Mandisa Magubane

Water scarcity in South Africa is not uncommon as parts of the country are frequently struck by droughts during this time of the year.

In recent years, water restrictions have been implemented in an effort to address the water crisis. Factors such as climate change and infrastructure failures have played a big role in the country’s water shortages.

During a media briefing at the Rand Water offices on Monday, the minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu said that although the water crisis in South Africa is serious, there is no need to panic.

The minister also urged South African’s to save water by all means necessary.

The eThekwini Municipality has provided the following dos and don’ts on how to save water:

DOS:

• Turn off the taps between washing your face, brushing teeth or shaving.
• Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath. It will consume one-third of the water used for bathing in a tub, thus saving up to 400 litres a week.
• Reducing the toilet flush volume alone can save 20 percent of total water consumption.
• Fix a leaking toilet, otherwise it can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in one year.
• Use ‘grey water’, that is used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources, to flush your toilet.
• Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car.
• Farmers must keep toxic insecticides away from water sources and streams.

DON’TS:

• Taking a bath can use between 80 and 150 litres of water per bath;
• Kettles are not to be filled to the brim, but they should contain just enough water for your needs.
• Don’t overfill containers like cooking pots as overfilling may result in the use of more energy to heat the water.
• Using a garden hose garden hose could use as much as 30 litres of water per minute.
• Don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissue, insects and other waste in the trash.
• Do not overfill or excessively backwash your swimming pool.
• Do not pour paint and chemicals down the drain.

Sources: eThekwini Municipality