CHAMBER MEMBER COMPANIES taking the lead in water-saving initiatives

With dams supplying Nelson Mandela Bay currently at a historically low level, some of the Business Chamber member companies are taking a lead in implementing innovative water-saving initiatives in their daily operations, says Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.

This show of commitment bodes well for the Metro as it rallies for every business and household to save 20% of their daily water consumption to help prolong the city’s water supply for at least a few months.

Over 1,5 million litres of water per day could be saved through the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Adopt a Leak initiative, which complements the work of the Municipality to rein in water leaks across Nelson Mandela Bay.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has allocated 210 Megalitres per day to the Metro but the current consumption trend averages 300 Ml per day. “By reducing daily consumption levels by 20%, this will lengthen the time water can continue to be supplied to impacted areas,” emphasises van Huyssteen. “We therefore appeal to both the business sector and residents to urgently reduce their water consumption levels.”

ISUZU’s water saving initiatives

As one of the biggest car manufacturers in the Bay, Isuzu Motors South Africa has implemented water-saving initiatives that have strategically reduced the company’s water consumption significantly. Mandlakazi Sigcawu, Executive for Corporate and Public Affairs says, “Recognising our impact on the community and the environment is an integral part of Isuzu Motors South Africa’s vision, thus it is important for us to implement solutions to preserve water as much as we can. We have put in place the necessary preparations to be able to continue processes which are critical to the continuation of production, should we reach day zero. In the interim, our organisation has adopted a culture of using water sparingly and we are continuing to be proactive in our drive to protect and preserve this precious resource.”

Isuzu is harvesting rainwater for flushing their ablutions in areas too remote to use their treated effluent water. Currently, the water tanks have 60 thousand litres of water and at full capacity, they will have 160 thousand. The harvested water is also collected for the filling of their water-test facility, as well as topping up the fire dam. The effluent streams coming from the processes are treated in the company’s water treatment plant before leaving the site. This water is further treated, stored, and re-used to supply flushing water for around 80% of its ablutions.

The Manufacturer has drilled four boreholes at its manufacturing plant, with a further two on the cards. The plan is for this water to be treated and used in the manufacturing processes should the city run out of water. The water will be used for paint pre-treatment, spray-booth humidification, cooling towers, water-test, and fire system.

Furthermore, Isuzu has adopted three schools as part of the Business Chamber’s Adopt a School initiative. The company will be educating them on how to reduce water consumption and also supply requisite equipment to ensure they are using water wisely and sparingly.

Nelson Mandela University’s drive to save water

The Nelson Mandela University is currently on a water emergency and sustainability drive to address the Bay’s looming water crisis. At huge but necessary cost to Nelson Mandela University, the institutional water management and risk mitigation plan has been accelerated. The plans, upscaled from June last 2021, are well into the implementation phase. The university is increasing the storage capacity of critical buildings and residences that do not have emergency water reserves. Most buildings already have some storage tanks and an additional 95 x 5,000l water tanks have been purchased to be installed at critical areas across its campuses. These efforts build on the 36 water meters and electronic readers already installed at student residences on the North, South and the 2nd Avenue campuses. Three bulk meters were also installed on South Campus, as well as electronic remote readers. An additional 58 meters for all other South Campus buildings are currently being installed.

They are further exploring the installation of flow restrictors on the taps while also replacing the flushing mechanisms of toilets with a cistern-less system using flush valves. Two boreholes linked to the North Campus and Sanlam Residence Village residences have been drilled. They are achieving a good yield of 80,000 to 100,000 litres per day. The university is exploring the need and impact of adding boreholes on Missionvale and Second Avenue Campuses.

“The university is doing everything it can to ensure that students and staff will continue to enjoy a supply of water come Day Zero. A Water Emergency Management Team comprising water scientists and technical support staff, that works closely with the Municipality disaster management command centre and the Business Chamber water task teams has been constituted,” says Nelson Mandela University’s Sustainability Engineer, Dr Andre Hefer.

“Emergency management measures are being implemented along with a comprehensive water awareness campaign to bring our students and staff on board and ensure they actively assist in reducing water consumption on campus and curtail any water wastage.”

Volkswagen Group South Africa - reducing their use of natural resources

Reducing their use of natural resources, including water, has also been a major focus at Volkswagen Group South Africa for the past 15 years. The company introduced its Think Blue. Factory programme in 2010. The programme, which encouraged environmentally responsible habits both at work and at home, set the aim of reducing waste, CO2 and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and the use of energy and water, by 45% by 2025.

“By the end of 2020 we had already exceeded this goal, reducing our impact in terms of these resources by 47,5%,” said Andile Dlamini, Head: Group Communications at VWSA. “Specifically in terms of water, we had reduced our use by 66% at the end of 2020. We are always looking for new ways to ensure > we are using water and other resources efficiently and responsibly. We are also in the process of installing a wastewater recycling plant, so that by the end of this year we will be able to recycle more than the 20% required by the Metro.”

Volkswagen has contracted a waste water recycling plant in it's factory in Kariega (Uitenhage) in Nelson Mandela Bay

It is vital that public facing businesses which attract a lot of foot traffic, such as shopping centres, drive water saving initiatives and awareness. To this end the Greenacres and Cleary Park Shopping Centres have also installed water tanks in their premises to catch rainwater to supplement their supply. Van Huyssteen says that awareness around the extent of the water crisis and the resultant need to radically reduce water consumption levels was currently insufficient. “Everywhere we go, we should be seeing signs highlighting the need to save water, as well as visible evidence of citizens and businesses playing their part to preserve our water supply. The water crisis affects all of us and as such we are all in this together”.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: 041 506 1911

Web: www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za

Water: 041 506 2258 waterleaks@mandelametro.gov.za

Address :

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

Port Elizabeth 6000