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Prevalence of rotaviruses, adenoviruses and hepatitis A in water samples collected from domestic water sources in Windhoek.
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2019-10) Shilikomwenyo, Sylvia
A growing population contributes to increasing demand for water. Windhoek’s water supply is based on the use of surface and groundwater. However, all potable water resources within a radius of 500 km have been fully exploited. The rainfall is uncertain and long spells of severe droughts are frequently encountered. There are four main sources of water supply to the central area of Windhoek: surface water obtained from the Von Bach, Swakoppoort and Omatako dams; groundwater abstracted from 50 municipal production boreholes; reclaimed water recovered by suitable treatment from both the New Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant (NGWRP) and the Old Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant (OGWRP). Natural water sources which include rivers, lakes and ponds can be contaminated with microorganisms which inhabit the environment in the form of planktonic organisms and sessile biofilms. Microbial agents, associated with waterborne outbreaks, include bacterial organisms (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholera, amongst many others) as well as viruses (Hepatitis A virus, rotavirus and Norwalk virus), protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium), helminths and fungi can contaminate water systems.