The FF Plus has tabled a motion to the Speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM), Eugene Johnson, requesting that all new building plans include mandatory water-storage capacity.
The proposal states that all new homes should have at least one 10 000 litre water tank or two 5 000 litre tanks connected to gutters for capturing rain water.
This is a crucial step at a time when the NMBM’s water consumption stands at 370 million litres per day, which is 90 million litres more than the target of 280 million litres per day.
This critical shortfall highlights the urgent need for sustainable water-saving measures.
Capturing rainwater is a practical and effective way to reduce water bills and conserve scarce water resources.
Rainwater is also free of the chemicals used to treat municipal water, and is ideal for watering gardens and domestic use.
NMBM’s water crisis is not only caused by a lack of water resources, but also by poor planning and management.
Local government should follow a strategic and sustainable approach to address the matter by:
• adapting to climate changes,
• repairing crumbling infrastructure, and
• protecting watersheds – a natural land formation, such as a mountain or highland, which captures rainwater and drains it to various rivers or dams.
The FF Plus is convinced that cooperation between the local government and communities is absolutely vital to effectively tackle these challenges. Water should not only be managed as a resource, but also as a lifeline for future generations.
This motion aims to make water conservation a standard practice in municipal planning and encourage a responsible approach to water consumption
