Garden Route communities must come together to fight water wastage
Certain occurrences in life bring people together – be it sorrow, politics, religion or even disaster. One special event that crosses my mind is sport. I remember the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a perfect example. The nation was united around the event.
We rallied behind Bafana Bafana hoping for a miracle. We sang songs to encourage the boys to fight. The nation believed in them. I believed in them. The first goal by Simphiwe Tshabalala was confirmation that anything is possible.
I remember the most popular phrase then: #Feel It. Ooh boy! The country was in agreement; we were feeling it.
For me the same energy and zeal can be used to find solutions to our current water-supply challenges. Water conservation is all about respect. Respect for water, respect for life, respect for the environment, and respect for others.
Truth is, the authorities are dealing with a number of aspects around water. Come on CX Country locals, let’s share these responsibilities with our fellow Mzansi citizens.
As we celebrate Water Month in March, let us show the world that we are one, even as we join the world in celebrating World Water Day today, March 22. Let us all heed the call.
Let us be streetwise and monitor our water usage. In townships we have a popular, but not so cute, concept called “township management”. It means a whole lot of things, but this time we can push our own agenda.
How about a streetwise water management? Each street and every corner has its own “mayor”: that person who knows almost everything that is happening on that street. If not, let’s elect one. Let’s get together and gang up against water wastage.
Our streetwise mayors can take a lead and be more like water spies, while we support them by reporting every leak. We still have time to turn the situation around. The idea is to encourage efficient water usage.
Let us use our streetwise tricks and curtail water wastage. During our save water streetwise management gatherings, we can share water saving tips and devices, educate reckless water users, identify and fix leaks, and call into order water wasters.
Let’s catch them before authorities do and save them from the embarrassment that comes with “name and shame”.
You remember the #2010 Ke Nako (‘It Is Time’) phrase? I say let’s sing Ke Nako together and be water wise. I believe it is time to be friends with your water meter. Monitor your readings on a daily basis to understand your usage and reduce wastage. Become buddies with your water bill.
National Water Week is celebrated from March 20-26 under the theme: Water, Food, Energy. Be innovative this water month.
What are you doing to save water?
Water saving tips
– Turn off taps between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving
– Place a “Drop the Block” in the cistern” average flush = 9 litres of water
– Repair leaks. A leaking tap can waste up to 8000 litres of water in a month
– Do not leave a tap running. Water runs at approximately 13 litres per minute.
– Use grey water (used water from the baths, washing machines and other safe sources) to flush your toilet or water your garden.
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