Play your part this World Water Day
Everyone can commit to helping the world this World Water Day. The United Nations has provided a list of actions citizens can implement to help solve the worldwide water and sanitation crisis.
TODAY is World Water Day, and this year highlights the need to accelerate change to solve the worldwide water and sanitation crisis.
The United Nations observes World Water Day every year on March 22 and aims to raise awareness and inspire action.
Bronwyn Ragavan from the water sterilisation product, Milton, says, “Each and every one of us is affected by the need for water, and therefore it is the responsibility of every individual to do their part.”
Also read: Water supply challenges to southern areas
She said millions of people do not have daily access to safe water and sanitation across the country.
“This is not only a problem in South Africa but across the globe. A basic human right that is just not being given. In 2015, the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030. Sadly, the world is not on track to meet this goal,” says Ragavan.
Ragavan shared The World Health Organisation (WHO) stats regarding water and sanitation around the globe:
· 1.4 million people die every year, and 74 million will have their lives shortened by diseases related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene.
· 1 in 4 people around the world lack safe drinking water.
· 3.6 billion people, which is almost half of the global population, lack safe sanitation.
· 44% of the global population’s household wastewater is not safely treated – meaning that nearly half of the wastewater coming out of households (from toilets, sinks, drains and gutters) flows back into nature without the harmful content being removed.
Due to these frightening stats, Ragavan also shared ways that we as individuals can make a difference.
“We can make a difference by examining and changing the way we use, consume and manage the water we use every day.”
· Save water: Take shorter showers, and don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth, doing dishes and preparing food. Using a product such as Organico can limit the number of times you need to flush your toilet and help with waste management. Organico, when sprinkled into your toilet after use, uses microorganisms and enzymes to break down faecal waste. This allows human waste to degrade naturally without affecting nearby drinking water, keeping the community safe. There is no need to flush after every use.
· Eat local: Buy local, seasonal food and look for products made with less water.
· Break taboos: Talk about the critical connection between toilets, water and menstruation.
· Be curious: Find out where your water comes from and how it is shared, and visit a treatment plant to see how waste is managed.
· Make it equal: Share water-fetching between women and men, girls and boys.
· Protect nature: Plant a tree or create a rain garden – use natural solutions to reduce the risk of flooding and store water.
· Flush safe: Fix leaking water and waste pipes, empty full septic tanks and report dumping of sludge. Contaminated water can affect the purity of nearby water. If you are uncertain about your drinking water, use Milton to purify it before drinking. One Milton tablet can provide you with 10L of sterilised water, while 4ml of Milton fluid can provide you with 1L of sterilised water.
· Build pressure: Write to elected representatives about budgets for improving water at home and abroad.
· Stop polluting: Don’t put food waste, oils, medicines and chemicals down toilets or drains.
· Clean up: Take part in clean-ups of local rivers, lakes, wetlands or beaches.
DID YOU KNOW?
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