Hyprop Investments, the owner of premier retail properties in South Africa, Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, has underlined its commitment to a sustainable future by ordering the world’s lowest-water-flush toilets at some of its shopping centres in South Africa.

Following a trial of 47 units at the Clearwater Mall, the Company will install 250 toilets manufactured by Propelair, at Hyde Park Corner, and Rosebank Mall and Offices. Phase 2 installations will take place at The Glen and Canal Walk while further sites are being evaluated.

The investment  is one of a number of water-saving initiatives implemented by the Company, including the introduction of remote water meters, waterless urinals, aerators on all taps, using grey water in some centres, and migrating from water-cooled HVAC systems to air-cooled systems. This aligns with Hyprop’s undertaking to own and manage sustainable centres and its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.

Limited rainfall and the threat of climate change present a major challenge in ensuring adequate future supply of fresh drinking water in South Africa. The Government and many institutions and businesses are committed to playing their part in meeting this challenge.

Memories are fresh of ‘Day Zero’, the date in April 2018 that officials in Cape Town warned the drought-affected city would run out of municipal water unless tough action was taken. Disaster was averted by a series of restrictions, but the threat to reliable supply remains.

Conscious of the urgency of embracing environmental sustainability as an integral part of managing retail centres, Morné Wilken, CEO of Hyprop commented: “Hyprop creates safe environments and opportunities for people to connect and have meaningful and authentic experiences. We are introducing energy, water and waste initiatives to support our environmental strategy and to make our centres more environmentally sustainable. Installing Propelair technology will save a lot of water and aids us in this goal whilst having a positive impact on savings.”

Designed and manufactured in the UK, Propelair toilets use on average 84% less water than standard models, combining just 1.5 litres of water with a high-speed jet of air to leave the pan super-clean in one flush. The closed lid improves hygiene by reducing airborne germs such as COVID-19 by up to 95%.

Propelair’s patented technology brings big savings in water, energy and cost to out-of-home venues, where toilets can be flushed hundreds of times daily. This reduces water and sewage bills to such an extent that the toilet pays for itself in under three years in most cases. Payback in busier sites can be achieved within months.

A growing list of some 200 commercial and public-sector customers are saving nearly 1 billion litres a year – enough to fill about 350 Olympic pools, while benefiting from enhanced green credentials.

David Hollander, CEO of Propelair, said: “We’re very pleased Hyprop is taking our innovative water- and money-saving technology to shoppers across Southern Africa. Our technology saves water immediately – gains that continue to accumulate by the day, year on year. With the technical innovations we’re working on, those savings will be even greater.”