This month at Water Wise
"Nature-based Solutions for Waterย "
We all know that water plays an important role in our everyday lives, and that we cannot live without this precious resource. But do you know where our water comes from? What supports and protects it? The answers are found in nature.
The United Nations (UN) has described nature based solutions as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (IUCN, 2018). These are essential to protecting and conserving our water resources because natural infrastructure such as wetlands, rivers and forests provide ecosystem services which include the purification of water.
Working towards water conservation starts as little as planting a tree, putting your litter in the bin and reporting leaks.ย
IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU!
World Water Day!
This year's theme is 'Nature-based Solutions for Water'. We are encouraged to value our world water resourcesย by reusing, not polluting, sustaining, retaining, restoring, and managing them.
Click here to visit the Water Wise website or use the QR code below
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Water Wise will be celebrating water month in March. As part of this initiative we will be launching our 20 years celebration campaign with the focus being on valuing the importance of water. Watch the space for more on the #waterwise campaign.ย
Environmental Days 2018
3 March:ย ย World Wildlifeย Day
21 March:ย Human Rights Days
22 March:ย World Water Day
24 March:ย Earth Hour
17-23 March:ย National Water Week
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Water Wise News (Click the headings in bold below to read each article)
Water: Why the taps run dryย 
"The world has abundant freshwater but it is unevenly distributed and under increasing pressure, UN agencies say, as highlighted by the severe shortages in Cape Town."ย
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KZN is not out of the woods, water levels still critical โ Umgeni Water
"KwaZulu-Natal's water supply is still at serious risk with one of the province's main storage dam levels critically low."
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Water for Nature, Nature for Waterย 
"Where does the water we use come from? From a tap, yes, or from a well or a river. But, behind these sources is nature, which cycles, stores, cleans and releases the freshwater we use. Water that keeps us healthy and fed, and that powers industry and the economy, come to us via nature."
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Water filtration breakthrough using metal-organic frameworkย 
"With two billion people worldwide lacking access to clean and safe drinking water, new research may offer a breakthrough solution. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a next-generation material..."
Weather for February/March
Temperature and rainfall
Temperature predictions mainly indicate on average lower temperatures. In Western Cape, however, higher temperatures are expected during autumn. Above normal rainfall over the far north-eastern parts of the country as well as over parts of the interior during early autumn (Feb-Mar-Apr) is also expected. During mid- (Mar-Apr-May) and late autumn (Apr-May-Jun), the south western interior are expected to experience above normal rainfall, and parts of the Western Cape to receive below-normal rainfall totals.
