There’s no doubt that the Western Cape is one the most scenic destinations in the world. And although it consistently tops the charts in terms of a must-visit holiday hotspot, the region has been hit hard by prolonged drought conditions and insufficient rainfall.
According to stats from the City of Cape Town, as of 4 December 2017, major dam levels are at 35.1%. This time last year, dam levels were at 53.3%, while in 2015 they were at 63.6% and 91.6% in 2014.
It’s important to note, however, that the last 10% of dam water is difficult to use, which means from the 35.1% that’s available, 10% of the water cannot be used.
As a visitor, you can help save water while on holiday. Here’s how to be a responsible tourist…
1. Cut your showers down to two minutes.
2. Collect shower and basin water and reuse it to flush the toilet.
3. Use your towel more than once. Instead of dropping it on the floor after a shower, hang it up. This will save water and electricity.
4. Don’t leave your taps running while you brush your teeth, soap up or shave. Turn off the tap during those in between times and use a reusable cup when brushing your teeth.
5. Avoid using the toilet as a dustbin as this can waste a lot of water. You also want to collect grey water so you can flush the toilet with it and flush less often.
6. Hold off on getting your clothes laundered. Wait until you have a full load of dirty laundry before tossing them in the wash or asking the hotel to wash them.
You can also save water by rewearing clothing.
7. Do not order water at a restaurant if you don’t plan on drinking it. Ideally, you want to carry a reusable water bottle that you can top up every now and then.
8. Instead of splashing in the hotel pool, pack a beach bag and picnic basket, and head to the beach.
9. If you’re preparing your own food, wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl and reuse cooking water to water plants, rinse or wash dirty dishes.
10. Every drop counts so make sure you close taps properly.
By changing your attitude and embracing water-wise practices, you can help the Western Cape save water.
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