Page 4 - LandscapeSA Issue 110

ED’S COMMENT

NO ROOM FOR COMpLACENCy

n the 20th of January, the Vaal Dam On a smaller scale though, there are many
was reported to have been 110% ways in which people can save water in
Ofull and five sluice gates had been their homes. We all know what they are, but
opened. The reason for the unusually high perhaps it’s worth repeating a few of the
rainfall is the La Nina phenomenon, which is more obvious ones:
forecast to continue throughout summer and • don’t leave taps running while you are
into early autumn. La Nina is the colder and shaving, cleaning your teeth or rinsing
wetter parallel to El Nino. dishes;
• save bath and shower water in buckets and
While it is wonderful to have this abundance use for toilet flushing or watering plants;
of rain, let’s not forget that we are a water • make sure taps don’t drip, either from
scarce country and that the lean years will leaks or by forgetting to turn them off
no doubt follow, so we should never be securely;
complacent or wasteful of this rare resource. • fix leaks promptly;
people in Gauteng especially should remind • in the garden, use indigenous plants or
themselves of the dryness of Highveld succulents that don’t require excessive
winters, and how dull and dreary things amounts of water;
always look – the grass yellow and brown, • don’t clean pavements or hard surfaces Best wishes
the trees bare of leaves. Imagine if we could with water - use a broom or leaf blower;
change this by saving and harvesting flood • report water leaks outside your property Karyn Richards
waters! or on your street as soon as you see them. Editor