KNYSNA NEWS - With the Knysna municipality’s recent introduction of level 3 water restrictions, a lot of businesses in and around Knysna are feeling the impact.
• Municipal potable water to be used for human consumption only.
• No watering of gardens, not even with a bucket.
• No washing of vehicles and/or boats.
• All residents and businesses to restrict their usage to 20Kl/month.
• Residents utilising more than the 20Kl/month will be identified and notified to install water restrictive devices.
• Punitive tariff of 75% will be added for usage above 20Kl/month.
One such business sector that will be affected are the car washes, who depend almost solely on water to render a service… or so one would think.
The Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) asked a few of these enterprises in Knysna and Sedgefield for their take on the restrictions, and most said, surprisingly, that restrictions have not yet affected them that much and that they already have some sort of water recycling or saving system in place – although all agreed this move is quite costly.
The owner of Van Halderen Executive Car Wash in Main Road, Knysna, Doug de Klerk, said that quotes he received to install a recycling system at his business reached the R130 000 mark. “The municipality initially came to see us (referring to other car wash owners too) to request that we install water recycling systems. The quotes came back with astronomic amounts, which is just not possible. We went back to the municipality and suggested we use water tanks etc to alleviate the problem,” he said.
But the problems with tanks that catch rainwater is that there has been no sufficient rain, said De Klerk. “The tanks stand there, empty. This is even affecting car dealerships I have spoken to. Clients become quite unhappy, although there is a very acute awareness of the restrictions among the owners of these establishments,” he said.
For De Klerk it is difficult to make a rational decision, he said. “If we shut down, what will happen to our employees? But if we have to, we will have to comply,” he said.
Kobus Minnie of the Total Car Wash, also in Main Road, Knysna said that his business is already 100% reliant on their water tanks, of which there are seven 1 500-litre tanks.
“So far the restrictions have not affected us at all. We recycle water and use rainwater catchment tanks to assist us, plus a sand filter system that cleans the water,” he said.
Manager at Shell Car Wash in Main Road, Sedgefield, Clive Ceasar, said they already use borehole water that runs through three filters for their business. “The water comes out pretty clear after that,” he added.
“We also don’t use municipal water and therefore the restrictions have not affected us,” he said.
Owner of Mr Pressure Rentals on the corner of Main and Hoepoe Streets, Sedgefield, Deon Kapp, said that besides incorporating borehole water into his business, he does his best to stay within the allocated amount of water he can use every month and is also working on a recycled water system for his business.
“We aren’t as big as most car washes, and thus haven’t felt any affect. The system I am working on installing is going to cost me quite a penny, but it will be worth it in the end,” he said.
ARTICLE & PHOTO: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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