Turn the tap off
It is no secret that we are facing a water crisis in South Africa, and while Rand Water last week announced that systems were under pressure, most saw the situation coming ages ago.
Water is a precious commodity that we have taken for granted. Driving down the streets of Joburg, people can be seen washing their cars with a stream of wasted water flowing down their pavements. People also hose down their driveways instead of getting a broom and dustbin bag – and this outside of their properties …
The list of how people waste water goes on and on.
It is not only residents who are guilty of this, though. Burst pipes and dripping taps that are left unfixed also play a huge role in the waste of water – and this is something that urgently needs to be addressed.
We have known for years that water is precious, yet we, as the general public, have not done anything about it. Did we think the problem would go away if we did not acknowledge it? Well, it is not going to go away and I believe we have now reached a point where we need to act, and act fast.
Justice Mohale, media relations manager at Rand Water released an urgent statement last week where he said all consumers must use water responsibly and sparingly. The word ‘all’ in this statement is key. He did not say some, or the majority of people – he said all. That is you, the neighbour next door, the City of Joburg and me.
Let’s all be aware of what we are using our water for and break the attitude of ‘I am paying for it, so I’ll do what I like with it’.
If you think someone is wasting water or could use it more sparingly – go and speak to that person and educate them on the situation we are facing. Maybe, just maybe, they have not given the water they receive a second thought.
If I have learnt anything over the past few years, it is that the communities in Joburg are strong when they stand together. Let’s stand together on this and fight for tomorrow. Let’s start becoming part of the solution!
