On May 15th, 2025, experts, stakeholders, and government representatives gathered at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Windhoek for the 1st WaReNam Round Table Discussion. The event marks a critical step in Namibia’s mission to develop a National Water Reuse Strategy aimed at improving water security through safe and effective reuse of wastewater. The WaReNam project is a collaboration between Namibian and German institutions, including ISOE, SASSCAL, UNAM, NUST, NamWater, and others.
Namibia is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. It is already a global leader in Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), with Windhoek’s Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant turning sewage into clean drinking water. The WaReNam project builds on this success by exploring broader applications of water reuse, especially in agriculture and industry.
One of the central aims of this meeting was to establish a clear understanding of the Round Table’s purpose and responsibilities – namely to build trust, foster collaboration, and ensure that the strategy is both well-informed and widely accepted. The meeting also aimed to clarify the ways in which the Round Table will aid the Steering Committee and Task Forces in formulating the National Water Reuse Strategy. The discussions aimed to cover current treatment practices, legal gaps, water quality challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
For current treatment practices, Rössing Uranium reuses 60% of its wastewater, serving as a strong example of industrial reuse. Local treatment infrastructure, however; is outdated and overwhelmed, particularly in rapidly growing areas such as Groot Aub. Additionally, legislative gaps persist, with weak oversight and enforcement of water quality standards and discharge at the local level. This situation poses health risks, as open wastewater ponds create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which may be linked to the latest health report recording 3.000 new Malaria cases in Namibia. During group discussions, industry representatives welcomed water reuse as a cost-saving solution, while agricultural stakeholders called for clarity on water sources and stricter quality monitoring. Both groups stressed the need to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and set measurable targets.
The WaReNam project is structured around three main pillars to combat the challenges mentioned. Technology - Testing treatment options to make wastewater usable for farming and industry, headed by NUST and UNAM. Governance - Establishing national and local bodies for coordinated decision-making – Steering Committee, Network of Local and Regional Authorities and Task Forces. Capacity Development - Training, public awareness, and financial planning with SASSCAL spearheading this work package.
Maria Sigopi of SASSCAL emphasized that this platform would help bridge the gap between government, industries, researchers, and civil society. By doing so, the strategy can better reflect the multifaceted nature of water reuse challenges and solutions.
The Round Table Discussions will be held twice a year to gather insights from across sectors. The ISOE team will return to Namibia in October for further meetings. Dr. Martin Zimmermann of ISOE closed the meeting with a hopeful message: “We should see wastewater not as waste, but as a resource.”