The water levels in nearly all of Namibia’s major dams are significantly lower now than they were during the same period last year.

According to the weekly dam bulletin released by NamWater earlier this week, only two of the country’s major reservoirs have more water now than at the same time a year ago. These are the Naute and the Olushandja dams The Namibian reports.

According to the paper a late wet spell in the rainy season has resulted in significant inflows into Namibia’s biggest dam, the Hardap Dam near Mariental, over the past week, though.

Dam levels

The Hardap Dam, which had 47.7% of its capacity of 294 million cubic metres of water at the start of last week, received an inflow of more than 19 million cubic metres over the past week, raising its level to 54.3%. A year ago, the dam was 73.9% full.

The Naute Dam south of Keetmanshoop also recorded an inflow over the past week, raising its level to 93.5% of capacity of 83.5 million cubic metres. At this time last year the dam was 72.2% full.

The level of the Swakoppoort Dam, which has a capacity of 63.4 million cubic metres and is Namibia’s third largest reservoir, was at 34.8% on Tuesday, compared to 63.7% at this time last year.

The Von Bach, Omatako and Friedenau dams have less water than they did a year ago.

The Von Bach Dam was 35.7% of its 48.5 million cubic metres capacity on Tuesday. A year ago, its level stood at 50.4%. The Omatako Dam, which received inflows of about one million cubic metres over the past week, is still only 6,6% full, compared to 24,9% a year ago.

The level of the Friedenau Dam, which was 59.8% full at the start of April, last year, is now 45.3% full.

The Goreangab Dam is, 100.2% full now as it was this time last year.

The levels of both the Otjivero Main and Otjivero Silt dams between Windhoek and Gobabis are lower than they were last year. Otjivero Main Dam is now 67.6% full (91.6% a year ago), while Otjivero Silt has dropped from 70,9% in April last year to 42% this week.

In the Gobabis area, the Tilda Viljoen Dam is 58.5% full this year compared to 88.8% last year. The Daan Viljoen Dam shows the same trend, with a current level of 70.4% (100.5% a year ago).

The Olushandja Dam in northern Namibia, with a capacity to hold 42.3 million cubic metres of water, is 30.2% full, compared to 26.1% last year.

The Oanob Dam near Rehoboth is now 38.4% full. A year ago its level was at 53.7% of its 34.5 million cubic metre capacity.

–The Namibian