CHAT
Save electricity, save money, save the world
(From the Witbank News).
Use the new CFL lights. They use at least 75% less electricity than your usual lights. They are not expensive to buy but they last five or six times as long. Electrical heating units use a lot of electricity and savings can be big.
Lag your geyser and hot water pipes so that they do not lose heat. It uses a lot of electricity to reheat that water. Only put the amount of water into your kettle that you want to use. Don’t heatt up water you don’t need.
Stoves and hot plates. Switch off or switch down whenever you can. (Microwaves, because they are on for shorter periods, use less electricity). Other devices like tumble driers, heated washers, electric fires, toasters, and so on, use all these as little as possible as they all use a lot of electricity and particularly fires.
Make your house more insulated so you don’t waste heat in winter.
Do audits – check out all your ways of heating and lighting and the time used over two or three days. Check your geyser setting.
Saving by using CFL low energy lights.
Phillips (CFL) 15W lights give the same amount of light as 75W normal lights. Assuming you normally use only 60W lights these will give you more light and big savings in electricity costs. If you use 75W normally they will give even more saving. These lights cost more but last longer.
What are the savings:
Assume a light is used for five hours per day. A 60W light use 60 x 5 = 300 watt/hours per day. A 15W light would only use 75 watt/hours.
If each light would be used fr say 350 days per year: The 60W light would use 300 x 350 = 105000 watt hours (1000 w hours = 1kW hour = 1 unit) = 105kW/hrs. The 15W light would use 75 x 350 = about 25kW/hrs. Difference = 80kW/hrs and this for only one light in the house.
Help Save the earth
Eskom say that producing one unit of electricity (1kW/hr) results in 1.1kg of CO2 being produced. That is a lot of gas!.
So saving of only 100units per month per household would save 110kg og greenhouse gas going into the atmosphere. If three million household in South Africa saved this the 330 000 tons less greenhouse gas would go into the atmosphere per month.
This would mean a massive four million tons of greenhouse gas could be saved from polluting the world’s atmosphere per year. That would really be meaningful.
For more information about these low energy light please contact Mr Malcolm Suttil on 013 656 59 32 or 083 225 1878
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Send an e-mail to and get on our mailing list.
Measure your personal ecological footprint.
Choose the description that best matches your lifestyle. Circle its score then add up.
Food: you consume plenty and pay little attention to where your food is produced. Score: 100 / Food: you eat locally grown, vegetarian food and have little food waste. Score: 32Waste: you produce very little waste and reuse/recycle everything possible. Score: 30 / Waste: you recycle little or none of your waste.
Score: 100
Water: you mostly take showers and don’t have a dishwasher or hosepipe. Score: 1 / Water: you take lots of baths, have a dishwasher, hosepipe etc. Score: 50
Holiday: you take at least one long distance flight per year. Score: 65 / Holiday: you usually holiday close to home.
Score: 10
Electricity: you conserve energy and get your electricity from renewable resources. Score: 2 / Electricity: you use many appliances, often leaving them on or on standby. Score: 50
Heating: you use electric heating sparingly, have excellent insulation and low bills. Score: 10 / Heating: you keep your home warm using electricity and have poor insulation. Score: 45
Transport: you travel mostly by car.
Score: 75 / Transport: you travel mostly by public transport, cycling or walking. Score: 10
Paper: you regularly buy newspapers and new books
Score: 10 / Paper: you share newspapers and usually borrow books rather than buy them. Score: 5
Your total core gives an idea of the area of land that would be needed to sustainably support your lifestyle – your ecological footprint. The chart shows the number of planets that would be needed to sustainably support global consumption, if everyone lived like you.
Your SCORE: Number of Planet Earths Needed
100
200
300
400
The world average Ecological Footprint is 2.3 global hectares, with the United Arab Emirates with the highest of 10 and Mozambique with the lowest, 1 global hectare. But, there is only an average of 1.9 hectares of biologically productive land and sea area for each person (not counting the space needed by other species).
If you would like more information please visit: www.myfootprint.org
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WITBANK
NATURE RESERVE
Please come and visit the Witbank Nature Reserve! It is located on the eastern outskirts of the City of Witbank, on President Street. It is 109km from Pretoria and 143km from Johannesburg and can be easily reached from both the N4 and N12 freeways.
The reserve is adjacent to the Witbank Dam which is popular for a variety of watersports and fishing. The reserve is situated adjacent to the City of Witbank where most amenities can be found.
There are two picnic sites, one with nearby flush toilets and running water near a little waterfall quite close to the entrance of the reserve and one near the N4 freeway. There are also two well-situated bird hides.
There is also:
Game viewing, Kiepersol Hiking Trail (5km), Plains Zebra trail (7.5km) and birding!
Remember to bring a hat, walking shoes, sun block, binoculars and nature reference books, sufficient water.
Take note:
No pets and no firearms are allowed. Only authorized vehicles may enter the reserve, fires may only be made in designated areas and no firewood may be collected in the reserve.
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Are you concerned about development in your area? Contact Mrs Carla Hudson
Tel: (011) 462 5663 or e-mail
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS (EIAs)
WESSA – NAR are involved in the following EIA’s:
(Please note that you can get involved at any stage of the process)
Proposed Project / Consultant – Contact Details / ProgressProposed Ponds Golf Estate – Off Beyers Naude & M67 Crossing, Mogale City. / Twelopele Environmental
Anthony Goslar (011) 789 7170 / Drafting Scoping Report
Proposed Development of Meyersdal Nature Estate Phase II on Farm Klipriviersberg / Environomics
Paul Claassen (012) 549 5949 / Drafting Plan of Scoping Report
SAPS – Gauteng New 30m high triangular mast within palisade fenced perimeter, Klipriversberg Nature reserve / SRK Consulting
Paul de Ruyter (011) 441 6161 / Request Exemption to EIA Process
Proposed residential and commercial development in the western portion of the AECI Modderfontein Site, Modderfontein / Afrosearch
Ingrid Snyman (012) 362 2908 / Drafting Plan of Scoping Report
New filling station along Mulbrton Rd, Beverly, Sandton / SEF Africa
Mirenda Moremedi (012) 349 1307 / Drafting Plan of Scoping Report
Dinaledi – Garankuwa Network Strengthening Project (new 16km electricity line) / Bohlweki Environmental
Mr M Mathebula (011) 466 3841 / Scoping Report Available for Comment
Proposed construction of a sewer pipeline from Blaauwpan pump Station to Benoni Sewer Outfall, Bonaero Park, Gauteng / SEF Africa
Mirenda Moremedi (012) 349 1307 / Drafting Scoping Report
Proposed construction and operation of a new galvaninsing line to replace two commissioned lines at the Cold Mills South, ISPAT ISCOR Ltd Vanderbijlpark Steel / Afrosearch
Mr Corne Roelofse (012) 362 2908 / Drafting Scoping Report
Proposed establishment of a waste blending platform : a Holcim SA and Enviroserv Waste Management JV / Bohlweki Environmental
Karen Kück (011) 466 3841 / Draft Environmental Impact Assessment
Closure of existing waste disposal facility and opening of a new facility at ISPAT ISCOR Vanderbijlpark Steel / Afrosearch
Mr Corne Roelofse (012) 362 2908 / Draft Scoping Report
Proposed Development of La Coteau Rural residential estates on Farm Keerom, Mpumalanga / Lokisa
Elaine Holtzhausen (012) 346 2340 / Draft Scoping Report
Delmas x4 Township establishment of 40 residential dwelling units of a density of 16 units per hectare and ass infrastructure / Lokisa
Elaine Holtzhausen (012) 346 2340 / Plan of Scoping report
Proposed Vaal River Eastern Sub-system Augmentation Project / SEF
Ilse Blignaut (012) 249 1307 / Plan of Scoping Report
New Coal-fired power station (Matimba B) in the Lephalale Area, Limpopo Province / Bohlweki Environmental
Ashlea Strong (011) 466 3841 / Background Information Document
Proposed Sintel Char Plant, Grootegeluk Coal Mine, Lephalale / Clean Stream Environmental
Izelle Swanepoel (013) 697 5021 / Draft Scoping Report
Proposed Southview Township, Witbank / Lokisa
Elaine Holtzhausen (012) 346 2340 / Plan of Scoping Report
Proposed establishment of the Ponte Vecchio Township / Landscape Dynamics
Annelize Grobler (012) 460 6043 / Record of Decision Contested
Conversion of the Buffelspoort Dam water use rights from agricultural to industrial, Mooinooi, NW Province / Natural Scientific Services
Susan Abell (011) 787 7400 / Draft Environmental Impact Assessment
Leloko Lifestyle Estate,NW Province / Landscape Dynamics
Annelize Grobler (012) 460 6043 / Awaiting Scoping Report
Proposed Refentse Township, NW Province / Tekplan Environmental
Theo Kotze (013) 755 2071 / Record of Decision Contested
Extention of the Thabana Pipe Store facility at NECSA at Pelindaba / EIMS
Ilse Aucamp (011) 789 7170 / Scoping Report
If you would like to register as an Interested and Affected Party please contact the consultant a.s.a.p – if you require more information please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Carla Hudson. If you are aware of any other processes that is not included in this list and you would like WESSA-NAR to get involved – please contact us!
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A South African example of eco-sanitation of rivers – Part 1
Kim Kieser1 and Pieter van Eeden2
1SOUL Foundation and 2EcoMonitor cc
A modern holistic approach towards ecologically and economically sound sanitation is offered by the concepts referred to as "Ecological sanitation" or Eco-sanitation, which is based on waste recycling principles. The key objective of this approach is not to promote a certain technology, but rather to apply a new philosophy of dealing with what has been regarded as waste in the past. The crux is to overcome inertia of the past and to motivate people to follow a new approach.
Community participation is identified as a key requirement for the successful implementation of eco-sanitation programs. Community-based approaches that focus on sanitation are more likely to succeed than contractor-driven approaches that often offer quick-fix solutions but without ensuring long-lasting benefits.
Management of informal settlements in the developing world is a complex social, cultural and economic issue. Fast-growing and ever-increasing numbers of people in informal settlements cause huge environmental pressures.
The majority of informal settlements were established near large cities or industrial centers that provided places for dwellings. After 1994, freedom of choice and movement opened the door for a huge influx of immigrants to previously established settlements. Furthermore, because of economic and political instability and wars, refugees from other African countries were prompted to relocate from their native countries to South Africa and have seeked shelter in informal settlements.
The Alexandra Township is an example of such a large, informal settlement, which has rapidly expanded during the past ten years. It is estimated that the population size exceeds 1 000 000 people from various nationalities. This township is composed of three sections that differ in terms of organization, population origin, structure and degree of poverty. One section is urbanized and formally recognized, another section contains a mixture of formal and informal inhabitants, whilst the last, which is also the poorest, is the Sjwetla section. This section has an estimated population of 80 000 - 120 000 people and is a typical example of a high-density squatter camp with no elementary services at all.
In accordance with the National Sanitation Program, basic potable water supplies, sanitation and storm water drainage should be provided through government funds. Commonly, the funds provided for this purpose are not enough to cover the actual costs. Due to the illegal occupation of land in Alexandra results in the non-payment of rates for basic municipal services, and consequently these are provided only on an intermittent basis. The consequence of such a situation is that various types of solid and liquid wastes are illegally dumped around the township, the banks of the Jukskei River and in the storm water drains.
The Jukskei River is a tributary of the Crocodile River that flows into the Hartebeespoort Dam, which is used for irrigation, tourism and recreation. The water quality in this reservoir is highly eutrophic as a consequence of a large internal nutrient load and also nutrient input that greatly exceeds acceptable limits. Amongst others rivers, the Jukskei River has also contributed to this dam’s nutrient input for a long period of time.
It is estimated that the discharge of untreated wastewater from Alexandra into the Jukskei River ranges from 10K to 15K m3/d. The estimated volume of solid waste that is generated in the township ranges from 1000 – 1500 t/day. A large portion of this waste ends up in the river. Before the implementation of an eco-sanitation program, the Jukskei River and its banks looked more like a dump site and not like a watercourse.
This pollution also induces many adverse effects such as increased health risks, the destruction of the river ecosystem, a decline in the natural self-purification abilities, a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels, severe morphological alterations of the river channel, disturbances of the natural hydraulic regime and the deterioration of the landscape downstream of Alexandra. Furthermore, the risk of floods during storm events increased due to the accumulation of garbage around road bridge pillars.