With reports of looming “water bankruptcy” and the City of Cape Town urging residents to drastically cut consumption during the hot summer months, water conservation has moved from a lifestyle choice like ‘minimalism’ to a priority.

South Africa is a water-scarce country, receiving only half the global average annual rainfall.

As we face the heat, saving water not only prevents “Day Zero” but also saves money on utility bills and reduces the energy required to pump and treat water.

We look into how to reduce your household water footprint.

Bathroom

The bathroom is often the largest consumer of household water, and in times of crisis, we need to ‘lock in’ (as they say) and start the water conservation in the bathroom.

1. The “yellow mellow” rule: We know, we know. No-one likes the ‘If it’s yellow, let it mellow’ rule but it is necessary. To avoid dry taps, the City of Cape Town suggests flushing only when absolutely necessary. It ha become a standard practice at home, work, and school. When you do flush, use greywater (recycled from baths, laundry, or showers) poured from a bucket rather than using the handle, if possible.

2. The Stop-Start Shower: Long showers are a luxury of the past. Residents are urged to keep showers to a maximum of two to five minutes. To make the five minutes worth it and more efficient, use the “stop-start” method: wet your body, turn off the tap to soap up, and turn it back on only to rinse.

3. The “washbasin” strategy: Every drop counts so place a bucket or a washbasin in your shower to capture the water that usually runs down the drain while it warms up or while you rinse. This collected greywater can be used to flush toilets.

4. Modify your cistern: If you must use municipal water to flush, ensure your cistern isn’t wasting it. You can reduce the flush volume by placing a one or two-litre plastic bottle filled with water into the cistern mechanism. This displaces water, saving litres with every flush.

Kitchen and laundry 

5. Full loads only: Whether using a washing machine or a dishwasher, ensure you wait for a full load before running a cycle. Modern washing machines have become more efficient, dropping from 150 litres per wash to around 50 litres, but running them half-empty negates this benefit. For dishwashers, skip the pre-rinse; scrape plates instead to save up to 1,000 litres a year.

6. The basin method: Similar to the washbasin method, never wash dishes or vegetables under a running tap. Using a plug or a plastic tub in the sink can save a lot of water. This water, too, can be repurposed for the garden.

7. Smart Cooking: Fill your kettle only with as much water as you need for that specific cup of tea. Furthermore, keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run the tap waiting for the water to cool down.

Summer gardening and pool maintenance

With evaporation rates on the Highveld and Western Cape high enough to empty a medium-sized swimming pool in a year, outdoor water management is critical.

8. Cover up: If you own a pool, a cover is non-negotiable. It significantly reduces evaporation, saving thousands of litres. During drought restrictions, topping up pools with municipal drinking water is strictly prohibited.

9. Mulch and timing: To save your garden during the summer heat, apply a layer of mulch (bark chips, straw, or leaves) to the soil. This can increase soil moisture retention by as much as 50%. strict rules apply to watering times: irrigate only at sunrise or sunset to prevent immediate evaporation.

The ‘silent’ leaks

10. Check your meter: It’s worth noting that leaks can account for 5% of all water used in a home. To check for underground leaks, turn off all taps and check your water meter. If the digital reading changes or the star wheel on a dial meter turns while no water is being used, you have a leak.

11. The Toilet test: A leaking toilet can also be a major offender, capable of wasting up to 100,000 litres a year. To test for a silent leak, put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern. If the water in the bowl turns coloured after 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak that requires a washer replacement.

IOL

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