A Grahamstown resident last week become the town's first home-owner to have a device installed to detect and halt water leaks.
A Grahamstown resident last week become the town's first home-owner to have a device installed to detect and halt water leaks.
Undetected leaks in pipes drain not only the town's water supplies, but also property owners' bank accounts, with some being faced with bills of thousands of rands.
Friday morning saw the first AquaTrip Leakage Detection System installed in Grahamstown at the home of Southey Street resident Alan Weaving. Local plumbing company Davies Plumbing did the job, in conjunction with the Port Alfred-based AquaTrip company.
Weaving had became concerned when neighbours on either side had copper piping stolen. "Their water ran without anything stopping it," he said. "We just want to safeguard ourselves from water wastage."
Sales Director of AquaTrip, Chris De Wet Steyn, told Grocott's Mail, "The device reduces water bills, saves water and reduces the damage on your property if a geyser or pipe bursts. "It will also safeguard holiday homes that are left unattended.The home owners won't come back and have to pay ridiculous bills, or have their property damaged by pipes flooding," De Wet Steyn said.
According to the AquaTrip website, the device continuously monitors the flow of water into a property, and "shuts off the water automatically in the event of a tap left running, a burst pipe, or if a tap, fitting, pipe, toilet or appliance is leaking".
The website claims the device has not only economic, but also environmental benefits: "By using only the water you actually need, you will minimise your environmental footprint, and help create a pattern of sustainable use for generations to come."
De Wet Steyn said the device was invented by a South African now living in Queensland, Australia. "They were given a research and development grant of A$250 000 to develop this product because of the diminishing and scarcity of water resources.
The device is in the process of being approved by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), but it has the Australian WaterMark Certification," De Wet Steyn said. "Well I'm happy now that now we have some that will stop the water if some happens," Weaving said.
