The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has implemented initiatives to further curtail its use of potable and irrigation water.
Over the past year the CTICC has reduced the toilet cistern water-holding capacity by 20% in all ablution facilities; replaced butterfly shutdown valves to reduce the water supply to cooling towers by 20%; treated water leaks as emergencies; and replaced the corroded main water supply.
The CTICC has recently installed two water storage tanks in the P3 parking area to harvest grey water from several of its ablution facilities to be used for landscaping. The two tanks have a storage capacity of 5 000 litres each.
The centre also reduced the flow rate of its basin tap water in all of its ablution facilities.
“The current state of the Western Cape water crisis was a definite motivator to install the tanks. The volume of water we harvest will be determined by the size and number of events taking place. The centre will continue to seek ways in which to minimise its water use, and continues to be committed to observing the level 3B water restrictions. We are also serious about sustainability and are looking into viable initiatives that can be established as long-term business practices to reduce our environmental impact,” said CTICC CEO, Julie-May Ellingson.
While the tanks have been installed during the water restrictions period, they will continue to form part of the centre’s standard environmental sustainability practices beyond the current emergency.
“Saving water is a particular concern to us. As a result of water saving initiatives, the CTICC, over the last financial year, reduced the centre’s water consumption by 5% and now uses 10 million litres less water a year than it had five years ago,” said Craig Barrington, the general manager of facilities and operations at the CTICC.
The CTICC will install sub-metering to further track its water usage and enhance its ability to detect leaks throughout the building. It is also rolling out an awareness campaign to educate staff and visitors on water saving actions they can implement at home and in the workplace.
