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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Tag Archives: Water tips
24 Hour Rainfall EC
Daily Rainfall over South Africa to the nearest mm Preliminary 24-hour rainfall data ending at 08:00 on the 2010-04-29 Rainfall in whole mm EASTERN CAPE ADDO ELEPHANT PARK 48 BISHO 13 CAPE ST FRANCIS 22 DOHNE – AGR 09 EAST LONDON WO 07 ELANDS RIVER-BOSBOK RAND 15 FORT BEAUFORT 08 GRAHAMSTOWN 11 JOUBERTINA AWS 02 NAHOON DAM ARS 02 NGQURA (COEGA) 07 PATENSIE 05 PORT ELIZABETH WO 15 SOMERSET EAST 15 STEYNSBURG – POL 19 SWARTKOPS POWER STATION 15 THIRD AVENUE DIP ARS 50 TSITSIKAMMA 06 UITENHAGE 55 Port Elizabeth had an impressive amount of rainfall last night!! But unfortunately that was not the case with our catchment areas. Still, 02 – 05 mm is better than nothing. Start acting now! With 50mm of rain, you could have harvested approximately 8500 l of free, clean, pure rainwater! Contact us at Water Rhapsody, to give you a free quote on installing our Grand Opus, which includes the harvesting of rainwater from all possible roofarea, and making use of this heavenly water for your household, or whatever you might wish to use it for.
Saving Water in industry
by Michelle Hardy-Berrington – Business Link Magazine Wastage of water by business is both antisocial in times of drought and a waste of money. Business Link has uncovered the following hints to help save water and improve the bottom line: Grey water Many business processes can make use of dirty or “grey” used water. An audit of “grey” water, and evaluating how this could be reused will often reveal significant areas for water conservation and cost savings. A variety of filtration methods is available to pre-treat grey water before it is recycled. Cleaning tools There are many common cleaning agents that do not require the use of buckets of water or hosepipes. Using scrapers, squeegees, brushes or hoses to clean an area can reduce the cleaning time and thus save water. Johan Erasmus from Auto Cleaning & Valet Services provides examples of water-free agents: “We use non water-based products such as paraffin, engine cleaners, solvents and foam products to clean the under-bodies and engines of vehicles,” says Erasmus. Sprays and jets can have a dramatic impact on how much water is used. New technology allows companies to use much lower pressures, which saves water overall. “When we use water in … Continue reading
Grey Water Diverter
You may ask: What are the implications regarding any toxic levels to the plants or animals in your garden using grey water? Answer: Not bad at all. As long as you follow a few simple rules regarding the use of grey water for your garden. Water Rhapsody has installed more than 3000 grey water systems in Cape Town alone. We recommend low or phosphate free washing powders to use in your laundry. Avoid the use of fabric softeners, and sodium hypochlorite (JIK). Many of the Water Rhapsody installations date back from 1994, including those of the people who started the Fresh Water Institute at UCT, and Professor Kader and Louise Asmal. They have Fynbos gardens, and these are all green and beautiful. We never take water from dishwashing machines, so the abrasive nature of the dishwashing detergent is not of concern. All dishwashing water must go into the sewer.
Port Elizabeth new water restriction tariffs
On average we use 240l of water per person per day. With the new water restrictions we are only allowed to use 400l per day per household on the normal tariff of R5.29/kl. We will pay R9.53 for the next 600l and a staggering R14.88 for the next 1000l. Let’s say you have a household of 4 people. On average you will use 960l/day. The water you have used for that day will cost you R5.29 + R9.37 = R14.66. The cost per 31 day month will be R454.46. By installing the conservation systems from Water Rhapsody, water usage is decreased to 120l per person per day. Therefore the same household will now only use 480l per day. The cost will be R5.29 + R1.27 = R6,56 or R203,36 per 31 day month. There will be a household saving of R251.10 monthly or R3013.20 per annum. Without changing your lifestyle you have saved a staggering 178,560l of water!
Michelle Garforth-Venter’s Conservation Tips:
Going Waterwise in the Garden You should be watering your garden very early in the morning or in the early evening as this helps reduce and prevent evaporation and allows for moisture to be taken in by the soil. Only water ones or twice a week: having an indigenous garden makes this tip an easy one – remember that when watering your garden it is important to thoroughly soak it as this will allow deeper soil penetration and encourage deeper root growth, which in turn promotes a plant’s ability to survive in long periods of drought. Plant indigenous: it need far less water than exotics, and the added benefit of an indigenous garden is that you will then encourage a huge variety of beautiful birds to visit and spend time in you garden. Group plants with thw same or similar water needs together in the same beds, this will ensure that you don’t over-water drought-resistant plants and under-water the thirsty plants. Use your lawn efficiently: a well maintained green lawn is definitely beautiful but by far the biggest water consumer. Consider reducing your lawn size by cutting out any unnecessary sections or replacing sections with beds for drought-resistant plants and … Continue reading
Posted in Water Conservation
Tagged Gardening, Indigenous Plants, Saving water, Water Conservation, Water tips, Waterwise
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Water Conservation Song
Posted in Water Conservation
Tagged Water Conservation, Water Restrictions, Water tips
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Guest houses in Port Elizabeth & Eastern Cape can save water
Guest houses generate a lot of grey water from both the laundry and the bathrooms. How can they then save water? Waste water from the laundry, baths and showers are termed “grey water”. This can be recycled and re-used to water the garden or to flush the toilets. This will not only save a lot on the water bill, but they can then also market themselves as a “Green Guesthouse” They can then further reduce their water usage by installing a multi-flush kit into all the toilets. These systems make use of an interruptible flushing system that allows the user to only use the amount of water needed to flush the toilet clean. Water is precious. Lets all work together in saving it.
Water Saving Tips
1. Harvest Grey Water 2. Harvest Rain Water 3. No dripping taps 4. Install new fixtures like duel flush toilets or low flow shower heads 5. Cultivate good water habits
Posted in Rainwater Harvesting, Water Conservation
Tagged grey water, Rainwater Harvesting, Saving water, Water tips
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