Commercially the reuse of grey water has long been neglected. This has in part been because water conservation has not,until recently,been in the spotlight. Individual property owners,government institutions and commercial property managers and developers are awakening to the fact that we are living in a country where water scarcity is becoming a reality.
As all major water resources across our country have been harnessed to supply the ever growing demand for potable water,we are left to to explore the possibilities to augment our water supplies.
The only water reservoir left that our country would be able to top into,to increase our fresh water supply,is the ocean. This however comes with the great cost associated with the desalination of sea water and the ever increasing price of electricity.
Other than desalination,the only option left is to cut down on our current fresh water consumption,“water use optimization“. Many South African household have already reduced their fresh water footprint by investing in various water saving devices and becoming water wise. However the commercial sector is still in its infancy phase of initiating water saving initiatives.
The reuse of grey water to flush toilets is gaining popularity in commercial properties,especially in apartment buildings. This is due to an almost equal volume of water being used for washing (Showers,baths,hand washing,and laundry) and toilet flushing.
These buildings are charged a fixed tariff for their fresh water demand as well as a fixed tariff for their sewage. The typical sewage charge for an apartment building in calculated at 90%,by volume,of the fresh water demand and this tariff is charged at a higher rate than fresh water.
By installing grey water reuse systems these properties are able to half their fresh water expenses and their sewage charge.
Water Rhapsody Second Movement uses grey water to flush toilets. Save up to 45% of water in apartments buildings
