ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
29
<< Continued from page 27
I can’t take my 400-litre hot tub every day,” or, “I want
one of those 25 litre a minute shower roses with side
body sprays and I’m going to spend 10 minutes in my
new luxury shower cubicle every day.” You see, there is
a big difference between need and want! we should also start thinking differently about what
pollutants we throw down the drain and how we can
protect our precious water resources. We must start
thinking of our privileges. Privileges are earned —
not demanded.
We also take things for granted. Some take it for
granted that when we open a tap, clean water will gush
from it. Some take it for granted that Mother Nature will
continue being kind to us and carry on providing for us
unconditionally. The reality is that if we do not change
our habits, maybe one day that will not happen anymore
and then see the surprise on our faces! It is all about changing habits and altering our selfish
expectations — changing from wants to needs. It is all
about education and caring for the environment and
our fellow human beings. Speak to the people in the
Western Cape who are going through a tough time with
the drought and you will see how they have changed
their habits — new habits that have been borne of
necessity. They will probably continue to apply their
newly formed habits long after the drought is over and
solutions have been found to the problems — they have
been re-educated. They have undergone a mind shift.
We can be very careless, too, and leave taps running
while we wash our luxury cars or while we brush our
teeth and sometimes we over-irrigate gardens so that
copious amounts of water run down the street.
We had better start thinking about harvesting rainwater
and using it for certain acceptable applications such as
flushing toilets and washing cars. Municipalities and
law enforcement agencies had better start upping their
game in terms of enforcing and policing regulations
that serve to protect the quality of the clean water. Then
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That is what we all need to do and promote in our daily
lives — engage in a mind shift. We need to adapt or
suffer the consequences of our habits and behaviour.
We should also start thinking about our ‘cling wrap’.
One thing is for sure: we can live without many things,
but not without water. PA
About the author
Chris Kyle is a qualified
commercial pilot and flying
instructor, accredited CETA
trainer and assessor, CPD
course writer and presenter
to the architectural fraternity,
and professional plumbing
industry licensed plumber.
Chris has plotted his course
in the building industry from
his early days as national
specifications manager for
Cobra Watertech, to where
he is today as the general
manager of Calafrica.
June 2018 Volume 24 I Number 4