Tips to Survive a Water Crisis

Water is the source of all life on earth, but are we doing enough to save it? At a time when access to drinking water is at an all-time low, there’s never been a better time to put some water saving strategies in place in your home.

Water is a freely available resource, yet it is a scarce one, often compromised by low-rainfall, heat waves that result in high evaporation rates, pollution, and the destruction of river catchments. South Africans have been lucky enough to pay relatively little for tap water up until now, however during a water crisis like the one many parts of the country are experiencing at present, households can expect to pay fines of around R6 000 if they exceed the current water restriction quotas.

The idea behind these penalties is to encourage responsible usage of water – that means no filling up of swimming pools, no more long showers, and definitely no washing down of driveways and pavements with a hosepipe. By refraining from these, and other wasteful activities, you will help ensure there is enough water in the dams for everyone. “It’s scary to think that many people don’t have enough water to meet their basic needs.

And it’s having a ripple effect – crops are also feeling the impact of the water shortages, meaning the price of food could go up substantially too,” says Jasmin Kraneveldt from Bathroom Bizarre, who believes the effects are huge and far reaching. Jasmin, along with Liam Gawne from Miele have come up with a few clever ways to help reduce your water consumption in the bathroom, laundry, and kitchen. Under pressure Water efficient tap aerators can be bought separately and manually inserted your existing kitchen taps, making them an affordable alternative to buying and installing a whole new water efficient faucet. “Bathroom Bizarre has a variety of aerators that restrict the tap water flow to as little as three litres per minute, reducing your water consumption by as much as 50% and helping you save money every time you open the tap to wash your hands,” explains Jasmin.

Spin doctor “Choosing a washing machine with a good water efficiency rating is a sure way to reduce your impact in our water-stressed times,” explains Liam Gawne of Miele, manufacturer of the world’s finest appliances. Rapid advances in technology have allowed appliance manufacturers to create products that meet the highest standards when it comes to efficiency.

Miele’s washing machines for example, have a load recognition feature that automatically recognises the size of the laundry load and adjusts the settings accordingly. Says Liam: “Basically, the smaller the load, the less water it uses. It also boasts a Flowmeter that measures the intake of water precisely and helps to further reduce overall water consumption.

” In addition, Miele’s revolutionary new W1 washing machine boasts the highest energy efficiency rating available on the market. “Doing the laundry is a necessity, but with Miele’s water and energy efficient laundry appliances, you can rest assured that you’re helping to reduce your environmental impact,” nods Liam.

Coming clean Dishwashers are commonplace in the modern home, and whilst they’re a large investment, they can actually help you save money. Miele’s dishwashers for example, boast an impressive A+++ energy rating, and use as little as 6.5 litres of water per cycle, helping reduce your utility bills in the long run.

“Today’s high-end dishwashers are extremely energy and water efficient, often outperforming the old-fashioned hand washing methods when it comes to the amount of water they use,” explains Liam. He points out that a normal running tap can use as much as 20 litres of water per minute, whereas a modern dishwasher can use between 10 and 20 liters of water per load – a substantial difference.

Liam recommends packing your dishwasher according to the instructions in order to maximise it’s capacity, and only running the dishwasher when the load is full. “It’s vital to acknowledge that we all play a role in water conservation. Reducing your water usage will not only save you money but it will also help save the environment. Because water is the essence of life,” concludes Liam. Contact: Miele