Namibia’s state-owned water corporation, Namwater, has initiated a strategic project to replace a 5km stretch of the water supply pipeline at Henties Bay, addressing the ageing infrastructure’s struggle to meet peak demand.
Calle Schlettwein, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, underscored the importance of the upgrade, stating that the replacement of this critical section of the pipeline is a strategic move to ensure that Henties Bay has a reliable water supply system that can withstand the demands of peak periods.
The Minister also unveiled a nationwide focus on water infrastructure development. The recently ratified national budget has allocated N$1 billion to the water Ministry, with a significant 76% earmarked for infrastructure projects. Desalination plants are being explored as a potential solution to augment groundwater resources.
“A sustainable and secure water supply situation in Namibia, especially at the coast, can only be achieved through the development of infrastructure that links all available viable freshwater resources into an integrated network of pipes, reservoirs, pump stations, purification plants, distribution networks and finally sanitation facilities,” Schlettwein explained.
With the Omdel Aquifer, Henties Bay’s primary water source, nearing its full capacity of sustainable abstraction, the government is set to explore seawater desalination to meet future water demands. “In the very near future, we shall move towards the desalination of seawater to supplement the groundwater resources and close the water supply security gap,” he added.
The contract for the pipeline upgrade has been awarded to Strydom Construction, a local Namibian firm, signalling a commitment to domestic enterprise.
