We can all agree that water is one of our most precious resources. Cape Town’s water is at critical levels and only we have the power to do something about it.

The City is currently implementing Level 5 water restrictions.

With only 28.5% of usable water left in the Western Cape the time to save water is NOW!

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First things first. Let’s get the basics down:

– Only use drinking water for necessary cooking, drinking, and hygiene inside the home.

– Do not wash cars or water your garden with drinkable tap water.

– Check your home for leaks regularly and make sure to fix any leaks immediately.

– Don’t let the tap run while brushing your teeth or washing the dishes.

Conserving as much water as we can should be a top priority. Here are some practical ways and also some extreme ways to save water in your day to day life and to help you keep your water usage under 87L.

Make Every Drop Count

1) Limit flushing your toilet. You know the saying: If it’s brown, flush it down. If it’s yellow, let it mellow…

2) Shower every second day and limit to 2min. Make use of baby wipes and dry shampoo to freshen up between showers. Make sure you have a water saving shower head installed.

3) Use hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands.

4) Instead of washing your face, use facial and makeup remover wipes.

5) Place a bucket in your shower to collect the water. Use that water to flush your toilet or water your garden or wash your car.

6) Reduce cooking with water by baking, steaming, microwaving or frying instead of boiling.

7) Use a cup in the bathroom for rinsing, shaving and brushing your teeth instead of using running water.

8) Install water efficient taps or fit existing taps with aerators – these can reduce water flow from 20-30 liters to 6-10 liters per minute.

9) Consider going meatless on Monday. It takes 50 000 to 100 000 liters to produce 1 kg of beef

10) Limit the tap water you drink to under 8 glasses. This includes water used in tea and coffee

11) Only wash your clothes when necessary and wait for a full load. Only run 1 rinsing cycle.

12) Wash your underwear and socks by hand while you are in the shower.

13)  Placing a plastic bottle or ‘hippo bag’ into your toilet cistern will reduce the amount of water per flush at little to no cost.

14) Harvest rainwater and use for general cleaning, washing your dog, washing your car or watering your plants.

15) Ladies, wax your legs instead of shaving.

16) Replace the plants in your home and garden with succulents and other drought-tolerant plants that do not need much water.

17) Replace grass with paving, cobblestones or artificial grass.

Let us know which of these water saving tips you are already implementing in your home and feel free to share with us what other creative ways you have come up with to reduce your water usage.

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