Water is one of our resources that is not renewable, but, it is also one of the things that is used in the most wasteful manner in our country.
It is not uncommon to drive past houses and see residents with a hosepipe either washing their cars or driveways, or to see water either gushing or shooting upwards from a burst pipe, resulting in a huge amount of this precious resource going to waste.
National Water Week is celebrated from 15 to 22 March. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, this campaign aims to educate the public about their responsibility towards water conservation, as well as to raise awareness around the need to protect and conserve South Africa’s water resources.
South Africa is known as a water-scarce country and it is the responsibility of the citizens to step up to the plate and help save our water, one drop at a time. If everyone does their part, this resource can be around for many more years, ensuring our children’s children will also know what it is.
To help you become water wise, here are some tips to follow:
• Do not leave taps dripping.
• Up to 400 litres of water can be saved weekly by taking a five-minute shower instead of a bath.
• If you prefer to take a bath instead of showering, do not fill it to the brim.
• Put a two litre bottle filled with sand in your toilet cistern – toilet flush water consumption can be reduced by up to 20 per cent.
• 100 000 litres of water can be saved in one year by fixing a leaking toilet.
• Use grey water (from baths, washing machines and other safe sources) for your plants and to flush the toilet.
• Focus on planting indigenous plants in your garden and make sure to remove invasive alien plants on your property.
• Store rainwater in tanks to use in your garden.
• Cover your swimming pool to reduce evaporation – filling pools is not allowed when water restrictions are in force.
• Use a rake, broom or leaf-blower to remove dry matter from your driveway. Do not use a hose – it can waste up to 30 litres of water per minute.
Until next week, stay safe, look out for each other and be a water-saving hero!
