Save water drive

THIS IS National Water Week (March 20-27) which is an initiative to raise the awareness about the importance of water to socio-economic growth. This period is also set aside to highlight challenges and the interventions of government in ensuring a sustainable water supply.

This year’s National Water Week takes place at time when some parts of the Western Cape are experiencing a drought.

The major dams supplying the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) have been drawn down over the past year and the reduction of dam levels has continued by over 1% a week. According to the report of March 20, the average combined dam levels for the WCWSS is 28.04%.

This is a notable decline compared to 35.04% the same time last year.

Given the effects of climate change to water security, it has become clear that reliance on rainfall can no longer be condoned.

This call for the utilisation of other water souces including the:

Drilling of boreholes where there is significant potential of ground water

Recycling of water in the household, industry and agricultural sector

To further encourage water savings the department, together with municipalities and industry are implementing water conservation and demand management programmes, which include the War on Leaks and Drop the Block interventions.

In a bid to curb excessive use of water the national government and local authorities have imposed water restrictions and we appeal to all water users to act in a responsible manner and respect the use of water during this dry period.

As we celebrate the National Water Week we wish to remind all water users that it is everybody’s responsibility to conserve this precious resource. Water is life and sanitation is dignity. Malusi Rayi Communications: Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation