Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
13 May 2023 | 11:00 CAT

Photo credit: African Petrochemicals

Every business relies on water. It requires more than 140,000 litres of water to produce one car and 2,700 litres to make a single t-shirt. Daily consumption by offices and their employees is staggering. Office buildings consume almost half the municipal water supply, and large office buildings use an average of 75 litres of water per square foot and 50 litres per employee. This leads to whether business owners protect their businesses against emerging water risks.

In an interview with Radio Islam International Strategy and Marketing Manager at Xylem Africa, Chetan Mistry highlighted the importance and impacts of emerging water risks.

While all efforts to try to keep the lights on as we face high levels of load shedding, there need to be more needs to be more focus on emerging water challenges. Historically speaking, Mistry said water needs to get the attention it deserves and that statistically, investments made into infrastructure focus on electricity and ICT come way before water infrastructure.

However, according to Mistry, that attitude changes as many people realise that the world is changing. Water resources are under growing stress, with only three/ drinking water on the planet.

Emerging water challenges include scarcity, with the quality of water deteriorating. An essential element for businesses, Mistry said businesses should have a strategy in understanding the water consumption amount as it is essential to eliminate some of the risks that may be there.

Meanwhile, the government forms critical players in the collection and creates water sources for many industries. However, Mistry said more public-private partnerships are becoming critical as the onus cannot be on the government alone to facilitate. Still, the government does play an integral role in facilitating the partnership.

“South Africa loses around 40/ of water, by the time it reaches revenue. Loss revenue for the government results in less investment to make in infrastructure and managing water, with the pure loss of water a bigger concern,” he says.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.