Water conservation

According to The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), by 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will be living in countries with absolute water scarcity.

South African industry mouthpiece, ESI Africa, backs this up and says South Africa can expect to experience a water deficit of 17% by 2030. 

In light of this, Estate Living looked at what new developments and estates can do to conserve water efficiently, particularly in areas that have a high water need, like swimming pools and golf courses, and if they are using any new technologies to do so.

Management of water in high-need areas

Richard Mitchell, Head of Steyn City Management Association (SCMA), shares that Steyn City has several retention dams that efficiently capture stormwater for irrigating the golf course and the surrounding parkland areas.

‘Our dedication to water conservation is evident through the strict implementation of a water-wise planting policy. This policy involves the cultivation of over a million indigenous trees, shrubs, and ground covers from seed, all of which play a crucial role in our responsibility for water conservation.

‘Furthering our water conservation efforts, we implement mulching techniques in our landscaped areas, effectively retaining and preserving water within our beds.’

Rainwater harvesting

Andrew d’Aubrey of Collins Residentials says that Collins Residential is currently incorporating the implementation of rainwater harvesting for garden and pool usage in their estates, such as Zululami, while each house in their Lalela Estate development will come equipped with a rainwater harvesting system.

He goes on to say that greywater recycling is also a viable option, albeit an intricate process.

‘With proper filtration, it can be repurposed for garden irrigation. While supplying grey water to toilets for flushing through separate lines may not be a practical solution, it is technically feasible. The integration of low-flow taps and toilets with reduced cistern volumes is now considered standard practice. Ultimately, responsible consumption habits play a pivotal role. For instance, opting for a shower over a bath can significantly contribute to water conservation efforts.’

Irrigation and bathroom technologies

There are also numerous cutting-edge technologies on the market that developers can consider to conserve water.

Today’s irrigation systems have intelligent features such as smart sprinkler controllers that utilize real-time weather satellite data specific to your location to optimize watering as well as rain sensors that automatically deactivate scheduled outdoor irrigation or sprinkler systems upon detecting rainfall, preventing unnecessary water consumption.

Soil moisture sensors also provide valuable feedback to irrigation and sprinkler systems, indicating the appropriate watering levels based on detected soil moisture. Bathroom installations is another area where modern tech can significantly reduce water usage and costs.

Transitioning to low-flow showerheads and installing aerator technology into bathroom and kitchen sinks, which maintain high water pressure while minimizing water consumption, are great options.

When it comes to toilets, fill cycle diverters reduce water consumption by redirecting a portion of water that would typically fill the toilet bowl into the tank. This technology reduces water usage for flushing by up to four litres per flush.

The real estate industry has a significant role to play in water conservation and by embracing new technologies and methods it can help foster a culture of responsible water consumption, and in so doing create a sustainable future.