Winning ways to get water

Firm saves 15 000 litres and beats plastic terror

SWEDISH water purification solutions firm Bluewater saved Cape Town 15 000 litres of drinking water during the recent Cape Town stopover of the 13th edition of the iconic Volvo Ocean Race (VOR), as taps run dry amid the worst drought in 100 years.

Bluewater also said it had helped avoid about 45 000 single- use plastic bottles from being used by exchanging them for glass ones as drought-hit Cape Town has tough water restrictions.

Anders Jacobson, co-founder and chief executive of Blue Water AB, said helping Cape Town to save water at the Volvo Ocean Race visit was the company’s contribution to dealing with the water shortage.

“Making the most of our precious water reserves while also helping to remove the need for single-use plastic bottles is our mission at Bluewater and it was a huge pleasure working with the Cape Town civic authorities, Volvo Ocean Race, 11th Hour Racing and other partners like Consol to make this happen so successfully.”

Jacobson also said Bluewater planned to invest in South Africa through setting up operations in the country by next year following the hugely positive response to the hydration stations and seeing the need for this technology in Cape Town particularly.

Blue Water AB is the holding company that owns Bluewater. Bluewater owns patented SuperiorOsmosis to deliver a whole new generation of water purifiers with performance and design.

Bluewater says SuperiorOsmosis generates more than 60% clean drinking water and less than 40% waste water compared to most traditional systems, which usually generate just 30% purified water and up to 70% waste.

The Bluewater Pro water purifier generates up to 6 912 litres of purified water every day.

Sustainability and plastic-free oceans were the race’s core messages.

The VOR approached Bluewater to assist with providing clean drinking water without impacting Cape Town’s water supply.

Bluewater’s solution was four hydration stations at the race village in partnership with the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town city authorities, 11th Hour Racing and Consol.

Bluewater exchanged about 45 000 plastic bottles for Consol glass ones and provided free drinking water to the VOR village by cleaning non-potable water, saving 15 000 litres of Cape Town municipal water from being used.

The VOR, the international yacht race held every three years, travels to various cities including Lisbon and Auckland. It used Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront between November 24 and December 10.

joseph.booysen@inl.co.za

PICTURE: SUPPLIED Bluewater helped prevent 45 000 single-use plastic bottles from being used.