The Usakos Town Council is drilling two additional boreholes within the town boundaries to enhance the water supply for its growing population.
While NamWater provides a portion of the town’s water, about 90 per cent of its needs are met by two local boreholes. In a recent interview with Nampa, Usakos Mayor Irene Simeon-Kurtz explained that the two boreholes are part of a total of five that supplied the town with water.
However, two of these are currently decommissioned due to insufficient inflow, while the other has been declared unsuitable for human consumption.
‘The reliance on boreholes helps reduce the town’s bill to NamWater, but the aging infrastructure poses significant challenges. Burst water pipes and wastage from our obsolete infrastructure also impact the amount of water we receive from NamWater, not necessarily due to consumption but due to wastage,’ she explained.
The mayor also added that although the low rainfall experienced in the town does not affect it directly, it has reduced the under
ground water supply, which in turn affects mining activities and potential construction projects.
Additionally, the town supplies water to surrounding farms, adding to the burden on the water supply.
‘To address these challenges, the town has sought assistance from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and has received approval to commission the two additional boreholes, which will assist us significantly and reduce reliance on NamWater,’ Simeon-Kurtz announced.
The project is estimated to cost the council over N.dollars 2 million.
Additionally, the council is installing more prepaid water meter supply points to provide direct water access to households in the town’s informal settlements.
Previously, residents had to collect water from a pay point using tokens.
Although the town’s high unemployment rates mean some residents struggle to settle their water bills, the mayor has applauded them for trying, particularly the elderly.
She underscored the ongoing efforts to improve Usakos’ water infrastru
cture and supply, ensuring sustainability and reliability for its residents despite the challenges.
Source: The Namibia News Agency