Municipal Services and Energy Sources

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering municipal services, water distribution, pollution, conservation strategies, fossil fuels, electricity distribution, and renewable energy.

Municipal Services

Public services provided to a community by local government, including water supply, sewage collection and disposal, refuse removal, electricity and gas supply, municipal health services, roads and storm water drainage, street lighting, and parks and recreation.

Earth's Available Water

$71\%$ of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but only $1\%$ is fresh water available for supporting life.

Free Basic Water Allowance

The government-allocated quota of $6000\,\text{l}$ of water supplied free monthly per household, which is frequently exceeded by the average household usage of $250\,\text{l}$ daily ($7500\,\text{l}$ monthly).

South Africa Water Wastage

South Africa wastes $35\%$ of its water supply primarily due to leakages, lack of maintenance and infrastructure, poor education, and a poor motivation to save water.

Untreated Sewage Water

Wastewater carrying pathogenic micro-organisms that contaminate water sources and cause gastrointestinal diseases such as dysentery and gastro.

Industrial Water Pollutants

Manufacturing by-products entering water supplies, such as heavy metals (lead and mercury), oil and petrol spills, and thermal pollution.

Agricultural Water Pollutants

Farming chemicals, including insecticides, pesticides, and chemical fertilisers, that infect groundwater and accelerate harmful algae growth in dams and rivers.

Mining Water Contamination

The degradation of water resources caused by high processing volumes and the runoff of acid water into groundwater, which damages wildlife, freshwater sources, and human health.

Grey Water

Domestic wastewater recycled from fixtures such as showers, bathtubs, and washing machines to conserve drinking-quality municipal water.

eThekwini Electricity Distribution

The local entity that purchases roughly $11\,000\,\text{gWh}$ of electrical energy each year from Eskom at $275\,000\,\text{volts}$, transforming and distributing it to around $700\,000$ customers.

Fossil Fuels

Non-renewable fuels formed by the natural geological compression of buried dead organisms over time, releasing greenhouse gases upon combustion (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas).

Coal Power (South Africa)

The cheapest energy source in South Africa, generating $77\%$ of national electricity and releasing large volumes of $\text{CO}_2$; South Africa is the world's third largest exporter of coal.

Nuclear Power

A sustainable, low-$\text{CO}_2$ energy source powered by uranium and plutonium, producing hazardous radioactive waste that necessitates strict disposal controls.

LP Gas (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

A non-toxic, government-regulated alternative energy fuel that produces immediate heat with a reduced carbon footprint compared to coal, but presents explosion hazards and is non-renewable.

Renewable Energy Sources

Clean, sustainable energy sources that naturally replenish (such as wind, hydro, and solar), characterized by small environmental footprints despite high initial setup costs.

Hydroelectricity

Clean electricity generated by impounding water in a dam, directing it down pipes to rotate turbines connected to generators, and discharging the water back to its source.

Solar Cells

Photovoltaic components that convert sunlight directly into electrical energy, contrasting with solar thermal panels used solely to heat water.

Electricity Theft

Illegal procurement of power resulting from unlawful connections and physical tampering with municipal utility meters.

Cleansing and Solid Waste (DSW)

A municipal branch responsible for refuse collection, street cleaning, litter control, and combating illegal dumping to foster socioeconomic development and sanitary living conditions.

Municipal Health Services

Public health programs run at the local tier of government that encompass Communicable Disease prevention, Social Development initiatives, and Environmental Health Services.