Rainwater Harvesting
It is now viable to harvest rainwater for your whole household. This includes rainwater harvesting, storing and pumping rainwater for bathing, showering, toilet flushing, pool, laundry and irrigation. Rainwater harvesting together with other Water Rhapsody products can save up to 90% of your water bill.
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Monthly Archives: May 2010
Rainwater Tanks: Part 1
A rainwater tank is a beneficial addition to any home, whether new or established, and the additional water can give a homeowner freedom from the water restrictions that are in place in many areas of South Africa/Eastern Cape. However, there are some things that you need to consider when choosing a water tank in order to ensure that you have the one that is right for you. Here is some tips to remember when choosing which water tank will suit you best: The Size: This is by far the most common question. The size of the tank will depend on your requirements. If you plan to use the water on your garden, you will only need a smaller tank. A larger tank will be required of you plan on using the water inside your home. Water tanks can store as little as a thousand litres of water and as much as 20 000 litre or more. The Design: The design of the tank will depend on the situation and also your requirements. Tanks come in many shapes and sizes, so there is one to suit almost every home. Space: The amount of space that you have either beneath you home (designed into … Continue reading
Water Rhapsody provide in all your needs!
I read in a newspaper article today, all the Alternative ways to use your rain water. To start with, Water Rhapsody will help you to install water tanks at your premises. We will help you to decide which size water tank for the size of your house you need and will suit you best. By adding our unique device called a Rain Runner at every down pipe, the water is sieved clear before it reached your water tank. Usually the harvested rainwater are being used to irrigate your garden and lawn, but there are many more ways you can utilise your water and conserve municipality water: ” Only recently introduces in South Africa there is now a controller system on the market which can switch automatically between municipal supply and rainwater tanks, based on whether or not there are rainwater available for use”. – Not so true, we (Water Rhapsody) have been installing our systems for 16 years throughout South Africa. Our Grand Opus System also has a municipal water inlet, which can be used as is needed. In rainy seasons, the whole household can be supplied only by rainwater, never needing to make use of municipal water, should the tank … Continue reading
Deepwater Horison Oil Spill
Over one month after the initial explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, crude oil continues to flow into the Gulf of Mexico, and oil slicks have slowly reached as far as 12 miles into Louisiana’s marshes. According to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, more than 65 miles of Louisiana’s shoreline has now been oiled. BP said it will be at least Wednesday before they will try using heavy mud and cement to plug the leak, a maneuver called a “top kill” that represents their best hope of stopping the oil after several failed attempts. Based on low estimates, at least 6 million gallons of crude have spewed into the Gulf so far – though some scientists have said they believe the spill already surpasses the 11 million-gallon 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska as the worst in U.S. history. A dragonfly tries to clean itself as it is stuck to marsh grass covered in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in Garden Island Bay on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana near Venice on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A ship’s wake cuts through a pattern of oil near the site of the Deepwater Horizon … Continue reading
Groundwater Pollution
Groundwater pollution is a very serious problem. Unlike a lot of the pollution on the surface waters, like trash floating in the bay, groundwater pollution is harder to recognize until after illness has occurred. Groundwater, which is the water that remains under the ground and is tapped into to provide drinking water for homes is generally polluted by the activities that occur just above it. People are the number one cause of groundwater pollution. Having water samples tested regularly is the only way to be sure that the groundwater is not contaminated. Unfortunately, there are a multitude of potentiol groundwater pollutants that can seriously contaminate drinking water. Most ground water pollution happens because of improper disposal, use or stotage of chemicals, pesticides, or substances like car engine oil. Deicing salts that are used for clearing driveways and pathways can contaminate groundwater. Landfills have been known to cause toxic runoff that infiltrated the groundwaters supply and underground tanks for storing gasoline and diesel for petrol stations can develop minor leaks and seep into the ground. A groundwater supply that is directly over a plot filled with animals, such as a farm environment, can be contaminated with the bacteria from aminal waste, The chronic use of … Continue reading
Posted in Green, safe water, Water Conservation
Tagged Groundwater, Pollution, safe water, Water Conservation, Water tips, Waterproblem, Waterwise
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Desalination plant in Bay
SWARTKOPS has been selected as the site for a R750-million water desalination plant which forms part of Nelson Mandela Bay’s emergency drought measures. Water and sanitation director Barry Martin told a briefing yesterday Swartkops had been selected because of its location near the old power station which would allow the use of existing infrastructure. He said environmental studies had been accessed and discussed. No problems were foreseen in that area. A public participation process would now get under way and preliminary designs and specifications were being prepared. The aim is to start work in October and complete the project in May next year. Martin warned that dam levels could drop to 32% from the current 34% by next month, adding weight to suggestions at Tuesday’s Budget and Treasury Committee meeting that the punitive tariff for the consumption of more than 15 kilolitres a month is to be hiked by a “considerable” margin.
Posted in Water Conservation
Tagged Dam Levels, Desalination Plant, going green, Port Elizabeth, Saving water, Water Restrictions
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Wind Turbine for Port Elizabeth
THE Windy City is going to be living up to its reputation. Two wind farms that will generate a combined 70MW of power are planned for Port Elizabeth – one in the Coega industrial development zone (IDZ) and the other on the outskirts of the city. They form part of a basket of renewable energy projects, worth nearly R2-billion, that the Central Energy Fund (CEF) is developing in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. In addition to the wind farms, the projects include landfill to gas, biogas to energy that is being investigated by Singapore-based company Straits Chemicals, solid waste to energy, a number of sites on the Orange/Fish River Transfer Scheme for micro-hydro-electric projects and several solar projects that include the installation of 120000 solar water heaters across the city. The metro’s director of projects, Peter Neilson, says the wind farm in Port Elizabeth will generate 23MW in the first phase with a possible extension to 100MW, adding that the environmental impact assessment was “progressing well” and once this was finalised and arrangements put in place to raise some R550-million, “the wind farm could be in production by September 2011”. Neilson says there is a “big appetite” among … Continue reading
Water tariffs increasing soon!
Nelson Mandela Bay residents can expect a massive increase in punitive water tariffs, applying to consumers who use more than 15 kilolitre per month. DA caucus leader: Leon de Villiers introduced an urgent motion at yesterday’s budget and treasury committee meeting, saying he had received notification on Monday evening that the municipality was poised to introduce a much higher punitive tariff. The letter, dated 11 May, said the decision followed a meeting of the water management committee on May 5 that had accepted the need for a ‘considerable’ increase in the light of the ongoing drought that has already seen the metro declared a disaster area. The details of the planned increase would be made available at next week’s joint meeting of bugdet and treasury and the mayoral committee, he was told. According to Water and Sanitation Director, Mr Barry Martin, the metro is experiencing the ravages of ’a green drought’. Rain has been received in the city areas, but unfortunately not where it is most necessary to supply the same area with daily water. A briefing on the Emergency Drought Implementaion Plan has been arranged for tomorrow. The combined capacity ot the metro’s dams currently stand at 35.05%. The Kouga … Continue reading
Dangers of Water
What is the Single Most Dangerous Use of Water? The most dangerous ‘use’ is the agricultural, industrial and municipal pollution that threatens human health. Pollution is very insidious because it often happens out of sight and out of mind. The water that runs from farm fields, factories, or municipal wastewater treatment plants may enter rivers or groundwater. When we draw that water from streams or pump it from the ground we also get those contaminants. Major solutions to solving these water problems across the planet today are: 1) reducing nutrient and pesticide pollution (from our agriculture, our lawns, driving our cars, and destroying our wetlands); 2) reduce sewage pollution; 3) improve storm water management and watershed monitoring; 4) stop deforestations; 5) stop coastal development; 6) reduce pollution from oil and petroleum liquids; 7) reduce mercury emissions; 8.) clean up mining practices; 9) clean up chemical pollution; 10) stop global warming. What is the Biggest Misuse of Water? On a global scale; the excessive pumping of groundwater. It is most scary in India and China, which rely on large-scale, industrialized agricultur to feed their huge populations. They with f\draw more groundwater than Mother Nature provides reliably each year. The aquifers are declining. … Continue reading
Bitou council hopes ease Plett’s water problems
Themba Boyi | The Bitou Municipality has put out a tender for the construction of a desalination plant.The Water Affairs Department and the municipality have signed an agreement for the release of R20,000,000 to construct the plant in drought-stricken Plettenberg Bay.A similar plant opened in Sedgefield near Knysna a few months ago.The municipality’s Henry Geldenhuys said it has managed to cut water usage by 40 percent since the drought set in.He said tenders for the plant have already been advertised.“We hope to finalise the tenders by the middle of June and have the plant completed by the end of October.” - Why does it seem like desalination is the only solution munisipalities are grabbing at? At such a high cost……? Not cost effective! Rather make use of narural resources.
Gauteng aims to promote green entrepreneurship
JP du Plessis | Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane on Wednesday said the provincial government approved the launch of the Gauteng Employment, Growth and Development Strategy (GEGDS) The plan focuses on five so-called pillars, ranging from economic transformation and improved efficiency to community sustainability and improving social cohesion. The GEGDS initiative will also encourage entrepreneurship in environmentally driven job creation and the development of sustainable energy sources. Mokonyane said the province could also expect to see a governance overhaul. “We also the report on the reconfiguration of the Gauteng provincial government to ensure that government is appropriately organised to achieve its strategic objectives with greater integration and alignment between different strategic focus areas,” said the premier. - Way to go! Both for conserving natural resources and the future of South Africa
Posted in Green
Tagged Global Concern, going green, Green Entrepreneurship, Natural Resources
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