Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

Table 38: Urban and rural water supply components
Component Urban
Water source
Conveyance
and Storage
Distribution
1 dam sealed up
Rural
3 small dams broken,
2 hand pumps
damaged
Open canal flooded
and localized
damage on 23
points. 200 ml of
pipes washed away,
2 motors destroyed,
1 incident of power
cable cut
60 plastic tanks
washed away, 4 plastic
tanks hit by elephants,
break in 32 points of
pipes, 76 public taps
damaged
Sanitation facilities: Damage to toilets and latrine infrastructures
appears to not have been extensive and estimated at about 5
percent of total number of both improved and non-improved
facilities. The assessment, however, indicates that during the
floods most of the facilities, particularly latrines in informal
urban settlements and in rural areas, have been under water
and unusable. Flood water mixed with sewage and defecation
raised concerns about potential disease outbreaks, but the
reported cases of waterborne diseases was quite limited.
Waste water and urban drainage: The reported damage consists
of nine sewerage ponds which were washed away, causing
contamination of open water in the channels, and some minor
damage to pumps and pipes. However, one main issue of
concern in urban areas was the lack of maintenance of existing
outlets and ditches and natural drainage. Proper cleaning and
maintenance of these systems could have minimized the effect
of the flood in terms of duration of the inundation and the
level of water in the flooded area. As discussed, the lack of
properly implemented urban development planning results
in construction and structures (commercial building, houses,
warehouse, etc.) built on natural drainage outlets or in floodprone
areas, blocking natural water circulation or reducing the
storage capacity of the artificial basin formed by roads.
Economic impact: The aforementioned damages to the existing
water supply and sanitation infrastructure and further losses
because of the damage are shown in table 39.
Table 39: Summary table of damages and losses to the water supply and sanitation sector
Disaster Effects
(N$ million)
Ownership
(N$ million)
Sub-sector Damages Losses Public Private
Water Supply 18.5 11.8 30.3
Sanitation 9.6 16.2 25.8
Waste Water 19.8 1.0 19.8
Total 47.9 28.0 50.1 25.8
Stagnant water and inundation in low are:. Some of the
floodwaters still remain as stagnant waters in some urban areas
in Ondangwa and Oshakati causing difficulties to households
that returned home as well as to industry and commerce
seeking to restart business. The stagnant water is also providing
a breeding ground for mosquitoes (see Health).
In the Caprivi and Kavango Regions, where water levels are steadily
receding, some villages located along the Zambezi River were still
inundated as well as some relocation sites were surrounded by
water, at the time of the assessment. Relocated people were
expected to return home in August-September, 2009.
Governance issues
While most of the policy, legislative and regulatory framework is
in place—including a 2008 Water and Sanitation Sector Policy;
a 1969 Public Health Act; a 2004 Resources Management Act; a
2007 Environmental Management Act; and a National Strategy
for Sanitation under preparation—the main weakness remains
in enforcement and control (before the permits are issued,
during and after construction).
Disaster Risk Management Issues
Access to clean water is the most important aspect of flood
management. Water sources are frequently contaminated
during floods, leading to water and vector-borne diseases
(diarrhoea, malaria, and potentially cholera and typhoid
outbreaks). Hence, the following risk management practices
are recommended: 22 (i) reducing walking distance from villages
to water points (minimal of 2.5 km for now) to facilitate
22 MICOA, UNDP, UN-HABITAT. 2007. Aprender a Viver com as
Cheias. Maputo, Mozambique.
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