This month at Water Wise
"Happy New Year!"
Welcome back from everyone at Water Wise!ย We hope you had a wonderful festive season and we would like to wish you the best for 2018! Whether or not you are the type of person to make New Year's Resolutions, have a look at our goals for the new year and see which ones you'd like to start implementing at home, at the office, or at school. Water Wise have compiled a list of activities we think will be a great way to start savingย water in 2018. Remember, South Africa is water-scarce, so regardless of the current water situation, it is essential that we start developing Water Wise habits now.ย If everyone reduces their water use and only uses potable water when absolutely necessary, water demand will decrease, reducing pressure on our precious freshwater resources. Have a great month and always be Water Wise!
Water Wise Tip of the Month:
- Water Wise goals for 2018:Reduce your household water use by 20% every month.
- Fix all leaks in your house.
- Learn how to read your water meter and monthly statement.
- Capture rainwater.
- Re-use household greywater (safely).
- Use tap water sparingly.
- Grow Water Wise plants.
- Start your own veggie garden.
- Be aware of how much water you use in daily activities.
- Encourage family and friends to be Water Wise.
Water Wise News (Click the headings in bold below to read each article)
Cape Town water crisis: 7 myths that must beย bust
"One of South Africaโs biggest cities, Cape Town, is gripped by a rising panic. People are haunted by the idea that they may soon have to queue for water, carefully rationed out by local authorities under the watchful eye of the army."
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Atlantic hurricanes' rapid growth spurts are intensifyingย 
"Hurricane Maria, which devastated the Caribbean in September, took just three days to grow from a tropical depression to a fully fledged category 5 storm as it marched across the Atlantic Ocean. A study now suggests that this type of dramatic growth spurt has become more pronounced in hurricanes..."
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Are icebergs a realistic option for augmenting Cape Townโs water supply?ย 
"With Cape Town staring down the barrel of the taps running dry, the question of the use of icebergs as an alternate freshwater source has once again begun to raise its head, around dinner tables, on street corners and in the press."
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Cape Town's 'day zero' brought forward by a monthย 
"Excessive water usage by Cape Town residents has prompted officials to warn thatย "day zero"ย could be as early as 18 March 2018. The day signals whenย taps are estimated to run dryย and residents will have to queue at designated sites for water."
Weather for December/January
El Niรฑo continues to develop towards a La Niรฑa state, and is expected to be in at least a weak La Niรฑa state throughout the summer period.ย Lower temperatures on average are also expected during the coming summer over the summer rainfall areas. This is due to the higher than normal number of rainfall days expected over the summer rainfall areas. The south western parts of the country is expected to have higher temperatures on average. The country can expect mid-summer (Dec-Jan-Feb) to receive above-normal rainfall accompanied by higher frequency of rainfall events exceeding 5 mm for the summer rainfall areas.
