Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Ongwediva sewage overflows to nearby villages

THE Ongwediva Town Council has confirmed that sewage from its oxidation ponds has been overflowing into the nearby oshana downstream.

The council’s spokesperson, Jackson Muma, told Nampa in an interview on Monday that the ponds were repaired on Saturday, but sewage started overflowing on Sunday.

He attributed the overflow to the town’s fast growth in resident numbers as well as businesses.

“The council would like to inform the residents in the vicinity of the oxidation ponds that we are experiencing an unfortunate situation, and would like to strictly urge the public not to catch or consume fish coming with sewage water because it is a health risk,” he stated, adding that contact with sewage water must be avoided at all costs.

Muma pointed out that the overflow comes at a time when the council is busy trying to find permanent solutions to this persistent problem, and that the council and the community must jointly come up with interventions such as finding feasible ways to treat the water from the ponds, and reusing it for farming activities.

The spokesperson further indicated that a cost analysis for erecting culverts in case of unforeseen overflows in future is another possible intervention by the council to address the situation. Plans are likewise envisaged to compensate owners of traditional homesteads in the downstream areas, and relocate them permanently.

Muma said the overflow started during the 2015/16 financial year when the council constructed an additional pond, and cleaned the others at a cost of some N$7 million.

He could not say how many ponds there are as some of them have been merged.

The areas most affected are Oshinyadhila, Elyambala, Efidi and the National Housing Enterprise houses’ area.

Villagers told this news agency on Tuesday that the construction of more ponds and the proper rehabilitation of existing infrastructure could be the solution to the problem.

“This sewer water smells badly and is a health hazard,” said one of the villagers, Johannes Lucas.

– Nampa

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News