Élet az édesvízhiánnyal: vízkészlet-gazdálkodás Namíbiában

Abstract

Namibia is an arid country in Southern Africa. It frequently experiences a state of freshwater deficit and must employ a range of measures to manage this scarce resource sustainably and equitably. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform coordinates the water sector. A state-owned enterprise, NamWater, is the bulk water supplier and manages large water infrastructure. The country follows a policy of integrated water resource management and has devolved some of the decision-making on water issues to river basin level. Transboundary catchments are managed through legal agreements and multinational permanent commissions representing the basin states. Technologies such as dams in ephemeral rivers, intra- and inter-basin water transfer schemes, reclamation of wastewater to potable standards, artificial aquifer recharge, desalination, and conjunctive use of various water sources are employed to supply water to consumers. Water demand management, particularly education, information, restrictions and tariffs, curbs wasteful use of water.