Salt River High School and the City of Cape Town, have a practical water conservation project.
The project turned unused JoJo tanks into a rainwater harvesting system to water the school’s nursery and food garden.
The initiative was implemented by Unathi Training Academy NPC, between February and June 2026, as part of a broader community clean-up and environmental awareness programme in the Lower Salt River catchment.
The City said this enables the school to make greater use of harvested rainwater while reducing its reliance on municipal water for irrigation.
Moreover, the initiative also created an opportunity to connect water conservation with food production, environmental education and climate resilience.
Speaking about the project, Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member (MMC) for Water and Sanitation, said “becoming water- wise is not only about saving water at home. Schools, businesses, organisations and community institutions all have a role to play in using water responsibly and finding practical ways to reduce their reliance on municipal water where possible, particularly as we prepare for what is expected to be a longer, hotter and drier summer.”
He also said the project allowed the move beyond awareness and to demonstrate water stewardship.
Picture: Robyne O’Callaghan, Devaksha Maharaj of Unnati Training Academy with Salt River High School principal Dave Nichols at the school’s nursery.