The Namibia Water Corporation is conducting consultations to ensure meaningful engagement and active participation on water issues from various stakeholders including national and regional authorities , local communities and civil society in the Central North Areas ( CNAs ). NamWater consultant , Johann Pichler – Stainern highlighted this during the CNAs Water Master Plan update in a public hearing at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region on Wednesday . Pichler – Stainern said the main aim of the Water Master Plan project is to develop a technically feasible and economically sustainable blueprint for water infrastructure investments to help drive socio – economic development in the Omusati , Oshana , Ohangwena , Oshikoto regions , and parts of Kunene . He said rising water demands , rapid population increase , and urbanisation in the central north area have contributed to the water problem . ‘ Rural customers use significantly more water per capita than anticipated , and high water losses are experienced due to hi
gh evaporation and seepage together with numerous informal water abstraction along the Calueque – Oshakati canal ,’ added Pichler – Stainern . Illegal water connections to NamWater lines bypass water meters , outdated infrastructure as well as insufficient capacities of infrastructure to meet future water demands also pose problems , he said . ‘[ There are ] operational issues and especially insufficient maintenance and supply interruptions and pressure problems ,’ Pichler – Stainern further listed . Oshikoto Governor , Penda ya Ndakolo said there have been many ongoing projects for years with limited impact . ‘ We want to know what is going on with the aquifer , and all these projects to address the water challenges ,’ he said . Ndakolo said the Eengodi , Okankolo , and Nehale Lyampingana constituencies have been experiencing water challenges for many years ‘ but nothing is being done ‘. The Ministry of Agriculture , Water and Land Reform ‘ s head of rural water supply in Oshikoto , Stevenson Tuukondjele pro
posed the erection of two reservoirs in the Eengodi and Okankolo areas to store water for people in those areas . He also proposed the rehabilitation and modernising of traditional wells . The Water Master Plan project focuses on the sustainable utilisation of existing and future surface water resources to support the long – term needs of these regions .

Source: The Namibia News Agency