PROJECT
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permitted to use concrete or septic tanks – it has to have
no environmental footprint. Other market segments include
golf and eco estates, wine farms and venues sited in remote
places of natural beauty, and generally environmentally
conscious projects. Its final look is also aesthetic rather
than purely utilitarian, thanks to Frank Bohm at Frank Bohm
Studios who led the design and build process,” says Lewis.
While the product isn’t currently aimed at low-cost housing,
Lewis says this is the major challenge facing all of Africa
and the ultimate goal of BOXA is to have its product pre-
manufactured and capable of being shipped and installed
anywhere in off-grid Africa where it would require minimal
skilled labour to actually install. Lewis says affordable
housing will become a key focus for BOXA – but only once
it has a Polycare factory in South Africa, and appropriate
scale. It also has particular application to schools, so many
of which do not have appropriate ablution facilities.
Eamonn
In time, it will include Internet of Things (IoT) chips enabling
water levels to be monitored, and for water-conscious guests
to see how much water they’ve just used by means of a
display. This will educate users on water consumption – and
interest in the technology might persuade more people to
actually wash their hands.
From left: Malcolm Harris, owner of Harscan and Sustainable Building Solutions’
Angus Fleming.
quality water without the need for power or chemicals. An
additional benefit of using the Rainwatch in a rainwater
harvesting system is that it eliminates the need for separate
leaf catchers and first flush devices. It can be easily cleaned,
and the filter itself is washable and reusable, meaning that
maintenance costs are very low. Currently, we are in the
process of establishing our distribution network in Africa
(https://rainwatch.com.au/contact/).
“This handsome and inviting little building is packed
with technology and surprises that we hope will delight
and educate its users in the possibilities of new building
technologies, sustainable development and saving water.
Going to the toilet is an essential daily function for every
human being, and we hope that this will inspire others to see
sanitation and building in a different, more progressive light,”
says Lewis.
“I have loaned a unit to Dr Kevin Winter, Department of
Environmental and Geographical Science, UCT. Dr Winter
has used the Rainwatch at his residence, demonstrating
how the Rainwatch filters out debris and sediments. He has
stated that since installing the Rainwatch he has noticed a
reduction in the level of physical solids and organics, such
as leaf litter, that would normally have entered the rainwater
tank and created a habitat that encourages mosquito
breeding and larvae during the warm summer months.
After three months of use, the filter media shows that it is
capturing the fines extremely well and is preventing this
from passing through the filter and into the tank. He also has
said that the other impressive aspect of the Rainwatch is
that no return flow or backwash has been observed even in
varying rainfall conditions – from a few millimetres to 70mm
in 24 hours,” says Oldfield. PA
The Aussie connection
Grant Oldfield, director of Northstar Development, the sole
agent for Africa of the Rainwatch filter, says, “The main
purpose of the device is to cost-effectively improve the
quality of harvested rainwater and reduce the build-up
of debris, contaminants and sediments in the storage
container. It is primarily used in residential rainwater storage
applications in Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and now South
Africa. Multiple units can be used to accommodate larger
roofs. The Rainwatch is a high flow rate, gravity feed 50
micron rainwater filter that does not require a pump to
operate. Due to the patented design, it achieves high flow
rates at a fine level of filtration.
“Our target market currently is residential rainwater capture
and storage, commencing in South Africa and expanding to
cover the African continent. The Rainwatch filter supports
rainwater capture in a range of situations, from the common
suburban setting to regional or remote settings and
off-grid applications. The Rainwatch filter improves water
productivity because it broadens how rainwater can be
used or applied without expensive filtration and powered
pumps and supports people knowing where their water
has come from, being captured and stored locally. We are
also working to apply the Rainwatch to produce drinking
March 2020 Volume 26 I Number 01
“I believe that it is a critical component in reducing the
normal build-up of debris and sediment in the bladder that
would occur from air contaminants, leaves and dust. If not
for the Rainwatch filter, the underfloor bladder would more
regularly need to be emptied and flushed, which would be
disruptive to the required use of the ablution facility.
Urban farming at Victoria Yards.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za