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Significant rise recorded in dam levels over the past year

Staff Reporter MOST of the country’s important reservoirs now hold more than double, and in some cases triple, the amount of water they had over the past two years, with further rainfall expected during the remainder of the rainy season. This was highlighted in the Hydrological Services of Namibia’s Flood Bulletin, which shows a stark difference between dam capacity levels recorded last year and those recorded this year. The bulletin indicates that, apart from the Friedenau Dam, all major central dams had water levels below 30% at this time last year. On 13 January 2025, the Swakoppoort, Von Bach and Omatako dams stood at 24.3%, 23.9% and 2.6% respectively, while the Friedenau Dam recorded a comparatively higher level of 46.1%. In contrast, all of the aforementioned dams have recorded higher water levels this year, with most exceeding 50% capacity. On Monday, 12 January 2026, the Swakoppoort, Von Bach and Friedenau dams recorded water capacities of 82.3%, 80.2% and 53.8% respectively. Although the Omatako Dam remained below 30%, its water level improved to 18.2% on 12 January 2026, higher than its level during the same period last year. Eastern dams have followed a similar trend, with water levels this year surpassing those recorded in 2025, and some even exceeding 60% capacity. According to Hydrological Services, the Otjivero Main, Otjivero Silt, Tilda Viljoen and Daan Viljoen dams recorded extremely low levels of 1.5%, 2.5%, 1.3% and 11.9% respectively on 13 January 2025. This year, water levels in most eastern dams rose above 30%, with the exception of the Otjivero Silt Dam, which stood at 3.3% on 12 January 2026. The remaining eastern dams showed substantial improvement, with Otjivero Main, Tilda Viljoen and Daan Viljoen recording capacities of 35.9%, 62% and 65.8% respectively on the same date. Most key southern dams were also below 30% capacity during the same period last year. The Neckartal and Oanob dams were the only exceptions. The Neckartal Dam recorded a high water level of 78.4% on 13 January 2025, while the Oanob Dam stood at 31.6% on the same date. The capacity of both dams has increased even further this year, with the Neckartal Dam reaching 97.4% and the Oanob Dam 63.2% on 12 January 2026. All other key southern dams recorded water capacities below 30% during the same period last year. The Hardap, Naute, Dreihuk and Bondels dams stood at 16.6%, 28.9%, 6.4% and 0% respectively on 13 January 2025. All of these dams showed an improvement in water levels this year, although the Dreihuk and Bondels dams continued to record relatively low levels in 2026. The Dreihuk Dam stood at 16.7%, while the Bondels Dam reached 4.1% on 12 January 2026. Meanwhile, the Hardap and Naute dams recorded water capacities of 59.1% and 79.1% respectively on the same date, reflecting an increase of more than double compared to the same period last year. Photo: NBC Digital News

admin Published: January 14, 2026 | Updated: January 14, 2026 3 minutes read

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Staff Reporter

MOST of the country’s important reservoirs now hold more than double, and in some cases triple, the amount of water they had over the past two years, with further rainfall expected during the remainder of the rainy season.

This was highlighted in the Hydrological Services of Namibia’s Flood Bulletin, which shows a stark difference between dam capacity levels recorded last year and those recorded this year.

The bulletin indicates that, apart from the Friedenau Dam, all major central dams had water levels below 30% at this time last year. On 13 January 2025, the Swakoppoort, Von Bach and Omatako dams stood at 24.3%, 23.9% and 2.6% respectively, while the Friedenau Dam recorded a comparatively higher level of 46.1%.

In contrast, all of the aforementioned dams have recorded higher water levels this year, with most exceeding 50% capacity. On Monday, 12 January 2026, the Swakoppoort, Von Bach and Friedenau dams recorded water capacities of 82.3%, 80.2% and 53.8% respectively. Although the Omatako Dam remained below 30%, its water level improved to 18.2% on 12 January 2026, higher than its level during the same period last year.

Eastern dams have followed a similar trend, with water levels this year surpassing those recorded in 2025, and some even exceeding 60% capacity. According to Hydrological Services, the Otjivero Main, Otjivero Silt, Tilda Viljoen and Daan Viljoen dams recorded extremely low levels of 1.5%, 2.5%, 1.3% and 11.9% respectively on 13 January 2025.

This year, water levels in most eastern dams rose above 30%, with the exception of the Otjivero Silt Dam, which stood at 3.3% on 12 January 2026. The remaining eastern dams showed substantial improvement, with Otjivero Main, Tilda Viljoen and Daan Viljoen recording capacities of 35.9%, 62% and 65.8% respectively on the same date.

Most key southern dams were also below 30% capacity during the same period last year. The Neckartal and Oanob dams were the only exceptions. The Neckartal Dam recorded a high water level of 78.4% on 13 January 2025, while the Oanob Dam stood at 31.6% on the same date. The capacity of both dams has increased even further this year, with the Neckartal Dam reaching 97.4% and the Oanob Dam 63.2% on 12 January 2026.

All other key southern dams recorded water capacities below 30% during the same period last year. The Hardap, Naute, Dreihuk and Bondels dams stood at 16.6%, 28.9%, 6.4% and 0% respectively on 13 January 2025. All of these dams showed an improvement in water levels this year, although the Dreihuk and Bondels dams continued to record relatively low levels in 2026.

The Dreihuk Dam stood at 16.7%, while the Bondels Dam reached 4.1% on 12 January 2026. Meanwhile, the Hardap and Naute dams recorded water capacities of 59.1% and 79.1% respectively on the same date, reflecting an increase of more than double compared to the same period last year.

Photo: NBC Digital News