NEWS
7
President to make impact
on CPT’s water crisis
Failure, emergency, catastrophe — just a few words to describe the current water
crisis in Cape Town as the Western Cape enters its fifth year of extreme drought.
With longer dry periods and less rainfall, dams
have been estimated to be less than 30% full as we
approach the winter months; however, at present
the levels have already dropped to as low as 22%.
With such extremity, governance is important
in addressing the water crisis. Changing both
industries’ and people’s attitudes towards water
usage is equally vital.
put in place, capturing air conditioners’ outlet water
for gardening and cleaning. Additionally, they have
partnered with their laundry provider, Galleria, to recycle
all the water from the final rinse phase and use it for the
following first wash cycle to add to further savings.
The hospitality industry, one of the largest water
consumers, has also been trying to preserve the
environment and reduce the carbon footprint of its
guests. The President Hotel, situated in Bantry Bay, Cape
Town, has invested in permanent eco-friendly practices,
focusing on conserving guests’ water usage. “But we also want to take our efforts a step further and
make our savings efforts a way of life by incorporating it
into our everyday service practices,” states Reinard Korf,
assistant hotel manager and director of The President
Hotel’s water-saving programme. With this initiative, the
hotel invites their hospitality partners and guests to act
and do their part in preserving the environment, and
provides a few tips for those who are wanting to make
their own impact in reducing their water usage.
Water restrictors, designed to reduce the flow of water
in litres by minute, are being installed in all guest room
taps and showers. Grey water systems have also been Additionally, the hotel is also going to be installing synthetic
grass around their pool area to further reduce water usage
and make a greater impact on the water crisis. PA
AVK grows local
manufacturing footprint
AVK Holdings Southern Africa — a leading local manufacturer of
valves and related solutions — has acquired a 100% interest in
Gunric Valves, including all brand assets and intellectual property.
This acquisition increases the company’s local
manufacturing footprint, deepening its product
programme offerings to customers across the continent.
Gunric Valves has always specialised in manufacturing
and exporting large diameter and made-to-order butterfly
valves and tilting disc check valves. “This acquisition presents us with a massive opportunity.
Given that we are able to offer customers a single point
of contact to gain access to ‘one world’ of a full-line of
products, we will be working closely with the team at the
Robertville facility to expand and strengthen the overall
position of the group in the southern African and global
markets,” concludes Jantjies. PA
Patrick Jantjies, director AVK Southern Africa, says, “The
addition of the Triple Offset Metal Seated Butterfly Valves
Product Programme strengthens our offering to our core
water business, as well as enables us to extend our
industrial valves offering to customers. This acquisition increases
the company’s local
manufacturing footprint.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
May 2017 Volume 23 I Number 3