UniSey launches water harvesting project |31 March 2015

With the aim of reducing treated water consumption and cutting on the utilities’ bill, the University of Seychelles (UniSey) has turned to water harvesting for at least part of its water usage.

The harvesting system which will provide water for some of the establishment’s toilets and which forms part of a wider water conservation project was launched yesterday morning in a short ceremony at the Anse Royale campus.

Present were the Registrar of the University Michel Denousse and other staff members, as well as representatives of partner organisations. They are Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), Seychelles Breweries Ltd and the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC).

The launch coincided with the first anniversary of the water conservation campaign named ‘Save water Seychelles’ which involves the same above-mentioned partners. Local artist ‘Curious’, who works for PUC, is also taking part with his song of which title carries a Creole version of the campaign’s name: Sak gout i konte.

Michelle Martin of S4S made a presentation of the campaign, while Seychelles Breweries managing director Patricia Berthelot explained that it is part of water for life promotion currently being carried out in Africa by the brewery’s mother company Diageo, with the aim of providing more running and treated water to the continent’s population.

Emphasising that water wastage is a concern for the country as it results in high energy demand, she reminded that we still can do more in order to save water simply by changing our personal habit.

On his side, UniSey’s director of finance Paul Kangethe said while rain water harvesting is a brain stream strategy to reduce water and energy consumption in homes, businesses, schools and other establishments, the project has been designed with a view to decreasing demand for treated water in Seychelles.

He added that saving water also means saving money and that use of treated water contributes to climate change.

While thanking the partners for the environmentally friendly project, Mr Kangethe wished that the ‘Save Water Seychelles’ campaign be extended to other big water users in the country.