Department of Water and Sanitation calls for water users in Gauteng to use water wisely

The Department of Water and Sanitation is calling on water consumers in Gauteng to significantly cut back on their water usage due to a planned shutdown of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnel system for purposes of inspection and maintenance. The shutdown, which has been gazetted and took effect on 13 September 2019, will last for two (2) months, starting from 01 October until 30 November 2019. No water transfers to the Vaal River System will be possible over this period as the tunnel will be drained for these inspections and maintenance work to be done.

The LHWP augments the water resources in the Vaal River System that provides water to Rand Water, Sasol, Eskom and a large number of smaller users. During the inspection and maintenance work, water consumers and especially the farming community will be affected. This therefore necessitates that water users heed the call to use water with the utmost sensitivity to the limited water supply.

It is the duty of every water user to be mindful of our country's depleting dam levels and to adapt their water use accordingly. If individual water users could do their part in saving water an even great impact could be made on keeping the dam levels stable.

Tips on being water wise in the house

• Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath, will use a third of the water used bathing in a bath tub, saving up to 400 litres a week. Showering can use up to 20 litres of water per minute.
• If you prefer to bath, do not fill up the bath tub. Taking a bath can use between 80 and 150 litres of water per bath
• Use low-flow shower-heads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-efficient washing machines.
• Use “grey water” — used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources to flush your toilet.
• Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car. If you have to use a hose, use a sprayer that can be turned off in between spraying the car. Using a garden hose could use as much as 30 litres of water per minute.

Tips to be Water Wise at work place and business:

• Factories should take care of how they discharge mercury and other heavy metals into waste water.
• Reducing the toilet flush volume alone can save 20% of total water consumption. This can be done by putting a 2-litre cold drink bottle, filled with water and a little sand to add weight, into the cistern.
• Fix a leaking toilet. Otherwise it can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in one year.
• Do not pour paint and chemicals down the drain.
• .Farmers must ensure that they keep toxic insecticides away from water sources and streams.

Tips on garden/landscape maintenance

• Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening, when temperatures are cooler. Between 10:00 and 15:00 one can lose up to 90% of water to evaporation.
• Group plants according to their water needs and mulch around them.
• Water gardens less frequently.
• Rain water can also be stored in tanks for watering gardens.
• Use “grey water” — used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources — to water your garden.

Source: http://www.dwa.gov.za/drought/docs/water-saving-tips-english.pdf