s a constant water supply is not guaranteed, aggravated by the prolonged drought, South Africans have become more proactive in saving water by creating emergency backup systems and systems that can collect rainwater, says water systems provider Sinvac Plastics, which is based in Pretoria West.

Sinvac Plastics MD Kobus van Dyk notes that, as water demand for the growing population exceeds supply, nonconventional and conventional resources are being explored; therefore, water conservation and water-demand management have become priorities.

He cites the 2014 study ‘Parched prospects: The emerging water crisis in South Africa’, published by the Institute for Security Studies, which says that, should the gap between demand and supply in water use increase, the proposed solutions by the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation will not bridge the gap without additional aggressive measures having to be implemented.

“The most immediate additional water available is that which can be stored in water tanks at homes, offices, factories and industries,” Van Dyk adds, noting that this supply can either come from rainwater harvesting – collecting, channelling and storing rainwater in a water tank for later use – or municipal water supply.

While such harvesting reduces water costs for homeowners, Van Dyk adds, the system, which is simple to install and easy to maintain, also reduces demand on ground- water and dams, as well as soil erosion. He also notes that filtering systems can be added to systems supplying drinking water.

Van Dyk adds that the Pretoria-based company, which has been supplying the South African market since 1962 with rotomoulded products such as water tanks, provides solutions such as its manufactured water tanks, as well as installing and maintaining rainwater-harvesting and emergency water supply systems.

Emergency systems consist of a standby water storage tank and pressure pump, both connected to the local municipal supply. As soon as municipal supply is cut, the pressure drops and the pump is started immediately, pumping water into the home or business, returning supply.

“The emergency systems are normally connected to the municipal supply which keeps a water tank filled. Pressure is [maintained] by a twin-booster pump, which can maintain a pressure similar to the municipal pressure. “The reliability of water supply to larger buildings, such as shopping centres and office parks, is becoming a more pressing issue . . . We have, therefore, come up with a design that can be implemented at any establishment where a constant water supply is important to operations.”

Van Dyk concludes that Sinvac Plastics, which, along with Sinvac Mining &Engineering and Sinvac Piping, forms part of Sinvac Group, remains a one-stop shop for water system requirements.

“We have ensured that we have a range of quality products . . . for an . . . assortment of applications. Sinvac will also install . . . water systems at households and businesses, as well as maintain maintenance contracts, ensuring that businesses and homeowners save on costs, as well as maintain sustainable water practices.”