People will now have to fight for every water drop.
The Hardap Administrative Regional Dialogue is set to implement a water distribution system in the region of Hardap, Namibia. This is in response to a drought that has been plaguing the African nation since the beginning of the year.
According to the Dialogue, an advisory board will be set up consisting of members on the recommendation of all the regional councillors of Hardap. Rationing of water will be carried out by the board.
Each person in Hardap will be allocated a rationing card of 10 litres to be collected each day. However, people in need of additional resources, such as due to illness or farmers, will be allowed to collect more based on the discretion of the board.
The rationing system seems to have gotten the approval of Jason Emvula, President of the Namibia National Farmers Union. He admitted that while farmers might suffer due to the restrictions, he vowed to fight for the farmers should they be lacking in water.
The advisory board will also consult farmers on methods to conserve water for irrigation. Such measures include planting more drought resistant crops or reduce the rate of planting water intensive crops.
The Dialogue noted that corporations will not be affected by the water distribution system. Instead, according to regional councillor of Daweb, Hercules Jantze, companies would benefit from the rationing system as “more water will be available [for industry] since the personal use of water will decrease”.
The Dialogue has also considered building water recycling plants as a long term solution to the water shortage crisis, which will delivered to the homes of Hardap via large water tankers. “Such a solution would not require the building of large water pipes,” commented Piet Gouws, Chairman of the Livestock Producer’s Organization. While the Dialogue floated the idea of constructing desalination plants in Namibia, it was quickly shot down due to the high cost and damage to the environment.
Droughts have plagued the poor sub-Saharan nation since 2013. According to the government, approximately one in five Namibians lack access to enough food given the droughts.
The Hardap Administrative Regional Dialogue is set to implement a water distribution system in the region of Hardap, Namibia. This is in response to a drought that has been plaguing the African nation since the beginning of the year.
According to the Dialogue, an advisory board will be set up consisting of members on the recommendation of all the regional councillors of Hardap. Rationing of water will be carried out by the board.
Each person in Hardap will be allocated a rationing card of 10 litres to be collected each day. However, people in need of additional resources, such as due to illness or farmers, will be allowed to collect more based on the discretion of the board.
The rationing system seems to have gotten the approval of Jason Emvula, President of the Namibia National Farmers Union. He admitted that while farmers might suffer due to the restrictions, he vowed to fight for the farmers should they be lacking in water.
The advisory board will also consult farmers on methods to conserve water for irrigation. Such measures include planting more drought resistant crops or reduce the rate of planting water intensive crops.
The Dialogue noted that corporations will not be affected by the water distribution system. Instead, according to regional councillor of Daweb, Hercules Jantze, companies would benefit from the rationing system as “more water will be available [for industry] since the personal use of water will decrease”.
The Dialogue has also considered building water recycling plants as a long term solution to the water shortage crisis, which will delivered to the homes of Hardap via large water tankers. “Such a solution would not require the building of large water pipes,” commented Piet Gouws, Chairman of the Livestock Producer’s Organization. While the Dialogue floated the idea of constructing desalination plants in Namibia, it was quickly shot down due to the high cost and damage to the environment.
Droughts have plagued the poor sub-Saharan nation since 2013. According to the government, approximately one in five Namibians lack access to enough food given the droughts.
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