Mayco member throws cold water on entrepreneur’s ‘doomsday’ drought relief pitch

HARVESTING water from the air could be an alternative water source for the Western Cape’s drought crisis as Cape Town’s water supply could run out before the end of the year, according to Ray de Vries, chief executive of AIRWATER, a business which makes water from the air.

Businesses in Cape Town are looking at other ways to source water as the drought bites, De Vries said.

“The authorities, politicians and the people who are in charge of our water supply have been dragging their feet for over a decade now and we are moving from a crisis to a catastrophe. In my estimation, the City of Cape Town will run out of water completely by December or January.

“Last year we finished our rainy season at the end of August with 48% usable water in our dams. This year we are not even at 25% at the same time; this is more than alarming, it is downright scary.”

In response, the city’s mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy, Xanthea Limberg, said the city was aware there were many players in the market with alternative products.

“It is appreciated that entrepreneurs are trying to offer personalised solutions. However, everyone has a responsibility to make appropriate decisions based on information available. The city is not sure what precise formula the writer of the release has used to come up with his prediction, but whatever the case, the writer’s predictions are simply inaccurate.”

Limberg added that although the impacts of the drought were severe, the management of it had been responsible.

“Sound drought management, including the continual driving down of consumption and the addition of new temporary augmentation schemes, will ensure that the city safely avoids acute water shortages.

“In this regard, in order for acute water shortages to be avoided, it is important that consumers continue to strive to make further savings.”

De Vries said a bottling plant could be housed in a container as a turnkey operation, or within a building, and the first units could be in operation in Cape Town by November.