Our History
From the turnaround strategies of the 2000s to today's Business Unit structure, and the capital projects that built our network.
The Turnaround Strategy
The Government subsidised NamWater's operations for its first three years. The subsidy stopped in 2000, and for some time the company did not perform well financially, mainly because customers did not pay for the water services they received.
To change this, Dr Vaino Shivute, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer in December 2002, introduced a new business plan to cut costs, improve efficiency and grow the company's revenue base. This was phase 1 of the NamWater turnaround strategy. The Atushe concept was introduced as the vehicle for this new business philosophy, and after environmental, internal and external analyses the 2004 to 2008 business plan was launched.
The plan worked. It reversed the negative growth, the company stopped borrowing money to pay salaries, and NamWater moved towards its goals of financial excellence, customer service excellence, people and learning excellence and internal business process excellence.
Phase 2 ran from 2009 to 2014. Its aim was to reach financial stability, invest and consolidate the company's achievements. It met these goals, and NamWater became financially stable with a good standing as a going concern.
From Good to Great
After consulting internal and external stakeholders, NamWater decided to move the company from good to great. Planning for this third phase started in April 2015 and identified these strategic issues:
- Security of water supply
- Affordability of water
- Efficient operations
- Stellar customer service
- Financial health
- People centred
- Risk readiness
This work led to the 2019 to 2023 strategic plan.
A New Structure
The 2019 to 2023 business plan brought significant structural changes. A matrix system created the positions of Chiefs, Heads and Managers, and NamWater was divided into Business Units, each led by a Chief Water Supply who lives in the Business Unit. Operations are decentralised to the Business Units, while service functions are mainly centralised.
Most support divisions are led by a Head. Together these divisions provide the delivery support services that keep the water flowing.
Capital Projects Over the Years
| Project | Cost | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Von Bach to Windhoek Transfer | N$192 million | New pump station between Windhoek and Von Bach that increases transfer capacity | Completed |
| Divundu New Scheme | N$25 million | New water scheme | Completed |
| Swakopmund to Mile 7 Water Supply Phase 2 | N$25 million | Pipeline link that allows Walvis Bay to be supplied from Swakopmund | Completed |
| Noordoewer Scheme Extension | N$14 million | Water treatment plant, clear water pump station and sludge ponds | Treatment plant completed |
| Omdel to Swakopmund Pipeline | N$454 million | Replacement of the Omdel to Swakopmund pipeline from the Areva desalination plant | Completed |
| Berg Aukas Mine Refurbishment | N$6.8 million | New equipment commissioned | Completed |
| Rietfontein to Talismanis Extension and Upgrade | N$2.3 million | Extension and upgrade | Completed |
| Erwee Phase 2 | N$1.6 million | Replacement of a section of pipeline | Completed |
Projects Completed From 1998 to 2006
| Project | Description | Length (km) | Capacity (m³/h) | Commissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berg Aukas to Grootfontein Scheme | Transfer of water from the Berg Aukas Mine in the Grootfontein district to the Eastern National Water Carrier, to supply the central areas of Namibia during water shortages | 18 | 720 | 1998 |
| Dreigratsdrift to Skorpion Mine Scheme | Supply of potable water to the Skorpion Mine and Rosh Pinah | 42 | 870 | 2002 |
| Koichab Pan to Lüderitz Scheme | Potable water supply from the Koichab aquifer to Lüderitz | 120 | 200 | 2002 |
| Swakopmund to Langer Heinrich Scheme | Potable water supply to the Langer Heinrich Mine | 82 | 205 | 2006 |
| Swakoppoort to Von Bach Scheme | Transfer of raw water from Swakoppoort Dam to Von Bach Dam to supply the Windhoek area, with a reverse gravity flow option from Von Bach Dam to Swakoppoort Dam | 54 | 1 450 | 1979 and 2004 |
Achievements
At independence, between 43% and 45% of Namibians had access to potable water. According to the 2011 census, more than 60% of people in rural Namibia and 98% in urban areas had access to potable water, and on average 85% of the population had access to clean water.
NamWater supplies water to urban and rural areas in all 14 regions. Namibia is a semi-arid country and people often live far from water sources, so NamWater has to build pipelines and pump water over long distances. This investment, and the cost of transporting water to a small and widely spread population, is a major part of the price of water. The NamWater Act allows the shareholder to subsidise water for those who cannot afford it, and this has been discussed at Cabinet level.
The quality of NamWater's water compares well with global standards: in Namibia you can drink water straight from the tap.
Key Figures
- Access to potable water: 98% urban and 94% rural
- Access to sanitation: 34% nationally
- Financial sustainability of NamWater
- Investment in training and the expansion of the HRDC