Water in Africa
- Africa, Madagascar
by Clare Sandy, Andranomena, Madagascar
Water isn't really conserved, because there's no way to shut off the pump, but people do use the runoff. Inside the fence around the pump, people fill buckets only with the fresh water. Outside the fence, the runoff is used for washing clothes, dishes, feet, children—anything that would get the water dirty or soapy. Downstream, banana trees and sugar cane grow, and eventually the water runs into a rice paddy. One farmer has also built an irrigation canal leading to a duck pond on his land from this runoff.
At home, people often throw their used water on plants such as papaya trees and sugarcane that need a lot of water, or they grow these plants next to their shower areas.
by Rob Roberts, St. Augustin, Madagascar
My community conserves water by not drinking it. I don't know how they do it. They can walk all day in the blazing sun and never complain of thirst. They sometimes will even turn down an offer to drink because they don't feel the need to. People rarely have a glass of water randomly, usually only a gulp or two to finish off a meal. And they laugh at me and all the water I consume, thinking either that there's something wrong with me or that I have something special in my water. Maybe they're just masters of conservation.
by George Ritchotte, Andranomala Nord, Madagascar
Conservation of water is not much of an issue here—we have ample water year-round. People do not recycle water. I recycle my kitchen and laundry wastewater for the garden in front of my house.
by Robin Larson Paulin, Andranofasika, Madagascar
People use limited water in our region because it needs to be fetched.
Women can cook a whole meal with one small bucket of water; everything from washing their hands, water for boiling, washing vegetables, washing all the dishes, and putting out the fire. It's very resourceful.
by Jina Sagar, Ambalahenko, Madagascar
Most villagers have a three-gallon water container on hand in case the pipeline from the Reserve breaks (a common occurrence).
by Mark Danenhauer, Namoly, Madagascar
Due to its abundance, there is no conservation of water in Namoly.