TIPS TO STOCKPILE WATER

In a water-scarce country like South Africa, everyone should look at some type of water storage, especially rainwater capture and water recycling systems. Xylem Africa suggests the following when stockpiling water:

*determine your needs and stockpile accordingly, e.g water for drinking, cooking, garden irrigation or a business. If the latter, monitor water consumption for a month to see where the highest demand exists;

*the simplest way to access water is to stockpile it from a municipal supply or buy bottled water. Capturing rainwater is good for large amounts needed, or use of boreholes. Recycle from your premises and re-use water for irrigation and toilet flushing;

*rotate water stockpiles every six months, looking at decontamination options such as filters, UV light or controlled quantities of chlorine;

*leaving water infrastructure to fend for itself will create disease, as in the case of the recent cholera outbreaks;

*purify water by boiling it or adding small amounts of bleach;

*outdoor containers should have adequate UV protection to stop sunlight from breaking them, causing chemicals to leach into the water;

*indoor containers such as jugs or bottles should be kept out of sunlight, and glass is the best medium to store small amounts of water. Always sterilise containers before use;

*when storing large amounts of water in tanks, add pumps and pipes for easy access. A tank system for garden irrigation differs from one connected to a building’s plumbing;

*swimming pools can be used to stockpile water, but add chlorine to fight off contamination. This water is not fit for human consumption, so filter and treat it before drinking. A pool is a giant water container.

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