The grey water project set to reduce water and electricity bills at the home, Orlando

Challenges associated with high costs of water have been overcome at the Orlando Children’s Home. Thanks to the Amalgamated Bank of South Africa (ABSA), grey water will no longer go down the drain but have found other uses at the home.

 The grey water project, aimed at saving water while reducing the bill at the home was launched by ABSA last Friday.

 The term grey water refers to all waste water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines.

ABSA and other private companies donated facilities which will help channel grey water to other uses such as watering the garden and irrigating the soccer field.

New and improved gutters have been installed as well, to collect rainwater which will be filtered and purified for use even in the kitchen.

A municipal water backup system and eco-drain electricity saving system and an automated water leak detection system will make sure that the home does not experience any challenges when it comes to water.

Kudzi Samushonga, head of business banking at the ABSA Gauteng South region said they wanted to make a long-term contribution to the home.

“What usually happens with CSI projects is that we give food, blankets of cheques. Since we are coming to the end of our three-year partnership with the home, we thought we should do something that will benefit the children long after the partnership has ended.

“We ended up coming up with this project which will reduce their water and electricity bills,” said Samushonga.

The project is set to benefit the home both financially and environmentally especially now that the country is experiencing severe droughts. The City of Johannesburg has recently announced plans for water restrictions due to droughts.

The Orlando Children’s Home house about 60 children and survives on donor funding. This project wills not only help the home avoid water shortages but it will teach children and the surrounding community the importance of caring for the environment as well.

“Water is a scarce commodity in this part of our world but is important to plant and water the gardens. So how do we strike a balance?

“Our dear friends have applied their minds and come up with an extremely innovative and desirable project which is the grey water project.

“We thank ABSA bank and all those involved in making the project possible,” said director at the home Marriam Mazibuko.

She said the project has many advantages and will also give children bright surroundings through the blossoming flower gardens.