Celebrating Cape Town’s Water Conservation Champions: A City’s Dedication to Sustainable Water Management

Cape Town recently celebrated 17 businesses and organizations for their exceptional efforts in responsible water management. These entities were recognized for their adherence to the City’s Water by-laws and their advocacy for water conservation and prevention of water pollution. The recipients included Finlar Fine Foods, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, and the University of Stellenbosch’s Tygerberg Campus, who all received the highest five-star rating for implementing exceptional water-saving solutions. The Water Star Rating Certification system encourages organizations to make sustainable changes towards achieving a water-sensitive urban living.

Which organizations were recognized for their water conservation efforts in Cape Town?

17 businesses and organizations in Cape Town were recently honored and recognized for their outstanding efforts in practicing responsible water management. These entities received accolades for their remarkable adherence to the City’s Water by-laws and their advocacy for water conservation and prevention of water pollution. The recipients include Finlar Fine Foods, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, and the University of Stellenbosch’s Tygerberg Campus. They earned the highest five-star rating for voluntarily participating in comprehensive assessments and implementing exceptional water-saving solutions.

A Special Ceremony Honoring Organizations

At the Old Mutual Head Office in Pinelands, Cape Town recently honored and recognized 17 businesses and organizations for their outstanding efforts in practicing responsible water management. These entities received accolades for their remarkable adherence to the City’s Water by-laws and their advocacy for water conservation and prevention of water pollution.

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate assigns star-rating certifications to various establishments, such as commercial and industrial businesses, residential estates, educational campuses, and healthcare facilities. These ratings depend on their compliance with the City’s water-related by-laws and their promotion of water conservation efforts. A one-star rating signifies basic compliance, indicating that the organization has followed all relevant legislation. However, entities can achieve up to five stars for implementing best practices in water usage, supply, conservation, and discharge.

Launched in 2016, the Water Star Rating Certification system is among numerous community initiatives designed to fulfill the commitments outlined in the City’s Water Strategy. The program encourages cleaner inland waterways and supports Cape Town’s transition into a water-sensitive city. As Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, stated, self-regulation and recognition of efforts to comply with water by-laws as part of organizational culture have proven to inspire industries to make sustainable changes positively.

Exceptional Water-Saving Solutions

The 17 recipients this year come from a diverse range of industries and sectors, such as Finlar Fine Foods, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, and the University of Stellenbosch’s Tygerberg Campus. These organizations earned the highest five-star rating for voluntarily participating in comprehensive assessments and implementing exceptional water-saving solutions.

A notable solution is Finlar Fine Foods’ installation of a commercial Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter plant in 2019. Additionally, the company reassessed their cleaning methods to reduce water consumption, reporting an annual saving of over R400,000 due to the implementation of water-saving solutions.

Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital has utilized a greywater harvesting system, redirecting wastewater from the renal dialysis filtration plant and autoclaves used for sterilizing medical equipment to the ablution facilities. Moreover, the hospital installed a desalination plant that supplies 100% of its water, resulting in an annual saving of 60,000kl of water.

Likewise, Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Campus installed water-efficient fittings, removed taps from bathtubs, discontinued car washes, and switched irrigation systems from potable water to alternative sources. The campus introduced a centralized greywater system and borehole water as alternative water sources and initiated a “War on Leaks Programme,” focusing on educational awareness and behavior change, installing electronic meters to detect leaks.

Recognizing and Encouraging Water-Wise Organizations

Other organizations that received two- to four-star certifications include Kronendal Retirement Village, Double Tree by Hilton Cape Town, AECI Food and Beverage, the Vineyard, Kay’s Caravan Park, PEPKOR, University of Western Cape, Pick ‘n Pay (Zevenview), Plascon Kansai, Long Beach Mall, Grandwest Casino and Entertainment World, University of Stellenbosch (Bellville Park), Cape Town International Convention Centre, and Sanlam Life Insurance Limited.

Councillor Zahid Badroodien congratulated the participants on their successful water-saving initiatives and urged other organizations to evaluate their water usage, comply with legislation, and collaborate with the City to be water-wise. Organizations interested in applying for a voluntary assessment can do so on the City’s website or by emailing waterpollution.control@capetown.gov.za.

The Water Star Rating Award Ceremony emphasizes the city’s commitment to sustainable water management and serves as a reminder of the importance of individual and collective efforts in preserving our planet’s most valuable resource. As more organizations join the cause, Cape Town moves closer to becoming an exemplary model of water-sensitive urban living.

1. Which organizations were recognized for their water conservation efforts in Cape Town?

17 businesses and organizations in Cape Town were recently honored and recognized for their outstanding efforts in practicing responsible water management.

2. What is the Water Star Rating Certification system?

The Water Star Rating Certification system assigns star-rating certifications to various establishments depending on their compliance with the City’s water-related by-laws and their promotion of water conservation efforts.

3. How many stars can an entity achieve in the Water Star Rating Certification system?

Entities can achieve up to five stars for implementing best practices in water usage, supply, conservation, and discharge.

4. What is the purpose of the Water Star Rating Certification system?

The program encourages cleaner inland waterways and supports Cape Town’s transition into a water-sensitive city.

5. Which organizations received the highest five-star rating for water conservation efforts?

The organizations that received the highest five-star rating for water conservation efforts were Finlar Fine Foods, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, and the University of Stellenbosch’s Tygerberg Campus.

6. What are some exceptional water-saving solutions implemented by the recognized organizations?

Finlar Fine Foods installed a commercial Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter plant in 2019, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital utilized a greywater harvesting system and installed a desalination plant that supplies 100% of its water, while Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Campus installed water-efficient fittings, removed taps from bathtubs, and switched irrigation systems from potable water to alternative sources.

7. Which other organizations received star-rating certifications for their water conservation efforts?

Other organizations that received two- to four-star certifications include Kronendal Retirement Village, Double Tree by Hilton Cape Town, AECI Food and Beverage, the Vineyard, Kay’s Caravan Park, PEPKOR, University of Western Cape, Pick ‘n Pay (Zevenview), Plascon Kansai, Long Beach Mall, Grandwest Casino and Entertainment World, University of Stellenbosch (Bellville Park), Cape Town International Convention Centre, and Sanlam Life Insurance Limited.

8. How can organizations apply for voluntary assessment for the Water Star Rating Certification system?

Organizations interested in applying for a voluntary assessment can do so on the City’s website or by emailing waterpollution.control@capetown.gov.za.