Plumbing essential a big water saver
WATTAPAC, a recently designed water bladder is taking the plumbing industry by storm, already saving over 2 million litres of water since its distribution in late 2017.
The bladder is an ingenious design created by experienced plumber Charles Watt and manufacturer Charles Beresford. Currently used by over 200 plumbers countrywide, Watt says Wattapac is “a plumbing essential” for geyser replacements and maintenance, as it removes water wastage entirely from the process.
Simply put, when changing a hot water cylinder, a plumber traditionally drains the water inside the tank before undertaking maintenance. Once the maintenance is complete, the plumber then refills the tank, drawing huge amounts of water from Cape Town’s already depleted reservoirs.
To Watt, this behaviour is inconceivable when such a simple solution is available. “Your tank has a 200 litre capacity. If the hot water cylinder breaks, your plumber has to drain all of this and then refill it after he finishes (the repair). That’s 400 litres 80 five-litre bottles of water. And we’ve been in a drought,” he pointed out.
Not only does Wattapac save water, it also greatly reduces the turnaround time for geyser repairs and replacements, allowing plumbers to drain and refill 200 litre tanks in about 15 minutes.
As particularly difficult jobs can take up to two hours without the product, Watt says using it is a no-brainer. “Not only are you saving time as a plumber, clients are happy because workers aren’t in the house for long periods. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Although water restrictions have been relaxed as a result of the recent rains, Watt believes it’s crucial to remain extra vigilant on water usage.
“We’ve had this rain, but the dams are still only around 50% full. What happens if we get no rain for another year or two? We still need to be careful with our water.”
Watt and Beresford are hoping to access a broader market and are producing larger bladders for industrial jobs to help save even more water. Wattapac is on sale for R2 780 direct from Wattapac and available to plumbers and the public.