Purple pipes are the answer

For some time I have attended and read debates backwards and forwards around our water crisis. Emergency pipelines, desalination plants, Tugela pipeline and the list goes on.
Not once has anyone mentioned “purple pipes”. What are purple pipes? Well just Google and immediately you will see that internationally this is the recognised system for transporting grey water. Israel, USA and Australia, to name a few, use this system.
Why can we in Ballito not be the forerunners in SA with this system? Laying purple pipes alongside our existing water system to every household, business, shopping centre and sports field, and meter these lines as we do our potable water, but at a reduced rate. Surely this will be able to be implemented quicker and be more cost effective than the other proposed plans as the cost will be recovered by the consumer.
I have watched in amusement daily as I drive past the water works the queue to collect “free grey water” which we as consumers pay for as “sewer charge” on our account with the balance flowing down into the stream behind the water works.
I too would not like to have to pay twice for this water but understand that realistically the purple pipes would need to be funded somehow and the fastest, most effective way would be at a reduced rate to the consumer. The purple pipe system could then be plumbed into all toilets and gardens, also by means of purple pipes and taps which are easily recognised as non-potable water.
I addressed this to DOCRRA and at the Mayoral Imbizo and was told by municipal members that it is being looked into. Well, we have a crisis if it is being looked into. Why has it not been mentioned and how long will we be looking when a system is being used very effectively internationally? It is crazy that potable water is being used to flush public toilets. Can we not implement this system?
GARY FRANCES
Zimbali