The Municipality of Gobabis has turned to extracting water from boreholes scattered across the town to prevent taps from running dry for businesses and residents as dam levels plummet.
The town, an economic hub for the Omaheke region, primarily relies on inflows from the Otjivero and Black Nossob dams, which supply water to its own reservoir, the Tilda Viljoen Dam, located on the outskirts of Gobabis.
However, both Otjivero and Black Nossob dams are empty due to minimal or nonexistent rainfall, halting their water supply to the town. Forecasts indicate that the prospect of significant inflows remains bleak.
Speaking to The Brief Gobabis Municipality Public Relations Officer Frederick Ueitele urged residents to conserve water and report any leaks in private properties, public schools, clinics, or offices.
“The municipality of Gobabis would like to request the community of Gobabis to use water sparingly and [to] report any leakages of our infrastructure and at their properties and to settle their financial obligations towards Council,” Ueitele said.
Ueitele noted that the town currently relies on 22 operational boreholes owned by NamWater, Namibia’s national water utility. H
owever, the municipality faces an additional challenge—an outstanding debt of N$ 45.3 million owed to NamWater.
The financial strain is part of a broader crisis affecting NamWater, which is struggling to recover N$ 2.4 billion in arrears from private firms, state-owned enterprises, and municipalities across the country. Local authorities collectively owe NamWater N$ 899 million, with the municipalities of Rundu (N$ 333.9 million), Rehoboth (N$ 108.5 million), and Khorixas (N$ 71.7 million) ranking among the highest defaulters. In contrast, Karasburg and Okakarara municipalities are among the lowest debtors, owing N$ 35.7 million and N$ 34.1 million, respectively. The Omaheke Regional Council also has an unpaid bill of N$ 24.8 million.
The Otjivero Dam, which supplies water to Gobabis only when it reaches a minimum level of 35%, currently holds just 9.1% of its capacity, prompting the abrupt cutoff of supply.
NamWater, as a bulk water supplier, relies on revenue from municipal clients such as Gobabis, Rundu, and Okakarara to maintain an affordable, clean, and sustainable water supply nationwide.
.
