Last week an interactive water awareness display was erected in the Rhodes library quadrangle to celebrate World Water Day as part of a BYOBlue (Bring your own Blue) social water networking event.
The United Nations Environmental Programme’s (UNEP) theme for World Water Day 2011 - Water for Cities - was depicted in a local context and used to create water awareness in the city of Grahamstown.
The display aimed to create awareness of the location and perception of drinking water in Grahamstown, as well as give an indication of water quality at sites in the urban landscape.
A display of personal water consumption statistics for daily tasks was used to point out individual water consumption intended to create awareness and to encourage responsible water usage among Rhodes students.
The collaboration of Galela Amanzi, South East African Climate Consortium Student Forum (SEACC SF), Catchment Research Group (CRG) and Gaian Revolutions and Social Solutions (GRASS) environmental groups at Rhodes allowed for the interdisciplinary approach to the World Water Day 2011 display.
The display provided a platform for the sharing of information, which will hopefully stimulate interest for upcoming water saving campaigns.
By Kerry Bobbins