 19 mm was measured in Hochlandpark, 28 mm in Avis, 5 mm in Kleine Kuppe, 15 mm in Pionierspark, 14 mm in Klein Windhoek, 22 mm in Ludwigsdorf, 9 mm in Cimbebasia, 13 mm in Prosperita, 15 mm in Olympia . – [email protected]