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Northern Namibia hit by clean water shortage

Xinhua, April 29, 2017 Adjust font size:

Namibia's northern parts are currently experiencing a critical water supply shortage due to damage caused by floods to a water canal that supplies to most of the areas.

Namibia's water supply authority NamWater on Friday said that all the towns and areas south of Oshakati such as Ongwediva, Ondangwa, Oniipa, Omuthiya and the whole of the Ohangwena Region do not have water.

NamWater's Head of PR and Communication, Johannes Shigwedha said the water utility has over the past few days tried to repair the canal, but because of muddy and wet grounds, the equipment has not been very effective.

According to Shigwedha, the situation has forced NamWater to resort to harvesting the Oshana waters for purification.

"While this option has somehow worked better in the past, this year the water utility is struggling to clean the Oshana water as the quality is very bad. As a result, out of what NamWater is able to get from Oshanas, 40 percent of water that comes through for purification is lost. At the end, the product that finally comes out as purified water is very little for adequate supply," he said.

Meanwhile, NamWater is in the process of mobilizing emergency supply to all critical areas such as hospitals and community points using water tankers.

"A minimum of 300 people will be recruited to work on the canal and the situation is being closely monitored from the office of the CEO to ensure this work is done within the shortest possible time," he added. Endit