Learning from day Zero with Water Heroes
Although the countdown to day Zero no longer scares South African citizens,
the current Covid-19 pandemic has put more pressure in areas who continue to
live with little to no running tap water. This means citizens in these areas
are unable to practise washing their hands often to prevent the spread of
the Coronavirus. As most of us continue misusing water, what can we do to
open our minds to the reality that South Africa is and has always been a
water scarce country?
Water Heroes is an initiative driven by an experienced Water Engineer to
eradicate the misconception about Day Zero. This life changing initiative
was started after seeing that once Day Zero was cancelled, the majority of
water users in South Africa started to misuse water, thinking that it’s all
over. Water Heroes wants South Africans to continue living their lifestyles
as though Day Zero was still in its inception. This idea was brought by
when, between May 2017 and April 2018, Cape Town faced its worst drought
period ever experienced in more than 120 years. Water Heroes is here to
ensure that South Africans continue to save water beyond Day Zero by
starting a campaign that rewards Water Heroes to ensure that no South
African province will ever be faced with a challenge as bad as Day Zero.
The main factors which brought this water crisis into play were the three
consecutive years of below average rainfall which was a first in over forty
years. Then the low rainfall period which was coupled with a seven year
consecutive increase in water consumption levels which then plunged the
Mother City to the worst drought period in recent history.
The big positive out of this crisis was that Cape Town became the first
major city in the world that managed to drastically reduce its water
consumptions by more than half. The true Water Heroes in this instance are
the City of Cape Town residents who heeded the call to be water wise by
reducing their daily water consumptions and adopting a new fifty litres a
day lifestyle.
Water Heroes wants South African citizens to be aware that “Day Zero”
did not just start and end with the recent drought scare, South Africa has
always been a water scarce country. Although the topic of “Day Zero”
is no longer a scare, South Africa still has a shortage of water!
It is all up to us as the consumers to make sure that what we do today will
prevent our country from running out of water tomorrow. We want each and
every individual and business to play an important role in ensuring that
water is saved and that every drop counts.
After April 2018, Cape Town water crisis was not yet over as annual rainfall
has been on a decline for the past six years. It is therefore critical that
our Water Heroes remain water-wise to prevent ever going back to “Day Zero”
countdown. The message is clear; be water-wise and remain water-wise by
adopting the fifty litres a day lifestyle. For more practical ways to reduce
and maintain low water consumption volumes visit www.waterheroes.co.za [1]
or email savewater@waterheroes.co.za
ABOUT THE FOUNDER OF WATER HEROES:
Thokozani Zuma doubles up as the CEO and owner of Appmaniazar PTY (Ltd), a
Website and App Development company. He has qualifications in Civil
Engineering, Water Engineering as well as Mobile App Development with
Entrepreneurship training courses at some of South Africa’s trusted
universities and colleges. Having worked with water for more than a decade,
the qualified engineer turned CEO is passionate about water conservation and
educating the South African youth about the importance of conserving water
for a better future.
Thokozani Zuma is a highly skilled Water Engineer with 13 years of project
management, consultancy and design experience. He obtained his experience
through managing projects for the City of Cape Town’s Infrastructure
Department which included but were not limited to planning, budgeting and
construction of medium to large roads and storm water management projects.
The Water Heroes founder has also consulted and managed at a reputable and
highly innovative local engineering firm where he focused on the design of
dams, water and storm water pipelines.
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