Socio-Ecological Impact Assessment of CuveWaters technologies
DRFN is carrying out a Socio-Ecological Impact Assessment (SEIA) of technologies piloted by the CuveWaters project. Between 28 – 31 July visits were made to the CuveWaters desalination plants in Akusima and Amarika in Omusati region, and the rainwater harvesting and ground storage installations in Epyeshona, located in Oshana region. The purpose of the visit was to take a closer look at the ecological foot print of the desalination and rainwater harvesting technologies, and to determine if the technologies resulted in any land use changes.
Representatives from the local communities were interviewed and observations were made. The findings from the SEIA will contribute to an assessment of the viability of the technologies introduced and possibilities for these to be replicated elsewhere in Namibia. For more information about the technologies, please consult the CuveWaters page, or visit the official project web site: www.cuvewaters.net. For more information about the SEIA component focused on ecology and land use, please contact Clarence Mazambani at the DRFN.
Desalination plants in Akusima. The total daily production of drinking water is about 6000 liter. There are two different desalination plants at the site, both producing drinking water through a distillation process. Each of the ‘boxes’ in the foreground can produce approximately 100 liters of drinking water per day. The plant housed in the container in the far background can produce about 5000 liters of drinking water per day.
Representatives from the community in Amarika and team members discussing how the introduction of desalination to produce improved drinking water has influenced the community.