Building Engineering issue 17

ZWL$270.00

BUILDING E N G I N E E R I N G

HOME AND OFFICE

ISSUE 17

2021

The Palm River Hotel Gateway to the Zambezi

Read about it!

32

KITCHEN ISLAND

10

40

PATIO DESIGN

ZIMBABWE BUILDING TOMMOROW

MATETSI LODGE

ILALA LODGE

HARARE

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BULAWAYO

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CONTENTS

COVER FEATURE

10

ON THE COVER

ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE

24

KITCHEN ISLAND DESIGNS

32

KITCHEN ISLAND LIGHTING

36

PATIO DESIGN IDEAS

40

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

44

WATER HARVESTING

50

Cover image by Shaun Mcminn

ZWL$270.00

BUILDING E N G I N E E R I N G

HOME AND OFFICE

ISSUE 17

2021

Digital Issue issuu.com/buildingengineeringmag The Palm River Hotel Gateway to the Zambezi

Read about it!

28

KITCHEN ISLAND

PAGE 6

10

40

PATIO DESIGN

ZIMBABWE BUILDING TOMMOROW

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MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS

Marketing Rebekah Peirson

Publisher: Afrique Infra Rapport P/L Address:: 89A Hawick Road, Borrowdale Harare T: 0242 886 188

Tatenda B. Chifamba Ayla Satori Arthur Mungule Digital Marketing Momoko Mandere

C: 0772 932 805 0718 402 365

Design and LayoutMomoko Mandere

E: buildingengineeringmedia@gmail.com W: www.bemag.co.zw

Arthur Mungule Photography Shaun Mcminn

PAGE 7

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THE PALM RIVER HOTEL GATEWAY TO THE ZAMBEZI

PAGE 12

S

uperbly located among the trees on the banks of the Zambezi river in Victoria Falls is yet another development from Spencer’s Creek ( Ilala Lodge Hotel ) in partnership with Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited.

Their latest establishment, the Palm River Hotel, has over two hundred meters of water frontage, with every single room of the PAGE 13

establishment overlooking the mighty Zambezi. At only 7kms from the world wonder, Victoria Falls, The Palm River Hotel is conveniently located for guests to experience luxury in a private setting, with easy access to the various activities on offer in the Victoria Falls area.

Designed by local architect, Bruce Rowlands and his team, working in collaboration with Form Studio’s interior architect Kerry Van Leenhoff and in close consultation with the client.

The design intent was to make the river, not the

PAGE 14

hotel, the predominant “first impression”; So instead of drawing attention to the buildings, they are set either side of a stunning view line, where the trees seem to invite the eye all the way downstream, almost as if they were pointing towards the waterfall in the distance. The buildings flanking the view are linked, not with a showy hotel foyer, but with a slender steel bridge. Just enough of a statement to create a welcoming threshold, to complete the framing of the view, and to make a historical reference to the original iconic Victoria

Falls Bridge.

Guests are welcomed through this viewing portal onto a travertine terrace, from where they can drink in a panoramic view of the Zambezi. The landscaping and outdoor areas, in their every line and detail, are intended to complement, rather than compete with the beauty of the river; The pool, the decks and the paving areas are all stretched out, as if drawn by the pull of the river. The terraces are broken up by planters rich in tropical foliage. The scenic pathways along

the river edge will be finished in granite cobbles to match those that meander through the Vic Falls rainforest.Flagstones cross over the pool towards a timber jetty that will reach out to an elongated floating stargazer deck. This will serve as a docking place for the two beautiful Ra-Ikane cruise boats.

As a first-time guest, you arrive, explore, and become thoroughly immersed in the natural beauty of the river frontage; long before being confronted with the formalities of checking in at

PAGE 15

reception. This is according to the design intent to keep the pleasure of arriving at the forefront of the experience. Instead of standing at a reception desk with your back to the view, you are seated at a comfortable river-facing terrace, where the receptionist brings you a drink and takes you through an informal briefing.

With Zimbabwe’s idyllic climate, the hotel’s outdoor areas are favoured by guests, and have received as much design detailing as the indoor areas. During rare periods of rain, the main building is able to accommodate all 150 dining guests indoors, but for most days of the year its huge shutters remain fully open to the outdoors.

Its upper level offers guests a beauty spa, a cosy library lounge, and a board room opening onto a private dining terrace.

The triple storey design ensures every room has a river view, but to ensure these tall buildings do not mar the view from the river, the buildings’ roof line is kept below the tree line. All of the larger trees were preserved, washing these buildings in deep shade. The client’s choice of architectural inspiration was “Queenslander”. The elements borrowed from this style are deep colonnaded verandahs, balustrades and trellises. Not only do these shelter the interiors from the heat, they PAGE 16

cast multiple shadows over the building’s face, like dappled shade from trees, which helps break up and camouflage any stark outlines.In addition to the standard suites, the Palm River Hotel offers family suites, wheelchair accessible suites, executive suites, honeymoon suites, a luxurious presidential suite, and self-catering Villas.

The client’s quest for sustainability is epitomized by the inclusion of solar heated water tanks that heat-exchange with the air conditioning plants for maximum efficiency. There is an allowance for the future addition of a solar farm on the site to cater for the hotel’s power needs ensuring that the Palm River Hotel is truly a green entity. Although

PAGE 17

the development has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first 30 rooms are expected to be opened to the public on 1st of July 2021 and another 43 rooms in January 2022.

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The Client: Spencer’s Creek (Pvt) Ltd and Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited Architect: Bruce Rowlands and team (Architexture) Main Contractor: Kiggen Construction Interior Designer: Kerry Van Leenhoff and team (Form Studio) Civil and Structural Engineers: BCHOD Services Engineers: Emmanuel Consulting Engineers Quantity Surveyor: Derek Landman Project Manager: Mike Duncan (Duncan Clark Project Management)

Photography by Shaun Mcminn

PAGE 21

+263 4 242 446955 - 7 salesmacbrothers@gmail.com Unit 17, Harrow Road Industrial Park Cnr Harrow Road/Martin Drive Msasa, Harare.

ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE A Q & A On The Palm River Project

Q

: Why don’t you please start off by giving us an overview of the role/ importance of a structural engineer and how they work with other construction professionals on projects?

PAGE 24

A: Our role in general as structural engineering is to help the clients build a property that will last its time and function properly at an acceptable and effective cost. This entails designing structure with strength and stability to suit its function and to withstand external pressures such as gravity, wind, water etc., and selection of best suited construction materials. At design stage of a project, a Structural Engineer works closely with the Architect to add the “skeleton” to the structure or building. He/ she designs the roof, floors, walls and foundation of the structure to withstand anticipated loads. In Industry, mining and farming the structural engineer also collaborates with Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers and various other engineers to make sure equipment is properly supported and fits

well in a structure.

Q: Please tell us in brief what the client expected from BCHOD on the Palm River Hotel Project?

A: BCHOD Consulting Engineers were consulting to carry out civil and structural designs for the Palm river hotel. BCHOD’s role in this particular project was to design hotel room buildings and their ancillary structures, design driveways and the stormwater drainage. In a nut shell BCHOD is there to support and bring to life the client’s dream that is presented by the Architect.

The client expected that we work together with other construction professionals to design structurally sound hotel buildings, efficient infrastructure around the buildings. The client expected us to design all structural elements; the roof trusses (timber and steel), concrete elements (floor slabs, beams, columns and staircases), brick walls and steel walkway links. We were also consulted as

civil engineers to design roads/driveways, sewer reticulation and storm water management.

Q: Tell us in detail how BCHOD went about to execute or achieve the client’s requirements?

A: The important part of the project is planning.

The planning and design meetings ensured that we were clear on the project requirements. Experience is a best teacher. We made sure ideas were shared within the construction team as we all have different experiences.

The first stage; we carried-out geotechnical investigations to determine the suitability of the site and also the type of foundations for the buildings. The geotechnical investigations are also used to design roads/driveways in the property.

Preliminary design. This involves analyzing architectural drawings, establishing load transfer path and choosing the right material for the major structural elements.

Analysis and design of structures. This involves putting in figures to the design. We made use of analysis and design software to design structural element.

PAGE 25

Quality control. We had regular site visits to continually check the contractor’s workmanship. Our work was also tracked by the Project Manager to ensure deliverables are timeous and cost effective.

Q: Any specific SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) regulations that had to be adhered to on this particular project or site as it is close to the Zambezi River?

A

architect set building ground floor levels so that we reduce the risk of flooding on the buildings. On the civil engineering side wastewater was directed to the council sewer system so as not to contaminate the river. Stormwater was designed with silt trapping mechanism so as to limit silt inflow into the river.

Q: Anything unique or interesting about this particular project that you would like to share?

: The paramount factor to consider when constructing close to a river is flooding. The Client marks flood levels every year to track the highest level of water in the river. BCHOD used the information to help the

PAGE 26

A: We were tasked to design exposed bolted timber trusses for the roof. The timber trusses being exposed meant that the aesthetics mattered the most. It took a close collaboration with the architect, the Engineer and the Contractor to get the quality that was acceptable by the client. The quality and handling of timber was critical;

moisture content, transportation, storage and installation. We had oversights that the team managed to pick up and resolve. A mock-up structure was constructed to fine tune the design details and construction methods.

The architect has a helicoid staircase on the main building which is a rare design for structural engineers. Manual designs were done and crosschecked with software programs to come up with

shuttering and also incorporated in the design of the slab. This meant faster construction, less scaffolding and reinforcing steel is reduced significantly. The materials were imported from South Africa and delays were avoided with safety net put in place by the project management team.

a design that the engineering team was confident with.

QC deck and Bondlok was used as permanent

BCHOD are the Structural and Civil Engineers for the Palm River Hotel project, in this Q & A we spoke to Engineer Tawanda Gudo.

PAGE 27

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KITCHEN ISLAND DESIGNS

I

f you’re considering sprucing up, redesigning your kitchen or you’re right in the middle of a building/renovation project and you’re wondering what options you have for that kitchen space then consider this your ultimate guide to kitchen island designs. You may be dealing with cramped kitchen cabinets or lacking ample kitchen counter space to fully utilize your gadgets such as your coffee maker, toaster or needing more space for that meal prep. It is therefore no surprise today that most kitchen renovations today will include the addition of a kitchen island.

The move towards larger open plan kitchen extension has made the kitchen island to become an essential feature. It is not only the visual centerpiece in the space but it undoubtedly helps increase the kitchen’s efficiency and functionality. The kitchen island serves several purposes from providing extra cooking prep space to even housing a sink and other appliances.

PAGE 32

When it comes to the kitchen island you can afford to go wild on this one with a bolder finish or color or perhaps an even more expensive finish which would normally be a prohibitive thing to do for an entire room. There is a vast pool of options when it comes to material and design for the kitchen island. You can go for marble, granite, exotic timber or even reclaimed timber such as railway sleepers all depending on your desired finish.

Whatever you do remember to include kitchen island lighting as this undoubtedly turns a good looking unit into a showstopper!

Below are a few ideas to consider for your kitchen island; The slim kitchen island There’s a huge misconception out there that you need huge kitchen space in order to fit in that kitchen island. A simple tongue and groove paneling can actually produce that slim kitchen island

which can even double up as a breakfast bar and a loverhanging work station.

Power up that kitchen island You may have to consider including ample power sockets in your kitchen island, these are not only essential for making use of those kitchen appliances such as your mixers or food processors but also for charging laptops or phones.

Add a few bright bar stools/ create more seating When it comes to kitchen island designs a few bright colored bar stools can have a show stopping effect in your kitchen. However acquiring new furniture can be expensive, all the more reason why you may want to hold off on splashing money on bright colored furniture pieces. If that’s the case you may want to consider furniture pieces that can easily be switched when you no longer PAGE 33

like them. For something even less permanent, a vase of flowers will do! If your space lacks a proper dining table or you’re looking into creating a more casual bar-seating option, adding seating to the island is an easy way to increase functionality and make the environment more social for both guests and the cook. You can even create a counter overhang to tuck in chair/bar stools when not in use.

You can even add another dynamic to your kitchen island by creating variation in height of your island.

Using the island for multiple purposes such as food prep or eating, will maximize the functionality of the kitchen island. For example you can have an appliance at one level like a sink or stovetop then breakfast bar on a higher tier.

Create more storage

Incorporating sinks or stovetops into the surface is one way to spread the workflow throughout the kitchen but installation can tricky and may require an expert to put in place the plumbing and ventilation. Overhead venting can be expensive and you’ll have give up some space for in cabinet pipes for the sink.

What ever you’re envisioning about your dream kitchen island design, we hope this article will be of great help to you!

In addition to creating more counter space, a kitchen island is also a way to add more storage options. This is greatly beneficial if appliances are taking up more of your cabinet space or you’re simply looking for a unique way to showcase some of your appliances.

Make it multilevel

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Add appliances

PAGE 35

KITCHEN ISLAND LIGHTING

T

he kitchen island is one of the most versatile and functional areas in the home. This is centrally located and serves as the ideal place for that morning breakfast, dinner prep, even a work station as well as a gathering spot for showcasing your decorative kitchen accessories such as your appliances.

For the best experience in your kitchen, it is best to use a combination of lighting through layering.

Layering lighting suited for different purposes is essential in creating a space where you can comfortably carry out all your kitchen tasks, from cooking to chatting with friends and bonding with family. The first step to unlock your kitchen’s potential is to make use of the general ambient lighting like your kitchen ceiling lighting or recessed lighting and combining it pendant lighting. Pendant lights are a kitchen island’s favorite.

Pendants are light fixtures that hang from your ceiling, roof or trusses. Pendants come in different shapes and styles and are available in a multitude of materials and finishes such as glass, metal, slate, wood and even concrete!

A pendant light is therefore a very essential and

PAGE 36

vital feature in creating that unique ambience for your kitchen. There’s a wide range selection of kitchen island lighting to choose from which includes classic, traditional, rustic and futuristic.

When it comes to choosing the correct pendant lighting for your kitchen island there are two critical factors which are size and placement. Some island lights look and work best when lower or closer to the island and others look best when suspended closer to the ceiling. The number and placement of pendants over the kitchen island is best determined by the size of the kitchen countertop. It is highly recommended to use an odd number of pendants over the countertop as this creates a focal point and an even balance on each side or the commonly accepted plumb rule of 3.

Grouping your fixtures in threes will give your space PAGE 37

a sense of balance and refinement that creates a pleasing aesthetic. To achieve this look, consider larger or oversized pendants for longer islands and slimmer silhouettes for smaller islands. Ensure that the fixtures that you choose can be spaced evenly and that the shade does do not overlap the island on either end.

When hanging multiple pendants, the diameter of the pendant is a determining factor. Ideally it is best for the space between each pendant to be the same as the width or diameter of each fixture, for example if you have 45cm pendants, the space between each fixture should be 45cm. This rule of thumb remains true, even if the pendants are hung at staggering heights.

PAGE 38

Generally, pendant island lights should hang at a range of about 1,5 - 1,7 meters above the floor although this is also dependent on if there’s also seating on the kitchen island. You can always make adjustments according to your personal taste, overall lighting effects, size and shape of pendants.

PATIO DESIGN IDEAS

O

ne area that is mostly seen as an extension of the living area is the outdoor patio.

This is a great spot for family entertaining particularly if there is a grill or fire pit present. Add in an outdoor dining set and some décor and it can easily become your favorite eating spot. We have come up with a few options for you to spruce up or remodel your patio.

PAGE 40

Functionality In any given project planning out your design before your remodel is important. When looking at patio design ideas you have to bear in mind that people use this area for different purposes like entertaining, outdoor activities or a spot to relax or wind down after a busy day. As such you will have to determine what the main functionality of your space will be. What do you have in mind?

Will you be hosting large groups or having intimate gatherings? Do you envision quality family time by the fireside or fun playtime for the kids or a little bit of both? Once you have decided on the desired functionality of your new patio, come up

with the best way to create space for each use case. Think of structures that you may want or need in your patio design.

Do you need protection from the elements? A partly or fully covered space will allow you the option to use the patio in varying weather. Perhaps privacy is a priority, in that case you may have to consider putting in place a built-in screen or a wall of plants. Lastly you will have to determine which major amenities are important to you, from the get go. Is an outdoor fireplace essential or a small-scale fire pit work just as well? You may want to consider putting in place a grilling station or a small braai stand unit will do an equally good job for you. All of these large-scale pieces require to

be worked into the initial plan from the start.

Materials When it comes to outdoor spaces, materials are very important since they are exposed to the elements on a daily basis. You will have to start from the very foundation of your patio (the hardscaping) and build from there. Different designs require different materials some of which may or may not work with your budget or space.

Common hardscaping options include; Concrete: Poured slab or interlocking pavers.

Decking: Wood PAGE 41

Tiles: ceramic or porcelain

to keep the pieces cohesive.

Furniture and Decor

Rugs: Outdoor area or throw rugs that are waterproof will warm up the space and make it feel more inviting.

Whilst a patio can be as simple as a paved slab outside your house, an addition of a few more additions can convert the space to be so much more. Since you have already planned for the more permanent fixtures such as a fireplace or an outdoor bar, the rest would just be filling in the layout by putting in pace the necessary furniture and décor. The beauty about decorating your patio is that every little thing can double up as décor, including functional stuff like seating.

Consider using the following items; Furniture: Sofas, chairs, dining sets, coffee tables and side tables. Look for outdoor sets or collections

PAGE 42

Pillows and cushions: Soften up the space with comfy cushions and throw pillows to bring the indoors outside.

Lighting: Pendant lights add a magical touch, lanterns and torches will give a soft glow and candles will set the mood.

Plants and flowers: Planted directly in the ground or in pots flowers and foliage will help bring patio ideas to life.

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PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

P

assive solar design takes makes use of a building’s location/site, climate, and materials to mini-

mize energy use. A well-designed passive living space first reduces cooling and heating requirements by making use of energy-efficient strategies and then meeting the remaining load requirements in whole or partly with solar energy.

PAGE 44

It is important to note that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing heating and cooling bills before you add solar features to your new office or home design or even an existing building. You may have to consider working with building professionals experienced in energy-efficient designs.

Concept of Passive Solar Design The main concept of passive solar design is that the building materials such as windows, walls and floors are able to collect solar energy, store it, transmit and release the energy. This energy is then

used in winter for warmth and used to reflect/reject the heat during summer.

Capturing heat

gain. The greater the area of the glass, the higher the gain that is why passive solar designs are generally characterized by large windows. These windows are typically double glazed to ensure that the building not only traps the heat but retains it when the Sun goes down.

Harnessing the sun’s power is useful in working towards becoming more energy efficient because its energy is free and in endless supply. The simplest method of passive solar heating is sunlight shining through windows. This would mean large,

Indirect gain means that the sun’s energy is captured by a window or wall that doesn’t directly lead into a living area. This is meant to trap the energy and gradually release the heat to rest of

sun-facing windows. When the sun’s heat streams directly through one or more of the large sun facing windows (aperture) this is known as direct

the living areas through conduction, convection and radiation which are the 3 modes of heat transfer through solids, liquids and gases. The most PAGE 45

common example of indirect gain is the Trombe wall and consists of a window that admits light onto a thick dark colored wall. The wall heats up very gradually and stores the solar energy that it releases slowly into the house for some hours afterwards, usually in the evening and at night. In some designs the wall is made of pipes in which water sits soaking up the energy and gradually releasing it into the house - water has a very high specific heat capacity implying that each litre of water is capable of storing a very large amount of water.

As the sun does not shine consistently from the same inclination all the time and everyday passive solar living spaces need to store up the heat then slowly release it in the cooler evenings, nights and early mornings. This requires large walls or floors with a high thermal mass such as brick, stone or concrete. Thermal mass is usually painted black or dark colors so that it absorbs the maximum and reflects the minimum energy falling upon it. Not only walls and floors have a high thermal mass but even a brick fire place. Ideally, thermal mass will release the captured heat gradually for 6-10 hours.

When it comes to isolated gain, the building has a sun trap of some built in, which maybe a solarium, conservatory or greenhouse.

It is therefore important that thermal mass is insulated against heat loses so it doesn’t the captured heat too quickly. Keeping a passive solar building cool in summer is just as important as keeping it cool in winter.

Storing heat The architect would need to decide which rooms

will require the most heat in winter and arrange those close together so that they soak most of the heat in daytime pass it on to the other room by conduction (direct contact) and convection (air movement). It’s important to note that passive solar design principles can also be applied to already existing buildings in various ways such as increasing glazing to capture more solar energy or by simply changing the use of rooms in a different way like moving from the front rooms to the back rooms to take advantage of the winter sunlight.

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ernes

WATER HARVESTING

T

his subject has been mentioned in a previous issue, but we believe it is worth talking about again, and again, until it becomes normal practice. We want to share this increased knowledge with you, our reader, in the hope that we, as a community, can begin taking steps towards solving one of the biggest problems that affects all of us to some degree.

I strongly believe that water harvesting, in one way or another, earns itself a place to become popular as a water solution just as solar is becoming for electricity.

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What is water harvesting?

It is the channeling and storage of available water for continued use.

Why should we do it?

Cities are undoubtedly being confronted with a major water crisis, with some of the cities’ most prevalent boreholes being reduced to seasonal functioning at best. Without the aid of a reliable, regular and healthy water supply from city council, every household (that can afford it) has been forced to invest, at great cost, in a borehole.

However, as the water table often stands, this is no longer a guaranteed solution! People are spending thousands of dollars in the hope of attaining what

some deem our most basic “human right”, only to come up empty-handed. Water delivery companies have become a Godsend; providing many of us with water that we would otherwise have no access to. But what would happen if even their stocks ran dry?

water to fill air pockets or the space between sediments, then the ground becomes saturated and that is the level at which we draw water.

Nature provides us with the solution to our problem, if we only meet her half way.

The water table is the upper surface of ground water. Ground water is the area underground that is totally saturated with water. Rain falls, and if the ground is conducive to infiltration, the soil stores

The first is of course the level of rain in our rainy seasons, which up until now have been relatively poor in recent years. The surface of the ground also plays a part. Commonplace and therefore often disregarded, uncovered soil dries out easily, allowing moisture to evaporate before it reaches further down. The drier the soil from continued sun exposure and little moisture, the more difficult it is for the water to filter through and finally make it down to the water table. Where luscious gardens

it for use by the plants, known as soil water. If the conditions are right and there is enough water, then it filters down through rocks and sand, and is known as vadose water. When there is enough

stand in the rainy season, without excess water to tend to them in dry months, many homes become almost desert-like, which only perpetuates the cycle.

What is the water table, and what happens to the rain?

The water table rises and falls with the seasons, but it is also dependent on a variety of other factors.

With continued housing developments, the more concrete we put down, the less surface area we leave for the rain to infiltrate into the ground (unless of course we compensate by harvesting off our roofs). The drainage system is designed to take away the water, and off it goes, unable to sink down into our water table, or be of any use.

Altering the natural flow of water also increases the likelihood of soil erosion and many resulting problems due to overfilling rivers with all the water that was meant for the water table.

Housing developments on wetlands further worsen the cause, for we are interfering with nature in a way that is precisely contrary to the purpose of a wetland. Environmental hazards, for example, uncaring factories or broken or full septic tanks, cause toxic load on the water table, and in some cases render parts of it unusable.

Add in increased boreholes, and the already dwindling water table is being reduced by so much more.

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However, as is the crux of this whole article, we can do our bit to turn this plight around. Let’s simply accept nature’s gifts and gift her in return!

How do we harvest water?

provide you with: _________________

(Surface area) = _____________ L

x

600mm

There are a variety of ways.

1.Collection from gutters and roofs This is the most commonly understood and practiced variation, whereby rainfall is harvested from the roof via gutters and piped into storage tanks for use.

N.B. Even your driveway or pavements could be possible capture surfaces!

Call AIDG if you’re interested in options 1, 2, or 3 of this list.

2.Swales

 Measure/pace your house and the other buildings on your property, and calculate the surface area of your roofs.  1mm of rain on 1m2 of roof = 1L of water.  A conservative rainy season would perhaps give us 600mm of rain, so, even during a relatively poor rainy season, your roofing structure would

PAGE 52

A swale is a constructed barrier on contour designed to capture the rain run-off and cause it to drain into the soil, before it reaches the water way.

If your property is big enough, it could prove to be a viable option. It’s a great way to start increasing the coffers of underground water, and head

towards sustaining your borehole or well.

1mm on 1hectare = 10,000l 3.Boulder Checks Usually done on farmland or bigger tracts, these are low rock walls built to specification in gulleys and water ways, designed to slow the water down and sink into the soil, similar to the effect of swales.

Search YouTube for fascinating stories about what boulder checks can do.

4.Grey Water Systems

5.Water-Wise Wicking Beds A wicking bed is any type of plant container which has its own supply of water stored below.

This method of irrigation is reported to have up to 80% water saving, because the plants take up only what they need, and less water is lost to evaporation. More to come on wicking beds in future issues.

6.Wells

Water from the house, other than that from the toilet, is considered grey water. With little effort or expense, this water can be filtered through organic

An ancient and affordable solution to tap into the water table, wells are usually 10m - 20m deep and dug 1m in diameter, and then lined with brick. For water divining and construction of wells, call Elton: 0778932244. Surprisingly in

means and repurposed for irrigation, thereby using the same water twice.

some instances, wells can provide water where boreholes don’t.

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