In the Kunene River basin, investments in water infrastructure, institutions and water resources management measures all aim at improving the beneficial uses of water. These include water supply, irrigation, drainage, hydropower, environmental purposes, and protection against floods or droughts. For this infrastructure to work correctly the catchment must be water secure (see box).
A Definition of Water Security
“A comprehensive view of water security involves taking into account the water needs of all the sectors that consume or harness water, including industry, agriculture, and energy, and domestic water use in both urban and rural settings.
Ensuring water security both now and in the future must also entail taking an in-depth look at the environmental sustainability of systems and solutions, through preserving and maintaining aquatic ecosystems. Building resilience within communities and within ecosystems both to the destructive forces of water and to water scarcity is needed to face climate change. Water security is a technical issue, an environmental issue, and primarily a social issue involving different concerned stakeholders.”
Source: Grobicki 2009, Stockholm Waterfront
Guaranteeing water security safeguards the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. It requires planning for a future in which there is enough water for social and economic development and ecosystems.
A water secure environment harnesses water's productive power and minimises its destructive potential. Achieving water security means ensuring that every person has access to enough safe, affordable water to lead a clean, healthy and productive life. It means that communities are protected from floods, droughts, landslides, erosion and water-borne diseases. It also means addressing environmental protection and the negative effects of poor management.
Ensuring water security in the catchment involves the protection of vulnerable water systems, protection against floods and droughts, the sustainable development of water resources and safeguarding access to water functions and services. Long term water security should also consider how water management will need to be adapted to meet the challenges climate change.
A rehabilitation of the water infrastructure system is underway in the Kunene River basin and Additional Infrastructure is planned to improve water security. The correct operation of the Gove Dam is a major key to guaranteeing water security along the river (see also Storage and Flow Control).
The security of drinking water supplies to northern Namibia is further ensured by the Olushandja Dam, which provides buffer storage along the Calueque-Oshakati Water Supply Scheme.
The Calueque-Oshakati Water Supply canal as it crosses the border into Namibia.
Source: AHT GROUP AG 2008
( click to enlarge )
