The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), in partnership with the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM), has embarked on a water-saving awareness campaign scheduled for 3 to 7 October 2016 in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga .
The Drop-the-Block campaign is an eco-friendly innovation initiated by DWS for saving water by dropping a block in the toilet cistern to reduce water used for flushing. The block reduces the water in the cistern by about two litres, which means that two litres of water is saved for each and every flush in a toilet.
This week the campaign is taking place in Thulamahashe, where blocks are being dropped in households’ cisterns in the area. The community has been encouraged to play their part in water conservation and is also reminded of the importance of stopping water leaks in their households. Residents are also urged to report all leakages in the municipal pipelines because a drop of water is a precious source of life.
Furthermore, this campaign also offers a life time opportunity to those who seek work experience, which may come in handy as a breakthrough into the job market. In Thulamahashe, a total of 26 volunteers have been roped in to assist with the distribution and installation (dropping) of the blocks at different households.
South Africa is currently experiencing one of the most devastating droughts in many years, which makes each and every drop of water critical for the survival and well-being of its citizens.
This country is considered a water scarce country and is ranked amongst the 30 driest countries in the world.
DWS has ongoing awareness campaigns, but the Drop-the-Block campaign takes awareness further by assisting the communities implement water saving initiatives and actions.
The current drought has pushed the BLM to implement water restrictions as a way of encouraging the community to conserve the little water available, as the dam and river levels have dropped significantly.
South Africans from all walks of life are encouraged to form part of water saving mechanisms to ensure that we have enough water to sustain our lives and enhance economic growth in the country.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 072 024 6794
Themba Khoza
Cell: 082 600 5666
