JOURNEY OF WATER ZAMBIA
10
Ways to Save Water
1
How to be aware of your water footprint: Determine your monthly water usage from your municipal bill, monitor use and keep track of your progress. Then set goals to become more water efficient.
2
How to sort out leaks: Switch off all water appliances and taps and check your water meter for leaks. Fix leaks as soon as possible, a leaking tap can waste between 30 and 60 litres of water each day.
3
How to make your garden water-wise: Plant indigenous drought-resistant plants, which require minimal watering. Also, only water your garden very early in the morning or after sunset to reduce unnecessary evaporation.
4
Use different ways to source water such as capturing rainwater from gutters to use in your garden. Link “Jojo” tanks to the gutter system to capture extra water for watering your plants
5
How to be more water wise at home: Reduce toilet water usage by adding a filled 2 liter soda bottle into the toilet cistern to displace water reduces water usage during flushing.
6
Tap is best. Zambia has good quality, drinkable tap water. It uses less energy than bottled water, and bottled water uses less than cool drinks.
7
Dispose of toxins responsibly: Do not pour toxic paint, sanitary towels, chemicals, poisons or pesticides into normal rubbish bins.
8
Identify and remove invasive alien vegetation from your garden and local wetland to protect and keep your local freshwater ecosystems pollution-free.
9
Consume with water-efficiency in mind: Be water wise and purchase water-efficient devices. Replace showers with ‘water-saving’ shower heads. Fit low-pressure shower heads to reduce the amount of water forced out of the shower per minute.
10
Think before you buy: Many of us don’t know that we consume most water indirectly through the food we eat and things we buy. E.g. - to produce one kilogram of beef requires 15 400 litres of water. A glass of beer requires 300 litres of water; a litre of milk 1000 litres; and a pair of jeans 11 000 litres.