1. We have the potential to provide water for all South Africans but 18% of SA relies on communal taps and 9% of households don’t even have access to clean water, relying on springs, rivers and wetlands.
2. Water doesn’t come from a tap – it comes from living catchments and aquifers. In South Africa, half the water in our rivers and dams comes from just 8% of our land.
3. South Africa receives just half of the world’s average rainfall each year. It is the 30th driest country in the world and 98% of our water is already allocated. We are not re-engineering water-wise cities fast enough in response to climate change and droughts.
4. In 2016, 8 out of 9 provinces were declared disaster areas due to the ongoing drought.
5. 35% of drinking water is wasted in cities and municipalities due to leaks. This includes privately owned homes.

What is WWF doing around water?
Our water work focuses on the critical role of a healthy, natural environment in providing us with water security.

We work with partners and communities to secure protection of the land that makes up our water source areas – the 8%.

What can you do?

• Find out where your water really comes from. Fix any leaking faucets or dripping taps.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and in between washing your hair and put a bit of water in a basin when rinsing fruit and vegetables.
• Collect shower or bath water in a bucket and re-use this greywater for mopping floors and then flushing the toilet.
• Re-direct water from your washing machine into a way that you can use it for flushing.
• Realise that water saving must be ongoing even when there has been good rainfall, or if your city’s dams are fairly full. Using water wisely requires a change in mindset and water-saving habits!What’s your junk status? #waste2wealth