Giving water the TLC it deserves
Written by: Staff Reporter
In the World Wide Fund for Nature’s recently released living planet report, the organisation notes that the use of freshwater ecosystem services, including, water supply – is now well beyond levels that can be sustained, even at current demands.
This means that never before has appreciation, understanding of, and respect for water been more necessary – and this is the very heart of a Cape Town based organisation, which has started a national campaign to drive this agenda.
For Love of Water (FLOW) aims to raise awareness of water quality and quantity challenges on both a local and national level while providing practical solutions to ensure that all are provided with clean safe drinking water.
South Africa is a water scarce country, ranked the 30th lowest country in terms of per capita availability of water, and needs to implement serious interventions to protect all representative types of freshwater ecosystems – including rivers, wetlands and estuaries.
The country’s legacy of mining and industry pollution, as well as poorly maintained public sewerage and effluent management, and even pollution at the individual level, means that South Africa’s often neglected water resources are in need of serious tender loving care.
The WWF Living Planet report also draws attention to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organistion (Unesco) report, which estimated that in 1995, about 1,8-billion people lived in areas experiencing water stress, while it is estimated that by 2025, two thirds of the world’s population – 5,5-billion people will live in areas facing moderate to severe water stress.
FLOW’s goal is to get people to appreciate and respect water, while raising awareness that every human being has the right to clean, safe drinking water, an, importantly – to demonstrate solutions to current water challenges.
To achieve this, the organisation participates in events, bringing mobile water stations, which have been designed to provide the public with clean, safe drinking water.
FLOW was present at the FIFA 2010 fan walk, and fan fest in Cape Town, and about 1 800 litres of water were consumed by fans from the nine FLOW stations installed along the Fan Walk on Greenpoint main road.
FLOW has also participated in the Celebrate Life festival, the Sustainable Life expo, and a number of other events.
The organisation is a Greenhouse initiative, and also uses films, documentaries, music, educational and development projects, and viral campaigns to raise awareness and impart its message.
FLOW also sells stainless steel water bottles, which are a preferred alternative to buying plastic bottled water.
“The FLOW endorsed bottle carries a message, it makes me feel that I am part of a movement that cares about water. It makes me have a deeper respect for water and reminds me to be mindful of how I use water,” says Juliet Browne, one of the founders of FLOW.
The other conscientious personalities driving the organisation are Justin Friedman and Catherine Barnhoorn.
They explain that raising awareness on water issues and providing access to solutions is vital, and at the heart of FLOW is the FLOW promise, which one can make on the website, urging people to become a part of the FLOW movement.
“I promise to respect water as the source of life, be mindful of how I use water and to preserve our water sources…I am for love of water.”
This is surely a promise that every South African should be making, because making changes to the current water situation will require action, which starts with the kind of mindfulness and concern that FLOW is advocating.
Education, which will encourage changes in lifestyle and water consumption patterns, is viewed as one of the most important solutions to the global fresh water crisis, and this is exactly what FLOW is all about.
The liveeco team
