Disgraceful use of hosepipe

Yesterday I sat in the parking lot waiting to pick up my mother from her salon appointment and watched while this air-conditioning company washed their air-cons. To my horror they do not use a pressure hose which would reduce the amount of water they use and then to add insult to injury the chap then begins to give his bakkie a wash down as well. Surely culprits like this should be named and shamed as they are clearly not doing anything to help with the water crisis?

CATHY COOKSON

Ballito

Business owner Rob Fomison replies:

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I am absolutely appalled by the pure negligence by my employees and must sincerely apologise for their misconduct!

The technician in question and his assistant where carrying out a service on all of the refrigeration and air conditioning equipment at Ballito Spar when these photos were taken. Water is used to clean the condensing units, however since the hose pipe ban was implemented I removed all hosepipes from all of the work vans and they were replaced with garden spray bottles as well as briefing all staff, on numerous occasions, and putting up signs in the workshop stating hosepipes were not to be used for anything until further notice!

It is much harder and takes much longer to clean a large condenser with a small spray bottle than it is with a hosepipe connected up to the mains water, so obviously he has decided to take the lazy route here. I have inspected his van and there is no hosepipe in it, when I questioned the technician he said he found the hose on the Spar premises and decided to “just quickly clean the condensers”!

It is clear by the pictures that he is quite happily spraying the van and anything else he can see with water, with absolutely no regard or thought of the present water crisis and hosepipe ban!

I am extremely angry about this as it not only puts my name into ill repute, but I am very sensitive to the current water crisis and keep on telling the guys that there is a real possibility of the taps running dry, as well as the fact that I have not been able to water my garden at home for over a year now and it is looking very sad!

Both staff members have been disciplined to the full extent of the labour law and all staff have been informed of what has happened and I have reiterated the severity of the water crisis and once again reminded everyone that under no circumstances are hosepipes to be used!

Once again I apologise.