World Water Monitoring DayTM (WWMD)
Planet Earth needs water to support living organisms and systems. We all need water to survive, to drink, to bath, to cook. Plants need water to synthesise nutrients. Animals need water to drink. Fish need water to live in.
To maintain and sustain life, we all need to be involved in protecting and preserving water. Water is a scarce resource and the quality of water affects the quality of life.
Our everyday activities and behaviour impact on the availability and quality of water we need to nourish and sustain us.
It is therefore necessary for everyone to become aware of the ways in which they can impact water quality. It is also important for us to change our behaviour where it has a negative impact on Water quality.
World Water Monitoring DayTM is celebrated each year on October 18 since 2003. This is to recognise the need to increase public awareness and involvement in the protection of water quality around the world.
People are encouraged to choose any borehole, river, stream, dam, or other water bodies to safely monitor the water quality. In fact, one could even monitor the water quality of the Water from a household or community tap!
Communities can request the assistance of their Local Municipality and / or Water Board in testing the water quality with them and discussing ways in which they can together improve or maintain the water quality in their communities.
DWAF WWMD Campaigns
2007
Last year, DWAF invited secondary schools around the country to submit project proposals on how they would involve learners, educators and other stakeholders in planning and implementing a Water Quality Monitoring Community Awareness Campaign to the value of R25,000. Four schools have since been awarded R25,000 each to plan and implement their proposed Campaigns with additional project management, technical and capacity building support from DWAF.
2008
This year, DWAF decided to use WWMD to mobilise young people through Aqua Enduro 2008 who are keen to pursue a career in Water. This will help to raise awareness amongst learners on Drinking Water Quality (DWQ) issues as well as address the skills shortage in the South African Water Sector.
DWAF and various partners will provide scholarships to winning learners.
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