As temperatures rise, Kwikot shares practical ways households can protect one of South Africa’s most precious resources
Summer means hotter days, thirsty gardens and swimming pools that need topping up. But in a water-scarce country, the warmer months should also remind South Africans that every litre matters.
South Africa is one of the 30 most water-scarce countries in the world, making the way we use and manage water increasingly important. The challenge is set to intensify, as according to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s National State of Water Report, without sufficient intervention, South Africa could face a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. DWS National State of Water Report 2024 – Water Security
More concerning is what lies ahead. DWS’s National State of Water Report indicates that, without intervention, South Africa could face a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. DWS National State of Water Report 2024 – Water Security
“Water security isn’t something that sits only with government, municipalities or industry. It starts in everyhome,” says Murray Crow, Managing Director of Kwikot. “The small decisions millions of South Africans make every day can collectively make a significant difference.”
Here are 10 ways households can save water this summer.
1. Shorten your shower
DWS recommends taking a five-minute shower rather than a bath. Turn off the tap while soaping or shampooing and consider installing a water-efficient showerhead. DWS Water-Saving Tips
2. Hunt down hidden leaks
Check dripping taps, toilets, outdoor plumbing and visible pipes regularly. A toilet that continues running after flushing can be particularly easy to overlook. Fixing leaks saves water without requiring any change in daily comfort.
3. Change your garden routine
Water gardens early in the morning or later in the evening when evaporation is lower. Mulch can help soil retain moisture, while indigenous, water-wise plants can reduce watering requirements.
4. Make every drop work twice
Capture the water that runs while you’re waiting for a shower to heat and use it in the garden or elsewhere around the home. Where safe and appropriate, suitable grey water can also be reused rather than immediately going down the drain.
5. Cover the pool
Swimming pools can lose significant water through evaporation during hot weather. Cover the pool when it isn’t being used, check regularly for leaks and avoid unnecessary topping up or excessive backwashing. Always observe local water restrictions.
6. Put away the running hose
Use a bucket when washing the car and sweep patios and driveways rather than hosing them down. A simple shut-off nozzle can also prevent water running continuously when a hose is necessary. These outdoor behaviours are among DWS’s recommended household conservation measures. DWS Water-Saving Tips
7. Catch summer rainfall
A rainwater tank connected to gutters can provide water for gardens and other suitable non-potable uses. Even smaller containers can help capture rainfall that would otherwise disappear into stormwater systems.
8. Fill appliances before pressing start
Run washing machines and dishwashers with full loads rather than several partial ones. In the kitchen, wash vegetables in a bowl instead of beneath a continuously running tap.
9. Don’t forget your hot-water system
Water and energy efficiency are closely connected. Heating water that ultimately goes unused wastes both resources, so address leaking hot-water pipes, taps and system faults quickly and maintain water-heating equipment properly.
“People often think about water and electricity as separate household expenses, but hot water connects the two,” says Crow. “Using hot water more efficiently means we’re being more responsible with both resources.”
10. Make water saving normal
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, teach children not to leave water running, monitor your water meter for unexplained consumption and report municipal leaks. DWS’s Water Use Efficiency Campaign similarly emphasises behavioural change as an important part of protecting the country’s water resources. DWS Water Use Efficiency Campaign
Saving water before we have to
Households cannot solve South Africa’s water crisis alone. Ageing infrastructure, municipal water losses, climate variability, investment and effective management require systemic intervention. Household conservation should complement, not replace, the work required to strengthen the country’s water infrastructure.
“South Africans have already shown that we can change the way we use scarce resources when circumstances demand it,” concludes Crow. “The goal should be to make water-wise behaviour normal before a crisis forces us to.”
With a potential 17% supply-demand gap looming by 2030, conserving water is no longer something to think about only during restrictions. This summer, every drop counts.
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