Water-wise campaigns helping Cape Town cope with the drought
Cape Town is considered a glamorous city but over the past couple of months, it’s been suffering from a terrible drought.
The city and its people are in throes of trying to survive one of the worst droughts it’s ever experienced in over a century.
Cape Town is home to approximately 3.74 million people and a holiday destination for travellers from around the world. Its beautiful coastline has been splashed across many publications and
Its beautiful coastline has been splashed across many publications and online, because Cape Town’s allure is remarkable. Many Hollywood celebrities have visited the city and even bought holiday homes in some of its wealthiest suburbs so that they may enjoy its beauty whenever they please. But in the middle of winter this year it was declared a disaster area and Theewaterskloof Dam, the main water source for the city, is nothing but a puddle by comparison to previous years.
Capetonians have been pleaded with to save water as much as possible. Level five water restrictions have been implemented and exorbitant fines can be expected if you use more than your allocated 87 litres per person per day. And Capetonians have done well to reduce their water consumption drastically. Many corporates are making big changes to ensure that they’re not wasting water by engaging with water solutions companies such as PROXA water. These solutions providers offer technologically advanced solutions for water conservation.
Everyone is recommended to keep two to five litres of water in stock with them at all times as a precaution. And if you’ve felt that your shower no longer drenches you to the bone but rather it’s an almost featherlight spray then that’s because the city has decreased the water pressure. This has dropped overall consumption substantially.
Over the past couple of months, with little rains to relieve the drought, many campaigns have come to pass. These marketing campaigns have been created to raise awareness and to educate the city on exactly how to save water. In the hopes, of course, that individuals and companies alike will take heed. These campaigns have proven successful and Capetonians all over the city are doing their bit to implement the suggested water-saving measures that have been marketed.
Here are three water-saving campaigns that will help you remain accountable for the water you use and save.
#DrivingDirtyZA
In an effort to conserve this most important and precious resource, Capetonians have taken to simply never washing their cars. The reason being that this activity uses an enormous amount of water and right now Cape Town can’t afford it. Your car being clean is not important. Having drinkable water is. Not washing your car has become a trending hashtag now too with the water-saving campaign #DrivingDirtyZA.
This campaign encourages people to not wash their cars and instead let them become dirty enough to draw and write on. So, your vehicle becomes an advertisement for saving water. It’s completely acceptable to write #DrivingDirtyZA in the dirt of your car, take a picture and upload it proudly to your social media platforms. You can brag about doing your bit for water conservation.
Smile Water Warriors
Smile 90.4FM is a Cape Town radio station that has taken water saving activities very seriously. The station created a public Facebook group called Smile Water Warriors which is an open platform where the community can find all things water saving related. Those who engage on the platform are able to ask questions, take part in meaningful conversations and will receive updates on both the water crises and tips to combat water waste.
Smile Water Warriors are encouraging everyone to make every drop of water count. And through the powerful medium of radio, Smile 90.4FM has been constantly broadcasting crucial messages to the public about the drought. Their weekly drive is the Waterless Wednesday initiative which encourages the city to use little to no water every Wednesday every week.
The Watershed Project
The Watershed Project has an unwavering mandate to make sure everyone knows just how precious water is. It raises awareness about water scarcity in the most engaging and exciting ways. Through the use of mediums such as film screenings and events, The Watershed Project team brings attention to the fact that South Africa is a drought-stricken country with limited water resources. This initiative is backed by Woolworths and is always holding new, educational and fun events in an effort to ensure everyone is always thinking about how they use or waste water.