If a dripping tap can waste as much as one litre of water per hour, imagine the amount of water wasted when that leaking tap is left unattended for months.
In an effort to curb water wastage because “Every Drop Counts”, the City of Ekurhuleni launched its Water and Sanitation Ambassadors and Data Capturers programme at the Boksburg Civic Centre on Tuesday last week.
A total of 100 ambassadors were recruited and over the next 12 months they will be responsible for collecting data, evaluating water meter conditions, leakages and other water loss-related issues in various communities.
The data collected will be captured by 20 data captures, who have been trained on the municipal EMIS system for further intervention and follow up by Ekurhuleni technicians.
At the launch of the initiative, executive mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele emphasised the important role the team would be playing.
“The work you will be doing will ensure that this precious resource, that has no substitute, is preserved for the future generation. As such you will be recorded in history as the young people from the City of Ekurhuleni who put a stop to water wastage,” he said.
Mr Sandile Nkosi (21), who could not further his studies after matric, expressed his gratitude at being part of such an important initiative.
“As the mayor said, waking up in the morning and doing something is better than sitting at home waiting for something to happen for you, while feeling sorry for opportunities that may have passed,” said Mr Nkosi.
“Water is life and it needs to be protected. I’m looking forward to educating my fellow citizens of the importance of preserving it,” he said.
The ambassadors will be deployed to areas where high water consumption and wastage has been recorded.
These include Boksburg, Daveyton, Etwatwa, Germiston, Katlehong, Kempton Park, Kwa-thema, Springs, Thembisa, Thokoza, Tsakane and Vosloorus.
Ekurhuleni residents are also encouraged to join in the fight against the unnecessary wastage of the City’s Blue Drop Certified water by fixing leaks in their homes and reporting leaks outside their homes and water meters through the municipal services call centre on 086 054 3000.
