NEWS
7
Familiarise yourself with
new water by-laws
In the age of conscious consumerism, ‘eco-friendly’ seems to be a juicy
marketing buzzword. However, with Cape Town’s recent drought and
proposed new water by-laws, the reality is that being ‘eco-smart’ has become
imperative in saving a precious resource and complying to future regulations.
A recent article not only indicated that other municipalities
across the country would most likely follow suit, but that the
onus will be on homeowners and installers to ensure that the
showers and taps are compliant with the new regulations.
Plumbers not adhering to the by-laws could, for example, lose
their license, and property owners fined for excessive water
usage. What the commentary also alludes to is that selecting
good quality, affordable bathroom and kitchen products is key,
as technology is essential in ensuring an eco-friendly system
that not only works efficiently but also lasts.
“If you’ve ever had a shower with weak water pressure, you’ll
have discovered that eco-friendly doesn’t always mean a great
experience,” says David Cooper, MD of Hansgrohe South Africa.
“Products that simply aerate the water, conserve water while
cre ating the illusion of a higher flow of water. However, if the
water pressure is low, the system does not work effectively,
compromising on the quality and functionality.”
This is one example of where research and development
in sustainable solutions plays a critical role, ensuring that
sustainability and functionality work together in harmony.
This is why the organisation invests heavily in research and
development and is the reason why it holds hundreds of
patents that are rated highly across the world. Technology is
key in delivering the best all-round solution. One that meets
water-saving objectives and adheres to proposed legislation
while providing a superior experience.
Water saving is a key goal for the company, which is why all
Hansgrohe basin mixers come standard with EcoSmart and most
shower heads have an Eco alternative using technology such as
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
the precision O-ring, which reacts flexibly to the water pressure
and adjusts the water quantity. If the pressure is high, the ring
makes the opening smaller. If it is low, it expands the opening.
The range saves a whopping 60% on water consumption.
Read up on your
local water by-
laws; we need
to save every
drop of water.
The Crometta 85 Green overhead and hand showers, for
example, use less than six litres of water per minute, no matter
how strong the water pressure is. The basin mixers can also
reduce water consumption from 13 litres of water per minute
to five litres of water per minute. The non-contact mixers with
infrared-sensing electronics offer innovative solutions in that
they ensure that water only flows when you need it.
“There is no need to downgrade efficacy for the sake of
efficiency,” says Cooper, “Sustainability and functionality are not
mutually exclusive.”
As a company that works to remain a leader in innovation,
quality, and design in the bath and kitchen industry, Hansgrohe
— now over a century old — was responsible for the first
handheld shower with multiple spray types and the first
pull-out kitchen tap. Since 1974, the group has won more
than 500 design awards, with sustainable production of
resource-conserving products central to its business activities
across the world. In the International Forum Design of the best
companies in the world for design, the Hansgrohe Group, with
its AXOR and Hansgrohe brands, ranks sixth out of 2 000 listed
companies, including Audi, BMW, and Apple.
In April 2018, Hansgrohe was rated the most sustainable
company in the sanitation industry, acknowledged for its ability
to handle precious resources with care, without hindering
effectiveness — voted for by consumers. PA
September 2018 Volume 24 I Number 7