Yesterday the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate recognised 18 organisations during its Water Star Rating Certification Ceremony for their good practice in water stewardship, which helps reduce pollution and encourages water wise usage in their operations. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Councillor Zahid Badroodien commended the participants for their contribution during the ceremony.
More about the City of Cape Town’s voluntary Water Star Rating Certification system:
- More than 30 organisations (excluding the 2022 companies) have received star ratings since the system was first launched in 2016.
- It recognises businesses, government departments, residential estates, education, environmental and health institutions that comply with water-related by-laws, practice integrated water management, promotes pollution prevention and water wise usage.
- Participants that receive one star are certified as compliant with the relevant water legislation and the City’s Water By-laws. This in itself is worthy of recognition, but participants can be awarded up to five stars, depending on the extent of their efforts to conserve water and prevent pollution.
- To register for the next ratings assessment or more information, visit https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/Water-and-sanitation/apply-for-water-star-rating-certification
The Water Star Rating Certification is one of the initiatives that aims to help achieve the commitments set in the City’s Water Strategy, support the drive towards cleaner inland waterways which is a Mayoral priority, and becoming a more ‘water sensitive’ city.
The 18 participants who put their hands up for this latest round of assessment represent a diverse range of industry sectors.
Two companies achieved a Five Star rating this year:
- · BG Servers
- · Allan Gray
These companies are now certified as ‘pack leaders’ in our collective efforts to better manage the City’s water use and reduce pollution.
Other organisations to receive stars included: Engen False Bay 1 Stop; Klaradyn Retirement Village; ACA Threads; First National Bank- Willowbridge Place; Commercial Cold Storage Logistics – Paarden Eiland; Commercial Cold Storage Logistics – Epping Industrial 2; Redefine Properties – Blue Route Mall; Simba (Pty) Ltd; Tsogo Sun Hotels – Southern Sun Newlands; Woolworths (Pty) Ltd. – Montague Gardens; Killarney International Raceway; Redefine Properties – Kenilworth Centre; Growthpoint Securitisation Warehouse Trust – Constantia Village; Liberty Promenade Shopping Centre; Comar Chemicals (Pty) Ltd and Bin Sanitizers – Southern Surbubs.
The voluntary star-rating assessment covers different aspects of water management including:
- How water is supplied
- How water is used on site
- Water conservation
- How water is discharged
Participants score points if, for example, they:
- have installed water-saving fittings
- know how much water is used per location/point of use
- promote less of a dependency on the municipal supply by using rainwater/borehole/treated effluent/greywater, ideally for non-domestic purposes
- responsibly discharge effluent or have zero effluent discharge
- undertake and can account for regular leak detection and repair, meter auditing and awareness programmes
Celebrating collective efforts
‘Responsible stewardship of our vulnerable water resource, waterways (streams, rivers, dams, vleis/ wetlands) and related ecosystems is more important than ever and this requires collective efforts from all of society – including the public, businesses, industries and government. This is also in keeping with my Mayoral priority to improving inland water quality.
‘For this reason, it is a great opportunity for us to honour these 18 organisations today for their significant efforts to be water wise, help reduce pollution and practice integrated water management in their operations. We call on other organisations to follow their lead. We commend all of those who understand their role and responsibilities in responsibly managing their water use and reducing pollution. These efforts by organisations are part of an ongoing process, which will improve over time, and result in better water management practices and investment in technologies,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The Water Star Certification process benefits individual organisations which become more resource efficient and resilient, and it benefits the city and its waters.
‘The Water Star Rating initiative was an innovation from the City a few years ago, as we recognised that regulation is not only about enforcement but also involves encouraging or promoting self-regulation through such recognition and appreciation efforts. We understand that society changes when leaders in communities, businesses and civil society ‘do the right thing’, and businesses learn a lot from peer-to-peer sharing of best practices. Better and more integrated water management within businesses and within our city as a whole needs everyone to be on board.
‘The City would like to recognise and join hands with more water stars. Businesses, both large and small, as well as private and public sector partners, even blocks of flats and complexes, are all encouraged to participate in this voluntary certification process next year. We all have a role to play in improving inland water quality and using water wisely. We look forward to seeing more innovation around the management of water and participants who want to help ensure Cape Town’s resilience,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Businesses are also encouraged to:
- Know the bylaws that affect them – www.capetown.gov.za/waterregulations
- Help prevent pollution. This can be done by not only dealing with their own effluent discharge, but to also educate their staff and surrounding communities through CSI programmes. Including awareness and education on topics like preventing sewer blockages and overflows by putting waste in the right place (anti-dumping and litter), preventing stormwater pollution and encouraging clean-ups etc.
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