Niël Terblanché
Residents and businesses in Swakopmund have been warned of an unforeseen water supply disruption due to a substantial pipe break in the Omdel-Swakopmund water supply system.
The situation, late on Tuesday evening, was described as an emergency by NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanhomhata.
The break has left the town facing the risk of a complete water outage.
According to Ndamanhomhata, the rupture occurred on the Omdel line, halting water flow from that source entirely.
“This comes at a particularly inopportune time, as the Orano desalination plant, another vital water source for the area, is currently offline for scheduled maintenance,” he said.
He added that the maintenance on the desalination plant, which began on Monday, is set to continue for five days, adding further strain to the already compromised water supply system.
“Repair efforts on the damaged pipeline are already in progress,” he said.
Ndamanhomhata said that the necessary works will be completed within 24 to 36 hours.
He warned that In the interim, the water currently available within the system is limited, prompting officials to urge all residents and businesses in Swakopmund to use water sparingly to prevent severe shortages.
“We are dealing with an emergency, and every effort is being made to restore normal water supply as swiftly as possible,” he said.
He stated that NamWater is working in close collaboration with the Municipality of Swakopmund to manage the crisis and keep the public updated on developments.
Ndamanhomhata added that the Municipality is expected to issue further updates as the situation unfolds.
He extended NamWater’s apologies to the community for the inconvenience caused and asked for understanding and cooperation during these challenging times.
“Both NamWater and the Municipality of Swakopmund are committed to ensuring that the repair work is completed promptly to minimise disruption,” he said.
Ndamanhomhata said the public is encouraged to stay informed through official updates and to contact NamWater’s Public Relations and Corporate Communications office or the Swakopmund Municipality’s Public Relations team for any inquiries.
“We thank the residents and businesses of Swakopmund for their patience and understanding as we work to enhance our water infrastructure for a more reliable supply in the future,” he said.