March 17, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
JOHANNESBURG Water has planned a citywide programme chock-full of activities to celebrate National Water Week, culminating in the popular Water Festival.
National Water Week, running from Monday, 21 to Sunday, 27 March, is a national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry initiative. The theme this year is "Water for Life". It coincides with the end of the school first term.
For the City's water utility, the main objectives underpinning this year's activities are the promotion of its public education programme and building awareness about key water and sanitation issues.
There will be two stages to the celebrations, according to the utility. In the first stage, Joburg Water will host a series of visible activities and exhibitions in each of the City's regions and at its head office from 22 March to 24 March - during the official Water Week.
Head Office
Information pamphlets and brochures will be distributed in the city centre from Frederich to Market Streets and from Main to Simmonds Streets on Wednesday, 23 March from 10am to 1pm.
Central Region
Joburg Water exhibition at Cresta Shopping Centre in Randburg on 22, 23 and 24 March.
Midrand Region
Joburg Water exhibition at Boulders Shopping Centre in Midrand, Spar in Ivory Park and Spar Rabie Ridge on 22, 23 and 24 March.
Deep South Region
Joburg Water exhibition at the Signeterrace Shopping Centre on 22, 23 and 24 March.
Soweto Region
Joburg Water exhibition at the Protea Shopping Centre on 22 March.
Roodepoort / Diepsloot Region
Joburg Water exhibition at the Clear Water Shopping Centre on 22, 23 and 24 March.
Sandton / Alex Region
Joburg Water exhibition at the Norwood Shopping Centre on 22, 23 and 24 March.
The second stage of the celebrations will comprise the Water Festival, from 21 to 27 April. It will again be held at the Zoo Lake, in Parkview. The inaugural festival, in March 2004, was a "huge success", says Joburg Water. The lake can accommodate all the different aspects of the Water Festival, is central and has a direct link with water and the environment, it says.
Along with sports, there will be two art competitions for school children using painting and mosaic. Prizes will be awarded to the winning individual and the winning group in the Grade 0 to 3 category and the Grade 4 to 6 category.
Staff from Joburg Water, other City utilities, agencies and corporatised entities (UACs) will participate in a mini soccer festival, mini volleyball competition, mini chess, water drinking, water testing, bucket on the head, hole in the bucket and balloon bursting activities
To ensure the festival is entertaining and educational, a Tappie Road Show, Joburg Water's public education industrial theatre show; safety and water conservation demonstrations; a magic show; water experiments; tours to City Parks' horticulture centre; and a metro police horse show have been included in the line up.
Award functions and exhibitions will be held in the water utility's tents at Zoo Lake and various Joburg companies, as well as the City's UACs, who will be asked to contribute R15 000 each, are expected to have their operations on show.
Consumers will be able to log complaints and query their accounts at a remote call centre, organised in conjunction with the Joburg Water call centre and the City's revenue department. For fitness enthusiasts there is a fun walk held in conjunction with the Zoo Lake Users Committee Forum and City Parks. Joburg Water expects about 2 000 participants to register for the event.
The week's activities will end with a bang. The Water Music Festival is the biggest and most popular event, at which some of Joburg's raw talent will perform, with a few big names thrown into the mix to attract the crowds. It is possible the music festival will be a joint venture with radio station Kaya FM.
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