1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: A story in a couple of the bulletins the city 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: saying that they might announce further water restrictions next week. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: And there really was a lot of response from listeners 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: to that, asking questions which perhaps revealed a lack of 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 1: attention to detail and so on. A lot of concerns, 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: a lot of suggestions, many of them sensible. So I thought, 7 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: let me get somebody who knows about water, Peter Johnston 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: recently with the UCTs Climate Systems Analysis Group, to come 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: in and Helopeter. Let's talk about water. 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: Hi, john. 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: Let's start with the with the prospects for rain with 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: reasonable certainty, people like you can talk about the next 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: seventy two hours. The longer you go beyond that, the 14 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: less certain you become. The South African Weather Service has 15 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: a lower than average forecast for the winter rainfall season. 16 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: But just to stress that, they always say that there's 17 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: very low skill associated with that, which doesn't mean that 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: the people compiling the data are bad at their job. 19 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: It just means that the variables are so complex that 20 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: it's almost impossible to be certain about what's coming up 21 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: over the next four months. 22 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 2: Certainly, winter rainfall in the Western Cape is it comes 23 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: in the forms of frontal systems which develop in the 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: Atlantic Ocean, and they're very unpredictable, and they aren't influenced 25 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 2: as much by systems or by phenomenon like El Nina, 26 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: which affect the summer rainfall region and have a very 27 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: strong influence on that. So we don't have we don't 28 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: have influences on the Western Cape rainfall that are strong 29 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: or that are as visible. We do have some inklings, 30 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: and those all in the models, and the four different 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: models that we have access to are all indicating that 32 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: it's likely to be below normal this winter. Of course, 33 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: then there are a couple of questions on what is 34 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: normal and when is winter start. And we know that 35 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 2: the average rainfall over the years the climate, if you like, 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: the rainfall really starts in the month of May, June, July, 37 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: and August. Those are our biggest rainfall months for Cape 38 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: Town Central. We're looking around fifty in May and August, 39 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: and then between one hundred and one hundred and twenty 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: during the other months. There is always a possibility of 41 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: rainfall in autumn and in late spring, so we can't 42 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: discount that. But if we look at the three month 43 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 2: periods May June, July, June, July, August, and July August, September. 44 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 2: All the models are indicating normal to be low normal rainfall. 45 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 2: So when we have to ask ourselves, so what's normal rainfall? 46 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 2: We know what that is. Our lives are used to it. 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: We agriculture and water is used to that. So if 48 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: we have a signal that says we mixed expect or 49 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: that there's a possibility of lower the normal rainfall, then 50 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 2: we have to adapt. 51 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: Okay, but I mean lower the normal rainfall. The dam 52 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: levels on Monday morning collectively for Berg Reversity and Ruslow 53 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: and Upper Tiervartusk Cloff which is by far the biggest dam, 54 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: full flaand Vemus Hook at forty nine point two percent, 55 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: and that is the lowest in twenty twenty one. I 56 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: don't have the twenty twenty one figure in front of me, 57 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: but last year it was sixty six, the year before 58 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: sixty seven, twenty twenty two it was fifty eight and 59 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: seventy three percent in twenty twenty two, So you know, 60 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: ten percent below normal has our dams fall by the 61 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: end of September. So it's the percentage below it's the 62 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: percentage below normal that we have to think about and 63 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: prepare for. 64 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: Certainly, the dams are the canary in the coal mine, 65 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: and theams are indicating to us how much rainfall we've had, 66 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,239 Speaker 2: how much water we've got available, But the dam's can't 67 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: tell thisys how much rain is going to fall. But 68 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 2: it is essential to realize that once the dams do 69 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: drop to levels that are well below the normal or 70 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: the average that we've seen over the years, we must 71 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 2: take note because not only temperatures increasing and were losing 72 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: more water to evaporation, we also have increasing demand in 73 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: the city, as one knows, so one has to plan 74 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 2: for that as well. 75 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: There are restrictions in place which the city continuously reminds 76 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: us of, but they're not particularly onerous. It's around watering 77 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: not after nine and not before four, so more watering 78 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: before nine and after four. And if you're washing your car, 79 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: you need to have a hose pipe that has a 80 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: switch off of the flow, and a couple of things 81 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: like that. And I don't know what restrictions they might 82 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: be contemplating to introduce next week. Do you think at 83 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: roughly fifty percent dam levels the city should have acted sooner. 84 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 2: We've been saying that since November when we know the 85 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: rain the dams weren't full, and November is when generally speaking, 86 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 2: the city would institute new or different water restrictions. What 87 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,679 Speaker 2: they're doing now is essentially saying, look, don't waste, don't 88 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: waste word, don't leave that tap running, don't let a 89 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: hose pipe just run, don't water during the day when 90 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: evaporation is high. But that is really it's ignored by 91 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: many people and certainly not policed. I haven't heard a 92 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 2: single person who's been prosecuted because they've done that, So 93 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: it really hasn't made much difference, and our consumption has 94 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: gone up. So if the city's looking at those resections 95 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: and said they haven't made much difference, one would have 96 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 2: thought that other more restrictive conditions would have been brought 97 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: in earlier. Where we're actually now trying to restrict our 98 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 2: usage and not saying don't waste. We're trying to reduce 99 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: what we would normally use. 100 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: We are using just over one thousand million liters of 101 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: water a day the city's target for this time of 102 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: years nine hundred and seventy five million liters a day 103 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: across the city. And I don't know whether that's business 104 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: and citizens, or whether it includes agriculture. 105 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 2: Do you know wouldn't include agriculture for the city figures? 106 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: Okay, so those city figures numbers can can be confusing. 107 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: But do you have a sense of what would be 108 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: a responsible amount of water on a daily basis for 109 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: the city to be using? So oney, eighteen million liters 110 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: was the figure for Monday. For the previous seven days, 111 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: nine hundred and seventy five of the target, What do 112 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: you think the target should be? 113 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 2: Well, the target of nine and seventy five has obviously 114 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: been calculated, but these numbers are particularly meaningless to the 115 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: man in the street. So I think they should look 116 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: at them and saying, look, individual usage should be this much, 117 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 2: certainly for personal use and domestic use. Business uses a 118 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: different story. But if you're looking at personal use and 119 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: people have got access to their water bowl and can 120 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: see how much water they're using, and they can see 121 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 2: how much water they're using per day, and divided by 122 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: the number of people in the house, one would suggest 123 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 2: that anything over one hundred, two hundred and fifty liters 124 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 2: is far too much. 125 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: During that in the seven days up till Monday. A 126 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: couple of days ago, we the average water use was 127 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: we find it one hundred and seventy five liters per 128 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: person per day. 129 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: Correct during the days you're a drought, we were recommended 130 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: to use six seventy five and even fifty, and of 131 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 2: course that was extreme two minute showers, recycling as much 132 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: as you can, buckets in the shower, et cetera. But 133 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: if one looks at those figures and says, well, one 134 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: fifty is even more than enough, and there's certainly plenty 135 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: of ways you can cut down from one fifty. So 136 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 2: I think you know, the fact that we're using one 137 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: seventy five is really too much. A household of four 138 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: should be restricted to five hundred liters, in my opinion. 139 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: Five hundred liters a day, which is one thousand, five 140 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: hundred liters a month about and let me, I'm I'm 141 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: just twenty fifteen thousand liters. I'm just having a look 142 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: at what I use in my one person home. I 143 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: use a total of I'm just counting five. I am 144 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: using one eight hundred liters. 145 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: A month a month. That's sixty liters a day, which 146 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: is very good. 147 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, Okay, I didn't realize I was such a world 148 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: to worry. 149 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 3: You are and I can be proud. 150 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: Of myself and yes, the evidence in front of me, 151 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: the use I'm I'm just having a look opening another screen. 152 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: For the first set of leads, you pay twenty one 153 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: rand fifteen cents. After that you pay twenty nine rand 154 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: and six cents, and then when you go up to 155 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: another level you pay forty three rand and forty four cents. 156 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: Is that a good metric? Is that a good tactic 157 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: strategy to get people to think about their. 158 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: Water step tariffs have always been a strategy that the 159 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 2: city is used and they said, if you want to 160 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: use more water, then you must pay for it. That 161 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: enriches the city to some extent if people continue to 162 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 2: use the same amount. But clearly the intention is to 163 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: gather the same amount of water and the same amount 164 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: of money for less water. So if they increase the tariffs, 165 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: they want to get you to use less water, but 166 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: they want to have to get the same amount of money. 167 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 2: And having increased cross for water surely is something that 168 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: you know, we turn people off using a lot of 169 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 2: water and wasting water, but it's a collective responsibility. I 170 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 2: think you know, I've always said that people should feel 171 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 2: that they want to save water and not just for 172 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: financial reasons, but financial reasons certainly are a good indicator. 173 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: And we don't know what, if any water restrictions the 174 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: city might announce. But if they were consulting you on this, Peter, 175 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: what would you say, Look, this is it's too late. 176 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: You should have done this a month ago. But what 177 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,959 Speaker 1: you should be announcing on Monday next week is that 178 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: as of now, these rules will apply. 179 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: What would be your rules, Well, certainly, you know some 180 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: dire things are not using hosset pipes at all, washing 181 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 2: cars with buckets of water that certainly uses a less water, 182 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 2: or if you have to use a pressure hose, which 183 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 2: uses much less water than a hosepipe, but certainly not banning, 184 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: but restricting the use of hostpipes. So washing cars for 185 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: watching gardens, obviously you mustn't be hosing down solid services. 186 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 2: That's completely unnecessary. We are looking like we are going 187 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: into the rainy season. It does look like we'll have 188 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 2: sum rain, so gardens are not going to need constant watching. 189 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 2: So hopefully it's a good time to introduce the restrictions 190 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: because people won't suffer very much. It's not going to 191 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 2: you know, the heater seems to be going and that 192 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: certainly is at a terrence. We do use less water 193 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: in winter, It's absolutely clear. So one it expects the 194 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 2: consumption to go down. But now as a chance for 195 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: the city to say, right, we want you really now 196 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: to stop using these things so we can get maximum 197 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 2: advantage of the water we've got. 198 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: But again we go back to the point that you 199 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: raised earlier. The policing of these restrictions, whether they are 200 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: more stringent than they are at the moment, significantly more 201 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: stringent or a little more stringent, the enforcement of them 202 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: is not going to be any different people. You know, 203 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: there might be a note let me if I say 204 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: nosy neighbor that implies a negative judgment. We might have 205 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: a concern neighbor who reports someone in the street who 206 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: is using obviously more water than is allowed. I don't 207 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: know what the city's response would be, what level of 208 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: follow up would be, but ultimately the punishment comes through 209 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: the bill. 210 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 4: Correct. 211 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: That is the only way the city can really police 212 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: what's going on, Because some people will have boreholes and 213 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: they don't have signage up and they will just say 214 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: I'm using a borehole and then to go onto someone's 215 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 2: property to prove that they are not is very tricky. 216 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: So ultimately, yes, it is the price, but one would 217 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 2: hope that the city would say, listen, we're not just 218 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 2: punishing you, because we went to we really really encouraging 219 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: everyone to use less water and to make that a habit, 220 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 2: and therefore the prices are going up to encourage you. 221 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: If you use less water, you will pay the same price. 222 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: So no one's really suffering. But if you can cut 223 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 2: down wastage, I think that's very very important, because we 224 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: do all waste a lot of water. Think of that 225 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: cold water that runs in the shar before it gets hot, 226 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: that what essentially is just wasted. 227 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: The conversation with Peter Johnston, who until fairly recently was 228 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: with the Climate System's Analysis Group at UCT, will continue 229 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: after the news and we will be talking about water augmentation. 230 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: I was having a look earlier today again at the 231 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 1: city's strategy of how by twenty thirty it plans to 232 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: add three hundred million liters of water a day to 233 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: the current supply. And we'll talk about what people could 234 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: and should be doing in their homes strategies. You know, 235 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: whether their gadgets that one could shouldn't be could and 236 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: should be buying and would got a couple of messages 237 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: in already and keep them coming, ask questions, make comments. 238 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: Let's stir things up a. 239 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 5: Little capital WhatsApp join on seven five six seven one 240 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:39,719 Speaker 5: five six seven. 241 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: Twenty two minutes to four. Peter Johnston recently with ugt's 242 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: Climate Systems Analysis Group in the studio with us talking 243 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: most things water in relation to Cape Town and rainfall 244 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: and how much water is left in our dams and 245 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: what we couldn't should be doing. I asked you for 246 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: comment and we're starting to get quite a lot of 247 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: comment four WhatsApps. We'll just play them voice notes. We'll 248 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: play them one after the other, and then if Peter 249 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 1: Field's comment is necessary, heal offer it. 250 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 3: Hey, john a very interesting conversation about water. You sation 251 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 3: to consumption. But I think you guys are giving too 252 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 3: much credit to us South Africans. I don't think that 253 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 3: in average, Alofacan thinks in terms of how many liters 254 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 3: per month or per day or a number of people 255 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 3: in the heart. I don't think people think in those terms. 256 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,719 Speaker 3: Those are scientifics who think in that way. I think 257 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 3: this should be brought down to a language where you 258 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 3: say Okay, what do you do with water every month? 259 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 3: Maybe you wash your car five times, Maybe you should 260 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 3: watch it three times desert of five times. Or maybe 261 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 3: you fill up a kettle when you actually want just 262 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 3: a little bit of water, Or maybe you watch three 263 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 3: times a day, maybe you should watch one time. That 264 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 3: sort of thing. I think that's the language that it 265 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 3: should be brought down to done. How many middile of water? 266 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 3: That's too high level for too many sarvigans me things. 267 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 5: Hi, John, I just thought i'd share that from the 268 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 5: last time we had the daisylow in the city, I, 269 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 5: through campaigns and awareness, I really did become more water conscious. So, 270 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 5: for example, I still shower with a bucket in my shower. 271 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 5: I don't even put the load back on the toilet 272 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 5: anymore because that toilet tap is off. I use the 273 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 5: shower water to refall the toilet all the time. I 274 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 5: have two buckets in the shower. I don't shower, I 275 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 5: don't shave with the open tap anymore. I now put 276 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 5: it into a bowl and I clean the blade of 277 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 5: that way. So there are few habits that I have 278 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 5: continued since the last days, you know, and it is 279 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 5: true that it really is up to individuals to change 280 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 5: our behaviors. 281 00:14:54,160 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 4: Hello John, Yeah, I'm quite surprised. The was a by 282 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 4: law introduced in about twenty seventeen that all complexes, all 283 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 4: blocks of flats, et cetera, had to have meters water 284 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 4: meters at each unit. This was eventually shelved when COVID 285 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 4: came into operation for some reason, and it hasn't really 286 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 4: been enforced. And I was involved with five or six 287 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 4: complexes where we fitted water meters individual water meters, and 288 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 4: it made a tremendous difference on the usage of the 289 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 4: total usage on the complex because what happens now is 290 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 4: that the total amount of water used gets divided between 291 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 4: all the units and the complex. So the one guy 292 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 4: that uses one thousand meters a month, he is so 293 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 4: obsidizing the guy next door that's using ten thousand liters 294 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 4: a month. Basically, the municipality should bring this thing back 295 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 4: in so that they can install all these water meters, 296 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 4: because there's a lot of complexes that haven't got water 297 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 4: meters and just don't want to install them because of 298 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 4: the cost involved. But it saves a tremendous amount of water. 299 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 4: This is John from Balbell. Thank you for your program. 300 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 6: Hi, John. We are a family of four and okay, 301 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 6: so I do have a porehole, but our water consumption 302 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 6: is twelve killer liters a month, like on average, and 303 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 6: it's not like we so we do still capture the 304 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 6: water in our shower in the mornings and use it 305 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 6: in the toilet, but not my goals, which I'm going 306 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 6: to start doing now again. But I mean, I was 307 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 6: horrified the other day in one of our groups for 308 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 6: the for the for our neighborhood and people were complaining, oh, 309 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 6: the city's rates are so high, and then in the 310 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 6: end that this person was using fifty ks of water, 311 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 6: and I'm like, that's insane. The city should like drinking water. 312 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 6: The city should then charge you flipping fifty random months 313 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 6: to use that amount of water. 314 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 3: That is just not on. 315 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 6: So that is the problem that we have. People are 316 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 6: are just wasting water because it's really not that expensive, 317 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 6: it seems if. I mean, I can't get my head 318 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 6: around we don't. It's not like we really just restrict 319 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 6: ourselves in the house. So for you know, if we're 320 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 6: using twelve kilos of water, how is someone using fifty 321 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 6: It's just it's insane. 322 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I couldn't agree more Okay. Peter Johnson of X 323 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: of the UCT Climate Systems Analysis Group, Solly's point about 324 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: not talking in numbers but talking in behaviors. 325 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 2: Yes, I think individuals have a problem with numbers and 326 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 2: knowing exactly how much water they use. But one could 327 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 2: put out things like a toilet flush is twenty liters. 328 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 2: You know, boiling of kettle with five cups of tea 329 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 2: day is so much water. Average shower is so many liters. 330 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: So those sort of numbers could make it more meaningful 331 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: to individuals. But if you don't measure it, then you 332 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 2: can't monitor it. So I think some of the other 333 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 2: callers talked about actual measurements and talked about kille leterers 334 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: and talked about their usage. So I think on the 335 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 2: one and it's important to realize that people aren't really 336 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 2: interested in total use or perhaps the total thousand megaleaders 337 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 2: per month or whatever or per day, but they maybe 338 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: can relate to more useful metrics, like the amount of 339 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 2: leaders that they use. The second point was I think 340 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 2: instead of saying you guys are in bad habits and 341 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 2: you guys are doing this and this wrong, maybe the 342 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: slogan should be making new habits when it comes to water, 343 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 2: make new water habits. That to me is a nice slogan. 344 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 2: Where we change the way we use water. We change 345 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 2: we could change back if you like, to what we 346 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,640 Speaker 2: did in the drought. Buckets and showers not the most 347 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 2: efficient way. They are diverters that you can put at 348 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 2: the top of your shower head when the water is 349 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 2: then piped and can go straight into your twile to 350 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 2: or it can go straight into some other receptacle where 351 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 2: you could do that so you don't trip over a bucket. 352 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 2: There are low flow errtors that can be installed that 353 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 2: reduce the amount of water in the shower. For example, 354 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 2: so you slave a five in a shower, but you're 355 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 2: using fifty percent less water. And many innovative ways that 356 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 2: we can cut down the water. But once again, it's 357 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 2: useful for us to know how much water we using 358 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 2: and if that's related to the amount of water we're 359 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 2: spending on water each month, then that's also a good thing. 360 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: Let's talk for a bit before we perhaps, if we 361 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: have time, go back to practical tips, practical ways of 362 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: thinking about using less water and look at the city's 363 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: water resilience strategy. The city says it wants by the 364 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 1: year twenty thirty to have three hundred million liters of 365 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: water a day extra from what is available at the moment, 366 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: and that is roughly one third more than what we're 367 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: using at the moment. Is that going to be enough 368 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: given the fact that the people moving to Cape down 369 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: will continue to increase, probably at the rate that that 370 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: kind of inward migration is happening at the moment. So 371 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: but yeah, maybe the focus should be on reu should 372 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 1: be on equally on augmentation of production. So they're talking 373 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: about the one that seems closest because they're talking about 374 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: starting work next year in twenty twenty six on a 375 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: desalination plant at Fura, which will add between thirty and 376 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: fifty million liters water a day at a cost of 377 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: five billion rands. And I'm not sure that's money being 378 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: world spent. So there's that there is a better use 379 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: of ground water, and there is reuse of water. And 380 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 1: somebody messaged me yesterday and say we should talk to 381 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: Ta Vintook, where one hundred percent of their water is recycle. 382 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: So what do you think of that strategy? 383 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 2: Broadly, Yeah, we have to be very very careful, you think, 384 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 2: because we near the ocean that desalination isn't option. It 385 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 2: certainly isn't option, but it's very, very expensive and uses 386 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 2: a lot of electricity. It's tricky with the reverse osmosis. 387 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 2: You've got byproducts, you've got salt, You've got to keep 388 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 2: replacing the filters. It's a very tricky one, even though 389 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,919 Speaker 2: it's there and it's used by lots of towns up 390 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 2: the West coast, for example, where they desalinate. 391 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: And one way to completely destroy the Gulf Nations would 392 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: be for Iran to target their decail plants with missiles exactly. 393 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 2: There is certainly an option reuse of water and groundwater. 394 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 2: Groundwater has its problems. We don't always know what the 395 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 2: quality of that water is. We don't know how much 396 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 2: there is there, we don't always know how much it's 397 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 2: being recharged. So you can take out groundwater and that's 398 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 2: all good and well. Many people have got boreholes, they're 399 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 2: using them. Some people are saying, my ball is running dry, 400 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 2: and if everyone's using their borehole peak of summer, then 401 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 2: the flow is very low. Clearly that's a problem that's 402 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 2: not being recharged. So we hope that that can be recharged. 403 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 2: Reuse of water is very very important. We don't have 404 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 2: to use pure drinking water for every single application in 405 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 2: the city, so perhaps there's some slightly gray water that 406 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 2: we could be using for industrial purposes. Some industries are 407 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 2: already doing that. There's obviously a lot of water flowing 408 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 2: down the sewers, the stewers. We must separate sewers from 409 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 2: storm water. Storm water is the water in the streets 410 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,959 Speaker 2: which you can reuse to an extent, but it's very, 411 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 2: very difficult to collect that water because it's going down 412 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 2: in it's underground, and it's going towards the sea, and 413 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 2: there's no ways you can put a big dam in there, 414 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: and you certainly don't have places to store it. But 415 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 2: if we can reduce demand, I think that is the 416 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 2: very big thing. Can concentrate on less waste and lower demand. 417 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 2: The city's got some very smart planners there, there's no 418 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: doubt about that. They've been planning the water strategy for 419 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 2: Cape Don since the sixties and seventies, and they've built 420 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 2: new dams. New dams have been built, other dams have 421 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: been augmented, and they are looking at making the leaks 422 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 2: and the percentage of water wasted very much lower and 423 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 2: they've done that very efficiently. We're one of the lowest 424 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 2: cities in the world when it comes to water leaks. 425 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 2: But there are issues with the drainage, there are issues 426 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 2: with the pipes. It's the oldest city in South Africa. 427 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 2: There are certainly problems. So we've got to look at 428 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 2: the big issue. 429 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 3: The big issue is. 430 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 2: Try and reduce the amount of what to we use. 431 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 2: Try and increase the amount of what we can gone. 432 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 2: Whether that's from ground, whether that's from reuse, whether that's 433 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 2: from collection in dams, both of those. It's a double 434 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 2: pronged attack. 435 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 1: Can you cover the reason we have to pay for 436 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: the new water meters? I think that's outside the scope 437 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: of this conversation, Gaven. It's something I'm willing to look 438 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: at because I did get a media released from the 439 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: city saying that the rollout of the new smart water 440 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:57,239 Speaker 1: metering systems is about to happen. So perhaps we can 441 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: talk to the responsible person about that. If I look 442 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: at the evaporation of my pool and it's recommended to 443 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: use a cover, just imagine the evaporation on the dams. 444 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 1: Is there no technology to cover the dam surfaces? Certainly, 445 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: Peter is something I did a lot of conversations about 446 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 1: during Day zero, and at that time there really wasn't 447 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: you know what was there was very location specific and 448 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: incredibly expensive. 449 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, they are expensive. I mean one cannot cover a 450 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 2: dam that size. Tiervot's Cliff is a very shadow down 451 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 2: with a big surface area. Someone has suggested putting little 452 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 2: balls on top to prevent evaporation, but with the kind 453 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 2: of winds they get there, these would be scattered all over, 454 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: caped on, and then have to be replaced, so that's 455 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: not really viable either. So there's not a lot we 456 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: can do about evaporation. If in hindsight, if we were 457 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: to go and build new dams, we should build them 458 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 2: deeper and less a surface area, but that's also incredibly expensive. 459 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 2: We cannot go to Tiervoters Cliff and start digging up 460 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 2: that dam and trying to relocate all that soil and 461 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 2: all that sand from the dam, So that's not very practical. 462 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 2: But if a creation is a problem and there's not 463 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 2: a lot we can do about. 464 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: It, I think to get people to set up and 465 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 1: take notice of water use, emphasize that consumers are paying 466 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 1: an additional sanitation water usage, which is seventy five percent 467 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: of the usual price up to thirty five liters does 468 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: the city need to I think most people know that 469 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: the more water they use, the higher their sanitation. 470 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 2: Stated specifically in the bill, but clearly, if you are 471 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 2: using if water is coming into your house, some of 472 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 2: that water is going out of your house. So the 473 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 2: more water that's coming into your house, the more water 474 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 2: is going out. So the sanitation charges are related to 475 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:36,160 Speaker 2: the amount of water that you use. So clearly there's 476 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 2: a double benefit there in reducing the amount of water 477 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 2: that you use because you would pay less for the 478 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:41,719 Speaker 2: series charges. 479 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: And Satar saying to us, just to announce that the 480 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: Gatesville Mask will be implementing from this Friday water restrictions 481 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: to its seventy five taps in the ablution areas, we 482 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:54,719 Speaker 1: encourage all masks to follow likewise. So that's the kind 483 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 1: of thinking that we need, not just from the religious community, 484 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 1: but from the less community. This is where we get 485 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: into the health clubs and the fact that people go 486 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: and shower there because they remember rather than at home, 487 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: and because they using Virgin Active or some other planet 488 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: fitness gyms. 489 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 3: What the heck? 490 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,639 Speaker 1: You know, it's not accumulating to my bill. So it 491 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: requires a different way of thinking, a more citizen responsible 492 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 1: way of thinking. 493 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 2: Yes, we've always said that, but as you say, you know, 494 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 2: some people just don't think that way. And I think 495 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 2: by just making it more public, making it sort of 496 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 2: an encouragement and setting targets and saying this is where 497 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 2: we want to be, let's work together. You know, we 498 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 2: are all in the same boat, and we're all going 499 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 2: to be without water, and no one's going to have 500 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 2: water unless they've got access to ballholes. And there is 501 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 2: legislation around that too, which we can discuss that another day. 502 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 2: But even if you do have a ballhole and shouldn't 503 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 2: be wasting water, I think wastage is really it's just 504 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 2: it's not acceptable. It's morally wrong. 505 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, if somebody asked whether restrictions would apply to people 506 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: with warholes and will points, they won't. But they should 507 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: be self imposed when one should think about them differently. 508 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: We're just going to take some traffic news now and 509 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: then I'm going to ask Peter to provide some practical 510 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: advice which doesn't cost a lot of money, doesn't require 511 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: a massive rejigging of the way you'll live, of the 512 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: way you live your life. Just to start making a 513 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 1: difference to the amount of water that we consume. Get 514 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: it down from one thy eighteen million liters of water 515 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: a day, which is at the moment to something around 516 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: eight hundred and fifty. A couple of people making the 517 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: point denisesse the Chinese are covering dams with solar panels, 518 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 1: if they are at a large scale. It's certainly got 519 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: a hell of a lot more money to do this 520 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: than we have in South Africa and the city of 521 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: Cape Town and purposing on reducing evaporation from dams. Some 522 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: countries are covering dams with large solar panel installations. That 523 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: that's ound ideal, That is ideal. 524 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:57,680 Speaker 2: I mean, you're kidning two birds of vue stone, But 525 00:27:57,760 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 2: are the kind of winds that I've seen a Tiavardis 526 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 2: cliff and the extent of the area of the dam. 527 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 2: It would be a massive, massive project, But certainly it 528 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 2: would be wonderful to be able to do that. And 529 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 2: maybe that's a private enterprise thing that could do that. 530 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 1: Okay, Peter, what can we do? What gadgets can we 531 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: buy that are not going to cost us to the earth? 532 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: What behavioral changes can we make quite easily? Combination of 533 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 1: both making a significant difference to the consumption of water. 534 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 2: I think there's three things that I'd like to stress. 535 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,960 Speaker 2: One is collect, the other one is reduced, and the 536 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 2: other one is reuse. Collecting is quite expensive. You need 537 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 2: to buy a tank. You need to divert water off 538 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 2: your roof into that tank. I did that for years 539 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 2: and then just add a little bit of bleach to 540 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 2: the tank and then use it in my washing machine. 541 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: For six seven months of the year, all the washing 542 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 2: machine water was used from the tank, and that really 543 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 2: saved a lot of water. If you can collect water 544 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 2: from the from the gutters for your pool or into 545 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 2: a tank, that'd be fantastic, not very expensive, and not 546 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 2: a lot of technology require within your house. There, as 547 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 2: I mentioned, there's diverts that you can put into your 548 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 2: shower head, so while you're waiting for the cold water, 549 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 2: you just press a button and the water is diverted 550 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 2: into a bucket or other receptacle or goes out the 551 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 2: window into your tank until it's warm. Clearly using the 552 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 2: same amount of water, but you're not not as much 553 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: as going down the drain. There are techniques where you 554 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: can use your waste water from the bath and from 555 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 2: the basin, either to go into the toilet systems or 556 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 2: into the garden. They are recycling things where there's a 557 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 2: tank under the ground and a small pump also under 558 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 2: five thousand dorand to install one of those, and if 559 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 2: you're showering every day, then you never have to water 560 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 2: that part of the garden. The water is not perfectly clean, 561 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 2: it may smell a little, but certainly the garden loves it, 562 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 2: or most plants love it. You can't eat on vegetables. 563 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,480 Speaker 2: There are ways of reducing the odor in toilets. When 564 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 2: it's yellow leaded, mellow, and you add a tablet or 565 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 2: you add some spray to that and it doesn't isn't 566 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 2: offensive anymore, and it looks nice and it's had a 567 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 2: blue or yellow pink or whatever. 568 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 3: That's a way of. 569 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 2: Reducing the flushing times. And then, as one of the 570 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 2: callers said, putting any water that you're not using or 571 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 2: wastewater into the system flushing it down. That water does 572 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 2: not have to be clean, really does not have to 573 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 2: be high class purified drinking water that's straining our dams. 574 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 2: So those are the sort of things I can think 575 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 2: of the top of my head. Clearly, the spray on 576 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 2: the host. The stop on the hostpipe is critical. You've 577 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,760 Speaker 2: got to have that, and then checking for leaks, checking 578 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 2: for leaks. 579 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 1: Thank you very very much. A very important topic. We've 580 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: got to start thinking much more seriously about it than 581 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,719 Speaker 1: many of us have been thinking about it. And it's 582 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: going to be interesting to see what the city says 583 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: next week about increased water restrictions. Peter Johnson, climate scientist 584 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: recently with UCTs Climate Systems Analysis Group. Thanks very much 585 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 1: for your contribution. Peter really appreciate it.