Close friends and classmates Unam Halam and Faith Claasen’s invention, the Drop Saver, is making waves at the World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
It is the brainchild of the two teens from Heatherlands High School in George, Western Cape.
The device can be attached to a tap to help prevent water leaks, thereby helping to save water in communities.
Co-inventor Halam is currently participating in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition, which has seen students aged between 15 and 20 presenting innovations focused on water-based solutions.
The 16-year-old shared with Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu her vision for a water-secure South Africa at a breakfast meeting hosted by the minister on Tuesday.
“The Western Cape province experienced the worst recorded drought in history between 2016 and 2018. This period reminded us that water is a precious commodity, and in order to ensure long-term water availability and supply we have to start making water-wise changes now,” Halam told Mchunu.
She dreams of seeing their invention being used nationwide.
“I would love to see the Drop Saver implemented nationwide and used on a daily basis. I would love for it to first be implemented around schools in my community, then in different communities around my town and provinces.
“I would want to be part of the implementation of the invention and see it bear fruit. This project is very dear to my heart; I want to be a part of its growth and continue to educate people on the importance of water saving,” Halam said.
“A simple thing like closing the tap of water while brushing your teeth really goes a long way, which is something learners at our school really battle with.
“We have seen how many learners drink water from the tap and just walk away without closing it, expecting the next person to do it.
“This led to hundreds of litres of water being wasted every single day from one leaking tap. This is how the Drop Saver device was invented,” she said.
Halam had the minister’s full attention when she shared her views about the water scarcity situation affecting different parts of the country.
She dreams of becoming either an attorney or engineer.
“I ended up falling in love with engineering once I started doing technology at school and helping my father to fix and create things at home; that’s when I knew I wanted to go into the engineering field,” she said.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner will be announced on Tuesday at the Norra Latin Hall in Stockholm. Mchunu and Director-General Dr Sean Phillips will attend the ceremony. – SAnews.gov.za
