In areas where water-shedding is already occurring, residents have already found themselves trying to adjust their routines in order to cope. Often, this comes at a major personal cost. Rather than going through a few trial-and-error solutions that drain your budget or putting this off until water-shedding has hit your neighbourhood, it’s far better and less expensive to prepare now. 

If you’re not familiar with the term, ‘water-shedding,’ then briefly, this refers to the deliberate and controlled restriction of water supply to certain areas, usually on a schedule, due to limited availability. The causes of water-shedding are thought to be aging infrastructure, low dam levels, drought, and overuse. It doesn’t help that our rainfall, already considered to be on the lower end, it is also highly unpredictable.  

Given all this, and the fact that South Africa is a water-scarce country (ranking among the 30 driest countries in the world), it makes sense that municipalities across the country have already begun implementing scheduled water cuts. 

If you’re interested in preparing for the ongoing presence of water-shedding in South Africa, then take a glance at this handy guide.  

Store Clean, Safe Water 

Keep around 5 litres of water per person per day for drinking and cooking, as well as an additional supply for washing and flushing. It’s important to use clean, sealable containers and label them with the date of storage. Make sure to rotate the water every few weeks to keep it fresh – standing water can be dangerous. 

Fill Up Beforehand 

Not everyone is so fortunate, but if your area gets warnings in advance, use the time wisely. Fill up baths, buckets, kettles, bottles, and even your washing machine drum so that you can take care of hygiene and cleaning. 

Keep The Loos Flushed 

Fill a large bucket with water and keep it near your toilet. You can flush manually by pouring water directly into the bowl – about 5 litres should do it. The last thing you want to do is clog your loo and wind up with a stinky problem.  

Cook And Clean Smart 

There are a number of tasty one-pot-wonder recipes available online, helping you to prepare simple meals. Limit dish washing to only when necessary and consider keeping some disposable (and biodegradable) cutlery and paper plates on hand. It’s way more convenient for those longer outages. 

Maintain Good Hygiene 

Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, and waterless hand soap are essential during water-shedding to keep the germs and bugs at bay.  

Care For Your Appliances 

When the water gets turned off, make sure that you go around turning off automatic washing machines, dishwashers, and sprinkler systems. If you have a geyser that refills with water, switch it off during shedding. The goal is to prevent damage, like burning out your geyser’s element.  

Collect Rainwater 

If you have space and budget, install a rainwater tank or barrel to collect and store rainwater that you can use for gardening, toilet flushing – and even washing if properly filtered. 

Feeling Informed? 

Unfortunately, it does appear as though water-shedding is part of a growing pattern in South Africa, and it really does make more sense to be proactive than to endure the disruptions with frustration and pay more in emergencies.  

We trust that this information will help you stay one step ahead. 

If you’re looking for more practical advice, budget-friendly ideas, and planning tools then please take a few minutes to explore AA Inform.