For most of us, water is an afterthought. We turn on a tap, fill a glass and get on with our day. Only when the water stops flowing do we realise how much we depend on it.

Water strategist Candice Barry believes this relationship needs to change. Her approach begins with something many people have never considered: The taste of water.

When she was 29, Barry made a complete career pivot after watching a story about water that made her realise there was little to no water education. That moment led her into a field dedicated to helping people and businesses understand water differently.

“What was once frowned upon, years later, has been embraced; water has always had taste,” she says.

It might sound surprising, but factors like mineral content, temperature and source can influence water’s taste. Even bubble size in sparkling water can affect the drinking experience.

Barry sees taste as a way to spark curiosity about water and help people understand its value.

“Value only seems to come when the tap runs dry, and when the panic has passed, we resort back to regular use,” she says.

In South Africa, where water supply disruptions have become a concern for many communities, that cycle is particularly relevant. An outage can make us acutely aware of every litre, but once the supply returns, the urgency often fades.

Barry wants people to look beyond that immediate sense of scarcity and develop a more lasting appreciation for water.

Different water for different uses

Understanding what we use water for is the first step. For example, water intended for drinking, swimming pools, and pharmaceutical applications must meet different requirements. What matters isn’t simply whether water looks clear, but whether it suits its intended purpose.

This is also the thinking behind Barry’s work as founder of The Water Story™ Method. She developed the methodology to help businesses create tailored water strategies, roadmaps and plans, bringing a more structured approach to understanding and managing their water needs.

At home, that understanding matters too. One common misconception is that boiling tap water automatically improves its quality. While boiling can kill many harmful microorganisms, it does not remove every chemical contaminant or dissolved impurity.

“A kettle is not a filter,” Barry says.

If you are concerned about your drinking water, the first step is to identify the concern and choose an appropriate treatment method, rather than assuming boiling will solve everything.

A shared resource, a shared responsibility

Of course, understanding water is only part of the picture. Using it responsibly matters, too.

Barry encourages people to reduce unnecessary water use and reuse water where appropriate. She believes responsibility for protecting this resource must extend beyond individual households.

When residents see burst municipal pipes left leaking for days or weeks, it can be difficult to feel that their own conservation efforts are making a difference. Barry argues that government must prioritise protecting water and maintaining infrastructure alongside household efforts.

Her message to individuals is to keep doing their part regardless. “Show up! Save water, it’s a shared resource,” she says.

“Understand what’s in your water, learn how to address anything that shouldn’t be there and use it with confidence,” Barry continues.

She hopes people will see water as a resource worth caring for every day, not only when the taps run dry.

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