Efforts to encourage South Africans to adopt a mindset to save water will be get highlighted during this year’s National Water Week from 20 to 26 March with the campaign to think smarter about water security.
This coincides with the two events by the United Nations (UN): World Water Day observed annually on 22 March, and the 2023 Water Conference co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands at the UN headquarters in New York.
The theme for World Water Day 2023 is “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible”, aimed at which aims at accelerating positive thinking to solve the water and sanitation crisis, and as well as educating the public about the importance of preserving water sources.
The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) the organisation of water bottling companies announced its support of the clarion call for consumers to adopt a water saving mindset.
The organisation’sof water bottling companies’ contribution to saving water is ensuring that consumers can enjoy safe, sustainable bottled water of high quality. These efforts also support the call by the Department of Water and Sanitation which urges everyone to use water sparingly.
Charlotte Metcalf, SANBWA’s chief executive officer echoed the call.
“By South Africans, I mean everyone: those who consume the country’s water and those who manage it. This focus on consumers and the public at large seems misplaced when South Africans have been bombarded with news of how those in charge of our country and its resources have neglected and mismanaged South Africa’s water,” said Metcalf.
It estimated that 70 million litres of clean and drinkable water is lost daily through several leaks that characterise South Africa’s water piping system. According to Metcalf, when faced with uncertain provision of water quality, SA citizens will turn to bottled water.
“But here, too, they should exercise caution and be wary of unscrupulous bottlers who do not adhere to South Africa’s legislation,” she warned.
“This is not the fault of ‘the public’ – and urging the public to utilise water sparingly does nothing to solve the underlying issue. Only a well-maintained and efficient distribution system can do that, and for that we need our municipalities and water boards to come to the party,” said Metcalf.
