Cut pressure on scarce resource: harvest rainwater

SOUTH Africa is a water scarce country and one of the driest in the world.

This simply means that we need to use every drop of available water in a wise and beneficial way.

As a water scarce country, South Africa is also receiving below world average rainfall. The situation has been made worse by climate change, meaning less and less water is available for the country.

Climate change, population growth and pollution are some of the key issues contributing to a worldwide water crisis. The situation therefore calls for the innovative and wise use of the available water to ensure water security for all.

Currently, most parts of the country are receiving much soughtafter rainfall, especially as we head towards the dry winter season.

It is crucial that we all make good use of the rainwater as it falls. It is important that we practise rainwater harvesting and use the rainwater to relieve the pressure on our water supply schemes and systems.

Rainwater harvesting reduces the stress on our water resources and estuaries due to less extraction from rivers and dams during the rainy seasons. At the same time it makes storing more water possible for use during the dry season, ensuring reliable water supply for all throughout the year.

Rainwater harvesting prevents the wastage of rainwater through run-offs and the rainwater can then be productively used around the household and garden.

Rainwater can be fruitfully utilised for irrigation, flushing toilets, laundry and washing cars and other items.

Rainwater harvesting can play a major role in relieving the stress on our overstretched water resources. We can use the water in our water harvesting tanks for our everyday chores, thereby reducing utilisation of the water from the municipal system and thus relieving the pressure on our water resources.

Harvesting rainwater has many benefits for people and the environment. It reduces over-reliance on the municipal systems thereby also reducing the water bill.

Rainwater harvesting reduces the consumption of potable water thereby promoting water conservation.

It also ensures environmental benefits in that the water resources are not over stretched and depleted and the environment is spared from degradation.

As responsible citizens, let us be pro-active and use rainwater during the times of plenty and store some to use during the dry seasons when water becomes limited.

This will reduce the strain on water supply schemes and our water resources.

Let us embrace and practise rainwater harvesting to secure a future with enough water. Let us harvest rainwater and save.