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Save blue drop, residents urged
26 November 2009 By Keotshepile wa Mogotsi The Department of Water Affairs (DWAF) in conjunction with the Mogale City Local Municipality has embarked on a vigorous road show, egging on local residents to know the status of their drinking water and to conserve and protect that blue drop. DWAF has put systems in place to ensure the steady sustainable improvement by responsible institutions of drinking water quality management. This has been done through the implementation of the prestigious Blue Drop Certification Programme, which empowers ordinary South Africans and international visitors to make sound decisions on tap water consumption. The road show, led by Mogale City’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), was kick-started in Munsieville, where scores of people arrived to learn about the importance of water. DWAF also organised a mobile stage blasting house tunes that lured more and more people to the cause. A unique initiative called “My Water”, which forms part of the Blue Drop Certification Programme, informed residents about the importance of their drinking water quality. At the same time, consumers were given information on drinking water quality performance in their area. According to a document issued by DWAF, drinking water quality management is the responsibility of municipalities. Thus, road shows allow the general public to be adequately and responsibly informed on the regulator’s confidence levels in drinking water quality management levels per service system (the town or city). The DWS has expanded the platform to inform the residents about water conservation. The department’s vivacious Maud Selebalo, who is the community facilitator for water demand management, raised awareness around the need to protect and conserve the country’s water resources. “As a municipality we have realised that people lack knowledge on how to save water. That is why we are here – to teach you how to save water,” she said. She urged people to report leaking pipes, burst water pipes, leaking meters and water running in the streets. Amongst the tips handed out during the roadshow, the department emphasised that households should stop using hoses when washing cars but rather use buckets, and that people can use water in a cup instead of running water when brushing their teeth. The government through DWAF has called on all South Africans to join efforts to conserve and protect the country’s water resources. Politicians and government officials have consistently reminded citizens that South Africa is a water scarce country and that the public are urged to make water conservation a part of their daily lives. Selebalo also highlighted the role water plays in sustaining all forms of life in South Africa and the linkages between water services, water resource management, water quality management, water conservation and water demand management. The roadshow culminated at the Swanieville Recreation Centre where youth mainly attended the session and were educated on better hygiene standards. In Terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 the management of Water Resources is an exclusive national competency. The National Water Act mandates the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to ensure that water is protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner for the benefit of all persons. The DWAF commenced with the 2010 Blue Drop audits and assessments on November 2009. All water services authorities and providers, including municipalities, are required to prepare accordingly and to be ready for an in-depth assessment of their drinking water quality management. The public will be informed on the outcome of these assessments when the Blue Drop 2010 report is released at the end of March 2010.
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 The waterfall at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, just one of Mogale City’s natural gems
Related stories Water quality compliance of reservoirs and towers – 2009 Mogale City residents 'not water wise' Sanitation project targets bucket system
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