In this issue:
Water Wise Tip of the Month from Leslie Hoy"To check for leaks in your home, first turn off all your taps and take a water meter reading. Wait for at least one hour with all the taps off. Take a second meter reading. If the meter reading has changed, you most likely have a leak that needs to be repaired.” |
This month with Water Wise - Brought to you by Rand Water and Water Wise
March is a busy month!
March is often regarded worldwide as ‘water month’, especially as World Water Day (WWD) falls on 22 March every year. World Water Day highlights the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources. It was first celebrated on 22 March 1993. The theme for World Water Day 2017 is ‘Wastewater’. WWD will encourage people to reduce and reuse their wastewater instead of wasting. The Department of Water and Sanitation will celebrate National Water Week from 13 to 19 March 2017. Water Wise will be busy at all Rand Water sites during the month of March and will be creating awareness of our Earth’s most precious natural resource and how to manage it sustainably and effectively. In specific, Water Wise will be encouraging employees to fix leaks at home and in the office. Also in March is Earth Hour: don’t forget to switch of all your lights for one hour on 25 March to celebrate this campaign.
Remember, always be Water Wise!
Water Wise Events - March 2017
- The National Water Week awareness campaign reminds us all of the value of water and the role it plays in eradicating poverty in South Africa. Do your bit for our water resources by finding out how you can reuse and recycle grey water. Click here for more.
- Celebrate Earth Hour on 25 March 2017 and commit to our planet by switching of your lights and other users of electricity for one hour, between 20h30 and 21h30. For more information on what you can do, please click here.
Drought FAQs www.droughtsa.org.za/faq.html:
- A drought is defined as a period of below average rainfall. The severity of a drought is determined by how far below average the rainfall is, for how long the dry period occurs, and to what extent available waterreaches the groundwater.
- An agricultural drought occurs when there is not enough moisture to support average crop production and grass production.
- A hydrological drought occurs when there is reduced stream flows and water reserves in aquifers, lakes, and reservoirs fall below a statistical average.
- A meteorological drought occurs after a prolonged period of below average rainfall (usually less than 70%), creating natural shortages of available water.
- South Africa has a unique topography that creates a variability in climate in both space and time.
- South Africa also has one of the most variable river flow regimes in the world.
South African Water Restrictions
The Drought SA portal was created by the WRC in order to provide up-to-date information on the current South African drought. As part of its services, it sources information on water restrictions throughout the country. Water Wise has brought that tool right to your fingertips.
Current dam capacities*:
Vaal Dam:
100%
Bloemhof Dam:
93.8%
Grootdraai Dam:
101.7%
Sterkfontein Dam:
88.7%
Gariep Dam:
92.0%
Vaal Barrage Dam:
94.4%
Katse Dam:
53.2%
*at time of print 28-02-2017
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Weather at Zwartkopjes
(Base Station - Zwartkopjes, South of Johannesburg)
For more information on weather in South Africa click here
Did you know?
A tap that drips at one drop per second can waste up to 30 litres of water an hour, which is approximately 260 000 litres of water in a year. This is the volume of an average sized swimming pool.
Water in the News
It's time to think about installing a grey water system - here are the do's and don'ts:
"Only two percent of the worlds water is fresh. As in, consumable. When that runs out, we are going to be in serious trouble...
Water restrictions to continue countrywide:
"With the recent rains across the country not making enough impact on the drought, water restrictions will continue, says the Department of Water and Sanitation."
Protect SA's wetlands:
"Government has called on NGOs, civil society, communities and other stakeholders to raise awareness about wetlands to protect and conserve them. Speaking on Friday at the Esselen Park Wetlands Pan in Tembisa..."
Cape's water crisis warning on freeway signs goes live:
"The City of Cape Town's water crisis warning on electronic freeway signboards has gone live, indicating how much water the metro has left at current consumption rates."
Days to remember:
13 - 19 March:
National Water Week
21 March:
World Forestry Day
22 March:
World Water Day
25 March:
Earth Hour (20h30 - 21h30)
Connect With Us
www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WATER WISE, PLEASE CONTACT US ON: 0860 10 10 60