Saving water: tips to help you play your part

Every South African has a part to play in the conservation of water, which has become an endangered resource across large parts of South Africa. A Cape Town based environmental organization has offered advice and easy steps that can help save water.

“We simply cannot continue to consume water in the same way we did in the past. The direct and indirect effects of drought conditions are impacting all of us, but you and I can make a difference today,” said Project 90 by 2030’s Operations Manager, Olivia Andrews.

A number of municipalities have already introduced measures to limit the water consumption by its residents. Cape Town, for example, introduced level 2 water restrictions as from the beginning of this year. [See the link attached, below this press release.]

Andrews suggested the following ways of preserving water supplies at home. The first step, she explains, is to check with your local municipality to make sure you are aware of their particular water restriction regulations.

Other tips include:

1. Get a rain water tank for watering your garden. “I use mine every day. Now that I'm so used to it, the thought of using drinking water to water my vegetables is crazy,” she says.
2. Keep a jug by the basin to catch the cold water while the water warms up. This is maybe not needed so much in summer, but more in winter when the water is icy and takes a few minutes to warm up. Use this to water your plants or put the water in the cistern.
3. Never leave the tap running!
4. Install a grey water system to reuse your bath and shower water to water the garden.
5. Keep a basin in your kitchen sink and catch all the water you use to water your plants. You"ll be surprised at how much you have at the end of every day! Do this at work and at home.
6. One of the best ways to save water is to stop drinking bottled water! It uses 3 times more water to produce bottled water, from making the plastic bottles all the way to transporting them.