16 August 2024
The NAU has been evaluating the new water legislation (considering the timeline provided for registering unlicensed boreholes) and has been reaching out to MAWLR to obtain answers for our many questions. We are sure that there will be more questions as the process rolls out. Please send these to our office ([email protected]) to ensure that we streamline our questions and provide answers to all of our members accordingly.
Step 1
How many boreholes do I have on my farm?
Step 2
What are the registration numbers for these boreholes?
All boreholes (successful or unsuccessful) drilled without a license must be registered with all available borehole information. It also includes dry boreholes and boreholes with a wind pump for livestock watering.
It is recommended that landowners fill in a complete list of all their boreholes on the attached Excel sheet and share it with MAWLR. In this way, the owner also obtains an overview of boreholes on his farm.
Step 3
Should there be boreholes without MAWLR registration numbers, you should complete the attached Excel Sheet and either phone 061-2087148 or 061-2087126 or send an e-mail to the Geohydrology Division ([email protected]) to obtain the registration numbers of such (old) boreholes.
If you have previously applied for a borehole drilling permit and were issued with a borehole registration number but did not provide all required information to the department, your borehole may have a completion report and a WW number but will NOT have been registered on the ministry’s database, due to a lack of data – you are encouraged to submit the complete set of data per borehole.
Step 4
If boreholes have not been registered as yet, you need to complete WA03 and WA04 with all supporting documents. (Remember that your ID needs to be certified.)
One application can be used for multiple boreholes on one property.
An application for abstraction and use needs to be submitted for all boreholes except domestic use. (“Domestic Use” means the use of water for household purposes, including drinking, cooking, washing, watering a household garden and watering animals for REASONABLE OWN USE.)
Step 5
The completed application needs to be submitted to the Water Law Administration Division, Ms Revival Boois (Office no. 251) or Mr Lovemore Chahuli (Office no. 231) on the second floor of the MAWLR.
(We recommend that you submit the application and also have a copy of the application stamped as your proof of submission and for safekeeping.)
Together with your application, you would need to submit your proof of payment. Payments can be made at the MAWLR Cashier (Office no. 123) on the first floor. Alternatively, you can pay by EFT and submit the proof of payment stamped by your bank, at the cashier. We recommend that you ensure that a receipt is issued to you as your proof of payment. (If you cannot duplicate the receipt, take a picture and print it out to safekeep with your records.)
EFT to the following account:
Bank of Namibia
Ministerial Depot
Acc: 165003
Branch: 980172
Ref: Water Licence Number
(No e-mailed applications will be accepted.)
We propose that farmer associations appoint a representative to submit registrations from the respective area in person to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.
Should a member not have any other option of submitting his/her registration application(s), you may forward your completed applications with supporting (and certified) documentation to the NAU office by courier, to submit your application. Please bear in mind that all applications submitted this way, need to include the prescribed application fee(s) in cash. The NAU will submit applications and obtain receipts twice per month. Stamped copies of duplicate documents will need to be collected at own account from the NAU Office afterwards.
More information will be shared as it is assembled.
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