Difference 1

At home in the UK when we have a water leak a big one and the taps to our houses run dry there is a plan that will be carried out by your water company.

In response to the Covan 19virus the South African government announced it had purchased 41000 water tankers. My question to Erin was, where do we get them from? How can we afford them? This water situation highlights a major issue in South Africa as we continue to build townships and dwellings, legal and illegal with no clean water supply and no electricity supply. A friend of mine recently had to go to hospital because of severe stomach pains. The result was he said snakes! but what he meant  was worms. He got worms through dirty water because his new house has no clean water supply so he brings water from somewhere else and in the process poisoning himself and possibly his family.  The Water Project  identifies  a SA government web site tells us clean water ‘access was most limited in Limpopo (58,9%) and Mpumalanga (68,1%)’ where we live. That means over 30% of the population has no clean water in their homes (I think 30% is a low estimate). Many of the houses in our local township share water pipes with their neighbors at the end of the road they live on.

UK water tanker 

So back to difference, in the UK when we have a water leak and the supply to our houses a tanker like this above will turn up and supply hundreds of gallons of very clean drinkable water.

So what is the difference between the two countries? 

When South Africa talks of a water tanker this is what they mean.  

South African tanker Jojo'

Here in South Africa tanker means a large plastic container. There many thousands if not millions across country, we have 7 on our farm. This also means 41000 water tanks or Jo Jo’ as we know them, will have to be plumbed in and filled with water, a massive task. It will require 41000 taps, junctions, pipes, and fitters. Many of our reservoirs are still low waiting to be filled with the rain that is yet to come.

I highlight the difference for two reasons. Firstly in my thinking I am still shaped by my own expectations back in the UK I expect a large expensive truck full of water, and its a struggle to adapt even after almost two years. Secondly to share the enormous challenge South Africa has just to supply clean water to wash hands. and to be reminded some people may have to choose between soap and food.