Plumber’s invention saves geyser contents

REPLACING a geyser can lead to water wastage which a local plumber is trying to prevent with a new invention.

Charles Watt, who runs his own business in Muizenberg, has invented what he calls a “water storage bladder pack”. This product, Wattapac, is a large plastic bag that attaches to a pump which drains water from a geyser that needs to be repaired or replaced.

Plumbers usually drain water from a geyser when working on it and this water is often flushed down the drain. Watt says that “anything from 150 litres to 300 litres of water is wasted” each time a geyser is replaced.

Wattapac stores the water, which can be pumped into a new geyser instead of pumping new water into it. Watt says his product also saves on electricity to reheat the water as it can keep water warm. The bag is made from PVC.

“We have designed, patented and locally manufactured a product which nullifies water wastage, with the potential of saving countless hundreds of millions of litres of water annually,” said Watt.

“In light of the chronic water shortage issue in South Africa, it is ironic that plumbers who work with water on a daily basis discard vast quantities of water when replacing geysers and undertaking general geyser maintenance.”

Watt said he has already sold Wattapac to 100 plumbers. One of these plumbers, Gavin Long, said he had been using the product since November. “We pump on average 750 to 1 000 litres of water a day via Wattapac, just by replacing burst geysers and elements.

“Not only does the Wattapac save water, but also saves time in draining and refilling a geyser.”

PICTURE: SUPPLIED Local businessman Charles Watt has produced a water-saving product that plumbers are using when draining geysers.