CoW declares category D drought

The Municipal Council of Windhoek has declared a Category D drought due to the worsening water scarcity situation since June 2023. According to the Water Management Plan’s Water Demand Response Index, Category D which is Severe Scarcity requires a mandatory water savings of at least 15%. To address the current water availability issues, the Municipal Council is implementing water restrictions to achieve this reduction in demand. 

The impact of this Demand Management Category on residents includes the following measures: 

• Gardens may only be watered once a week, 
• Vehicles may only be washed by certified commercial car washes, 
• Swimming pools must be covered and not filled or refilled from public supply, 
• Water features such as fountains are not allowed, and residents are encouraged to reuse water. 
• Additionally, water tariffs will be adjusted to include penalty rates for high water consumption levels, and residents are expected to perform daily water meter readings to identify leaks. 
• Please note that there will be no rebates for water lost due to leaks.