Jacqueline Cameron, project manager of The Water Project, at the JN Foundation, has urged small business entrepreneurs to practice better water conservation, to save money and play their part in guaranteeing water security for future generations.
Ms Cameron was one of the presenters at a JN Small Business Loans (JNSBL) Financial Empowerment Workshop mounted at the JN Conference Centre, on Duke Street,downtown Kingston, on November 7.
“Fresh,
clean water is a limited resource, hence we need to practice conservation,” she
told participants, stressing that, “Although the earth has vast bodies of
water, most of it is salt water. Therefore, fresh water conservation is critical
to water security and will result in cost savings for all of us.”
The Water Project manager advised that water conservation should start in the
home, pointing out that the average Jamaican uses some 40-50 gallons of water
per day; and a ten-minute shower could
result in the use of approximately 38 gallons of water.
“A running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons daily,” she explained,
“Therefore, if each Jamaican used some 40-50 gallons per day, the amount of
water being wasted would amount to the quantity to be used by four or five
persons; and that equals waste.”
She
stated that to conserve water use, persons should invest in technology, such as
low-flow shower heads, which uses approximately 23 gallons for a ten-minute
shower. Low-flow shower heads are modified, or adapted, to use less water.
“Investing in a low-flow shower head will also result in savings on householder’s
water bills, by as much as 10 – 20 percent over the course of a year,” she
said. “In addition, one should also ensure that one doesn’t leave the toilet
running; and also, check around one’s home regularly, to identify water leaks.
“It is also important, to use ‘grey water,’ for gardening, which is water used
to wash dishes and rinse laundry; and, when purchasing home fixtures such as
shower heads, bathroom faucets, and toilets, be sure to invest in those with an
Energy Star-like ‘WaterSense’ label which are certified by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).”
Mrs Jacqueline Shaw-Nicholson, communications and client
services manager at JNSBL, stated that the workshop was part of the loan
company’s thrust, to ensure that its clients are empowered and informed about financial wellness, which will
strengthen their business and financial management skills..
“Through these workshops, we are able to advise entrepreneurs about business
management and opportunities for expansion, planning for retirement, building
wealth and control of operation costs. We added the water conservation element,
because we acknowledge that being able to reduce household bills will
contribute to their financial independence, as well as to encourage
environmental awareness and its impact on everyone including small business
owners” Mrs. Shaw-Nicholson explained.
Mrs Cameron maintains that water security would ensure that entrepreneurs and
their families benefit from the scarce commodity for generations.
“Water is everybody’s business,” she maintained, “It is used to manufacture
everything in this room; and, is a scarce commodity,
especially when we consider that only three percent of the earth’s water is
fresh; and its use is growing at twice the rate of populations.”
In addition to focusing on water conservation, the workshop also highlighted: how to register businesses, market operations, acquire a home, and plan for retirement.
