It is almost a given that any policy document regarding water will stress the fact that Namibia is one of the driest countries in the SADC region. This is a consequence of the mostly sparse and highly variable rainfall in the country coupled with very high evaporation rates. For example, the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Plan for Namibia notes that according to estimates roughly 97 percent of rainfall is lost through evaporation while 2 percent and 1 percent end up as run-off surface water and recharge groundwater respectively. Therefore the arid nature of the country means that Namibia's potable water is an extremely precious and scarce resource. Besides being essential to life on earth water also plays an important role in the socio-economic development of nations and their inhabitants. A great many economic activities require a dependable, safe and affordable supply of water including construction, mining, agriculture, hospitality and so forth. Neither can hospitals, schools and universities operate optimally without adequate water. Within the context of a developing country like Namibia achieving optimal management and supply of water in a sustainable manner is a crucial development goal. Hence, any limitations or shortfalls in the provision of safe water to Namibia's inhabitants will impact negatively on the development and wellbeing of the community as a whole.