Dam levels fall to 77.8% as water reserves decline

**Staff Writer **

The country’s dams held 1 210.9 million cubic metres of water as at 26 October 2026, representing 77.8% of their combined full supply capacity, down from 78.3% a week earlier.

According to NamWater’s weekly dam bulletin, total water storage declined by 8.56 million cubic metres during the week from 19 to 26 October, leaving the country’s dams with 1 210.9 million cubic metres compared with 1 219.5 million cubic metres the previous week.

The bulletin shows that the southern dam system remained the best supplied, holding 1 111.5 million cubic metres, equivalent to 86.4% of its combined capacity.

However, the region recorded the largest weekly decline, losing 6.10 million cubic metres.

Neckartal Dam, Namibia’s largest reservoir by capacity, held 853.1 million cubic metres, or 99.5% of its full supply capacity. Its storage declined by 2.18 million cubic metres during the week.

Naute Dam stood at 98.8% of capacity, with 82.5 million cubic metres, while Hardap Dam held 157.2 million cubic metres, equivalent to 53.3% of capacity. Hardap’s water storage fell by 2.85 million cubic metres during the reporting period.

Dreihuk Dam was at 6.7% of capacity, holding 1.04 million cubic metres, while Bondels Dam was reported empty.

The central area’s dams held 64.25 million cubic metres, or 41.6% of their combined capacity, down from 65.27 million cubic metres a week earlier.

Swakoppoort Dam stood at 65.1% of capacity, holding 41.32 million cubic metres, while Von Bach Dam held 22.92 million cubic metres, or 48.2% of capacity.

Their storage levels declined by 393 000 cubic metres and 627 000 cubic metres, respectively.

In the Windhoek system, Goreangab Dam held 3.70 million cubic metres, equivalent to 102.1% of its listed full supply capacity, while Friedenau Dam stood at 43.8%, with 2.95 million cubic metres.

The bulletin recorded a combined 6.64 million cubic metres for the two dams, or 64.2% of their combined capacity.

The Gobabis system held 2.81 million cubic metres, or 14.6% of capacity, down from 2.92 million cubic metres a week earlier.

Otjivero Main Dam stood at 17.4% of capacity, holding 1.71 million cubic metres, while Otjivero Silt Dam was at 0.9%, with 71 000 cubic metres. Daan Viljoen Dam held 207 000 cubic metres, or 48.3% of capacity.

Tilda Viljoen Dam increased to 66.8% of capacity, with 817 000 cubic metres, from 65.4% a week earlier. NamWater reported that water transfers from Otjivero Dam to Tilda Viljoen took place during the week.

In the north, Olushandja Dam held 25.75 million cubic metres, equivalent to 56.4% of capacity, down from 59.2% a week earlier. Omaruru Delta and Omatjenne dams were both reported empty.

NamWater’s bulletin also recorded combined water storage for the current season at 1 269.6 million cubic metres, compared with the current reported storage of 1 210.9 million cubic metres.