One article from the City of Cape Town said that “The time to save water is when there is water to save”. As the dam levels continues to deteriorate the City Municipality continues to impose strict measures to save water, however in this article we will look at the current status of the dams as they are the main source of usable water and how residents can help fight this situation.
The City of Cape Mainly rely n water supply from the 6 major dams in the region see table below.
Threewaterskoof which is the one of the biggest dams and main sources has a capacity that approximately equals all the other dams combined. The dam has been receiving less water due to less rain in the region, this has impacted on a big scale to the water shortage in the Western Cape Region.
Here are some of the ways we can do in homes to save water..
- Only flush the toilet when necessary. Don’t use it as a dustbin.
- Cut your showers to two minutes. A standard (non-water-saving) showerhead can use up to 16 litres of water per minute.
- Collect your shower, bath and basin water and re-use it to flush your toilet, water the garden and wash your car.
- Wait for a full load before running washing machines and dishwashers. The rinse water from some washing machines can be re-used for the next wash cycle.
- Use a cup instead of running taps in the bathroom or kitchen when brushing teeth, shaving, drinking, etc.
- Defrost foods in the fridge or naturally, rather than placing it under running water.