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ERCID Data goes “live”
Geocentric as the Management Company or the ERCID has taken the bold step to introduce live operational statistics to all its CID contributors. With our Mobile Reporting App and our “State of the Art” management system we can update our operational data direct to the ERCID Website.
By simply going to our ERCID Statistics page you will have live, up-to-date information of the work we are doing in the ERCID. As data arrives from the field into our management system, relevant statistics will automatically update on our ERCID website.
Operational data is shown in three different formats including “counters” (this shows the number of incidents of a certain type), Graphs and Maps. The map data displays the location and clustering of specific types of incidents depending on the theme of the map. You can even look back in time using the date filter on the page. The dashboard 
will always show the accumulated information for the current month.
We believe that our ERCID property and business owners and our ERCID users should have the ability to see what we are doing and be informed daily.
You can also stay in touch with incidents and alerts within the ERCID by downloading the Mobile Reporting App. It Is available from both the Apple iStore and the Google Play Store for iOS and Android devices.
W57 | STATEMENT BY EXECUTIVE DEPUTY MAYOR: ALD. NEILSON: Let’s keep our water-saving focus Team Cape Town
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
20 MARCH 2018
STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S EXECUTIVE DEPUTY MAYOR, ALDERMAN IAN NEILSON
Let’s keep our water-saving focus, Team Cape Town
As at Monday 19 March 2018, our collective consumption over the past week was 565 million litres of water per day. Unfortunately, usage has increased by 54 million litres per day from last week’s record low of 511 million litres per day. Nevertheless, we are confident that our water users will again shatter water use records in the weeks ahead. Read more below:
Our dam levels have shown only a slight decline of 0,3% to 22,7% . This is the lowest decline in dam levels this year to date. This can likely be attributed to somewhat lower evaporation rates and small amounts of rainfall, especially in the Steenbras Dam area.
We will continue to monitor the water usage trend to see whether the increase in consumption is a once-off occurrence or whether there is another underlying reason that would need to be addressed.
Level 6B water restrictions are still in place. Water pressure reduction remains in place, water management devices continue to be installed on the connections of high water users and the bills based on 6B tariffs are reaching consumers. It is essential that we all continue to save water.
All water users are reminded that the City is still required by the National Government to reduce water usage to 450 million litres per day in order to stretch the available water supplies through the rest of the year. This equates to a reduction of 45% from normal usage. We are currently hovering at just below a 40% reduction. A sustained collective push is now required to reduce consumption by just 5% in order to achieve our target.
We will continue to drive our initiatives to reduce water consumption. This will include advanced pressure management, the installation of water management devices at the properties of high water users and proactively implementing advanced water restrictions and associated tariffs to encourage behaviour change.
If all Capetonians join us by keeping their consumption down to 50 litres of water a day, or less, we will avoid having to take more drastic actions.
Please visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for all water-related information, including Level 6B restrictions and FAQs about Day Zero as well as tips to lower usage even further.
Geocentric Launches New App
“As Geocentric we are very proud to launch our new mobile phone reporting application,” said Gene Lohrentz of the urban management company recently. “This is another way in which we are enabling our CID business and property owners to interact with their City Improvement District Management.
“We want our CID contributors to become part of our family by interacting with us about issues they might encounter. The mobile application makes that possible on the devices most people have with them every day.”
The Geocentric app allows users to easily report issues in the City Improvement Districts managed by Geocentric Urban Management based in South Africa. Currently the areas covered by this Application include Beaconvale Industrial Area, Elsies River Industrial, Glosderry, Maitland, Salt River, Somerset West CBD, Stikland Industrial, Strand CBD and the Tygervalley CBD.
With this application, users can report urban defects, crime incidents, public safety issues and general comments. “We will acknowledge your report and provide you with feedback throughout the process. We will also send you ‘Alerts’ of problems in your CID area, such as water leaks or power outages and we can even send crime alerts and safety tips to your mobile phone.
The Geocentric Reporting Application is Free of Charge
Simply install it and register as a user when using it for the first time. If you need any help, please contact support@geocentric.co.za
Let’s get started!
- Simply download and install the App from the Google Play or Apple App Store
- Register as a user, using the app when you open it for the first time
- We will send you a confirmation email and you will have to activate your app by clicking on the activation link in the email – this is to ensure we are dealing with people and not spammers.
- Go to your email and verify your email address
- Log in and you are ready to go!
Urban Management Trolley Introduced
The Geocentric Urban Management Trolley Project was initiated in 2017.
The aim of the project is to provide urban cleaning and maintenance teams with a platform to improve their daily tasks, assist with moving of equipment and tools and enable recycling while performing their tasks.
A few design considerations were introduced into the design of the trolley including
- The ability to move heavy loads of litter or recycling from one point to another without effort or potential injury
- Create high visibility for the cleaning and maintenance teams
- Have quick and easy access to tools and equipment
- The ability, even when fully loaded, to easy ascend and descend kerbs and sidewalks
- Be able to separate waste as they work to support the recycling initiative
To achieve some of these design principles, Geocentric looked at simple solutions from other designs, for example, the stair-climbing suitcases used by so many travellers. By scaling up the design for the urban management trolleys, we could produce a sidewalk and pavement climbing trolley where the urban management worker needs minimum effort to get onto and off pavements to perform their duties.
(See photos of step 1, 2 and 3 illustrating this concept.)
The trolleys were also designed to be pushed from any side with key tools located in the middle so that it is in fact easy to use it for a two-man team operation. On each side of the trolley a plastic tool box allows storage for small tools.
Recyclables like tin cans, glass and plastic bottles are collected by the urban management workers throughout the day as they clean the streets and public spaces and at the end of each day they separate the items into baskets whereafter Geocentric recycles the items.
This is another way in which we make CID operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly as we prevent a vast amount of waste from simply going to landfills.
Geocentric have rolled out these trollies in the Elsies River and Beaconvale City Improvement Districts and plan to roll them out to all the other CIDs under Geocentric management through the course of 2018.
Housing Development Plans and Approval in Place
A statement was received on 14 February 2018 regarding the new housing development that is earmarked for Elsies River, on the premises of the old so-called ‘Double D’ factory.
Here is the communication received directly from the developer:
“E-Junction Property Developers has finally received plan approval on the security village planned for Elsies River Industrial. The development will comprise 2-bedroom apartments for the rental market only, becoming available at ± R6,500/month.
“Construction is expected to start in the second quarter of 2018 with a projected completion date towards the end of 2019.
“A special word of thanks and admiration towards the Parow Municipality’s planning office for the outstanding and professional service during the approval process of this development, and to the members of the Elsies River CID, for their continued patience in the process of making Elsies River a desirable neighbourhood again.
“With over R200m being invested in this project, it stands as a strong statement of confidence in the ever-brightening future of Elsies River and surrounds.”
ERCID adds value to Look and Feel of Elsies River
Thanks to the commitment of all who are involved in the Elsies River Improvement District drive, strides of progress are being made in various ways.
The accompanying images tell the story of how problems like illegal dumping and the confiscation of stolen trolleys and wheelie-bins are successfully addressed by the teams.
The Public Safety issues that are addressed during the day-to-day activities, include problems related to the following:
- Illegal Dumping
- Engaging with the public (public safety officers engage with all people in the public space to ensure that everyone is aware of the ERCID’s presence and activities. This is done in conjunction with and in support of law enforcement officers who oversee such activities. If something suspicious is found, the law enforcement agents and/or SAPS act accordingly.
- Bin scratching
- CCTV in action
- Trolley and wheelie-bin confiscation
The Cleaning issues include:
- Litter picking
- De-weeding
- Sweeping streets
On the Urban management side, the ERCID Management continues to log all urban and infrastructure defects as C3 notifications with the City of Cape Town for correction. The accompanying photo collage shows the result of these actions as the City and other partners address issues.
Photographs:
Demonstrating the variety of activities that the ERCID engages in, sometimes in collaboration with teams of the CCT and law enforcement agencies.
Illegal Dumping in the Spotlight
The problem of illegal dumping is one that occurs in most areas of the city and is also one of the main challenges that the ERCID has to contend with.
- People are prepared to change, but only if they are constantly monitored and warned regarding the consequences of dumping.
- Some incidents stem from persons coming to the various scrap dealers and trying to dump waste not accepted by them. This comes from street persons / horse and cart operators and unscrupulous waste handlers.
- ERCID engages with these persons and encourages them to make use of the City’s drop off facilities, of which Parow Drop off Facility is situated close by and disposal is free of charge. We also indicate that if caught and reported to Law Enforcement they can face fines up to R20 000.
The paragraphs BELOW are extracts from the website of the City of Cape Town, where it is pointed out that dumping is highly illegal.
What exactly does illegal dumping entail?
“Illegal dumping is the depositing, discharging, spilling or releasing of any kind of waste in or on any public space. This includes waste that is loose or in boxes, barrels or bags
“Public places include:
- open fields;
- vacant or occupied land;
- roadsides;
- sewer systems; and
- waterways.
“Although the City has a number of waste management strategies and services in place for dealing with all types of waste, we have a dumping problem in Cape Town. It is one of the biggest challenges the Solid Waste Management Department faces. It is expensive, damages our environment and is harmful to ourselves and our animals.”
PLEASE NOTE
“Dumping on any public land is illegal and an offence: We work closely with SAPS in illegal dumping investigations. If you are found guilty of dumping illegally you could be fined between R500 and R10 000 and could get a prison sentence of 6 months to 2 years.
To report illegal dumping in your community, call 0860 103 089.
If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her, call 021 400 6157 or email solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za. “
On the website, the City of Cape Town goes on to appeal to residents and businesses to assist in curbing and dealing with the problem:
Help us control dumping
Look out for our Big Green Bins
Green waste bins have been placed near toilets in informal settlements and public toilets so that residents can dispose of waste properly. In 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, the City rolled out 929 bins in 24 informal settlements at a cost of approximately R753 000. Eventually these bins will be placed in all informal settlements where we are legally able to place them.
Do your part
- Dispose of your waste only in bins and at approved drop-off or landfill sites.
- Buy additional waste bins if you need them.
- Make others aware of the importance of keeping our environment clean and litter free.
- Fence off your property to prevent others from dumping on it.
Report illegal dumping
To report illegal dumping in your community, call 0860 103 089. If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her, call 021 400 6157 or email: solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za.
In order to be sure that you are fully informed on the contents of the City’s Waste Management By-law, visit the website www.capetown.gov.za
City of Cape Town: Integrated Waste Management By-law, 2009
Published in Province of Western Cape: Provincial Gazette no. 6651 on 21 August 2009
- Amended by City of Cape Town: Integrated Waste Management Amendment By-law, 2010 on 4 June 2010
- Amended by City of Cape Town: Integrated Waste Management Amendment By-law, 2016 on 30 June 2016
Cape Town Mayor outlines status quo of water crisis
During a recent speech delivered at the Atlantis Aquifer, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille thanked Capetonians who had been making efforts to cut their water usage, saying that about half of water users had restricted their daily usage to 87 litres per day.
But added that this was not enough. “We need each and every Capetonian and business on board as a partner on this journey,” she said.
“We are in an unprecedented drought crisis and this phase is critical because if the City and residents don’t do enough together and simultaneously, we will run out of water.”
She said the City was doing everything in its power to ensure additional supply, including finding and hiring the country’s best team of experts who were working 80-hour weeks with the metro to ensure that additional water could be brought ‘online’.
The Atlantis plant was one of several sites for alternative water sources which form part of the ‘Water Resilience Plan’.
The City of Cape Town had recently refurbished many of the boreholes around this West Coast area to increase the production of this plant. She pointed out that these boreholes formed a part of the City’s unique Artificially Recharged Aquifer System and said a lot of work had gone into ensuring an increase in the volume of water from this aquifer system.
Prior this work, the system had been producing around four million litres of water per day. “We have now increased the yield from this aquifer by an additional five million litres per day.”
The water is serving homes and industrial businesses in Atlantis, Mamre and Pella on the outskirts of the West Coast, which is quite a vast area. “So the additional capacity will be welcomed,” the Mayor said.
“This work demonstrates our commitment to addressing this current drought crisis. I repeat my commitment that I will not allow a well-run city to run out of water.”
She added that she had made it clear when the site of a new desalination plant with the V&A Waterfront had been announced: “we have a plan and we will supply water, but we need Team Cape Town to assist us”.
In the meantime, the City of Cape Town announced that Level 6 water restrictions will be implemented from 1 January 2018, which means that households using more than 10,500 litres per month could face fines and penalties. A proposal for a drought charge of between R45 and R2 800, depending on the value of the property, has also been tabled.
Take a look at these recent photos of the Theewaterskloof Dam, looking more like a desert than a body of water:
Water saving and greening go hand-in-hand for ERCID
In a year of serious drought and steadily increasing water restrictions, it may seem like an odd time to be greening an industrial area.
However, if you’ve recently spent some time in the Elsies River City Improvement District (ERCID), you may have noticed a potted garden or two, brightening up the stark facades of buildings and factories.
How can this be?
Well, according to Chairperson John Houston, the ERCID’s potted gardening projects – visible at Weavewell in Coleman Street and between Messaris Chips and SA Forklift at the canal off 16th street – have gone hand-in-hand with massive water-saving measures.
“Our greening efforts have not been affected by the drought at all, as we’ve been caring for the gardens with rainwater collected from the roofs of our buildings,” he explains.
Throughout the ERCID, various buildings have been equipped with 1000-litre tanks to catch up rainwater, which can be put to use in various ways.
For gardening purposes, the stored water is transferred to the ERCID’s legendary home-built fire truck and then distributed sparingly among the different pots.
Houston says that having a bit of greenery and other general maintenance – such as cleaning lampposts, weeding and keeping the streets clean – has made a world of difference to an otherwise relatively uninspiring area.
“I personally have been complimented by my visitors to say how clean, neat and safe the Elsies River City Improvement District has become,” he notes.
In 2018, the ERCID hopes to further improve on these projects and also to encourage businesses to give their buildings a new coat of paint.