Save water and save lives

Water conservation is everyone’s business — no colour, gender or age spectrum.

Without water there is no life to either humankind, animals and plants hence the slogan by the department of water and sanitation, “Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity”.

As we are now in the winter season, most parts of the country have already started to experience minimum or no rainfall at all.

This happens while we live during an unusual era in our lifetime where the coronavirus pandemic is sweeping the country with daily infections and more people losing their lives from Covid-19.

Central to the fight against this virus, is ensuring adequate hygiene where the World Health Organisation has advised that washing of hands with soap regularly is a catalyst in reducing the spread of the virus rapidly. It is unavoidable and fair for people to ask questions about water availability, particularly in the water-stressed areas.

One question, among many others, is how do you balance washing of hands regularly and at the same time use water for normal house chores, agricultural and industrial purpose and then be expected to save water.

This is while taking into consideration that SA is rated among the driest countries in the world.

The time has arrived that every human being, irrespective of race and gender, unite under the umbrella theme “Save water and save lives”, because if we fail to use water sparingly we’ll all be fish out of water, and you know the results. Rich or poor, everyone needs water to survive.

The government has pulled out all the stops to make sure everyone has potable water access, be it tap water, groundwater or tank-supplied water in rural and informal settlements.

The ball is in our court now, either we change our behaviour on water or face the consequences of shortages.

That will result in water rationing, a lesson learned by the City of Cape Town, threatened by “Day Zero”.

It is the only city in Mzansi surrounded by two oceans, the Atlantic and Indian, yet experienced the worst water shortage.

Every drop counts. We need your helping hand to save water. If we act responsibly and care for water, it will care for us.

Marcus Monyakeni, communications specialist, department of water and sanitation