However, the shortage of potable water has been looming for some time in our country and across many parts of the globe. Many countries have been feeling the effects of water shortages for years, and this has caused social upheaval and conflict in the Middle East and northern African states.

Theewaterskloof Dam (Credit: Gavin Westbrook)

A Planetary Overview

71% of the Earth’s surface is water, which makes up about 0.02% of the planet’s mass. Freshwater makes up 2.5% of this total, and just 1.2% of that is surface water. 20% of all the Earth’s unfrozen freshwater exists in just one lake, Lake Baikal in Russia. Most of the other water is salt water or locked up underground or in ice-sheets.

The principle causes of water shortages are climate change, poor water management and pollution. We have experienced the 10 hottest years for global climate on record in the period since 1998. 2016 was the warmest year on record at +1.1 ℃ above the pre-industrial average temperature, and was the first year that CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere remained above 400 ppm for the whole year. The oceans are also heating up, which gives more energy to tropical storms and helps to melt sea-ice faster.

2017 is set to beat all previous records. This increase in average temperature is upsetting the balance of the climate and has changed the water cycle. Many areas now experience longer and more intense droughts and, when the rains do arrive, they are in the form of massive downpours that cause flooding and damage. We now have the dichotomy of increased drought and increased flooding, which places great stress on our infrastructure – which is designed for a more consistent but gentler rainfall. It therefore stands to reason that we need to minimise the impact we have on the climate, and prepare more resilient infrastructure.

Combined road-rail bridge over the Gariep Dame (Credit: Gavin Westbrook)

South Africa under Scrutiny

South Africa in one of the very few countries in the world that enshrines the right to water in the Constitution. Ninety-one percent of the population in South Africa has access to improved freshwater and proper sanitation, according to the latest census – and studies suggest that we use 186L/capita/day. This average is biased by the easy access to water in urban areas and the fact that rural women spend nearly a third of their day collecting water. And, while South Africa boasts one of the cleanest water systems in the world, due to the lack of sanitation and access to fresh water in the country’s rural communities, the threat of water-borne disease is steadily increasing.

Most of South Africa’s fresh water comes from rivers and dams, but this water supply is increasingly under pressure from pollution. Eutrophication is a growing concern, with about one-third of the total volume of water held in strategic storage approaching the point where it is no longer fit for purpose without significant and costly intervention. Return flows, out of mining and agricultural areas, particularly from gold-mining activities, are rapidly deteriorating, with highly acidic water starting to decant from abandoned and derelict mines. In addition, the runoff of pesticides and fertilisers from agricultural areas are damaging river and dam ecosystems.

Farm Dam in Northern Cape (Credit: Gavin Westbrook)

In addition to risk of pollution from agriculture and waste from urban areas, these supplies also cannot cope with the cloud-burst type storms that have become common – so a lot of the rainwater is lost as flood spillage.

Also, water and infrastructure are not always in the same place. For example, Gauteng, the most densely populated province, has very little freshwater and must import what it needs from the Vaal Dam and the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Adding to this difficulty is the fact that infrastructure has not been maintained; and up to 37% of all improved freshwater is lost in pipe leaks or is stolen.

South Africa introduced two rating systems to monitor the quality of our water and report any deficiencies in the treatment of water and sewage. These include not only compliance with water quality standards, but also the existence of a water safety plan, process controlling and the credibility of sample results, among others:

• The Blue Dot certification rates the performance of water treatment and supply plants. Less than 5% of the 787 facilities assessed achieved certification in 2010.
• The Green Dot certification assesses wastewater treatment plants. More than 60% of facilities failed to achieve certification.

Finally, South Africa is one of the worst affected countries in the world when it comes to invasion by alien plant species with many (e.g. black wattle, Port Jackson willow, Hakea, Lantana and Jacaranda) posing a significant threat to native biodiversity and already scarce water resources.

Graaf-Reinet Dam (Credit: Gavin Westbrook)

What can we do to change the situation?

We need a change of perception when it comes to water, and need to recognise that it is a very valuable, finite resource that all life requires to survive. Positive actions include educating ourselves as to where our water comes from, and practicing smart water use by:

• using less water in general by installing efficient taps, showers, toilets, and appliances;
• planting indigenous vegetation that does not require large amounts of water;
• fixing any leaks in the system to prevent wasting what water we have;
• collecting rainwater that can be used for irrigation, flushing toilets or other mechanical services;
• collecting greywater that can also be used for irrigation, flushing toilets or other mechanical services; and
• collecting blackwater and treating it to acceptable standards to be used in irrigation.

We anticipate that ‘capture, filter and reuse’ will be the new maxim for water usage!

Theewaterskloof Dam (Credit: Gavin Westbrook)

Resources for this article:

• The Journey of Water
• The Water Project
• Water supply and sanitation in South Africa (Wikipedia)

The post Water: Capture, Filter and Reuse appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Renewables are cheaper and more in demand than ever before, simply because they make good business sense. And sustainable transport, particularly electric vehicles and bicycles, are no longer treated as tongue-in-cheek nice-to-haves, with electric charging bays and bicycle facilities now being specified for almost all new developments.

In 2016, the most significant progress was undoubtedly the conscious move towards health and well-being, with tenants no longer asking property brokers whether a building is certified, but rather what its rating is. The fact that it must be rated is a given; and the statistics around user productivity are now well known.

With all of this in mind, we look at the green-building sector’s past, present and future – with our experts at Solid Green offering their predictions for where the market is headed in the coming years.

Green Building Certification

2010

• Most buildings that target green-building certification developed by their owner-occupiers.
• A few early developers building for tenants pursue green-building certification, speculating that it will be valued in the future.

The Google Offices in Johannesburg

2017

• Green building becomes the norm for upmarket office space as tenants drive demand.
• Many international tenants are required by policy to rent only green space.

2022

• The business case for green building proven in offices is followed by healthcare and residential buildings.
• Energy-performance certificates factor into the valuation of properties.
• With efficient and zero-carbon energy systems making business sense, green certification becomes centred on water and indoor environmental quality.

Water

2010

• Water-saving features in buildings driven almost entirely by needing to achieve green building points.

Water Conservation Becomes Essential

2017

• Mirroring the energy crisis of 2008, water conservation is driven by quality of supply issues.
• Reduced consumption is needed to allow buildings to operate for longer periods when municipal water is shut off.

2022

• Alongside decreasing clean-energy costs, water costs start to increase as rainfall patterns change.
• Pioneered internationally, desalination sees trial usage in coastal parts of South Africa.

Energy Generation

2010

• With solar power costing almost R30 per Watt, only showcase projects make a foray into the technology.

Rooftop Solar

2017

• Solar power is now R14 per Watt on larger installations.
• Rooftop PV has started to give a better return on investment and risk profile than other financial instruments and, as such, represent business as usual for many large corporates.

2022

• Reduced battery prices driven by widespread electric-vehicle adoption and second-hand electric-vehicle batteries result in off-grid projects going mainstream.
• Vehicle-to-grid applications start to enter the market, eliminating the need for batteries where electric cars are used.

Transport

2010

• Alternative-fuel-vehicle parking bays are allocated with the view that they will never be used.
• Public transport options are not considered a viable alternative for the car-owning demographic, although the launch of the Gautrain represents promise.

The Solid Green EV

2017

• Alternative-fuel-vehicle parking bays are fitted with electric-vehicle charging facilities.
• Developers are preparing for a near future with electric cars, as hydrogen vehicles and hybrids start to lose the race.
• Bicycle facilities are common. However, public-sector infrastructure lags the green-building curve.
• Gautrain and Rea Vaya in Johannesburg and MyCiTi buses in Cape Town start to displace cars on the road.
• Some early adopters sell their cars and use Uber exclusively, realising reduced transport costs.

2022

• Ride-sharing services like Uber start to become a significant portion of all ground transportation, overtaking public transport in the same income group.
• Underground parking garages start to be repurposed, possibly as server or battery space.
• Self-driving cars are commonplace in many international cities and are being trialed in South Africa amid conflict with labour interests.
• Electric vehicles reach price parity with their combustion-engine counterparts.
• Driven by emissions regulations in Europe and Asia as well as higher running costs, petrol and diesel cars start to lose market share.
• Business districts with very high density start to become pedestrianised and cycling increases, although it is still not mainstream within the nation as a whole, as cheap electrically-powered ride-sharing is available to all.

The post Green Building Past, Present and Future appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.