The collaboration between the Municipality and University has resulted in substantial water savings in Stellenbosch, while these two institutions are also determined to reduce water consumption even further despite the recent rains.
This was the message at the Rector-Mayor Forum at its meeting last week [24 May 2018]. The joint structure facilitates collaboration between Stellenbosch University (SU) and Stellenbosch Municipality to the benefit of the entire town and community.
Stellenbosch currently consumes as little as 15 megalitres of potable water from the supply provided by the City of Cape Town, compared to the average 45 megalitres before the drought, Director of Infrastructure at the Stellenbosch Municipality Mr Deon Louw, said. According to SU Chief Executive Officer Prof Stan du Plessis, the University's potable water consumption has decreased by 45% over the past year.
They contribute this to, inter alia, municipal water restriction and boreholes, success in the battle against water leaks on the SU Campus, as well as students and staff heeding calls to use water more sparingly. The University and the Municipality have a joint drought response plan.
Level 6B water restrictions in Stellenbosch have been in force since 19 February, which means individual users are allowed no more than 50 litres of municipal drinking water per day. The Municipality now supplements this supply with water from various boreholes sunk at a total cost of R67 million, Mr Louw said.
The University has installed 200 new electronic water meters, which makes it possible to measure the consumption of specific buildings individually, instead of measuring the total consumption of a number of buildings, as in the past.
“In this way, we have recently located a major leak at one of our residences, which we could not do before. And our response time in our 'war on water leaks' has now been cut to a maximum of one hour," Prof du Plessis said.
At present, the SU uses approximately 10% of the town's drinking water, but more savings will follow once the comprehensive greywater system has been installed and can be put into operation.
“What we have accomplished here illustrates the advantages of working together. However, this can only be a real success story if the changes are permanent. Thus we continue our awareness drives," Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, said.
“I am extremely proud of the precautionary measures we have put in place, especially the processes that allow us to be less dependent on the city's resources, and of our residents' cooperation in saving water. This does not mean we can rest on our laurels, as there is still a long road ahead," Executive Mayor, Adv Gesie van Deventer, confirmed.
– Joint media release by Stellenbosch University and the Stellenbosch Municipality
Caption: In attendance at the Rector-Mayor Forum on 24 May 2018 were, from the left, Prof Stan du Plessis, Dr Leslie van Rooi, Profs Eugene Cloete and Wim de Villiers (from SU) Adv Gesie van Deventer, Messrs Deon Louw, Tabiso Mfeya and Donovan Muller (from the Municipality), and Prof Nico Koopman (SU).
(PICTURE: ROZANNE ENGEL)
