Monthly Archives: March 2010

Is Grahamstown’s water safe yet?

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Ansie

Many of the attendees at the water forum were frustrated that there were no clear cut answers as to whether Grahamstown’s water is safe to drink. Even though there was a consultant panel of scientists and what Rhodes Vice- Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat called, “a wealth of expertise” among the audience, a conclusionon whether we could safely drink the water was not reached.

Posted in Green, Rainwater Harvesting, Water Conservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

14th Scifest Africa in Grahamstown without water

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Frans

DAMS to the west of Grahamstown have effectively dried up, leaving the city’s industrial area, the Grahamstown prison, the military base and some suburbs without a drop of water. which draws its water from the almost empty Settler’s, Milner and Howieson’s Poort dams that stands at less then 10% full – Daily Dispatch, 26/03/10 By installing Water Rhapsody’s water conservation systems you can save up to 90% of our water usage. Can you really afford not to? Comment – Not only is the quantity of water in Grahamstown a problem but also the quality. I don’t trust the water from the municipality and would rather harvest and use rainwater.

Posted in Water Conservation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Nelson Mandela Bay declared a drought disaster area!

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Frans

NELSON Mandela Bay was declared a drought disaster area yesterday, allowing the city to apply for R1.6-billion in emergency funding to tackle the crisis. As supply dam levels continued to fall to just 36% of capacity and warnings were sounded that Port Elizabeth’s western suburbs and inner city could run out of water by October, the council acted to pave the way for a raft of emergency measures. Included are: A desalination plant that will cost R750-million. The fast-tracking of the Nooitgedacht Dam low level scheme that will cost R650-million. It will take about 18 months and augment the supply by 100 to 120 megalitres a day. Groundwater schemes that will cost R100000. Repairs at schools and water loss detection that will require a budget of R80-million. The city was declared a local disaster area in terms of the Disaster Management Act and will be approaching the government and the provincial administration for funds.

Posted in Water Conservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Eco-friendly Laundry

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Ansie

 In the process of going green, people need to be informed properly; about available products and which product will suit there needs best. Before making use of your greywater for irrigation purposes, how do you go about making sure that the water being used in the garden will not be harmful to any plants or your lawn? Many atimes, when installing our Garden Rhapsody System, the questions are being raised about what laundry detergent to use and where it is distributed? Even if laundry water is not uses onto your garden, shouldn’t it be our responsibility to switch to the greener option for a healthier lifestyle and making a difference to the environment…..? Why not use conventional laundry detergents? It is made from synthetic petrochemicals that are hard on the environment, and can leave chemical residues on clothing, so the ingredients constantly brush agains our skin, potentially causing rashes and other reactions. Bleaches are made from chlorine, a known carcinogen. Fabric softeners contains chemicals that can cause allergic reactions. Optical brighteners are chemicals that make your clothes appear brighter by leaving a residue that converts UV light into a blue-white light. They have nothing to do with how clean your clothes are, … Continue reading →

Posted in Green, Grey Water Recycling, Water Conservation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment