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Heavy rains continue to fall periodically in parts of Namibia with further widespread thunderstorms expected in the northern and central parts of the country in the next few weeks.
During the past week heavy rainfall in the Khomas Hochland area to the west of Windhoek has resulted in the flow of the Kuiseb River, albeit with reduced momentum as it approached Rooibank outside of Walvis Bay. The developments of the river flow are being monitored by NamWater and to date, no significant disruption has been reported on the Kuiseb aquifer infrastructure. The Gobabeb Water Level Station serves as a strategic observation point for early warnings and the water level today is 0.3m and the flow stable. Mr John Esterhuizen, General Manager: Water, Waste and Environment at the Municipality of Walvis Bay said: “We should bear in mind that we are in the rainy season and storm events may arrive without notice, but we should ensure relevant caution. We are very grateful for the recent rains as it ultimately feeds the water supply sources to our town.”
The rainfall in Walvis Bay itself has triggered flooding, especially in low-lying areas. The lack of a stormwater drainage system results in flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Nationwide, local authority infrastructures have been severely affected by the rainfall and Walvis Bay is no exception, experiencing potholes forming on streets, flooding in the vicinity of homes and the central business district. The interim solution is to continue to deploy Municipal trucks and private contractors to problem areas around the town to drain water from the roads. It is impossible to repair all potholes immediately, but temporary solutions are in effect to ensure residents have access to the roads until long-term repairs take effect.
Sandbags are also being dispatched to assist all residents to make temporary drainage systems. Using sand is effective in dealing with pooling ponds of water therefore providing instant relief to residents. Investigations for long-term solutions in addressing the stormwater drainage challenges faced by the town are ongoing especially for high-risk areas.
The Municipality of Walvis Bay advises residents to seek updated information on the weather forecast and related disruptions, including road conditions before driving. Ponding water on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions so motorists should exercise extreme caution, especially driving through areas where the street condition is not entirely visible.
Should residents require assistance with sandbags, they can contact the Roads and Building Section at the following numbers: 081 128 8328 / 081 122 0815 / 081 143 8820.
