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dam-l Water demand in Namibia

The following is from The Namibian.

     Water demand hurts coastal environment

     KATE BURLING

     HIGH-COST desalinated water is the necessary price to protect
     Namibia's fragile coastal ecosystem and prevent the development of
     environmental "Frankensteins" according to a top NamWater
     official.

     Apart from securing a reliable water supply to the coastal towns,
     Arandis and Rossing Uranium, one of the main motivations for the
     planned desalination plant is to reduce pressure on existing
     boreholes in the Omaruru and Kuiseb Rivers, said Acting Manager of
     Engineering and Scientific Services, Dudley Biggs.

     "We are very concerned about possible environmental damage to the
     area if things continue as they are," said Biggs. "Vegetation is
     disappearing at an untenable rate and there is a real possibility
     of sand dunes moving across the Kuiseb River and closing it up."

     Several factors had influenced the steadily diminishing water
     table, from ongoing drought to increased demand, he said. "Large
     scale dams and small dams built on every farm and plot have all
     affected what is coming downstream. The Omdel dam will also reduce
     flow into the sea at Henties Bay considerably," Biggs continued.

     Supplying the current shortfall and staying on the right side of
     environmental considerations, was one focus of a feasibility study
     which reported in favour of desalination last year. Other
     alternatives, such as towing icebergs to the coast or bringing in
     river water in huge plastic bags, were ruled out by the study.

     Another factor in the move towards desalination was "economic
     politics,"Biggs explained. "The whole concept of the Economic
     Processing Zone plays an important role. No one would invest in
     establishing a company without water security."

     Asked how long current practices of water extraction could
     continue, Biggs said unpredictable rainfall made estimates
     difficult. "A year ago, we felt comfortable for two years water
     security at the coast. After last year's recharge, we probably
     gained three years. Omdel did its job recharging five million
     cubic meters of water and the aquifer is now full. But we have
     learnt that we must plan well ahead if we are going to avoid
     future disasters."

     Public awareness of a looming water crisis at the coast is
     relatively low. While Windhoek residents have been battered with
     save water strategies over the last three years, there is little
     perception here that water is running scarce.

     According to water officials, creating water awareness in a cold,
     damp environment with the sound of the sea in the background
     presents difficulties. "Because the water comes from boreholes,
     people cannot see it running out, in the way they can be shown
     pictures of an empty dam," said one.

     In addition, the availability of water is difficult to quantify
     against environmental destruction, he said.

     "In the end, if people are prepared to pay the real cost of
     producing and supplying desalinated water, then there isn't a
     water problem."

     December 19, 1997

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      Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
           International Rivers Network
              1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
                  Tel. (510) 848 1155   Fax (510) 848 1008
                        http://www.irn.org
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