rainwater harvestingRainwater harvesting can (a) assure an independent water supply during water restrictions, that is though somewhat dependent on end use and maintenance, (b)usually of acceptable quality for household needs and (c) renewable at acceptable volumes despite forecast climate change (CSIRO, 2003). It produces beneficial externalities by reducing peak stormwater run off and processing costs. RH systems are simple to install and operate. Running costs are negligible, and they provide water at the point of consumption.

Rainwater harvesting can be adopted in cities to supplement the city’s other water supplies, to increase soil moisture levels for urban greenery, to raise the water table through artificial recharge, to mitigate urban flooding and to improve the quality of groundwater. In urban areas of the developed world, at a household level, non-potable uses of harvested rainwater include bathroom (i.e. shower/bath/basin), flushing toilets and washing laundry. Indeed in hard water areas it is superior to municipal water for laundry because of its compatibility with detergents and soaps. Rainwater may require treatment prior to use for drinking, depending on anthropogenic (e.g. vehicle exhaust) and natural (e.g. Coal.) contaminants.

In New Zealand, many houses away from the larger towns and cities routinely rely on rainwater collected from roofs as the only source of water for all household activities. This is almost inevitably the case for many holiday homes.

Rainwater harvesting is particularly relevant in areas such as the Garden Route where relatively good rainfall is experienced during summer and winter but due to the towns growing at a rapid rate the dams cannot cope.  Water shortages have become more frequent in many towns and cities around South Africa.

Continue reading »

5000l water tank

A typical Rainwater Harvesting system, installed by Water Rhapsody.

Rainwater Harvesting is fast becoming a necessity to survival in some parts of South Africa.  It’s the best way of going green and being kind to the environment.   The Garden Route is currently going through the worst drought in 153 years, with heavy water restrictions imposed in Mosselbay.

Today it was confirmed that Beaufort West is experiencing its worst drought in over 100 years.  Water levels of the Gamka dam reached an all-time low of minus nine percent last week. The town now  rely on borehole water.

South Africa’s dams can no longer supply the volume of water required by ever growing population.  There is not a single river left in the Western Cape that can be dammed anymore.   We simply have no other options.

Water Conservation including Rainwater Harvesting and Greywater re-use, is the only long term sustainable solution to South Africa’s water crises. Continue reading »

Click here for current dam levels page

Western Cape Province State of Dams on 2010-09-13 by Water Affairs

FSC is full storage capacity in million cubic meters

Dam

River

FSC

This Week

Last Week

Last Year

Berg River dam Berg River 127.1 99.9 100.3 100.5
Brandvlei Dam Lower Brandvlei River 284.3 75.2 74.7 78.5
Buffeljags Dam Buffeljags River 4.6 100 98.6 99.4
Bulshoek Dam Olifants River 4.9 97 99.6 85.8
Calitzdorp Dam Nels River 4.9 28.5 27.8 73.2
Clanwilliam Dam Olifants River 121.8 99 99.4 99.5
Duiwenhoks Dam Duiwenhoks River 6.2 33.2 33.2 42
Eikenhof Dam Palmiet River 28.9 101.5 101.5 102
Elandskloof Dam Elands River 11 86.4 85.7 100.4
Ernest Robertson Dam Groot Brak R 0.5 97 99.7 69.4
Floriskraal Dam Buffels River 50.3 43.2 43.5 99.2
Gamka Dam Gamka River 1.9 0 0 15.5
Gamkapoort Dam Gamka River 36.3 71.1 71.1 56.8
Garden Route Dam Swart River 10 52.9 53.2 37.3
Haarlem Dam Groot River 4.7 79.1 78.5 54.2
Hartebeestkuil Dam Hartenbos River 7.2 36.3 36.4 68.1
Kammanassie Dam Kammanassie River 34.4 12.3 12.7 43.7
Keerom Dam Nuy River 9.8 94 93.3 100
Klipberg Dam Konings River 2 57.8 57.6 86.1
Korentepoort Dam Korinte River 8.1 31.3 31.9 39.1
Kwaggaskloof Dam Doorn River 173.9 72.6 71.8 75.8
Lakenvallei Dam Sanddrifskloof River 10.3 95.3 95.1 100.3
Leeugamka Dam Leeu River 14.1 0.6 0.8 30.1
Miertjieskraal Dam Brand River 1.6 0 0 22.9
Misverstand Dam Berg River 6.5 112.7 114.4 116.3
Oukloof Dam Cordiers River 4.2 27 27 99.6
Pietersfontein Dam Pietersfontein River 2 79 79.1 99.3
Poortjieskloof Dam Groot River 9.8 59.1 59.4 74.5
Prinsrivier Dam Prins River 2.3 29.3 29.7 91.6
Roode Els Berg Dam Sanddrifskloof River 7.8 75.5 75.5 100.3
Steenbras Dam-Lower Steenbras River 33.9 56.6 57.4 100.1
Steenbras Dam-Upper Steenbras River 31.9 95.3 94.9 100.5
Stettynskloof Dam Holsloot River 14.8 107.2 101.5 101.3
Stompdrift Dam Olifants River 49.6 15.9 16.1 27.3
Theewaterskloof Dam Riviersonderend 480.2 94.6 94.7 102.9
Voelvlei Dam Voelvlei River 158.6 98 99.1 100
Wemmershoek Dam Wemmers River 58.8 81.7 80.8 100
Wolwedans Dam Groot Brak River 25.3 16.7 17 46.6

1842.7

80.5

80.4

88.7

Wolwedans Dam

Check out our website for water conservation systems, water tanks etc.

Water consumption in Mossel Bay, Garden Route, South Africa has dropped to its lowest level over the past three years in August 2010 when it averaged 12,75 million litres a day for the month compared to 31,9 million litres a day in August 2009 and 25,4 million litres a day in August 2008. The saving compared to last year is 60 per cent.

The situation, however, remains very serious and the level of the Wolwedans Dam stood at 16,8 per cent on Wednesday, 8 September 2010. Continue reading »

EnviroKids quiz
15:03 (GMT+2), Wed, 08 September 2010

EnviroKids quiz
Glenwood House learners answering the questions: Isabella Rodgers, Mignon Bettings, Monhe van der Watt and Denise Robertson.

GEORGE NEWS – This year’s EnviroKids quiz was held at the Moriarty Environmental Centre at the Garden Route Botanical Garden, in celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity.

This exciting project involved Grade 7 learners from Glenwood House, Holy Cross Primary School and Outeniqua Primary School. Each school was represented by a team of 10 learners.

The quiz is a fun way to bring learners from different schools together, and uses the popular WESSA magazine, EnviroKids, as the basis for the questionnaire. A group of four learners from each team answered the questionnaires which involved biodiversity, climate change and Arbor Week themes. The rest of each team made up the audience.
The learners had 30 seconds to each draw something from a forest ecosystem, which caused much laughter, shouts of encouragement and good natured arguing.

With the seriousness of climate change and what is currently happening to our weather patterns, the day was concluded with an activity on what can be done to lessen our carbon footprints. The learners came up with creative ways of expressing their ideas. Glenwood House gave many ideas for taking action to better our environment, Holy Cross addressed the problem of littering with a short act, and Outeniqua Primary entertained with a fantastic song and dance routine. Continue reading »

© 2013 The Water and Solar Company Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha