Klipfontein Dam levels dangerously low
It should also be taken into consideration that a water crisis will inevitably become a food crisis, as animals and plants also rely on water for survival and growth.
Despite recently imposed water restrictions, it appears water usage remains relatively high, which could spell disaster for Vryheid and surrounding areas.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s website, www.dwa.gov.za, Klipfontein Dam, which has a full storage capacity of approximately 18.1million cubic metres, is only 53.8% full.
With a rapidly growing demand for water, due to an increase in population and access to running water, little or nothing has been done to ensure that supply will not eventually be exceeded by demand.
The conservation of this precious and limited resource is therefore vital as, without water, life cannot be sustained. The human body, according to water.org, can survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water. It should also be taken into consideration that a water crisis will inevitably become a food crisis, as animals and plants also rely on water for survival and growth.
Although the water crisis is endemically a global one, measures can be taken here on our very own doorstep in Vryheid to combat the looming catastrophe that would occur should the taps eventually run dry.
Water saving tips:
- When brushing your teeth, turn off the tap as a running tap can waste roughly six litres of water per minute.
- Check for leaks in and around your home and have them repaired immediately.
- Limit the amount of water wasted with every flush by avoiding the unnecessary flushing of rubbish such as cigarette butts, cotton wool or make up tissues down the toilet.
- By showering, where possible, instead of bathing, you can save not only on your water usage, but also on electricity consumption. Showering uses approximately a third of the amount of water that bathing does, according to studies.
- Reuse bathwater to water your plants and your garden.
