The beautiful coastal city of Cape Town has been in news for the last few weeks due to a very scary situation. The city is said to be heading towards Day Zero, when all the water taps will run dry. After Day Zero, residents of the city will have to queue up at 200 stations scattered around the city to collect 25 litres of water for their daily needs. Residents will have just 25 litres for drinking, bathing, flushing toilets, and washing their hands. Though schools and hospitals will continue to get water, the majority of the urban population will have to depend on the tiny allotment.
The city is known for its advanced water conservation methods—it had reduced water leakage through distribution systems by half. Till now, the officials had believed that the water reservoir was big enough to fight a drought. But the drought that hit the city in 2015 rendered the water reservoir completely dry. The satellite images of the Theewaterskloof Dam, show that water levels are dangerously low.
The water scarcity crisis has exposed the city's complete dependence on rainwater. The city does not use underground aquifers neither do they have a desalination plant. Ninety nine per cent of the city's water needs are met by the rainwater collected in the dams. This could be a warning bell for other places which too depend on rainwater for meeting their needs.
Sluggish response from the government in the early days of the drought also contributed to the worsening of the situation. As Cape Town falls in the Western Province, it is ruled by the Democratic Alliance. The national government run by the African National Congress, delayed acting on the situation and is hoping to benefit from the backlash that the Democratic Alliance will face.
Meanwhile, residents are doing what they can to conserve water. Many have taken to standing over a bucket while taking shower so that it can be used for flushing toilets or in the garden. Though a minor action, such efforts collectively help in the long run. Residents think twice before drinking a glass of water or washing their hands and instead water the plants or trees or give it to their pets.
In January, the residents were asked to use only 87 litres of water for their daily needs. Fines were announced for exceeding this limit. But residents continued to exceed their daily limit. This month the daily limit has been set at 50 litres and the fines have been increased.
Though Day Zero was set for April 12 initially, it has now been delayed to May 11. This was possible as agricultural needs in the surrounding areas were put on hold. This might in turn result in increasing food costs.
As is evident, the water scarcity issue is putting pressure not just on the government, but also on the residents. Lack of water and increased food cost will soon take its toll and if Zero Day does happen, the city, which has already been pushed to its limit, might just break into chaos.
