water wise watch · 2020. 4. 7. · water wise events february is one of the busiest gardening...
TRANSCRIPT
Water Wise Watch
This month with Water Wise
Water Wise Tip of the Month from Leslie Hoy“Create your own mini-wetland and fill it with
rainwater from downpipes off the roof.”
February 2015
In this issue:• Join us at the
Flufftail Festival this month
• February in the garden.
• Gardening trends for 2015.
• February is for celebrating World Wetlands Day.
This month we are celebrating World Wetlands Day, which is on 2 February. The theme this year, as mandated by Ramsar, is ‘Wetlands for our Future’. World Wetlands Day celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian
City of Ramsar in 1971. Since then, this day has been used to raise awareness about the value and
importance of wetlands. The theme this year emphasises the
importance of wetlands as providers for the future. Wetlands feed humanity, help fight climate change, act as natural shock absorbers and sponges during floods and droughts, provide sustainable livelihoods and products, purify and filter harmful waste from water, and ensure freshwater for all of us. They are also considered one of the most diverse ecosystems and are essential to birdlife, migration and breeding.
To find out more about wetlands and how you can celebrate them this month, click here.
Editor: Samanta Stelli
“This month, think about wetlands and
what they do for you.”
Flufftail Festival 2015 To raise awareness of one of South Africa’s scarcest natural resources, water, Water Wise is a proud partner to BirdLife South Africa, as they launch their inaugural Flufftail Festival.
Water Wise will be there with hands-on water activities that children can take part in; these include a wetland model; purification model; water pollution and a fishing game. Throughout the day, children and adults will be able to come into the gazebo and take part in the activities which will be facilitated by Rand Water staff. Read more about the event on page 3
1 Better, Smarter, Greener
2 Better, Smarter, Greener
Water Wise WeatherThe Australian Bureau of Meteorology
(BOM) has recently reported that weather models show a low chance of an El Niño event. Initially, reports predicted a 70% chance that El Niño would arrive by February 2015. However, surface temperatures in the central tropical Pacific Ocean have fallen by approximately 0.5°C from their peak in late December 2014.
It was the high temperatures in the Pacific Ocean last year that determined the hot dry weather across Australia, Asia, South America and southern Africa.
The odds of El Niño occurring within the next two months stands at between
50-60%, which is down from 65% from last month. For more information on this weather phenomenon, click here.
The maximum temperature in January was 31.8°C and the minimum was 11.8°C. The average temperature was 21.1°C and we received 26.8 mm of cumulative rainfall in the month.
The average temperature in January 2014 was 22.0°C, with a high of 32.5°C and a low of 10.0°C. Rainfall was low, with 16.7 mm of cumulative rainfall received in that month.
• Last year was the warmest year on record globally since record keeping began in 1880.
Weather Facts:
Water in the NewsEarth is becoming less hospitable to human life
Scientists have warned that humans are degrading the Earth’s resources at a rate unseen in the past 10 000 years. Indicators have shot up since 1950. Of the nine recognised planetary boundaries (image below) that underpin life on earth, four have already exceeded levels seen as suitable for human life, namely human-driven climate change, loss of biosphere integrity, land system change and high levels of nutrients flowing into the ocean. For more about these reports, click here.
Water tops the list of Global Risks, says World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum has released its 10th global risk report, with the water crisis taking the top spot on the list for the first time, above the risk of nuclear weapons, and a global disease pandemic. These risks pose a threat to business and society and are ranked annually according to the likelihood of the crisis occurring within the next ten years, and the impact, which is a measure of its devastation. For more on this report, click here.
Turning waste into water - funded by Bill GatesThe ‘Omniprocessor’ is a self-powered system that uses steam to convert solid waste into clean drinking water and electricity. Sewer sludge is passed through dryers, which remove the liquid and capture it as water vapour - this is then processed and treated to drinking water standards. From there, an incinerator is used to burn the solid
waste, in turn producing heat that is funnelled through a steam engine to provide steam that works a generator. The generator provides the energy to work the machine. For more about this ingenious method, click here.
Will you be affected by new irrigation laws?A set of draft regulations have been published by the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation that will monitor, regulate, limit, measure and record the amount of water abstracted for use in crop irrigation. The public have been invited to submit comments on the draft legislation. For more information, click here.
3 Better, Smarter, Greener
Water Wise Events
February is one of the busiest gardening months of the year - the weather is warm and gardens may be suffering from the heat and a lack of moisture. The key is to ensure that soil moisture is retained by adding a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface. If you need to water your garden, follow the usual Wise Wise tips, such as watering before 10:00 or after 16:00.
If you live in a summer-rainfall region, your lawn will need regular mowing - however, remember not to cut your lawn too short, or you risk exposing the roots to intense midday sun. Weeding is another exercise you will have to do regularly, as the summer rain encourages the growth of everything in your garden.
Interestingly, February’s birthflower is the violet. Violets enjoy semi-shaded, moist areas, and will attract butterflies and bees with their sweet-smelling scent. Violets can also be planted as groundcover or as edging to a flowerbed or pathway.
You may need to move your container plants into the shade to prevent them from drying out or wilting in the hot summer sun. Preventing pots from drying out will also mean you need to water less, saving you time, water and money.
Fruits, vegetables and herbs will be growing in abundance at this time of year, so make preparations now to prevent wastage. Use ripe fruits to make preserves, or freeze what you can for later in the year. Do the same with any ‘freezable’ vegetables, or hand out extra harvests to neighbours, friends or family.
Remember that warm, wet weather encourages pests, and the growth of bacteria and fungi. There are many earth-friendly ways to rid your garden of summer pests. Click here for more information on how you can use companion planting to repel pests from your garden and veggies.
Vaal Dam:85.4%
Bloemhof Dam:78.7%
Grootdraai Dam:101.2%
Sterkfontein Dam:98.6%
Gariep Dam:93.3%
Vaal Barrage Dam:96.8%
Katse Dam:89.8%*at time of writing
February in the garden
Current Dam Capacities*:
The Flufftail Festival will take place at the Checkers Forecourt in
Sandton City from 3-8 February. There will be displays by BirdLife South Africa (including information about conserving flufftails and other bird species that rely on wetland habitats, information about membership and subscriptions to the BirdLife South Africa magazine, African Birdlife), Rand Water (including environmental education activities relating to water and water conservation) and Eskom and the Ingula Partnership (established between Eskom, BirdLife South Africa and the Middelpunt Wetland Trust with a common conservation objective of managing the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme).
There will also be an exhibition of the winning photographs from the ‘Wetlands
of Life’ photographic competition, restaurants will have table talkers with information about conserving water and wetland birds and there will be competition forms available around Sandton City which can be dropped off at the Flufftail Festival area where one can stand the chance to win a pair of Zeiss Terra binoculars.
For more information, please contact Nikki McCartney, Events and Marketing Manager, on 083 636 1060 or [email protected], or click here.
The next GBP meeting will be held at Thaba Eco Hotel on Friday 06 February 2015 at 07:30 for 08:00. Chris Yelland will be discussing South Africa’s electricity issues. Please contact Nicky Vakaloudis on 011 493 7880 or [email protected] for more.
The flower of the violet
Herbs and vegetables
Vegetables in a pot
4 Better, Smarter, Greener
Do you have any interesting pictures of plants in your garden, or any comments or questions? If
you do, please send them to us and we will include them in next month’s issue. We would love
to hear from you! You can visit our website by going to www.randwater.co.za and clicking on
the Water Wise logo. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected] or you can
phone our call centre at 0860 10 10 60.
Gardening trends for 2015Days to remember:
2 February: World Wetland’s Day
3-8 February:Flufftail Festival
28 February:Save Our Frogs Day
Kay Montgomery has given us some advice on what is ‘hot-and-happening’ in the gardens of 2015:
“The structured gardens of days gone by are being replaced with ‘back-to-nature’ gardening, with an emphasis on growing plants to provide food, shelter and nesting material for birds. Bee-friendly gardens are another big trend for 2015, as are gardens full of insecticide- and pesticide-free vegetables and fruit for the family.
Eco-friendly wetland pools are chemical-free, natural pools that include a bio-filtration water garden of aquatic plants in gravel filter sand. Rising in popularity this year, wetland pools will attract birds, dragonflies and frogs into your garden.
Old garden favourites that are making a comeback in 2015 include bedding dahlias, and mini petunias that come in colours ranging from pink to orange and pale yellow to chocolate brown.
The alyssum has been hybridized to create a new perennial form with variegated leaves, white flowers and a cascading habit. It is called Alyssum ‘Frosty Knight’. Keep an eye out for this new favourite at your local garden centre.
Phormium tenax hybrids such as ‘Sundowner’ and ‘Jester’ and Cordyline hybrids ‘Cha Cha’ and ‘Can Can’ are ornamental grasses that add a variation of form and texture to wildlife-friendly
gardens. These grasses are now being used in contemporary landscapes and modern containers.
Plascon has released nature-inspired colour palettes for your 2015 garden:
-- Natural balance: includes shades of green, from tranquil sea-green to
the mystery of forest green.
-- Urban glow: inspired by sunrises, sunsets and overcast skies.
-- Copper blush: combines the boldness of copper, earthiness of clay and
warm undertones of pink.
-- Vivid expression: vibrant shades of orange, yellow and red in harmony
with the cooling effect of sapphire.
-- Tailor made: neutral stone, grey, taupe, terracotta and green
combined.”
Water Wise has decided to extend the Water Wise competition. All you need to do to win one of ten custom-made Water Wise calendars for 2015, is tell us five ways that you are going to be Water Wise this year. Email us your Water Wise tips, along with your name, contact number and postal/physical address by 28 February 2015. Send your entry to [email protected].
Good luck and be Water Wise!
Good news!!
Alyssum ‘Frosty Knight’
“Colour is not only about plants, it is also about using colour on walls, garden sheds,
outdoor furniture and pots.”Kay Montgomerey