The Groundwater Abstraction and Associated Activities in Omaruru Town, Erongo Region The Municipality of Omaruru currently abstracts groundwater from nine (9) existing production boreholes to supply its community (residents and businesses). Due to the growing Town's population, the Municipality is planning to drill and develop two more boreholes to the supply scheme. Since Omaruru Town is within the Omaruru Subterranean Water Control Area water, water abstraction from the boreholes (meant for urban and domestic use (commercially)) requires abstraction and use permits from the Department of Water Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR). This is also done in accordance with the old Water Act No. 54 of 1956' Regulations and new Water Resources Management Act No. 11 of 2013 (and its newly promulgated Regulations). A permit has been issued for the abstraction and use of groundwater from the boreholes in 2019 and valid for a period of 2 years, upon which a renewal can be applied from MAWLR. The Municipality had applied for the permit renewal to MAWLR in 2022, but due to absence of a Hydrogeological (Groundwater) Study/ Impact Assessment for the Town's abstraction and an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), the permit renewal has not been approved. It should be noted that the ECC is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study.