Water issue is real
RUIMSIG – Academics at Monash South Africa believe in the education about the water shortage and getting the youth involved in this very real issue.
With the scarcity of water being a huge problem in Gauteng, people need to make smarter decisions on how to use this resource so that it does not run out.
Bimo Nkhata, associate professor and director of the Water Research Node; and lecturer, Linda Dawnsborough from Monash South Africa recently spoke about the issue. The Water Research Node was a programme that was established in 2008 as part of a global initiative. Nkhata explained that it was important to establish this node in South Africa, not only because South Africa is a very dry country, but to give the node an African footprint.
Dawnsborough joined the programme in 2009 and expressed the importance of community development as well as building water leaders within the node. She added that about 27 master students graduated from the programme since its inception. “We have graduates working within the United Nations as well as the World Wide Fund for Nature, dealing with water development,” she said.
Nkhata expressed the importance of getting the youth involved in water research. “Youth are the leaders of tomorrow.”
Both academics agreed that the key problem of the water shortage in the country is human related. The technical aspects, too, are a problem, but people can contribute to the saving of water.
Dawnsborough said that the water issue has been coming for two or three years, but to only do something about it now, may be a bit too late. Nkhata added that how South Africa responds to this, will make a difference. “As a country, South Africa could be saving more water and have it stored for when it is really needed.” He added that the average household’s grey water can be purified and saved.
The academics agreed that by being aware of the issue and knowing that SA is a dry country, could make all the difference.
“I take four-minute showers and put a 9-litre bucket in the shower with me,” said Dawnsborough. Making small behavioural changes like these could make all the difference.
Details: Monash South Africa 011 950 4000.
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