Rainwater harvesting and Grey water recycling according to Gulfnews, is the clean information flow that needs to be fed to our younger generations as more grey water goes down the drain.

By Mohammad Jihad, Community Web Editor

Genevieve Jozaffe-Naidoo, a South African senior Human Resource consultant, grew up in a culture that conserves water. She said: “15 years ago South Africa underwent a serious water drought that started a series of government campaigns to educate people on how to save water.” Schools also participated in these campaigns and it proved very successful. Jozaffe-Naidoo, a Dubai resident, put campaign stickers over her taps to remind herself to save water when it is not used. She said: “It has become such a way of life for me that my Dewa bill never exceeds Dh200.”

Jozaffe-Naidoo believes that awareness on water conservation in the UAE needs to start from the ground level. According to Jozaffe-Naidoo, the best way to inform the community is to educate children so they could spread the word and make it a habit and a routine in the future. Mahmoud Qazi, a Pakistani operation manager, is also very conscious when it comes to producing grey water. He said: “I try as much as I can to turn the taps off whenever I am brushing my teeth or taking a shower.”Qazi, a Sharjah resident, makes it a habit for his family to turn off any running tap when it is not in use for even a short while – such as when washing dishes. Qazi thinks it is a big waste when people take baths, as it consumes a lot of water to fill the bath tub, which would then be drained shortly after.

According to Qazi, the most important thing is raising awareness about the issue, the younger the audience, the better. “People need to be aware, they might not leave the tap running intentionally, but it will still waste water and money.” Ayaz Khurshid, a Bangladeshi national residing in Dubai, also believes that awareness is the key to helping the environment. He said: “Everyone, especially children, need to be educated about the importance of water. If they are informed, they would think twice and remember to turn off the tap. It is a matter of routine.”

Khurshid, a student, was not concerned about grey water until he started reading about it. He said: “I never bothered until I read signs on the street informing people to save the precious water we have.” Khurshid makes sure that all taps are closed whenever they are not in use. If there is any water leak in the house Khurshid fixes it before it wastes too much water. Khurshid said: “I try to be aware of what is happening around me. “