The Cape Town sun continues to bake down and provide us with those endless summer days (there are no signs that it is going to end anytime soon), but as much as we enjoy all that goes along with it, there is a topic on everyone’s lips. Water restrictions and water conservation
Mayor Patricia De Lille has recently stated that the plea for water conservation has fallen on deaf ears and that water usage, since the implementation of water restriction level 3B, has risen. With dam levels at an all-time low of 36% (10% of which can’t be used), and ±135 days of usable water left, the situation has become increasingly alarming, and a concerted effort is needed by all members of the public.
We’ve come up with five simple ways to conserve and reuse water around the home.
- Check For Leaks
Trickling water is a major contributor toward water waste – 1 drip per second on a single tap can waste up to 75 litres per day and up to 11 356.24 litres per year! Make sure you thoroughly check all hoses, connectors, geysers and taps regularly to ensure that there is no waste, and also to save on your water bill.
- Don’t Leave The Tap Running While Doing The Dishes
If you have a double-basin, make sure to fill one with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If you have a single-basin rack and then rinse with a pan full of warm water. Using the basin and then letting the water run while rinsing can use up to 40 litres at a time (depending on the number of dishes).
- Keep A Bottle Of Drinking Water In The Fridge
The summer sun heats the copper piping naturally making the water warmer. And what’s worse than drinking warm water on a hot summer’s day? Running tap water to cool it off before drinking has become somewhat of a habit, but it’s wasteful. Rather store drinking water in a bottle and place it in the fridge.
- Trade The Bathtub For A Quick Shower
The average bathtub has the capacity to hold 80 litres, and the average 8-minute shower uses 62 litres. If you are an owner of a shower slash your shower time to 4-minutes, however, if you only have a bathtub, make sure you use the bath water in your garden or pot plants.
- Rinse Your Razor In The Sink & Turn Off The Tap When Brushing Your Teeth
You may not think too much about this, but if you are an average family of 4, and leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or while shaving, you wasting up 18 litres of water per week. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and rather fill a small amount of water to rinse your razor.
We as Webafrica are trying to do our bit by making the conscious effort both in the office and at our homes to save water wherever we can – join us in making a difference and saving water.
Let us know how you are saving water. Send us pictures, videos or leave a comment.
Footage courtesy of Mille Foto.
