Page 24 - LandscapeSA_112

RAND WATER EDITORIAL

WATER CONSERVATION

IN OUR ENVIRONMENT

BY ZAMA DUBE
South Africa is a semi-arid area with an average annual rainfall of 464 mm, making it
very susceptible to water scarcity. In the past few years, the country has seen a change

in patterns where some areas experienced increased rainfall whilst others had very little.
This pattern indicates that water is not an unlimited resource and it should be conserved
for sustainability. Below are water wise principles that everyone can implement:

1. Prevent water pollution: Water pollution has a negative impact lack of storm water runoff management can cause the following
on the quality of water and the life it supports. When polluted issues: floods that can damage infrastructure, and pollution
water makes its way into a river, the contaminated water is further from overflowing sewers, which can result in diseases, cross
transported to other water bodies. This results in a network of contamination of water supplies and erosion of water courses. The
highly polluted water downstream. benefits of well-managed storm water runoff are groundwater
2. decrease excessive use of water: It is critical that water usage recharge, reduction of floods and wetlands recharge, to name a few.
is decreased to avoid an increase in the extraction of water from 4. removal of invasive species: Invasive species need a lot of water
water bodies. Recycling (greywater, rainwater harvesting) in to sustain their growth and the presence of them near any water
households and businesses can help decrease the demand for body can be detrimental to the abundance of water. Invasive alien
potable water. plants in South Africa use an estimated 1.44 billion m of water, an
3
3. use permeable pavement: The use of permeable material for amount that can be used to supply 3.38 million households of four
pavements promotes the diffusion of rain water into the soil. The inhabitants for one year, or can irrigate 12 0000 ha of cropland.

Innovation in the garden can save water and look Rainwater harvesting is a great way to save Install dual flush toilets and low flow tap aerators
good too money on watering in your bathroom
Importance of water conservation The system allows the user to have consistent can be created in and around the buildings to
in the built environment supply of non-potable water by alternating enhance the environment and improve the
Homes between the use of rainwater during wet wellbeing of employees.
Studies conducted have proved that the use conditions and the use of greywater during
of greywater or rainwater in houses and multi- dry conditions. Landscapes and gardens
story residences can reduce potable water During landscape designing, landscapers
usage by 36 - 42 %. This proves that there are Green buildings can hydro-zone plants according to their
great benefits in the re-use of water within Companies looking at greening their working watering needs to reduce needless watering.
households. Greywater makes up about 70% spaces often do so by incorporating energy After planting, mulch (organic or inorganic
of major domestic wastewater, making it a saving technologies such as solar panels on material) can be used to cover the soil in an
good source for non-potable water uses. Re- parking or building rooftops, and light control effort to preserve moisture. This will reduce
use of captured rainwater may only provide to increase the amount of light flowing the amount of irrigation required.
limited water savings, as the volume stored through a window. However, it is equally
is restricted by issues such as rooftop area, important to safeguard water resources by Everyone is linked within the water usage
storage facilities and weather patterns. Thus, reusing rainwater and greywater for non- chain. In order for us to make a collective
it is important that careful consideration potable use. Companies can also consider impact, we can make the smallest changes to
is given when chosing the best system for using the hybrid system discussed above. our lifestyles, change how we perceive water
your home. It has been shown that a hybrid This will reduce the wastewater that enters and how we discard our waste. This will assist
system (a mix of greywater and rainwater the sewer system, whilst decreasing the us in preserving water not only for ourselves,
systems) may be a better option in efficiently environmental and health impacts associated but for all life on Earth.
reusing water for non-potable purposes with its management and disposal. Small
(flushing the toliet and watering the garden). gardens (e.g. rooftop gardens, living walls) www.randwater.co.za n

22 Landscape SA • Issue 112 2022