FEATURE-In parched South Africa, water-storing football fields give drought the boot - where can i buy a boot dryer

Johannesburg, May 1
Thomson Reuters Foundation-
Sibusiso Mohlapi is a math and science teacher at Boshoek Primary School in northwest South Africa, where children stay at home sick of diarrhea, headaches and stomach cramps, often in his classroom
But when the school installed a football field for storing and filtering rain water in 2015, he noticed an improvement in the health and class of his students.
Mohlapi stood in a vegetable field and said, "We are struggling with clear water in South Africa . " He grows with filtered water.
"Water is linked to education, and that's a lesson for me.
"Getting water is a hot topic in South Africa --
More and more countries are affected by climate change, population growth and poor governance --
Last year's drought triggered a warning that the Cape Town faucet might dry up.
Natural World Foundation South Africa (WWF)
It is estimated that 14 million South Africans do not have access to decent sanitation.
In a country with an average annual rainfall of 49 cm, this is less than half of the global average.
As a result, communities around Boshoek Primary School are used to cut water use.
"We get water mainly through drilling," Mohlapi said . ".
However, when the rainfall is insufficient, the underground reservoir is not so full, and even the drilling will dry up.
"It was just an empty space before this field.
Imagine if there is no water in a school.
Will we be educated?
Mohlapi told Thomson Reuters Foundation, "certainly not.
During the 2010 World Cup, Dutch engineers visited South Africa to notice two things: the love of South Africans for football and the lack of water in the country.
This led to the green energy initiative, mainly funded by the Dutch foreign ministry, and since then nine oil fields have been installed across the country, including Boshoek primary school.
The fields can store and clean up to 17 million liters of rain each year, or nearly 2,000 liters of rain per hour, which children use to play football. “Pathogens -
Or harmful creatures
Remove from water using a membrane that basically screens harmful particles in water, "said Paige Albyn, one of South Africa's green energy coordinators.
Under the artificial lawn, rain water is collected, stored, and then pumped into the filtration device, which is kept in a container next to the site.
During the dry months, when there is no rainfall at all, the system links to sustainable water sources such as tap water as a supplement.
"Water has been tested before the oil field is installed.
"We don't work in areas where clean drinking water is already available," Albyn said . ".
But some water sources are so polluted by sewage and acid mine drainage.
Harmful pollution of water by not closing mine
Even these areas will not be able to help these schools, she added.
In order to solve the problem of water pollution, in 2002, 20 water propaganda groups formed the South African Water core group --
A collection of charities used to monitor water resources management in the country.
The organization issued a report in 2017 calling for urgent action to upgrade wastewater treatment works to better filter sewage into clean drinking water.
According to the Sustainable Environment Federation, currently 56% of the country's sewage filtration systems are labeled as "poor or critical" against the movement of water pollution caused by mining.
"If we are going to meet the needs of nearly 60 million people in South Africa, there is an urgent need for new innovation," Albyn said . ".
South Africa's water and health sector says it plans to establish an independent regulator to improve water management in the country.
Green energy technologies can also be embedded under roads, roofs and soils, providing potential for large-scale filtration of surface areas, Albyn said. “Solar-
Power filtration devices are also provided.
"It may become even more important because after years of poor power station maintenance, the country has recently fallen into darkness with widespread power outages.
At present, water is provided to about 2,400 people in each area.
For Boshoek Primary's cleaner, Lucky Motaung, getting clean water has had an impact on his lifestyle and pocket.
"Clean water is used to grow vegetables that employees and children can eat," he said . ".
"I'm saving money on groceries now, about 150 rand ($10)per month. It adds up.
"I used the money saved to buy clothes for my children," he added . ".
By the end of this year, GreenSource plans to expand to 13 schools nationwide and hopes to promote the technology in other African countries in the near future.
For Mohlapi, this could mean better health and education for thousands of students. “I use the (football)
As a venue for the classroom and clean water.
I teach them about science, technology and nature in a way that is true to them.
In addition, the field remains active, "said Mohlapi.
"Active Body, active mind.
"About 20 km kilometers south of Boshoek, the recent water cut in the Tlhabane area left the community's faucets completely dry.
But Green Source's water supply at Lekwakwa primary school means children come to school with something new: empty plastic containers.
They came home with enough water to help their parents cook and clean up until the power cut was over.
"Water scarcity is a human rights issue that needs to be addressed globally," Albyn said . ".
"Let's not wait until the right to make sure every student has access to clean drinking water.