20/09/2022

The reality of Day Zero when taps are dry has been a rude awakening, with many in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro no longer taking fresh running water for granted, including our students.

 

Many of Nelson Mandela University’s students are now leading by example, showing their peers and their communities what it is to be a good steward of resources, especially water.

Through the planning and work of an integrated team of Mandela University colleagues who work closely with students, as well as student bodies and “water champions”, good progress has been made in inculcating the realisation that water needs to be treated as a scarce and precious resource.

It is this appreciation and changed water usage behaviours that the University wishes to achieve – not just for now, but for life. 

Africa is a water scarce continent, so even if the present drought should end tomorrow with a flood, there will always be future water shortages. 

(We are again pleased to note further good rains that take us further from Day Zero, but that this should not detract from efforts to use less water). 

Water-saving initiatives

Students both on and off-campus are individually and collectively doing their bit, knowing that failure to do so could take them back to the COVID-19 lockdown era and online learning. 

Educational water-awareness “water indabas” across all campuses have conscientized students – mobilising them from apathy to action in changing their own water consumption habits.

Smart water saving tips, strategically placed in residences, along with an ongoing social media campaign and the sharing of water-related information on internal e-screens, has led to water saving in areas of laundry, food preparation, cleaning and personal hygiene.

Water champions

A team of “water warriors” across all residences has also been galvanising students to do be part of solution. 

Student-centred communication initiatives and campaigns include a weekly Madibaz Radio awareness drive and the publicising the good work of the “water warriors”.

These water champions are on call daily.  One of their duties, is to ensure that students with disabilities are taken care of, and to ensure that water is delivered directly to their rooms.

Whistle blowing

In addition, students through their own initiative have introduced a whistle-blowing project so that anyone, including staff, who does not play their role in saving water is reported. There are moves to impose penalties for those who act against the shared objective of pushing back Day Zero.

The University acknowledges that while water-saving strides have been made, there is still room for improvement, and so efforts are ongoing.

Off-campus accommodation

Off-campus, the University has audited all off-campus accommodation to ensure that students will literally not be left high and dry should Day Zero arrive.

Of the 547 accredited off-campus residences, 85 percent of them has access to either a borehole or water tanks. There is an ongoing engagement with providers to ensure that all students will be provided for in times of water outages.

These students – in accommodation stretching from Summerstrand, through to Humewood, Forest, North End, Central and beyond – are also using buckets to collect and save water.

Thank you        

The University wishes to acknowledge those students who are leading by example and are keeping their water consumption as low as possible without compromising hygiene. In working together to this end, we are able to make the best possible impact on saving water.