Get innovative amid crippling drought
Much has been written about the ongoing drought and critical water shortages in Graaff-reinet and surrounds. The level of the Nqweba Dam, which currently stands at 7.32%, bears testament to the debilitating drought crippling the area. If there's one thing that's certain, it is that the drought conditions, which have been prevalent since 2014, have highlighted the importance of water preservation in any form. For more than a year, the decline in the Nqweba Dam's water level has left the town under a serious water crisis, forcing the municipality to impose water restrictions, while warning residents that every effort must be made to preserve the water supply. Apart from the towns' water woes, there's also a great deal to worry about deeper into the surrounding farmlands of the Eastern Cape. As with the town, farmers in the region also rely heavily on water from both cement and ground dams for agriculture and domestic consumption. The failure of dams, however, to hold water for long periods can prove detrimental. Losing small amounts of water in reservoirs is also inevitable with evaporation taking place constantly during the hot weather. But, here too, seepage as a result of poor maintenance or cracks in the concrete can also significantly reduce the amount of reserved water. Zebra Solutions in Graaff-reinet offer a simple and cost-effective solution to preserving the quality of water and minimizing water loss in dams to protect it for use - i.e. the installation of good quality cement dam liners combined with shade cloth covers to cut water losses from both seepage and evaporative losses with the added benefit of extending the PVC liners lifespan. Dam liners are a simple yet costeffective way to waterproofing cement and ground dams as well as reservoirs. In fact, the installation of a liner offers the lowest capital input cost per litre for cement an ground dams and reservoirs. "Our PVC liners are an effective barrier against water loss caused by seepage and are great for farming, municipal and industrial applications," said Albert Lombard of Zebra Solutions. "The company's liners are suitable for many applications and are guaranteed to render cement and ground dams as well as reservoirs watertight." Zebra Solutions specialises in the supply and installation of dam liners that are premade to the client's specifications, ready to line both cement and ground dams as well as reservoirs. The company - having been established in 2006 as one of the first companies in the country to offer this service - has installed more than 2 000 liners regionally and in doing so has gained a reputable reputation as one of the leaders in this field and can install or supply dam linings country-wide. Lombard highlights that Zebra Solutions can either supply DIY liners to customers who have the necessary technical skills to install it themselves or install the liner for its clients. "However, this does not apply to HDPE specialised ground dam liners, which we install utilising specialised welding machinery. The machinery effectively fuses the material and ensure longevity. Specialised HDPE liners can last up to 15 years," he concludes. Anyone who would like more information on the product can contact Albert @ Zebra Solutions at 082 702 6022 or by E-mail: albert@zebrasolutions.co.za.