Water in the city of Windhoek’s major supply dams is declining daily, reaching worrying levels.

The Windhoek Municipality notified the capital’s residents of the declining levels and reminded them about the serious implications of wasting water in the absence of rain, according to a report by the New Era Newspaper.

“Residents should note that this is not an issue of who can afford water, but a matter of unavailability of water from the source. So let us work together, keep those taps closed and save water at all times possible,” was the message from the municipality’s public relations officer, Lydia Umutanya.

The capital is already subjected to water restrictions that are reviewed after every rainy season and some residents have been hit by exorbitant water and electricity bills for November/December for exceeding the water limits per household.

Amutenya also reminded residents about the booklet published by the municipality that is intended as a service to the city’s residents and which provides them with tariffs and fines to be paid if households exceed water usage.

Fears of the availability of water by the capital’s major suppliers are mounting in the absence of rain in the catchment areas of the Swakkoppoort and Von Bach dams and, as a result, the levels of water in the dams are dropping daily.

In just one week, from 30 December 2014 to 05 January 05 2015 the level of the Swakoppoort dropped from 33.3 percent of full capacity to 32.6% while the level of the Von Bach dropped from 59.9 percent of full capacity to 59%.

If a household uses between 0 and 6 kilolitres (6 000 litres) per month, the tariff is N$12.30 per kilolitre. If the consumption is between 6 and 45 kilolitres per month, the rate goes up to N$20.93 per kilolitre and when it is more than 45 kilolitres per month, the rate rises to N$38.59 per kilolitre.

–The New Era Newspaper