Water Wise Watch - November 2022
31.10.22
TOILET DAY! SANITATION FOR ALL!
What is the importance of toilets? Toilets are critical because they provide dignity to people and in turn, develop the economy, improve health, and protect people's dignity and safety, particularly women and girls. The advantages of toilets include:
- Drinking water quality can be impacted by inadequate sanitation systems. When there are no toilets, the risks of water contamination increase dramatically.
- Health costs can be reduced by improving sanitation and hygiene. Open-air defecation contributes to the spread of diseases such as cholera and diarrhea.
- Make handwashing available within the toilet.
- After using the toilet, wash your hands with soap.
- Make sure toilets are kept clean and sanitary.
- Make sure the sewage pipes are working well.
- Check that the toilet's drainage is working properly and that no drain water is leaking.
The most effective way to commemorate World Toilet Day is to create and spread awareness to as many people as possible.
Saving water in the toilet
One of the best ways to reduce your demand on potable water is to reduce the amount of water you flush down the toilet. Toilet flushing can make up more than one-third of all household water consumption. This can be easily reduced by:
- Selecting a water-saving, low-flush or dual-flush toilet model - low flush toilets use six litres of water per flush, whereas other toilets use nine or more litres.
- Installing a variable flushing device in existing higher flush toilets will provide you with a choice of flush volumes, allowing you to save water.
- Installing a water displacement device in the cistern of an older model or higher flush toilet - these reduce the amount of water used per flush. For example, fill a 2-litre cooldrink bottle with water and place it in the cistern to save 2 litres of water with every flush.
- Instead of flushing disposable waste like tissues down the toilet, throw them in the garbage.
- Using your shower or bath water (greywater) to fill the cistern and then flushing the toilet with greywater.
Sources:
World Toilet Day
NiDirect
WISA 2022 Biennial Conference and Exhibition
As custodian for water sustainability and conservation, the Water Wise Team participated in the 2022 WISA conference. The WISA 2022 Biennial Conference and Exhibition is the flagship event for the Southern African water sector, bringing together regional and international water professionals, businesses, regulators, and stakeholders. The event started from 28 September to 30 September. The Water Wise team held a workshop on water conservation to increase awareness of the need to value water and to use it wisely. A fun activity involving the audience illustrated the importance of keeping shower time to below five minutes - and less, if possible. Try it yourself - choose one of your favourite songs, making sure it is less than 5 minutes long, and get your showering done before the song ends. Don't forget to sing along!
Sources:
WISA
WATER WISE LANDSCAPE
Water conservation can be increased by implementing water wise landscape principles. A water wise landscape can be designed with endemic and indigenous plants and features. Water can be saved in the landscape by designing with and choosing low-water-use plants, grouping plants based on their water requirements (hydrozoning), and scheduling irrigation systems efficiently and according to rainfall patterns. The steps below provide guidelines to water wise landscaping:
Plant selection
Plant selection is an important part of the design process because it allows you to choose the right plant for the right place.
- To help reduce maintenance and water requirements, use plant species that are adapted to the landscape environment's soil, water, temperature, light, and pest conditions.
- Incorporate autumn, summer and spring plants into each planting group to ensure that no part of the landscape appears bare. Consider the timing of the planting material's foliage, bloom, and seed head displays to ensure year-round interest.
Irrigation
Deeper root growth and healthier, drought-tolerant landscapes can be encouraged by proper irrigation.
- Group plants with similar irrigation needs together to provide adequate water to all plants without over- or under-watering some (i.e. hydrozoning).
- Plan your irrigation schedule so that each zone receives the appropriate amount of water.
Maintenance
Irrigation and irrigation system maintenance, pruning, and weed control are the primary activities of water wise landscape maintenance.
- Pruning, pinching or deadheading, and dividing your landscape plants will help you control their growth.
- Weed control is essential for maintaining a healthy water wise landscape because weeds compete for nutrients, moisture, and sunlight with desirable plants.
Before using the system for the first time, irrigation controllers should be checked at the start of each growing season to ensure there are no leaks or damage.
Sources:
Sunset
Extension
WATER SAVING STRATEGIES
Water-saving strategies for the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors:
Make use of efficient technology in kitchen areas.
Kitchens are a prime candidate for reducing water consumption in any facility. The items listed below can be retrofitted.
- Use a pre-rinse spray valve to rinse dishes.
- If a wok is used, it should be replaced with a waterless wok.
- Switch from boiler-based to boiler-less food steamers.
Install water-saving fixtures in restrooms and showers.
- Domestic water uses, such as toilet flushing, sinks for hand washing, and showering facilities, are common in industrial facilities. These are excellent opportunities for water conservation.
Effectively manage on-site laundry facilities.
Laundry consumes a significant amount of water in many industrial and commercial facilities.
- Consider installing a tunnel washer if large volumes of laundry are being processed.
- Consider the costs and benefits of using laundry systems that use recycled water or ozone technology.
Multi-load machines should be set up so that each cycle has its own settings.
Sources:
Shangoni
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