SASSCAL hosted the 2nd WaReNam Round Table on 15 October 2025 in Windhoek, bringing together stakeholders from government, research, and industry to discuss the development of a National Water Reuse Strategy for Namibia.
Dr. Musonda Ng’Onga (SASSCAL) opened the session by emphasizing the urgency of finding sustainable water solutions through cooperation. Dr. Martin Zimmerman (ISOE) provided an overview of the WaReNam project, which promotes water reuse through three main pillars — Technology, Governance, and Capacity Development. He highlighted progress made since the first round table and underscored the importance of policy direction and institutional capacity to drive implementation.
Adding a regulatory perspective, Eugenia Kaudinge from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform presented the Code of Practice for Water Reuse (CoP 6), which outlines national standards to ensure the safe reuse of wastewater in agriculture, industry, and aquaculture. Kaudinge noted that while reuse offers major benefits for water security, it requires strict compliance and continuous monitoring to protect public health.
Participants broke into sectoral groups to explore how reclaimed water can be used across agriculture, industry, and research. Ideas ranged from irrigation and livestock production to green hydrogen and laboratory use. All groups emphasized the need for consistent quality control, clear licensing processes, and sustainable financing models to make water reuse viable at scale.
By the end of the session, participants had agreed on key themes for the next discussions — including fit-for-purpose water quality standards, business and financing models, and balancing competing water demands between food production and industry.
The session concluded with a shared commitment to advancing Namibia’s national water reuse agenda. The next round table will take place in April or May 2026, focusing on practical steps toward a coordinated, policy-driven approach to water reuse in the country.