Life Vincent Pallotti goes off the water grid

The water filtration plant is part of the private hospital group’s national water strategy and responsible water management processes and measures to eliminate any impact patients, doctors and employees should Day Zero materialise and to assist in reducing the demand on municipal water supply.

Life Healthcare engaged with officials from the City of Cape Town and the Department of Water and Sanitation to obtain permission to become self-sufficient in terms of its water supply. The water filtration plant fully complies with the city’s regulations and by-laws and ensures water is fit for human consumption in a healthcare environment.

“The municipal water supply has been switched off, and the hospital is now operating off the grid. We have an emergency storage supply at the hospital which is sufficient for at least 48-hours, should there be any technical glitches with the filtration plant”, said Lourens Bekker, Life Healthcare CEO - Southern Africa.

In partnership with provincial and local government authorities, special contingency measures will also be in place to allow Life Healthcare and specifically Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital, to assist in case of emergencies and to mitigate the risk of water resources further plummeting during the current water shortage.

The group was also granted formal approval by the authorities to sink a borehole at Life Kingsbury Hospital in Claremont, Cape Town with testing currently taking place before City officials can give the green light for human consumption.

“We hope to soon open the water filtration plant at Life Kingsbury Hospital and remain committed to implementing additional water saving measures, including the installation of reduced flow valves on taps and showers, recycling of water for instrument sterilisation and the reuse of grey water.