Construction World March 2018

Retail to adapt to WATER CRISIS Consumers are not the only ones who have to tighten taps in Cape Town. As South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ approaches dreaded Day Zero which has been estimated to occur in May 2018, retailers and shopping centres too, have to rethink their strategies to ensure survival.

not be in time for the current projected D-day, it will ensure future water security,” added Stephan. Stephan further added that Growthpoint was a founding member of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and one of the industry leaders in implementing sustainable and resource-saving technologies, ranging from solar energy to recycling. “We have, over the past number of years, implemented a number of water- saving initiatives across our portfolio such as rain water harvesting, waterless urinals, replacing water-thirsty plants with indigenous plants and hard landscaping, abandoning irrigation all together-even from boreholes. “Our shopping centres have to trade – not only because thousands of people depend on the income and salaries but also as the public will continue to need daily access to stores,” he said. Canal Walk, Cape Gate and Somerset Mall (HYPROP Investments Limited) Camilla Lor, Marketing Executive for Canal Walk said that Hyprop Investments Limited was an environmentally active and socially responsible commercial entity. “HYPROP is therefore committed to upholding and enforcing water restrictions, policy and regulations in support of managing its role as it pertains to the drought in the Western Cape,” she said. She added that HYPROP Investments Limited has instituted stringent measures at all its shopping centres in the affected areas. “This includes limiting the use of water deployed inside the centres and external amenities. To remain top of mind and to reinforce the change in attitude that is required from everyone – shoppers, retailers, visitors, staff etc – all centres have engaged in regular communications to tenants, including suggestions for easily implementable water saving tactics, as well as highlighting the successes the centres achieve on an ongoing basis,” said Lor. Tyger Valley Centre (Mowana Properties) Nozipho Khumalo, the National Marketing Manager for Mowana Properties said that they had been working tirelessly on various initiatives, in a bid to ensure that continuity of business is achieved, should day zero be reached. “We have identified that all parties need to work together to ensure that we save the precious resource we currently have. We have been working very closely with our largest consumers of water within the centre which are air conditioning, tenant usage and ablutions to aim to drive and exceed the savings on consumption demanded by council. We have identified and met with the large water users within the mall including anchor tenants and have encouraged water saving throughout the mall. Various of the tenants have implemented their own initiatives such as dry water washing at the hair-dressers and the usage of disposable towels. In a bid to save water, we have investigated alternative water sources, such as borehole water in preparation for Day Zero. Day Zero affects all parties and is not the sole responsibility of the landlord. A water expert has just been appointed to assist us with scientific water saving methods and we are also encouraging tenants to play their part and to introduce initiatives of their own,” she said. Amanda Stops, Chief Executive Officer for the SACSC, said that the above provided an indication of what just a few of the role players in the shopping centre industry have implemented to deal with the current water situation in Cape Town. “From the many initiatives detailed, one can see that this is a priority for the shopping centre industry, a situation that has been taken very seriously. The industry is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders and finding solutions in order to continue to provide safe, comfortable shopping environments,” she said. 

C ape Town is now regarded as the first major city in the world to run out of water. Current dam levels in the city are currently around 26,5%, stabilised temporarily by the 10 billion litres which had been made available to Cape Town by the Groenland Water Users' Association in Grabouw recently. Jeremy Naidoo, Water Production Scientist said that parts of the Western Cape lie in a winter rainfall region-meaning that most of the rain falls during South Africa’s winter months (June-August). “In the event that rain does not fall, the Western Cape region will likely be declared a disaster area. Day Zero has already been predicted by the relevant authorities to occur as early as May 2018 in the event that population of the Western Cape does not adhere to the strict water restrictions,” he said. According to Naidoo, the two main solutions to deal with the crisis are Groundwater Abstraction and Water Saving Technologies. “In my opinion, the most attention should be given to Groundwater Abstraction and Water Saving Technologies as a quick intervention to deal with the current disaster. Groundwater abstraction should be increased in a sustainable manner to prevent depletion and failure of groundwater resources. Water saving technologies need to be implemented to increase the efficiency of water use, especially in the case of commercial agriculture,” he said. V&A Waterfront (Growthpoint Properties) Stephan le Roux, the director of Growthpoint Properties commented on the various measures they (Growthpoint Properties) have undertaken to ensure that the V&A Waterfront remains steadfast during this challenging time. The V&A Waterfront is regarded as the premier tourist destination in South Africa with tremendous international tourist exposure. “It is imperative that the V&A continues to operate at an acceptable level. Not only does the precinct have the highest concentration of hotels and restaurants but it is the ‘showcase’ of Cape Town. Over and above the extensive water-saving initiatives already deployed, the V&A will be constructing their own dedicated desalination plant. Whilst this will

Jeremy Naidoo, Water Production Scientist.

Amanda Stops, Chief Executive Officer for the SACSC.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2018