AN entrepreneurial endeavour has taken on added significance due to the ongoing water crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of Durbanites.

It all started with non-functioning showers on the Durban beachfront for the businessmen and surfers, Pascal Tostee (Durban North) and Deryn de Bruyn (Hillcrest), which led to the duo creating their own portable shower.

De Bruyn, who works for a company that manufactures and develops pesticides, said surfing is one of his life’s passions.

“The idea started to germinate last year. I start off most mornings with an early surf, and when it came time to rinse off, I couldn’t because the showers were vandalised or there would be fittings missing. I even ended up joining a lifesaving club just so I could use their shower facility. I started researching and thinking about purchasing a portable shower. So many of them required importing, and there wasn’t anything practical that I could use.

Related story: City fails to meet water supply deadline, sets new deadline for affected areas

“So I thought, why not create my own? I felt I could build something similar but with my own twist, and that’s when Pascal and I got chatting. Because of my work in the pesticide industry, I came up with the idea to repurpose and rebuild an industrial spray bottle. I then got a connection or hose, and it took months of improving and tinkering before we came to the final product. We did not expect the amount of interest it has generated – it really was going to be a side hustle where we sold four or five a month, but we’ve now sold more than 240 in just a few months. The water crisis has led to people looking for any alternatives,” he said.

For fellow surfer, Pascal, who works at Surf HQ on the Durban beachfront, the feedback from residents has been positive.

“So many people from various backgrounds, including campers, anglers, surfers and residents, have all been really positive. It’s great to hear because we also use their feedback to improve on designs, including the hose and shower head. I’ve known Deryn for several years because he was a customer in our store, but we ended up becoming friends, and then this idea took off.

“Like he touched on the idea to have something just to rinse the salt and sand off of surfers, and when we ended up launching it, the water crisis expanded. We have an eight-litre and a five-litre bottle, which we’ve launched with, and people have said they can finally shower comfortably compared to using a jug and bucket. We’ve also wrapped the bottles with neoprene made from recycled material, and that helps insulate the bottles. We’ve really been humbled by everyone who’s purchased a portable shower. I’ve actually used it at home in Durban North because I’ve also been without water,” he said.

Also read: Councillors express frustration over North Durban water crisis

You can find out more about their product via their Instagram page, Rinse it.

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