The Namibian Water Story

Namibia is one of the most innovative countries about using technology to make up for the limitations of their circumstances. Despite being one of the driest countries, Namibia had the foresight and means to invest in water reclamation technology early on. In 1968, Namibia became the first country in the world to implement a direct potable reuse plant in its capital in Windhoek. There were several physical factors that motivated this development. There was low rainfall in the country and high evaporation rates, all sources within 500 km of the city boundary has been exploited. Water reclamation was expensive but still the most viable option. 

The chief hurdle in implementing water reclamation was not the cost, though. Colloquially called the ‘yuck factor’ is the psychological barrier that creates a visceral response in people when told that they’re consuming recycled water. This psychological barrier is a learned behavior that has occurred in our society from years of living in areas with low sanitation standards. Contaminated water and food have been a source of epidemics, so it stands to reason that people are wary of recycled water. 

Namibia has fought to help people unlearn this by keeping high standards of transparency and accountability about their process of recycling water. They do routine checks within the private and public sector entities that work together to maintain the plant and with the help of third-party lab testing agencies. They have worked hard and long to build confidence with the people about their water. This story was also featured in the Quartz YouTube channel about the future of water:

Namibians have had the means to develop this technology because of the profitable gemstones and industrial metals mining industry that exists in the region. Diamond and uranium are the most traded goods. Their economy also flourished by proximity to South Africa who is one of their most profitable partners. However, as is evident from the Quartz YouTube, this reductionist-technocratic approach has brought Namibians some respite from their extreme water woes but has created new problems. 

While most of the capital in the country is generated by the mining industry, most of the population is engaged in the traditional subsistence and agricultural sector. Most of these people live less fulfilling, impoverished lives outside Windhoek and other cities with a financial sector. Water is still a major problem. They may have more access to drinking water during droughts but not enough water for irrigation. They cannot sustain their livelihoods during seasonal droughts. These issues are class-based. Namibia has one of the highest rates of economic inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.61: one of the highest in the world. These issues are also race-based. People who are usually found in the highest echelons of the financial world are caucasian. So, perhaps there is a better way to analyze Namibia's water problems than just as a resource issue.

References:

1. Law, Ian B. "Advanced reuse: From Windhoek to Singapore and beyond." Water May (2003): 44-50.
2. Schmidt, Charles W. “The yuck factor: when disgust meets discovery.” Environmental health perspectives vol. 116,12 (2008): A524-7. doi:10.1289/ehp.116-a524.