5 unique hygiene issues in Cape Town

The previously implemented Level 6 water restrictions in Cape Town has lead residents and businesses alike into a more constrained 2018. On the 9th of January News24 reported that the City of Cape Town has lost R 1.6-billion in revenue due to the crisis.

Businesses have been asked to reduce consumption by 45% compared to the corresponding period in 2015 and residences continue to tighten their usage to remain with the strict allowances.

As a resident, or visitor to Cape Town, can you think of some hygiene considerations you would need to be aware of  whilst aiming to be water wise in Cape Town?

Limited Water = Limited Hand washing

Limited water means that you are less likely to wash your hands after every activity like you would normally have. This increases the risk of cross-contamination and puts you at risk for increased risk of illnesses. Consider using hand sanitiser as a water-wise solution.

Washing surfaces and floors are a challenge without water

The decrease in available water is a challenge when you want to keep surfaces like counter tops and floors clean and hygienic in a drought. Consider using grey water or a water free cleaner as an alternative.

Rinsing excess food and sauces from your recyclable items before disposing is no longer an option

When recycling you are meant to rinse old food off of the items so that they do not smell or attract pests in storage but in a drought this is a huge waste of water. We recommend storing these items in an airtight container to prevent smells from escaping or pests getting in.

Bathing is becoming a luxury

Personal hygiene is very important but under water restrictions there are serious considerations on ways to do this without using an entire day’s worth of water on grooming. Consider options like waterless cleaners, dry shampoo and taking very quick showers t stay hygienic without using excessive water.

Not flushing the toilet

We have all heard the statement “if it’s yellow let it mellow” and while this may be ok for a while, it can leave you feeling a bit green under the gills. We dug deeper into this issue in this article – to flush or not to flush.