WATER FACTS & TIPS
WATER SCARCITY
There is less water than we think.
South Africa is regarded as a semi-arid country. We have an average of 450mm of
rain per year and a high rate of evaporation. Conserving water is the
responsibility of all in South Africa – every drop counts.
Ways to use less water in the home.
Showering could use up to 20 litres of water per minute.
If you prefer a bath, don’t make it full. Taking a bath could use between 80 and
150 litres of water.
Reducing the toilet flush volume alone can save 20% of total water consumption.
Putting a 2-litre bottle filled with a little sand into the cistern can do this.
Fix leaking toilets. It can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in a year,
Kettles should be filled with just enough water for your needs. This will reduce
the electricity bill too.
Reduce the amount of water you use per day: re-use water where possible.
Ways to use less water in the garden.
Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening.
Between 10:00 and 15:00 you can loose up to 90% of water to evaporation.
Focus on indigenous and non –invasive alien plants with low water demands.
Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks for watering gardens.
Use “grey water” from baths, washing mashines and other safe sources to water
your garden.
Water safety.
Learn to swim and beat the power of water.
Water is often said to be “life”, but water can also take lives. People who
access dams, rivers and lakes should be able to help themselves in water.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWAF) in partnership with Swimming
South Africa (SSA), supports the Rural Splash Programme.
Important tips for water safety.
Never swim alone. Adult permission and supervision is very important.
Never dive into a river, lake or dam if you have not tested the depth and
checked for hidden obstructions and obstacles first.
Before swimming in a river, always make sure that there are no crocodiles or
hippos around.
Do not throw rubbish in the water or polute it in any other way. Protect,
conserve and manage our scarce water resources.
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