Shooting from the lip

I won’t bath, I’ll shower. For two minutes. I’ll turn off while lathering. I’ll shower less often. I’ll collect shower water in a bucket – to fill the toilet cistern, water the garden, wash the car. My Step 2 – Toilets: I’ll flush less often. “If it’s yellow, I’ll let it mellow.” I won’t use the toilet as a dustbin. My Step 3 – Hygiene: I’ll turn off while brushing my teeth. Even better, I’ll use a cup of water, a bowl to splash my face. My Step 4: Personal clothing: I’ll only put clothes in the laundry that really need a wash.

Four steps, by each person. We were all taught these as kids. Easy to understand. Easy to do. Next, our collective effort: Our Family Step 1: Restrictions: We’ll stick to the rules. In a nutshell, we’ll use municipal drinking water only for essential washing, cooking and drinking purposes, and only use indoors. Our Family Step 2: Toilets: We’ll “Drop a Block” – a 2-litre plastic bottle filled with water, in all cisterns.

Our Family Step 3: Cooking, dishwashing and laundry:

We’ll wash full loads only, never let taps run.

Our Family Step 4: Taps, showerheads and leaks:

We’ll continue replacing, will fix any leaks.

Our Family Step 5: Rain water:

We need help here. Buckets under gutters are easy. But tanks? Where do we start? The cost? Can we pay a system off? Is there a “turn-key” solution? Or do we have to work it out for ourselves? Our Family Step 6: Grey water: Even more complicated. Help! If it’s not simple, most won’t even try. Needs to be as easy as a cellphone upgrade.

Ten simple steps. We’ll need a “Family Scorecard”, to get to 10/10. Then we’ll hold our neighbours to account, too.

We’ll navigate complexity with simplicity. One step at a time, working towards all 10.

Understood, crystal-clear, by every single person.

Urgently.