Keetmanshoop and ||Kharas leaders have questioned the progress of the Neckartal Dam, saying the project was expected to unlock agricultural opportunities, strengthen water security and stimulate economic development in the south.

Keetmanshoop mayor Emrico Blaauw says the municipality is looking forward to water from the Neckartal Dam becoming available to strengthen water security at the town and the wider ||Kharas region.

Keetmanshoop currently receives its water supply from NamWater, while the municipality also maintains backup reservoirs to cushion the town during supply interruptions.

However, Blaauw says the existing reservoirs are not sufficient to meet the full demand of a growing town.

He says the municipality is also exploring other water sources, as population growth and future economic development places increasing pressure on existing infrastructure.

In 2025, the municipality and the University of Namibia’s Southern Campus signed an agreement to investigate underground water resources in and around Keetmanshoop.

Blaauw says the study is expected to determine the availability, sustainability and quality of groundwater resources, which could play an important role in future urban agriculture and other water-dependent economic activities.

“The council does have backup water reservoirs, which provide an important buffer during interruptions in supply. However, these reservoirs currently cannot meet the full demand of the growing town,” he says.

This makes investment in additional water sources, storage capacity and sustainable water-management systems increasingly important, he says.

Beyond water security, Blaauw says the Neckartal Dam is expected to play a broader role in agricultural development in the region.

Source: https://www.namibian.com.na/expected-growth-from-neckartal-in-doldrums/