Water is known to carry nutrients to all cells in our body and oxygen to our brain. It allows the body to absorb minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose and other substances. It helps to flush out toxins and waste, whilst also helping to regulate body temperature. Water is as important to our daily existence as is the air we need to breathe.
Recent news reports have highlighted the scarcity of this important resource in certain provinces in South Africa as a result of a lack of rain, high consumption by consumers and the prevailing heat conditions. This has seen levels in the Vaal Dam in Gauteng reaching a concerning low which has resulted in the implementation of water restrictions in a number of areas in an effort to save whatever little is available.
WesBank has, as part of an ongoing green initiative at their head office at the Fairland building, implemented various water saving measures aimed at using water sparingly.
Below are just some of the ways WesBank is saving water:
- Two boreholes used for landscape irrigation were installed on the premises. This means less municipal water is being used to maintain the garden. It also means that the premises save on the utility bill whilst maintaining the overall office park.
- Water flow reducing devices have been installed in bathrooms. These devices ensure that bathrooms run efficiently whilst not using more than the required amount of water.
- WesBank has fitted low-flow water aerators in their taps and have amended their irrigation schedule based on water restrictions implemented by the City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane.
- In the kitchens, the bank has provided basin plugs to reduce water usage for washing dishes.
- WesBank tenants have also been encouraged to report leaking taps, pipes and toilets through the banks help desk.
“It is important for us as the leader in vehicle and asset finance to create a working environment that is sustainable not only to those we employ, but to the community at large”, says WesBank’s Communication, Social Media and PR Manager, Lebogang Gaoaketse.
“Working together we can help save water as a province, ensuring that future generations have access to this valuable resource. We have plans in our green initiative program that will see us saving more water, this includes the installation of a grey water system as well as rain water harvesting which should see a reduction in our water consumption. We are also working on installing a shower management system for the gym on our premises and a solution for the replacement of the current low-flow aerators with misting tap nozzles to further reduce water usage,” adds Gaoaketse.
Consumers can also within their homes, take note of the following water saving tips:
- Do not leave taps dripping;
- Wash your car on the grass, this will water your lawn at the same time;
- Shorten your showering time;
- Use a glass of water to rinse when brushing your teeth;
- Take shallow baths and avoid filling your bath to a depth greater than 100mm; and,
- Re-use grey water to water your garden or pot plants.
