Theme: Water is life: Respect it, Conserve it Enjoy it
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Ms Edna Molewa is calling on all South Africans to join the department in celebrating National Water Week by making a positive contribution towards efforts to conserve and protect the country`s water resources.
The country’s already scarce water resource is further threatened by high levels of pollution in dams and rivers, water wastage that occurs in our homes as a result of leaking taps and pipes and a lack of commitment to conserve water by industries and the agricultural sector.
National Water Week is an annual awareness campaign of the Department of Water Affairs which seeks to focus attention on water as a scarce and precious commodity in our country.
Minister Molewa is therefore appealing to every South African to take practical steps to conserve and protect water resources. This means citizens are encouraged to use at least one of the water saving tips the department has introduced. These can be found on the department’s website www.dwa.gov.za and on various other media platforms available to all South Africans.
Celebrated under this year’s theme: Water is life; Respect it, Conserve it, Enjoy it, National water week aims:
- Raise awareness around the need to conserve and protect water resources.
- Highlight the Departments plans and achievements as custodian of the country`s water resources.
- Ensure water is put firmly on the national agenda.
- Encourage everyone to use water sparingly at all times.
- Call upon all citizens to ensure each person uses water wisely and sparingly at all times.
- Remind citizens that South Africa is a water scarce country and that water is a finite resource.
During National Water week a series of key activities are planned across the country. Minister Molewa and Deputy Minister Rejoice Madubafhasi will lead some of the events and activities (programme of events).
Minister Molewa will also lead a delegation to the 6th International World Water Forum (WWF) in Marseilles France from 12 to 17 March 2012. The 6th WWF is billed as a “Forum of Solutions” which aims find practical solutions to water related problems.
The launch of National Water Week will take place at the Vaal Dam on Monday 5 March 2012. This will be a Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement initiative aimed at highlighting the illegal activities compromising water use in the very important Vaal River system which forms the backbone of the country`s economic hub.
Contact:
Linda Page
Cell: 083 460 4482
Themba Khumalo
Cell: 082 802 3432
