Aug
13
Sep
19
The relevance of reservoir-lake eutrophication for socio-economic development in South Africa according to Bill Harding DH Environmental Consulting.
When are you people going to wake up? We can have all the water in the world, but if it is not safe to swim in, or even drink, or even touch, it does not make much difference how much water you have! (Tulsa World, 8/8/2011)
Quantity is not the only crisis issue here! The water crisis is not about taps, toilets and AMD!
• Algae ‘enslavement’ threatens freshwater bodies…
• Warnings of toxic algae posted at Belwood Lake…
• Grand Lake’s $160 million p.a. industry at threat…
• “Sewage crisis” looms for Minnesota and other Great Lakes states…
Some recent headlines…
FACT: South Africa is critically-dependent on water stored in dams.
Many South African dams are ‘eutrophic’
What is Eutrophication?
Eutrophication = a proxy for the presence of wastewater-derived pharmaceuticals, Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) and other undesirable chemicals in the water stored in our dams.
Eutrophication impacts negatively
on:
• Ecosystem health (dams as ecosystems)
• Human and animal health
• Raw potable water (treatment costs)
• Irrigation (export and health issues)
• Aquaculture
• Industry (costs of treatment)
• Recreation / Property values
What is this costing us?
PlusEconomics/UASA (2010):
• 1% drop in water quality = 200 000 job losses and
an R18 billion increase in government spending;
• Poor water quality = less water available;
• Reduced household spending (R16 billion);
• R9 billion fall in fixed investment.
• Reduced agricultural, mining, tourism and manufacturing output.
Climate change is already making it worse
Sep
02
For all those ECO FRIENDLY people, who really cares about the environment this is for you. A recent episode on 50/50 known to help create a stronger awareness of conservation and environmental issues in South Africa investigated and lab tested all known washing powders on the market with the following discovery on Phosphates and how it effects our rivers and dams.
“Phosphates are chemicals that are essential in agriculture to promote growth in plants. They are also found in concentrated amounts in our domestic waste water. According to a 182-page report to the Water Research Commission released in July 2010, the phosphates found in powdered washing detergents contribute as much as 30% to the phosphate levels we find in our dams. It is this overload of phosphates that is responsible for the toxic algae blooms in many of our water ways across the country.
The report concluded that removal of phosphates from detergents is both beneficial and desirable and that phosphate containing detergents should be replaced with zero phosphate alternatives as soon as possible. We set out to make a program to inform our environmentally-aware viewers of the damage that phosphates in washing powders are causing to our stressed water supplies. In the course of making this program, we came across an unexpected discovery and in our show reveal one of the most important announcements to impact our water in a long time.”
We all can make a BIG DIFFERENCE just by one small act, by Installing a GREY WATER SYSTEM we take the load off our water ways and your garden will love you for that.
Aug
25
Jun
15
46 Percent of people on Earth do not have water piped to their homes. Women in developing countries walk an average of 3.7 miles to get water.
In 14 years, 1,8 billion people will live in regions of severe water scarcity. The time has come for every living being to count every precious drop – Water is life.
Our deepest dread is the threat of having too little.
Jun
15
Welcome to Water Rhapsody. Water conservation, water harvesting and grey water recycling. Rainwater harvesting provides you with a sustainable source of water which can be used for almost any purpose including irrigation, pool filling, toilet flushing, laundry and bathing. It provides you with emergency water in case your supply is cut off, and it supplements the municipal supply to help you lower the cost of your water usage. Harvesting rainwater is also good for the environment because it reduces urban runoff that overwhelms our stormwater systems and washes pollutants into our waterways.