Water Facts:
- Some 1.1 billion people,or 18 % of the word’s population,lack access to safe drinking water,and over 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation.
- More than 2.2 million people in developing countries,most of them children,die each year from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water,inadequate sanitation.
- A report released in early October 2009 by the Water Research Commission of South Africa found that South Africa has 4% less water than 20 years ago.
- Rand Water is predicting that demand for water in South Africa will outstrip supply by 2025. It also believes that Gauteng is potentially facing a water shortage as early as 2013.
- In Cape Town the scenario is not much better with a water shortage prediction by 2016
- If South Africans continue with their wasteful water practices,there simply will not be enough water to meet the country’s future needs and,we may have to start paying even more for water!
- South Africans can change the scenario by changing their behaviour towards water usage and becoming water wise and savvy about rainwater harvesting.
21 top water-saving tips for your home
v Checking for leaks in taps,pipes and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage.
v Remember,one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 lt a month.
v There’s no need to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.
v The most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving,steaming or using a pressure cooker. You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
v Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great,inexpensive way to cut your water usage without you even noticing.
v Put the plug in the sink when washing your hands instead of holding them under running water.
v Thaw frozen foods before you need them or use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
v Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
v Automatic dishwashers can use up to 40 lt of water per load. By using a dishwasher with at least a 3 star/AAA rating,you can get this figure down to 18 lt per load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you’re used to.
v Wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy,and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewerage system.
v Keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won’t need to run the water down the sink until it’s cool enough to drink.
v Washing fruit and vegetables in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
v Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
v Use a sink strainer.
v Try to use phosphate-free,eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products. There’s a great range to choose from these days and they’re much better for our environment.
v Remember to regularly clean the lint filter on your washing machine.
v Most washing machines have a load adjustment button or dial,so try to set this to match the amount of washing you’re doing. If your machine doesn’t have a load adjustment function,try to wait until you have enough washing for a full load.
v Installing one of the latest 3 star/AAA rating showerheads can give you a great shower and save you around 10 lt of water a minute. They also save you energy costs,as you’ll use less hot water.
v To rinse your razor,run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes lots of water.
v Electric or fuel powered leaf blowers work more efficiently than hosing down paths and driveways.
v Pool covers reduce the amount of water you need to keep your pool full and running efficiently.
RAINWATER HARVESTING
v Rainwater harvesting is the collection,storage and distribution of rainwater and the perfect storage facility for rainwater is a water tank.
v Rainwater can essentially be used anywhere you use tap water.
v The idea of using drinking water to flush toilets and water lawns is wasteful and irresponsible,especially in light of the population growth and water shortages across the country.
v Rainwater harvesting greens your home lessens your environmental footprint.
v Rainwater is an absolutely FREE source of water.
v You will reduce flooding and erosion caused by storm water run off
YOUR ROOF YOUR ALLY
- 1mm of rain allows you to harvest 1lt of water per m2 of roof area – just allow for a 15% wastage factor.
- Make sure that your gutters are installed to direct rainwater to rain water tanks.
- An annual rainfall of 500 mm on a roof surface of 50 m² amounts to 25 000-liters of potential safe drinking water that can be preserved (40-liters per day for 625 days) or wasted! In South Africa,the water allocation per day per person is 25lt
