
Namibia, one of the world's driest nations, faces intensifying water scarcity due to unreliable rainfall and climate pressure. However, the primary challenge is the growing gap between infrastructure development and long-term operational resilience. The Namibia Water Corporation NamWater reports that theoretical demand in the coastal area is 196% of developed potential, while the central area, including Windhoek, is at 108%. In the northwest, abstraction reaches 330% of theoretical demand, possibly due to open canal losses, aging infrastructure, and illegal offtakes. The issue is not merely a lack of physical water sources but rather the continuity, asset condition, system losses, maintenance, and management of existing infrastructure. The country needs to prioritize long-term performance over a sole focus on new projects to ensure the water system can reliably support a growing economy, expanding towns, and public health needs.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.