Tuesday Life Hack: 6 essential ways to save water

Dam levels in many provinces are still low and the government has urged people to continue to save water as we anticipate a very hot summer. In addition, between October and mid-December 2019, the country will experience below-average rainfall that would be accompanied by hot temperatures thereby raising evaporation levels in the dams. Saving water during hot temperatures might seem like a huge feat but it’s the small change in habits that will have an impact.

Here are some water-saving tips:

1. Bucket showers

Ask any Capetonian and they’ll tell you about this method of showering. The two-year drought in the Western Cape forced people to change their behaviour when it came to saving water. Keep your showers short. Put a bucket in the shower and use the water collected to flush the toilet.

2. No need to flush all the time

There’s a saying: “When it’s yellow, let it mellow, when it’s brown, flush it down”.  Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily as this wastes water. Rather flush when it’s number two. Don’t forget to dispose of waste in the trash bin instead of flushing it down the toilet.

3. Don’t leave your tap running

Whether you are washing your face or brushing your teeth, close the tap and save up to 37 litres of water a day. Rather use a glass of water when you brush your teeth and fill the basin when you wash your face.

4. Full washing loads only

When doing your washing, make sure you do a full load to save water.

5. Use greywater from baths and showers

Gauteng is currently on level 2 water restrictions, which means you cannot use your hose pipe to water your garden. Use greywater from bucket showers and baths to water your garden instead.

6. Check for leaks

Leaking taps around your house can waste hundreds of litres of water and in turn, spike your water bill. Make sure you check pipes and taps inside and outside your house thoroughly. Monitor your water metre as well to make extra sure.