It is estimated that 1.1 billion people globally rely on unsafe drinking water sources and that as much as 80 percent of waste water is being discharged untreated in developing countries.

A report found that if no action was taken, projected population and economic growth would lead to global water demand that was 40 percent in excess of current supply by the year 2030. – Sapa

The City has, since 2007, installed 41000 flow-restricting water meters – supplied by three different companies – outside residents’ homes.  They are programmed to dispense a pre-agreed amount of water a day. The amount can be set to only the free 6kl (200l a day) or higher.

Tenders worth over R50-million were awarded to the three companies and other firms responsible for installing them.  The meters form part of a broader 10-year water-saving and management strategy costing about R750-million.

The audit follows a letter by the SA Municipal Workers’ Union to former mayor Helen Zille, now premier of the Western Cape, in April 2009.  The union alleged that administrative malpractices may have been involved in the awarding of contracts.  Mashoko said the city ultimately wanted the devices installed in all households. “The main reasons for this are the dire need to reduce water losses and support the poor who cannot afford to pay for services.

“Because the initial focus is on the ‘pro-poor’ initiative of the city, all indigent households – with a property value of under R88000 – are being addressed, while, in a parallel process, all new households and developments, as well as meter replacements, (will see) these devices installed,” he said.

by Shanaaz Eggington

If you are passing by villages like Sri Kolayat, Khajuwala, Pugal or Bajju near Bikaner, security guards protecting tanks or even ponds are a common sight. These are places where water is scarce and theft rampant.

Shyam Lal, from Khajuwala, says the guards even keep animals away from quenching their thirst in the local pond. “There are 8,000 villagers and they depend on this water body. So, we have hired four security guards to protect the pond round the clock. And the pond is also drying. It hasn’t rained here properly for nearly five years.”

Guards also ensure that no family gets more than its share. Each family’s quota is decided based on the number of members in the household.

“Often, villagers take away water using pipes and electric motors. But we keep check round the clock and keep outsiders and stray animals away from the water tanks,” said a guard.

A senior police official told TOI that cases of water theft for the purpose of irrigation was higher compared to stealing of drinking water. He claimed the police are also doing their best to keep water thieves at bay but the villagers prefer to let private guards do the protecting. Even if it means pooling in hard-earned money to pay for it.

Hydro-geologist Fatchy Muhammad said rainwater was a valuable resource that should be collected as much as possible on the ground instead of being directly drained away.

“Rainwater has good mineral content, which should not just be washed to sea. If we provide water absorption, it will become groundwater and help manage floods at the same time,” he said.

Fatchy said his aim was to have balanced usage of groundwater and tap water.

When households or companies use groundwater, he said, they should first examine the availability of groundwater on their land. When the groundwater resource is in surplus, they can choose to use it or tap water instead.

“If they use groundwater, they should conserve rainwater by digging biopore infiltration holes or wells,” he said, adding that this would lead to balanced usage.

When asked about the groundwater tax applied to corporations, he said companies should pay based on the disparity between the groundwater they use and the rainwater they collect.

“Companies can use meters to calculate the amount of water they use. They can also calculate the amount of rainwater they absorb.”

Fatchy said people from middle- to upper-income groups had an obligation to dig biopores, while companies should dig wells. The city, he said, should construct man-made lakes for water absorption

“We already have a regulation stipulating that companies dig wells for rainwater absorption. The city has to supervise and enforce it.”

He said unchecked development led to green spaces like forests being turned into buildings, in turn changing hydrological functions, which led to floods in the rainy season.

The city, he said, should focus on restoring the land’s absorption function if the officials want sustainable water management.

Marco Kusumawijaya, from urban community rujak.org, expressed a different opinion, saying the city’s current method of draining away rainwater into including canals and rivers was the best short-term solution for flood mitigation.

He said rainwater absorption would be a better long-term solution for a better environment.

He said the city did not have a zero runoff law like Santa Monica, California, which limits surface water runoff from houses and streets.

“People would have to pay for water that flows from their house because the drainage system is considered a service,” he said.

The projects have the combined capacity to harvest 36 lakh liters (3.6 million liters) of rainwater annually, benefiting the schools and surrounding communities.

“Rain water harvesting has emerged as a viable option to redirect rainwater into the ground, which otherwise goes waste,” said Dr. Saleem Romani, former chairman of the Central Ground Water Board.  “We need to persuade more people and society at large to take up rain water harvesting projects.”

But the project isn’t a first. Coca-Cola and its bottling partners have installed more than 500 rain water harvesting projects in 22 states in the country, in an effort to contribute to better water management.

In other environmental efforts, Coke and its bottling partners said last month all their new vending machines and coolers are expected to be hydrofluorocarbon-free (HFC) by 2015. The move to HFC-free refrigeration is expected to reduce the equipment’s direct greenhouse gas emissions by 99 percent.

Assuming your new year resolutions are well on their way, have you set any green resolutions for this year? Are you planning on reducing your carbon footprint or will you continue to consume without care?

Just because 6 billion other people seem not to care, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to either. It starts with you, each individual. Every decision you take will make a difference to others and our environment!

What will you be doing this year to make it 2010 a green year to remember?

Here are some random ideas to help you tread more lightly on earth:

1. Buy local, think local and travel local. Support your community and in return you support our world!

2. Cycle to work once in a week or as much as possible and improve your fitness at the same time.

3. Save trees – only print necessary documents on recycled paper, replace paper with cloth napkins, use a message board instead of notes, use bleached free toilet paper, etc.

4. Install a grey water system to irrigate your garden with the water from your bath, shower or hand basins.

5. Have a shower instead of taking a bath.

6. Switch from disposable to reusable products – beverage containers, cups, plates, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc.

7. Buy second hand goods if it doesn’t absolutely have to be brand new and donate your old goods to those in need.

8. Harvest rainwater and use it for daily purposes of laundry, washing, toilet, irrigation, etc. and we will gladly assist with the installation.

9. Eliminate chemical use in your garden, rather opt for natural or organic controls.

10. Create your own compost right in your garden without it costing you a cent.

11. Recycle

12. Grow your own vegetables and fruit, you’ll be able to taste the hard work you put into it and it will taste beter than you can buy.

13. Eat unprocessed/unpackaged food whenever possible.

14. Use solar power to heat your geyser and pool.

15. Switch appliances off when not in use, stand-by mode uses almost as much energy as when in use.

16. Keep lights switched off, install a skylight and by now you are surely using energy-efficient bulbs.

17. When turning on a water faucet, unless you need warm water choose the coolest water setting.

18. Install a WaterRhapsody Multiflush unit in your toilet and use only the required amount of water to flush the pan.

19. Plant a tree! When last have you done this?

20. Keep coming back here for more tips, there are many more so please feel free to share!

Its best-case scenario it projects a water shortfall in two decades of 2.9 billion cubic meters, rising to 3.8 billion cubic meters if moderate climate effects are taken into account and 5.4 billion cubic meters with accelerated economic growth. Currently water supply is about 15 billion cubic meters.

But it says South Africa can close the gap provided it adopts a mix of solutions, chiefly infrastructure investment in water transfer schemes.

State-owned water utility Rand Water said last month that it faced a R5bn funding shortfall between 2010 and 2015, when it would invest R8.6bn to augment infrastructure.

The report, which looked at demand and supply in China, India, Brazil and South Africa, found that under an average economic growth scenario, world water requirements would surge to 6.9 trillion cubic meters – or 40 percent more than current accessible, reliable supply.

Desalination, the removal of salt from sea water, is listed among South Africa’s most expensive options. Van Olst said many people regarded desalination as a “silver bullet” but its carbon footprint was very high and transport costs restricted its use to coastal areas.
The report calls for strong co-ordination and co-operation between water users.

Van Olst believed water would be “high up” the agenda of National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel’s commission.

Manuel earlier this month noted that while alternatives existed to generate energy, there were none for water!

Africa should resist a course of “water for profit” in favor of water “as a right”, but he cautioned: “We’re living on earth in 2009 with the same amount of water that was available in 1900, meanwhile the global population has quadrupled”.

Beijing

recycling in a bid to ease water shortages in the city. By subsidizing low-income residents, officials say the price hike will not impose an excessive financial burden on ordinary people.

Authorities say Beijing is short in water resources. With an average of less than 300 cubic meters of water resources for every citizen, the city’s water resource level is far lower than the 1,000 cubic meter international standard. Over the past decade, the water supply shortage has been aggravated by 9 years of drought. Officials say the price hike has three main goals.

First, to establish and perfect a water-pricing mechanism that makes sufficient use of price leverage in the allocation of water resources.

Second, to strengthen sewage treatment capacity. The increase in the sewage disposal fee will be funneled into the treatment of wastewater. By 2012, the city should make use of 80 percent of its used water, up from 57 percent in 2008.

Third, to encourage water conservation. The higher water fee will be used to set up a fund to support and encourage resource-saving, environmental protection and improved water use efficiency.

Authorities also say that subsidies will be given to those covered by a low-income social security network amounting to 10 cubic meters per household per month. Other measures include the imposition of stricter oversight of water-supply companies to control cost, and to improve service standards for residents.

THREE GOALS OF WATER PRICE HIKE

1. Establish and perfect a water-pricing mechanism that makes sufficient use of price leverage in the allocation of water resources.

2. Strengthen sewage treatment capacity. By 2012, the city should make use of 80 percent of its used water, up from 57 percent in 2008.

3. Encourage water conservation. Set up a fund to support and encourage resource-saving, environmental protection and improved water use efficiency.

We all need to be aware of what impact our daily choices will have on our one and only mother earth.

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