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CAPE TOWN WATER CRISIS


The Water Crisis is Not Caused by Drought · Giving Compass

The City of Cape Town (CCT), and South Africa in general, have been experiencing significant water shortages due to the ongoing drought. In early April 2017, the CCT was reportedly down to its last 100 days of water and on 31 May, the City imposed unprecedented Level 4 water restrictions, which imposes stricter limitations on residential water use, encouraging use of up to 100 liters (l) per person per day; forbidding irrigation with municipal water; and suggesting the use of treated effluent and wastewater for non-potable purposes. The indigent water allocation for impoverished households was capped at 350 liters per day. On 31 May, CCT announced they will start working on a new Water Resilience Plan to address the future of Cape Town’s water. Due to climate change effects, drought events are no longer within an envelope of predictable probability. The difficult situation of this drought period is expected to be reached on the 9th of July 2018, commonly referred to by the media as ‘Day Zero’, on which the City of Cape Town and the whole of the Western Cape will run dry. Only schools, hospitals, the central business district and informal settlements will then be supplied with running water, whilst the rest of Cape Town´s population will have to line up at 200 public collection points to receive their daily. The department of water and sanitation in Cape Town has issued various notifications and has prohibited the usage of water in several forms. Residential are encouraged to flush toilets (e.g. manually using a bucket) with greywater, rainwater or other non-drinking water. It has also been stated that no increase of the indigent water allocation over and above the free 350 litres a day will be granted, unless through prior application and permission for specific events such as burial ceremonies.  Many cases of fine being imposed for washing the car with municipal water has been registered with a fine of Rand 3000. Most of the people who were fined stated car washing as their only source of employment and earning money.
While the water shortage is currently limited to Cape Town it can be the scenario all over the world. Droughts have been seen all over the world in recent years, albeit less severe in nature. However, unless we change our water usage habits to decrease our water consumption, or plan for a future water crisis, we won’t be watching Cape Town, we’ll be living it. There should be stoppage in exploiting and dividing our water and more focus should be given to start managing our water. The proper water treatment plants, strict laws for prohibiting contamination of water and actions leading to global warning will help countries overcome the water crisis. Looking at every step taken by the individuals from the long term perspective instead of short term perspective can make countries avoid the situation which Cape Town is facing.



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