These Central City stakeholders are setting an example for saving our most precious resource.
To help mitigate the dropping levels in Cape Town’s dams, a few CBD businesses have implemented special water-saving initiatives. One of these, the Townhouse Hotel in Corporation Street, now places buckets in each room and encourages guests to put them in the shower when they use it. The staff (seen here, right) then collect the water and use it irrigate the trees outside the hotel. Says general manager Jacqueline Williams: “Every small effort will accumulate and together will result in a big effort.”
Tsogo Sun is also upping the ante. The CBD’s biggest hotel group has instructed all front-line staff to inform guests about the drought. And it has reduced the frequency of towel and linen washing, unless guests insist they want these items cleaned every day. The group’s director of operations for the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, John van Rooyen, says the vast majority of guests are happy with this arrangement. Tsogo Sun has had a computerised system for a few years for maintenance staff to log the amount of water used on its properties. John says each hotel is consistently reaching, and even exceeding, its daily targets.
CCID NGO partner The Carpenter’s Shop has become known for its car wash, and the drought has forced the organisation to innovate. At present, it uses a dry chemical method for 15% of its washes, and is increasing this number by educating the public about the water-saving benefit of a dry wash.
On a similar note, CBD car-hire company Aroundabout Cars is offering R30 off pre-booked rentals if you opt for a dirty car. Not to worry, the interior is still clean!
Well done to these stakeholders. We hope it will inspire other CBD businesses to consider innovative water-saving ideas.
The CCID, for its part, has implemented a drip system for watering the St Georges Mall hanging baskets. A two-litre bottle slowly releases water over a sustained period.