The ways to respond to our looming Day Zero are as vast as the diversity in this country. But there seems to be two poles in conflict with each other: Those who have decided to do what they can to avoid it – as we still can. This means you’ve made your calculations. Minimum 3 million folk for 200 water points? I think best the City delivers the water in trailers behind the … [Read more...]
Solving SA’s water crisis is an ongoing job
The current drought may have brought water scarcity into the spotlight, but in truth, South Africa has been in crisis a lot longer. Clean and safe drinking water is still inaccessible to millions of South Africans. This World Water Day, on Wednesday 22 March, the Rotary SafeWater Project will be installing two community water filtration units and 30 household units at … [Read more...]
Cape storage dams have fallen to 35.7% of overall capacity
Combined water stored in the six main Cape dams fell to 35.7% of overall capacity (down from 36.9% last week). According to DWA figures published today, net outflows from the six main dams during this past week decreased to 10.4 Million cuM vs the prior week’s reported net outflow of 14.5 Million cuM. This implies a massive decrease in consumption, lower even that … [Read more...]
Temporary drought relief for Aliwal North
Extra water released from the Katse Dam at the end of last year is expected to reach drought-stricken Aliwal North, an Eastern Cape town on the Orange River. Water and sanitation director Margeret-Ann Diedricks gave the go-ahead for the release on December 31 in an effort to stabilise water levels in the Orange River. “The water was observed yesterday near Quthing in … [Read more...]
Pitch in and help Operation Hydration to send water to desperate communities
There are communities in South Africa so desperate for water that they are drinking sewage water. "Operation Hydrate" hopes to deliver over 1-million liters of drinking water to drought-stricken areas by the end of next week, in a bid to help desperate South Africans affected by severe water shortages. Some 350 000 liters of water have already been distributed to affected … [Read more...]
What is the state of environmental governance transparency?
Around 50% of the records requested from the Department of Environmental Affairs during 2015 were supplied to the Centre for Environmental Rights. The rest did not exist or were not under control of the Department. The Department of Mineral Resources released only 12.5% of requested records. The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has released its fifth report on access to … [Read more...]
SA insurers polled over fracking risk
Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) and AfriForum have formally approached South African Insurers and the South African Insurance Association to clarify their policy on the unique risks presented by shale gas mining and ancillary activities. With the advent of new technology and shale gas mining spreading at a rapid pace in the United States, insurance providers are … [Read more...]
A change of heart for water & sanitation
What do we use drinking water for in this country? “To flush our toilets, to bath or shower, to wash our hands and cars and to irrigate our gardens. How much of this drinking water is actually used for drinking?” asked Councillor David Botha (pictured, right) from the Stellenbosch municipality during the university’s World Walk for Water and Sanitation this week. The event … [Read more...]
My life for water
Why do lives have to be sacrificed before crucial human needs are addressed in this country? The water bubble finally burst when 4 people died in protest about poor water delivery. This propelled the truth about water onto public platforms. Do we really understand what it’s like to walk ten hours for one bucket of water? Up to the light comes the worm of corruption and … [Read more...]
Turn tap water into clean drinking water
On average you should be drinking at least two litres of water per day, enabling your body to flush out all the waste products. By not doing this you are putting your health and that of your family at risk. But let’s be honest: who wants to drink two litres of bad tasting tap water each and every day? Now great tasting healthy water (a 90% improvement in quality) is right … [Read more...]
Young girl’s wish provides hope
Samantha Paul was supposed to be planning her daughter Rachel Beckwith's birthday party. Instead, she was in Tigray, Ethiopia, pumping water from the wells built in Rachel’s memory. It was the dream her little girl never got the chance to see come true. "She wouldn't believe it, she'd be like awestruck," Paul told NBC News via Skype from Tigray. The Seattle mom herself was … [Read more...]
Shock and disappointment at SA’s fracking plans
What so many of us have been dreading, is now set to happen. The moratorium on exploration for shale gas has been lifted. “We find it both extraordinary and irresponsible that our government continues to pursue fossil fuel energy when South Africa has the best of renewable energy (RE) resources in the world,” Bishop Geoff Davies (pictured) from SAFCEI stated on hearing the … [Read more...]
Fracking plans need a unified voice now
Minister Shabangu’s announcement last Friday of the Department of Mineral Resource’s pro-fracking decision to cabinet ripped like wild fire through environmental circles the past week. If there is one issue that can unite all the different green role players in this country, I think it’s this one. The sensitive Karoo ecology is regarded as the heartland of the country by … [Read more...]
