EZULWINI- Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) launched ‘Nansoyakho Water Conservation Campaign’ which seeks to promote responsible water use.
Speaking at the launch, the EWSC Managing Director Jabulile Mashwama said that fresh, clean water is a limited resource. Occurrences such as droughts further limit access to clean and fresh water, meaning that individuals have to take steps to reduce water use and save as much water as possible.
Mashwama stated that Nansoyakho is a fun, eye- catching and customisable campaign that can be adopted by any individual or organisation. Through the Campaign, EWSC is presenting the simple things that people can do in and around their homes to reduce daily water consumption. ‘We are encouraging people to do their part without feeling it is too little to make a difference. The emphasis is stewardship, not hardship.’ she said.
Unpacking the Nansoyakho campaign, EWSC Public Affairs Manager Nomahlubi Matiwane said that Nansoyakho is an old Swati game played by children in a circle, where one person in the circle stands out to initiate the game, challenging another to cover a vacant spot. Matiwane said that EWSC has initiated the campaign and is calling institutions and individuals to action in water conservation.
The faces behind EWSC Toll Free 800 5000
EWSC seeks to partner with municipalities, hardware and retail stores, nurseries, public transport, banks, UN Agencies, SEC etc. on the water conservation promotion.
In addition to persuading consumers to change their relationship with water, the campaign seeks to address advocacy issues. Mashwama stated that water issues and interventions should remain a high priority on government agenda and this campaign seeks to ensure that water security issues does not fall off the radar.
Fill a jug with tap water and place this in your fridge. This will mean you do not have to leave the cold tap running for the water to run cold before you fill your glass.
Take a shorter shower. Showers can use anything between 6 and 45 litres per minute. Consider getting an aerated shower head, which combines water and air, or inserting a regulator in your shower, which puts an upper limit on flow rates.
Water outdoor plants in the early morning or at the end of the day. This stops water evaporating straight away in sunlight and heat. Also, water onto the soil rather than leaves.
Water your garden with a watering can rather than a hosepipe. A hosepipe can use as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour. Mulching your plants (with bark chippings, heavy compost or straw) and watering in the early morning and late afternoon will reduce evaporation and also save water.