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KfW funds city’s water works study

A Euro 600,000 grant from the German Development Bank, KfW, will pay for an extensive study to modernise and expand the processing capacity of Windhoek’s Gammans Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Goreangab Potable Water Reuse Plant.
As is, water supplied from the Gammams waste water treatment plant does not meet the required quality. The plant treats domestic sewage generated in the city while at the same time providing raw water for further treatment to the Goreangab plant.
The intended study must also include a financing model for the estimated N$600 million required to upgrade the Gammams waste water treatment plant from its current capacity to a capacity of 55,000 cubic meters per day. Both water treatment facilities currently operate at two-thirds of their capacity.
Combining the Gammans water works and the Goreangab plant, the study hopes to prove that it is likely to create a highly efficient water use system to quench the city’s need for growth as construction works and the growing urban sprawl put scare water resources under strain.
The City of Windhoek approached KfW and the German Financial Cooperation to fund the pilot study under their special Study and Expert Fund, according to German Embassy spokesperson, Gundula Perry. It is hoped that the study will be completed by the middle of next year, with the full upgrading and integration in place by the latest 2021.
Excessive overloading of the Gammams plant is seen as the likely cause contributing to the below average water quality. The Gammans waste water treatment plant is designed for only 28,000 cubic meters per day but currently has to manage inflows of 35,000 to 40,000 cubic meters per day.
“In the light of the increasing water shortage in Namibia this project can be considered an important step in protecting the water resources in a water-poor area and contribute to a reduction in the consequences of climate change and adaptation” Perry said.
Delivering essential drinking water to the local population is a priority. However, continuously serving several essential industries within the city, particularly construction, manufacturing and tourism, has lead to a severe water shortage.
Numerous plant components on the two water works need replacement or upgrading due to excessive water inflows. “This has serious implications on the water supply to Windhoek at a critical time such as the present” Perry said. “The expert services will also include assigning advisory services to the City of Windhoek to establish a special purpose vehicle for the purpose of funding and technical execution of the pilot study.”
Implementation of the project is intended to start in 2017 with the Infrastructure Department of the City acting as the Executing Agency with the sole responsible of implementation.

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