[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has reduced its water consumption by 30% over the past financial year, and it will be taking these water savings a step further with the commissioning of its own reverse osmosis plant.
The plant is currently in its test phase, but once completed will draw underground sea water to produce fully potable drinking water. Salt and contaminants will be removed from the sea water as it’s pushed through a semi-permeable membrane at high pressure. Up to 200 000 litres of water a day can be processed by the CTICC plant, and additional storage tanks with 400 000 litres capacity will allow the Convention Centre to deal with high-demand scenarios.
“The plant, in conjunction with our water storage capacity, will provide five times our average daily water consumption, thus ensuring that the CTICC can offer 100% water-neutral events,” says Chief Executive Officer of the CTICC, Julie-May Ellingson.
“The reverse osmosis plant is just one of our initiatives. Our water-wise campaign is a strategic response that makes sound business sense for the CTICC and our clients,” says Ellingson.
The water-saving initiatives that the CTICC has undertaken include:
- Rain-water storage tanks with 265 000 litre capacities. The water collected here is used for cleaning activities inside the centre as well as running its cooling towers for the air conditioning system.
- The condensate from the CTICC’s air-conditioning units are captured and used for maintenance in and around the centre.
- Water savings information boards, placed throughout the centre, inform visitors on the need to save water.
- Water-smart showerheads in the centre’s meeting suites and aerators for taps in CTICC’s main and satellite kitchens.
“I would like to thank all our delegates, clients and the CTICC team for their concerted efforts to support the CTICC’s water-saving initiatives. Our reverse osmosis plant will allow us to host water neutral events that impact positively on our economy without placing any burden on the City of Cape Town’s precious water resources,” Ellingson adds.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_gallery images=”29849,29848,29847″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
