Up until, a few months ago I was one of the many people out there that did not really give a second thought about the state of the environment or how I could actually do some good. That was until a couple of months back when my Brother In Law asked me to help him put together and stage a 1 hour presentation for clients of his on the Environment and how we are rapidly messing things up. I was always of the opinion that the people that wanted to save the world where tree hugging, dope smoking, vegetable eating ‘loonies” who tied themselves to trees and refused to wear leather and wore tie dye pants and shirts. This is not the case and many “normal” people are starting to understand the importance of looking after what little we have. This Blog is my way in just assisting in a small way. If we all play a small part I believe that it will add up to a Large whole……..so lets stop being lazy, lets stop pretending that it wont happen in our lifetime and lets stop pretending its other peoples problems.
I have also recently just moved to Port Elizabeth and as some of you may be aware is in the middle of a serious drought (the worst in 50 years) Dam levels are at a combined 35.6% (down 10.9 % since my arrival in December). One dam is down to 10.4% capacity with the fullest being at 44%. The experts predict unless we get good rains in the next few months we will not have water in October a mere 5 months away. Families are now down to 500 litres a day and it will soon be reduced again. People up north have had so much rain that they are sick of it, I cannot remember when I last saw a good rainstorm and I never ever thought that a bath would be a luxury.
So I have decided that after all those years of not doing my bit for the environment and for the sake of my daughter and one day my grandchildren I will write this Blog in the hope that a few people out there will red it and start to do what they can and make a contribution (no matter how small) to the planet we call home. And ladies and gents this is the only home we have, if it was to disappear the universe would not miss us, but we would surely miss all that we have here on Earth.
With the drought in the Eastern Cape I decided that this initial Blog should concentrate on Water and how we can save on this precious resource.
There is no resource more precious than water. There is also no resource that is misused, abused, misallocated, and misunderstood the way water is. Safe drinking water, healthy and intact natural ecosystems, and a stable food supply are a few of the things at stake as our water supply is put under greater and greater stress.
Before I give you a few hints and tips about how you save on water usage (that will also lead to saving of another resource that is dear to my heart …….The R) here are a few facts about water that most people are not aware of.
• Less than 1% of the earth’s water supply can be used for drinking.
• A small drip from a tap can waste as much as four liters of water a day.
• Two thirds of the water used in a home is used in the bathroom. (with the toilet being the biggest culprit as you can flush up to 400 liters of water down the drain every day
• Most of the world’s people must walk at least three hours to fetch water
• In SA it takes 3 liters of water to make one liter of bottled water.
• Leaving the tap running while you clean your teeth can waste nine liters of water.
• Waiting until you have a full load for your washing machine can save up to 70 liters
• Waiting until you have a full load for your dishwasher can save up to 30 liters
• A five minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath, saving up to 400 liters per week.
Here are a few easy tips on saving water that will not take to much effort or money to implement
• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 3800 liters per month.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation
• If your shower fills a 5 liter bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model.
• Collect water from your roof to water your garden
• Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety
• Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings
• Bath together (you can turn it into a romantic occasion)
• Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbours
Well that’s about it for this first Blog for more water saving tips you can log onto www.randwater.co.za and should you have any new tips for me or suggested sites I can send to friends and family then please forward them.
Remember if you don’t want to save the planet for yourself then do it for your children and their children.
Have a great week
The Village Idiot
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