The Newcastle Municipality took part in the National Water Week programme which started on March 15, under the theme, Water is Life.
“Water is a scarce resource and therefore we need constructive and innovative ideas to manage and conserve it,” said Zandile Masondo, from the municipal Communications Unit.
National Water Week is an awareness campaign initiated by the Department of Water Affairs. It serves as a powerful mechanism, reiterating the value of water, the need for sustainable management of this scarce resource, and the role water plays in eradicating poverty and under-development in South Africa.
According to Ms Masondo, the theme coincides with South Africa’s celebrations of 20 years of freedom and democracy. This momentous occasion presents an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on the way freedom and democracy was achieved, the progress made in the past 20 years and how South Africans will work together.
She said the essential aim of the National Water Week Campaign was to fulfil the implementation plan identified as one of the 20 areas to be addressed.
“The ultimate goal will be to promote the efficient use of water to consumers and customers on one hand and to ensure minimal water wastage from the source to the end user. The department uses the water week as a vehicle to communicate and propel awareness campaign on drought,” she said.
Mrs Masondo said a culture of water conservation awareness needed to be continually created in the Newcastle municipal area.
“One important method of creating such a culture was to create an awareness of the facts and the ways in which the users and the general population can contribute towards remedying
water wastage that is taking place. Each individual needs to understand their role, responsibilities, and obligation in the water provision cycle, as well as the detrimental effects of not playing a positive part in the cycle,” she said.
The municipality urges the community to save water and to report visible pipe leaks, ensuring people understand water is indeed a scarce resource in our country. The prevailing drought is a grave concern and all stakeholders are engaged and sensitised about looming water challenges in our area of supply.
“The National Water Week would be used in to spread out warnings about the severity of drought experienced in KwaZulu-Natal,” she concluded.
This year’s campaign targets municipal officials, ward councillors, identified communities primarily in Madadeni east, oSizweni and schools in Madadeni, oSizweni and Blaauwbosch.
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