When planning the 2018 Woordfees two issues became immediately clear:

i) Stellenbosch cannot host a festival that exacerbates the district's water crisis and

ii) the town cannot afford to cancel the festival – the economic impact would be  extensive. 

The Woordfees provides work for more than 600 people during the festival – this number excludes the performing musicians and artists. The loss to the local hospitality industry if the festival were not held, would be tremendous.

In order to alleviate the pressure on the water supply, the Woordfees in partnership with Stellenbosch University has instituted the following water saving measures:

• Waterless chemical toilets will be supplied at all venues.
• Municipal toilets will only be available in case of emergencies.

• Water to taps in public bathrooms will be shut off and waterless hand sanitizers will be made available.
• The few available emergency taps will be fitted with eco nozzles which regulate the water pressure and decreases the water flow seven times.
• As far as possible, no ice will be used to cool liquor.
• No water ballasts will be used to anchor festival tents.
• The janitorial staff will collect all half used bottles of water left behind at the festival site and ensure that this water is used in the festival grey water systems.
• Buckets will be available in the venues where showers are available.

Stellenbosch University supports the festival water saving plan and has provided financial backing for the switch to chemical toilets. The University is also providing borehole water that will be filtered and bottled. These bottles will be sold to festival goers and can be filled at no extra cost at selected water points in the central festival area. In addition to these measures, the University has undertaken to supplement the municipal water supply with borehole water.

The SU Woordfees has asked all guest houses and hotels providing festival accommodation to:

• remove plugs from and cut the water supply to baths.
• provide waterless sanitizers for guests.
• provide buckets for use in showers.

Festival goers are requested to:

• bring along enough clothing for their entire stay, so that laundry needs are minimised. 
• bring their own towels with them and to return home with them without laundering them at the festival.
• make use of the waterless chemical toilets.
• use the waterless hand sanitizers sold on the festival grounds.
• be aware of their water consumption at all times and to report any leakages to to Catherine Channing: 084 220 4006.

Festival goers who come by car from outside of the drought-stricken area, are kindly requested to:

• bring two 5l water bottles with them for washing their faces and brushing their teeth.
• if at all possible, bring water in a container or two from their own less dry areas to be absorbed into the festival's grey-water system. There will be a collection point at the Plataan, behind the SU Museum in Van Ryneveld Street.

All stallholders are urged to provide their own water during the festival and to prepare food that requires little or no water for cooking.