ABSTRACT
This dissertation examined and presented adaptive water governance analysis
and tools for the Upper Swakop Basin (USB) in Namibia where integrated river basin
management is still in its infancy. The water governance concerns in the basin include
pollution monitoring and control challenges that are further threatening the security
and adequacy of the developed drinking water sources. By applying and triangulating
different methods (models, statistical analysis, quantitative and qualitative measures
etc.), this study uniquely analysed the water governance issues in the Upper Swakop
Basin.
The objectives of the study were to assess the water quality at potential
pollution sources and at major receiving waters in the Upper Swakop Basin based on
secondary data obtained from key stakeholders; to evaluate the adequacy and
availability of drinking water sources in the USB; to assess the ethical, social and
acceptability perceptions of water reuse for potable purposes based on primary data
obtained from a purposive stakeholder survey; to qualitatively assess water governance
structures and participation as well as to evaluate overall water governance processes
and outcomes in the USB. Water quality parameters were assessed using descriptive
statistics, extreme value analysis, spatial analysis and some of the parameters were
compared to those given in the water quality regulations and standards of Namibia
using ANOVA. The adequacy and availability of water was assessed using the simple
water balance method, the Box-Jenkins ARIMA time series forecasting models, and
the WEAP model. The ethical, social and health acceptability views and perceptions
on water reuse for potable purposes were assessed using frequency tables, charts, and
graphs. Stakeholder participation was analysed using scenario workshops, mediated
ii
modelling and social multi-criteria evaluation methods and was based on the
ADVISOR framework. The researcher developed the 7”I”s water governance tool
which was used to map stakeholders and to assess the overall water governance
performance of the USB.
The study found that water pollution parameters values were extremely high
for agro-industries. Moreover it was found that the developed water resources
supplying the USB are inadequate especially in Windhoek where additional drinking
water sources outside the USB are required to augment its demand of 26.7 Mm3 per
annum in 2015 to a projected amount of 52.93 Mm3 per annum in 2050. Acceptability
levels of water reuse for potable purposes were found to be moderate. Stakeholder
participation in water governance needs to be more inclusive. The existing legal and
institutional framework for water governance was found to be inadequate due to lack
of implementing technical capacity (in terms of personnel, technical skills, database
management and information sharing). One of the unique contribution of the study to
new knowledge is the development of the 7”I”s evaluation tool for overall water
governance performance which can also be used in other similar basins. The pollution
extreme parameter values assessment is proposed as a quick and initial evaluation of
any problematic river catchment and to take remedial measures on would be polluters.
Proper water pollution control and compliance strategies should be stepped up for
agro-based industrial landuses. Landuse based water governance policy interventions
may be required to prevent water pollution on the Swakoppoort Dam.
The study proposed a new concept of utilizing the smaller already polluted Goreangab
Dam, which receives polluted water from Windhoek and is situated upstream of
iii
Swakoppoort Dam, as a pollution detention and check dam as well as a clean-up dam
for the downstream dam. A study on the feasibility of this new concept should be
carried out. If the concept proves to be successful, it could be used to solve the problem
of polluted dams downstream of “city river catchments” elsewhere.
The time series of the rainfall in Windhoek area was stationary. This could
mean climate change might have had little effect on Windhoek rainfall for the past 121
years. Therefore the study recommended more adaptive water resource planning,
multi-source optimization and water governance initiatives of exploring the available
secondary sources for the sustainable development of the USB. Water security in the
USB can be enhanced by optimizing the Windhoek Rechargeable Aquifer Storage
capacity. Institutions that supply bulk water to Windhoek can be unified into a single
water governance institution to optimize and integrate these multiple sources. Based
on adaptive water governance resource planning and multi-source optimization, the
study further proposed a basin management strategy to ensure suitable water quality
and quantity and to build adequate technical capacity.
PAZVAKAWAMBWA, G (2021). Water Resources Governance In The Upper Swakop Basin Of Namibia. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/water-resources-governance-in-the-upper-swakop-basin-of-namibia
PAZVAKAWAMBWA, GODFREY "Water Resources Governance In The Upper Swakop Basin Of Namibia" Afribary. Afribary, 27 Apr. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/water-resources-governance-in-the-upper-swakop-basin-of-namibia. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
PAZVAKAWAMBWA, GODFREY . "Water Resources Governance In The Upper Swakop Basin Of Namibia". Afribary, Afribary, 27 Apr. 2021. Web. 14 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/water-resources-governance-in-the-upper-swakop-basin-of-namibia >.
PAZVAKAWAMBWA, GODFREY . "Water Resources Governance In The Upper Swakop Basin Of Namibia" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 14, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/water-resources-governance-in-the-upper-swakop-basin-of-namibia