The drought is everyone’s issue, here’s what you can do
Some businesses in the Western Cape are really struggling with the current drought.
Many businesses rely on water as a part of their operations.
No matter the size of the company, if they make use of water, then the drought has negatively impacted their activities and sometimes even profit margins.
Of course, there are businesses that are thriving – consider borehole specialists who cannot keep up with the demand – but many are having to creatively find ways of continuing their operation.
As the water restrictions continue to become heavier and the demand for water conservation higher, more attention is placed on the various ways that everyone can save this precious element. There’s a lot of information available that can assist you, as an individual or as a business, in your efforts to conserve water. But you have to make an effort to educate yourself.
Here are four obvious ways individuals can be smart with their water usage
Mellow when yellow
If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it thousands of times. If you use the bathroom and it’s only yellow, then don’t flush. This sounds horrible and dirty but nothing untoward will happen. All you’ll be doing is saving the litres of water used when flushing.
Reduce your shower times
Don’t hang around in the shower. You can no longer use your shower as a space in which to contemplate life and fix all your problems. Learn how to meditate rather and try to only spend two minutes in your shower. This way you can quickly lather up, rinse off and jump out.
Collect rainwater
Cape Town is in a drought because of the lack of rain. But when a storm is coming, it’s wise to find containers that you can use to collect the rainwater to reuse for activities such as car-washing or watering your plants.
Use your dishwater to flush your loo
You have to wash your dishes and you have to flush your toilet (if it’s brown flush it down). If you are able to successfully collect your dishwater, then do so and flush your toilet with it. This is an incredible saving of water in your household.
Here are four excellent ways for businesses to save water
Have an audit done and find a solution to inefficiencies
There are many industries which use enormous amounts of water in their operations. Many heavy industrial industries need water to continue and without it, their operations shut down. These industries play a big role in supporting our economy, so their shutdown periods equal a loss of money for our country. Major companies must undertake a commercial water audit, identify areas of weakness and areas where they can conserve and then find a solutions provider. If you consider a company such as Proxa Water, their solutions are robust and if you browse through their case studies, you’ll find assistance was provided timeously and effectively.
Be clever about the equipment you purchase
Most equipment suppliers are aware of the need to operate in an environmentally friendly way. Find out if the water-intensive equipment you require for your projects and activities is available in water-efficient models. What you might end up spending on making use of a customised piece of equipment, you’re likely to make back on a lowered water and even energy bill.
Make use of the natural water on site
Install a rain-harvesting system which will collect water on site for reuse. In this way you are making use of water that isn’t being stripped from the community. What’s more, if you consider installing an irrigation system that makes use of the collected rainwater, you’ll find there’s better control over usage and no wastage of this precious element.
Make sure your staff are being water conscious
This is the easiest task of all as you should simply look at how your employees are conserving water in your place of work. Educate them and inform them of the better choices they can make on a daily basis to assist with saving water. Setup information sessions and call in a professional if necessary to explain to them how they should conserve water in the office and on site.