Cape Town – #SaveWater Ambassadors have called for increased saving of water following an announcement that there is unlikely to be “Day Zero” this year.
“If anything, we have to increase the saving of water and focus on bringing down usage even further,” said Chief #SaveWater Ambassador, Yusuf Abramjee.
Ahead of World Water Day on Thursday, 22 March, a number of events are being planned by the Department of Water and Sanitation, Operation SA, Miss Earth SA and partners like the Cape Argus.
We continue to advocate to #SaveWater and remember that we are a water stressed country and #EveryDropCounts.
South Africans must learn to save this vital resource to ensure that other parts of the country don’t have to deal with a ‘Day Zero’ situation in future.
Yes, saving water is now a reality that we and our children have to work towards as we work together to create a #WaterSmartNation.
Every South African has to change their mindset now so that over time, apart from just saving water, we can build up sustainable alternatives to deal with global water challenges.” #SaveWater Ambassador, Lance Witten, who is also the live editor at the Cape Argus said: “Even though Cape Town’s residents have done exceptionally well to avert a real humanitarian crisis by saving water and drastically reducing their water consumption, the fact that we may have staved off a ‘Day Zero’ scenario cannot lull us into a false sense of security.
He said the call to #SaveWater will continue.
Michelle Bagley from the Amy Foundation also appealed to South Africans to continue water saving efforts.
Abramjee called on municipalities across the country to introduce #SaveWater campaigns.

THE ARTICLE “How City can counter water shortage” (Cape Argus, March 6) by Lester September is compulsory reading for every councillor.
Failure to take timely action, as happened with the current water crisis, burdens daily existence, impedes economic growth, scares tourists and reflects poorly on those mandated to foresee problems and have advanced plans in place.
I agree wholeheartedly with that.
On November 3 I sent a five-page letter to the Interim Planning Committee explaining in great detail why the city should not countenance the application for rezoning of 12 portions of erven 558 in Philippi.
The two ANC members abstained and it was left to the ACDP and Cope to vote against the application.
Growth is essential but it can never be at the expense of ecology and the environment.
The future is certainly going to be daunting because of long-term water scarcity.
Furthermore, land subsidence and salt water ingress into the aquifers will leave us more challenged.
I pointed out previously how the very centre of Mexico City, which houses the city hall, is sinking because of excess water extraction and inadequate recharging of the aquifer it sits on.
At that point, residents will start demanding why the council had not foreseen the problem and taken appropriate measures.