Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - October 2017 | Page 38

RESOURCES
Sustainable
Water Solutions
Something’s in the air
BY MONIQUE DU TOIT
O
pen any newspaper or website, and news of our im-
pending doom at the hands of global warming is likely
to slap you in the face. Humans are, of course, no-
toriously bad at seeing the signs and being proactive. Recent
natural disasters in many parts of the world have, once again,
brought the issue of climate change to the forefront. For now,
we seem interested in saving the planet again.
Locally, the Western Cape has been experiencing the worst
drought in a century, leaving many mourning the death of
their plants and the steady accumulation of grime on their cars.
Water restrictions have reached an unprecedented level 5, with
both residential and commercial property owners facing the
daily struggle of lowering water consumption levels.
On a global scale, places like the United States have long
experienced crippling droughts in, among other places, Cali-
fornia, while the UAE face clear struggles in building livable
and sustainable cities in a desert. The question many are asking
is: How do they do it?
The first part of that answer is clear: money. Recent an-
nouncements by local government regarding plans to tackle
water shortages included desalination plants, boreholes, and
upgrades to dams. These amount to an estimated R2 billion
in expenditure in 2017/18, while operating expenses would
amount to at least R1.3 billion. As with anything, this would
also mean tariff increases over the next few years. While these
plans are much-needed, and according to some much-overdue,
it doesn't do much to alleviate immediate fears over access to
water.
One solution, oftentimes unfamiliar to everyday consum-
ers, is the Atmospheric Water Generator (or AWG). Accord-
ing to David Fulton, Director of Aquaosmo in South Africa,
AWG technology will play a major role in ensuring citizens
have access to clean drinking water - regardless of failing mu-
nicipal infrastructure or drought. Kevin Winter, a lecturer in
Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University
of Cape Town, emphasises the need for new ways of thinking,
explaining that: “we shouldn't see the current water crisis as
a temporary phenomenon that will resolve in a year or two.
It’s a long-term problem. We will need substantial government
intervention to make Cape Town’s water supply sustainable.”
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OCTOBER 2017 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
Fulton explains that, while the start-up cost of an AWG
may be daunting, the price per liter of water is surprisingly
low: “compared to bottled water, the price for a 20l unit would
work out approximately R1.94/l, including the capital cost,
electricity, and service agreement. Compare this to bottled wa-
ter, coming in at around R5.75/l.”
Depending on application, machines range from 20l/day
capacity to 20 000l/day. Models larger than 250l/day require
three-phase electricity supply, leading to specialised and cus-
tomized installation. The units can also be linked to external
water tanks, allowing it to work at full capacity even when the
built-in tank is full.
In times of critical water shortage, the taste and quality of
municipal water is oftentimes compromised, prompting many
consumers to install water filters - or to resort to bottled wa-
ter. The AWG, Fulton explains, produces cleaner water, free
of chlorine or other chemicals. In addition to this, the water
is constantly being filtered within the machine, avoiding the
possible build-up of bacteria found in stagnant water.
AWG technology works in areas with humidity as low as
30%, with efficiency levels logically rising along with humidity
levels. The efficiency of the machine is also impacted by the
state of the filter, with a new one being recommended between
6 and 12 months after purchase; this, of course, is dependent
on the amount of dirt in the air.
The recently-announced level 5 water restrictions require
commercial buildings (including offices) to reduce water usage
by 20%,contributing to already-tight budgets and operating
costs. While large offices are the most obvious recipients of
an AWG machine, any office or household stands to benefit.
In terms of sustainability, it’s helpful to consider utilizing
solar power - thus allowing you to move off the grid complete-
ly. Again emphasizing the need to think proactively, Winter
states: “This is a global system, so the bigger systems are begin-
ning to impact us, so there is no doubt that pressure and tem-
perature are related. So disturb the temperature, you disturb
the pressure and you start to see different systems operating.”
SOURCES
Aquaosmo South Africa