As Capetonians are required to use less than 50 litres per day, residents and businesses are finding alternative ways to stock up. The President Hotel in Cape Town, meanwhile, has made saving water a top priority to ensure it functions optimally during the water crisis and beyond, while also reducing their carbon footprint significantly.

Jeremy Clayton, of Turnkey Hospitality, shares that the President Hotel has independently contracted the installation of a borehole, which is expected to commence in February 2018. While this move is a step in the right direction, they will continue to implement sustainable water-saving techniques to reduce consumption.

“As a whole, the hotel is looking at ways of completely removing ourselves from the grid (water and electricity) as part of our 5 year plan, while also reducing impact on the city’s overall water supply,” states Clayton.

The hotel assures guests that cleanliness, safety, and overall holiday experience will not be jeopardised during their stay. Once drilled, the borehole should provide a steady supply of water for the shower and restroom facilities should Day Zero arrive, which will be tested and treated by the hotel’s engineers and water experts accordingly. If necessary, filtered bottled water will also be sourced to supply the President Hotel’s kitchen as well as supply guests with clean drinking water.

The President Hotel has implemented several other water saving measures such as

·         Reducing water pressure by 30%

·         Removing bath plugs and encouraging guests to take 90 second showers

·         Waterless hand sanitisers

·         Water restrictors on restroom taps cutting consumption by 90%

·         Water is being sourced from outside the drought stricken areas to fill the pool

• Implementation of waterless chemicals for the sanitising and cleaning of all floors

•     Aerated units on all guest washbasin taps and restrictor shower heads reducing flow by 50%

Greywater systems have also been put in place, recycling leftover water in bottles and ice buckets, capturing air-conditioners outlet water for cleaning and other purposes and placing buckets in showers to encourage guests to catch water to be recycled. “We have successfully managed to reduce the overall water usage at the hotel by 40%,” adds Clayton.

The hotel further encourages guests to be mindful and join them in defeating Day Zero by reducing water consumption through displayed notices in all rooms, public restrooms, and the foyer and hotel entrance.

To further alleviate the pressure of the water crisis within the city, the President Hotel will also be providing bottled water to staff, and donating to disadvantaged communities, should Day Zero become a reality.