Described by some as a “sunrise industry”, water conservation is fast catching on in all areas of southern Africa as individuas and companies realise that the demand for water is fast outpacing the decreasing supply. With the rolling out of its franchise model, Water Rhapsody is experiencing a sharp increase in demand for its water conservation systems. There seems to be an urgency whereby people wish to get off the grid and harvest their own rainwater. They have seen what has happened to energy in this country with Eskom being unable to supply sufficient power and having to increase tarrifs by staggering amounts. Economists have warned that the looming crisis in water will make the energy problems seem nothing in comparison to water issues.
Sales of Water Rhapsody greywater systems have rocketed as homeowners seek to water their gardens with filtered greywater that used to go down the bath or shower plug.
Water Rhapsody now have 15 dealers who all own their own franchises, located in most of the provinces around South Africa. Says Charles Bryant ” From the beginning of 2010, we have been inundated with demand from would be ecopreneurs looking to own their own businesses in this green industry” Water Rhapsody expect to more than double the number of franchises this year alone, with particular emphasis in Gauteng. The industry is in its infancy, but is truly an industry whose time has come.

Water, as simple as it is to drink, will be an obvious opportunity for investment. this the finding of a venture investment conference took place up in Sacramento, California.

• More importantly, there will be new paradigms for water management—
• Home purification tools to identify and eliminate chemical pollutants such as perchlorates and MTBE, as well a bacteria and viruses in real-time home water purification units that provide “personalized” taste for each user in a household
• Small-scale comprehensive water management solutions for remote hospitals, schools and resorts that include waste water recycling
• Real-time sensors to provide a comprehensive and also highly accurate measure of the specific chemicals and pathogens and monitor water management.

Enter the On-Site Water “Appliance”
Complete on-site water management “appliances” will be one of the strongest investments for the savvy early-stage investor. For a home, office or commercial establishment, recycling water to toilets and irrigation will save

• 50-90% of their water use
• Energy and CO2 emission—in places that use significant amounts of energy to distribute water, like Los Angeles and San Diego, on-site waste water recycling saves up 80% of the energy
  The systems might look like very different boxes, but they will share these features:
• Self-operating, self-healing—comparable to a PC as compared with a mainframe computer. These appliances will automatically transmit key data about water quality directly to the utility
• Multi-Process—combining some set of biological, ozone-based, ultrafiltration, electrocoagulation, electrolysis or chemical solutions to provide for “gold standard” efficiency and variable levels of purity for different applications.
• Modular—to accommodate the latest innovations in membranes and other water-purification solutions
• Highly subsidized—Within the next few years, water scarcity coupled with the cost of maintaining the water distri bution network will bring many localities to remove customers from the edges of their delivery grid.

Experts estimate that 70% of the costs of running a water utility are in the water transport network. According to the EPA, the US will need up to $1 trillion to upgrade its water and wastewater infrastructure over the next 20 years to maintain regulatory standards.

Water might be free—but it will cost more and more to ensure a pure, ready supply. Right now, you pay your municipality for water infrastructure. In the future, some ground-breaking innovation will be necessary to get that water to your kitchen sink. Can you imagine getting “house calls” from your water company?

Australian company chooses North Carolina for launch of innovative rain harvesting product.

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 09, 2009 – In these tough economic times there are some surprising industries which are still in steady growth – such as the rainwater harvesting sector.  The growing water issues in the Southeast has lead to increasing interest amongst homeowners in capturing the rain that falls on their property.

Which is exactly why Australian company Waterwall Designs has brought their contemporary Fatboy 650 gallon rainwater tank to the U.S.  The company specializes in slim line tanks for urban homes, where finding the  space to put a cistern can often be an issue.

Metropolitan areas of Australia have been in severe drought for many years, and the use of rain tanks in city areas increased dramatically over the last five years.  The Waterwall management team, Gail Davidson and Mitch O’Sullivan, saw an opening for a more up-to-date solution.

“People have become more and more house proud, and put a lot of effort into the way their homes look.  We believe there is no reason for their rain harvesting system to be an eyesore.  We have always focussed on the dual needs of saving water and saving space, whilst keeping a contemporary look.” says Davidson.

The first tank they designed was the only modular rainwater tank in the world that can be used as a fence – a product they will be bringing to the U.S in the coming year.  The Waterwall Freestanding tanks are interlocking panels that are engineer certified to be used as a boundary fence or garden divider.

The company has teamed with rotational moulding manufacturers, EnviCor Incorporate, in Smithfield, NC to produce their tanks here.  The two organizations first met last year and discovered a very similar approach to business.

“It is extremely daunting to start a business in another country – and particularly a market as large and sophisticated as the U.S.A.!  However the  team at EnviCor have made it very easy.  And most importantly, they have the same straight forward, customer-driven approach that we have, so we hit it off right away.” says Davidson.

“We are excited to be a part of the US launch of the Fatboy, it is truly a break-through product for rain water harvesting”, says Steve Arnold, President & CEO of EnviCor Incorporated.  “The Fatboy will enable US consumers to take their water conservation efforts to the next level.”

The new tank has been readily accepted by many rain harvesting businesses.  Waterwall has donated a Fatboy tank to the recreation centre at the City of Decatur, GA as part of the American Rain Catchment Systems Association [ARCSA] annual conference program; the tank will be installed during a demonstration for plumbers and rain harvest specialists.

But why is it a ‘Fatboy’? “It was the name we started calling the tank as we were designing it, and it stuck.  At the time our other tanks were even slimmer, so it was all relative… it’s a very affectionate nickname!” Davidson quips.

The Waterwall directors believe there will be a boom in rain harvesting products in drier areas of the U.S. in the coming years.  “Similar to what we have experienced in Australia – conditions that used to be considered a drought just become the ongoing weather patterns.  It is very unlikely we will return to the average rainfalls of previous years, and saving water will become a way of life.  Like recycling, once you make the mental shift and integrated it into your day-to-day living it is not that difficult.”

And as that growth occurs, homes, businesses – and the environment – across the drier States will be the winners.