Water woes for Groot Aub

Water woes for Groot AubBoreholes used by 6 000 people dry up Groot Aub has been experiencing water shortages for the past four years. Residents of Groot Aub, a settlement about 56 kilometres south of Windhoek, still experience water shortages four years on.

The problem persists because the groundwater level in the two boreholes has dropped due to lack of rain.

The boreholes belong to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, which works together with the Khomas Regional Council to maintain the boreholes used by about 6 000 people.

Disgruntled residents told Nampa on Tuesday that the situation had become unbearable and a solution must be found.

Henry van Wyk, 51, who resides in the Oshakati informal settlement, said they could not even flush their toilets.

“When nature calls you have to run to the bushes to relieve yourself. This is dangerous for the kids and women,” said Van Wyk.

Rina Ellitson, 50, lives in a section of the settlement where water is sometimes unavailable for four days in a row.

Water is rationed and they only receive water between 03:00 and 04:00.

People use dirty water from wells, said Ellitson.

“We all know that if you don't have water, you cannot really do anything especially us who have children to take care of,” she said.

Ellitson added that those with cars drove to the boreholes on the other side of the settlement or to Rehoboth, some 50 kilometres away, to fill their water containers.

“The situation is not good for the elderly people who have no cars.”

Responding to Nampa's queries on Thursday, the regional councillor for the Windhoek Rural Constituency, Penina Inga Ita, said it was not only Groot Aub that was experiencing water shortages. Water shortages are experienced countrywide because of the drought of the past three years, Ita said.

The politician said the settlement had enough groundwater but the problem was that it was used by a lot of people, including farmers who drilled boreholes illegally.

NAMPA