One house, one tank
| Wednesday October 28, 2015 14:41
What is disturbing however, is that despite the recorded low rainfall amount, our roads were flooded to a point that a first time visitor would confuse us for a water-logged countries in Asia, Europe and other parts of the world that receive good rains throughout the year.
The much-needed water flowed away to unknown destinations and we may never see it again, since we do not know when the next showers will embrace us. Instead of focusing on multi-billion projects such as the Lesotho pipeline, we should also intensify our efforts of harvesting rainwater at home. It starts with educating our people about the importance of rainwater harvesting and every family keeping a collection tank.
This water can be used for laundry, car washes, bathing, watering gardens and for swimming pools. The water can also be used in construction and therefore relieving our dams. As we enter the first part of the rainy season it is upon every person to take part in collecting rainwater for future use. Every household, and office building should take part in this endeavour – one house one tank. Authorities should restore tanks in government institutions, something that used to characterise government schools and in the 80s until recently.
As we continue to receive a few drops from our taps, because of water rationing, we hope that people will continue conserving the little water that we are left with.This is a very important task that all should embrace for the simple reason that recent rainfall forecasts signal no improvement in rainfall amount in the forthcoming rainy season. Infact, elsewhere, others have warned that the situation in the SADC region is only going to improve in 2017. They have also indicated that the effects of climate change are the reason we have prolonged droughts.
Climate change has not spared the African continent, hence the droughts that will ultimately result in shortage of water and food.
We once again appeal to the government to come up with new ideas and engage new technologies to draw water from rivers and streams that push water outside of the country, such rivers as the Segoditshane river in Gaborone and many others that transport water beyond our borders.
We are a very dry country that should engage radical methods to save every drop that comes our way. The time is now that we do something, because every drop counts. Our rallying cry is, One House, One Tank.
Today’s thought
“When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.”
- Benjamin Franklin