South Africa is a water scarce country, which depends much for its water on rainfall patterns. While Government is doing all it can to mitigate water scarcity, do your part in saving this scarce resource.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s latest dam levels report, some of the country’s water reservoirs are losing one percent of stored water week-on-week. According to the report the levels have dropped from 73,3% in the same period last year to 60% this week, a 10% loss in 12 months.
Available scientific projections state that hot temperatures will persist until the end of the summer period, next year. In addition, between October and mid-December 2019, the country will experience below-average rainfall that would be accompanied by hot temperatures thereby raising evaporation levels in the dams.
You are encouraged to play your part in saving water.
Below are some tips on how you can save water:
Turn-off the tap while brushing teeth, shaving or soaping hands
Take shorter showers and use less water if you bath
Avoid buying bottled water
Sweep outside areas instead of hosing with water
Use eco-friendly soaps and cleaning products
Car
Wash your car with a bucket and sponge only
Use a hosepipe with a self-closing nozzle to wash your car
Use a commercial car wash that recycles water
Bathroom
Shower instead of bath
Use less water in the bath
Flush the toilet only when odours make it necessary
Put a brick in your cistern to reduce
Laundry
Cut back on washing your towels and linen
Match the size of your laundry load with water volume
Buy an eco-friendly wash ball
Buy a water-efficient washing machine
Kitchen
Only turn the dishwasher on when it’s full
Use a plugged sink to wash dishes instead of a running tap
Use less dish-washing liquid to reduce the need for rinsing
Use a plugged sink to rinse vegetables instead of a running tap
Use the water you used to rinse fruit and veggies to water plants
Plants and Garden
Learn about water-wise gardening.
Water plants at the coolest part of the day.
Group plants together that have the same water requirements.
Water plants with the water you used in the kitchen to rinse fruit and veggies.
Choose local indigenous water-wise plants for your home and garden.
Use natural and organic garden products.
Methods to check your home is leak free
Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. Read the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water has been used. If the water meter doesn’t read exactly the same, then there is a leak.
To check for toilet tank leaks, add food coloring to the tank. If the toilet leaks, the toilet bowl will have changed color within 30 minutes.
Repair dripping taps by replacing the washer. If a tap is dripping at a rate of 1 drop per second, you could be wasting up to 10,220 Liters per year!
If your toilet handle constantly stays in a downward position this means that water is constantly running. Replace or fix the handle to avoid wasted water.
Insulate your water pipes. If you do, you’ll get hot water faster, avoid wasting water while it is heating, and also saving money on electricity!
Source: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs