Have you saved some water today?

Abstract

From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, until we go to sleep at night, we use water for various purposes, from brushing our teeth, to bathing, cooking and washing clothes. I n South Africa, different communities receive their potable water in different ways. Some people, such as those living in cities and towns, have taps in their houses, while others have to fetch water from a tap in their yard or from a public standpipe. An estimated 6 million people in South Africa (2004 figures) do not have access to clean water. This means that these communities have to collect their water from ‘unsafe’ sources, such as rivers and streams. Today, as the world becomes increasingly urbanised, people use more water in their homes than ever before. According to Johannesburg Water, during the mid-nineteenth century, people would have managed with about 18 litres per person per day. By the 1940s this had increased to about 70 litres per person per day. By the end of the twentieth century this had increased further to about 160 litres.

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