CONSTRUCTION OF SEVEN BOLEHOLE FOR GROOT HUB BEGINS IN NAMIBIA

Residents of Windhoek rural’s Groot Aub settlement have complained about the government’s recent allocation of N$6 million towards the drilling of one of eight new boreholes, while several existing boreholes have been left dysfunctional for more than five years.

This comes after the City of Windhoek (CoW) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) funded the drilling of a 200-metre deep borehole in Groot Aub last week, with plans to drill seven more in future

In a bid to ensure the water crisis in the country is been addressed, The Windhoek municipality has drilled the first of seven boreholes in Groot Aub to meet an increasing water demand.

According to Harold Akwenye, spokesperson for the City, the administration of Groot Aub was handed over to the City of Windhoek in 2017.

“At the handover, the Department of Infrastructure was informed that they must provide water for 10,000 residents. This is equivalent to 50 cubic metres per hour based on the norm of 100 litres per day, assuming the boreholes pump water for 20 hours a day,” he said.

“Currently, there is no water shortage, but the water demand exceeds the available supply of 50 cubic metres per hour. “That is why the City drilled the first borehole and plans for another six,” he explained. 

Currently, there are many more people residing in Groot Aub than the 10,000 for whom the City had to provide water.

There are also numerous plots in and around Groot Aub, adding additional pressure on the available water resources.

In 2018, the City had already drilled five boreholes. Planning for the seven new boreholes commenced in March 2023.

The municipality confirmed that funding and the appointment of a drilling contractor were only finalised in early December 2023, and the project then began.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the agriculture, water and land reform ministry and the urban and rural development ministry.

“The City of Windhoek identifies the locations for the boreholes, and the agriculture ministry provides the drilling equipment and finances. The Urban and Rural Development MinistryCO has allocated a budget of N$68.476 million for Groot Aub, with half of the budget dedicated to addressing the water crisis. The governor’s office is tasked with creating awareness among residents about the use of borehole water,” the municipality noted.

“The second borehole was drilled [this week] and the hope is that all seven will be operational by the end of March. This depends on the procurement of pumps and pipelines and the construction of a new power line,” Akwenye said.

SOURCE: NamibiaSun