Brian Joss – Water carries 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, while also helping to regulate body temperature. Water is as important to our daily existence, as is the air we need to breathe.
While water levels in the country are stable, there are some provinces that have not recovered from the drought that the country suffered a few years ago, making it imperative that people continue to use water sparingly and put measures in place to save water where possible.
To commemorate World Water Day happening this coming Sunday, and as part of an ongoing green initiative, WesBank have implemented several water saving measures at their head office in Fairland.
Below are some of the ways WesBank saves water:
Two boreholes used for landscape irrigation were installed on the premises. This means less municipal water is being used to maintain the gardens. It also means that the premises is able to save on the utility bill while maintaining the overall office park.
The trees and plants in the Fairland garden are all indigenous to South Africa, which ensures that less water is used to maintain them. The plants inside the building are an equal balance of indigenous and evergreen plants.
Waterflow-reducing devices have been installed in the bathrooms ensuring that they run efficiently whilst not using more than the required amount of water.
The bank 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 which reduces water usage when washing dishes.
Tenants in the building are also encouraged to report leaking taps, pipes and toilets through the bank’s help desk.
Gym, kitchens and service providers showers are equipped with water saving and low flow shower heads.
“It is important for us as responsible corporate citizens to create a working environment that is sustainable not only to those we employ, but to the community at large”, says WesBank’s Head of Marketing and Communication, Lebogang Gaoaketse.
“By working together, we can help save water, ensuring that future generations have access to this essential resource. We have plans in our green initiative program that will see us saving even more water, which includes the installation of a grey water system as well as rain water harvesting which should see a reduction in our overall water consumption. We are investigating the possibility of 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.
Here are some useful water saving tips you can use at home: check faucets and pipes for leaks; do not leave taps dripping; check toilets for leaks; wash your car on the grass, this will water your lawn at the same time; shorten your showering time; Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors; use a glass of water to rinse when brushing your teeth; turn off the water while shaving; take shallow baths and avoid filling your bath to a depth greater than 100mm; re-use grey water to water your garden or pot plants; and adhere to municipal water restrictions.
CAPTION: When water is scarce. WesBank is keeping it green. Picture: Motorpress
