Cape Town’s water crisis: The reality of climate change in a nutshell

The reality of climate change in Cape Town is something modern people didn't expect to experience in their wildest dreams.

In Cape Town
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• Reserves in dams have been declining since 2015 to such an extent that water coming from taps is no longer suitable for human consumption.
• The abundance of water flowing in canals under Cape Town directly into the ocean in canals that were built during the 17th Century is polluted and not safe for drinking.  
• Capetonians are currently compelled to fall into long queues to fill portable containers with drinkable water that is obtained elsewhere in SA and transported to Cape Town in large tanks. Another option is to buy so-called 'spring water' coming from elsewhere in SA.
• Citizens have to abide by Level 6B water restrictions. Among other severe limitations this implies a daily limit of 50 liters per person.
• Farmers are compelled to reduce their production up to 50% in order to abide by Level 6B restrictions. In the process the unemployment crisis is worsening.   
• The relocation of water-consuming manufacturers (of inter alia cement) to other countries in Africa is now regarded as the best solution. This, too, will worsen the unemployment crisis.
• Criminals have already started to steal water elsewhere to meet the demands of non-cooperative water-consuming businesses.  
• The management of human waste has become a personal nightmare. According to Google, searched topics such as “waterless toilet” and “composting toilet” increased by over 5 000%.  
• If rain doesn’t improve water levels before middle May, all taps will be shut off.

At present the Western Cape Province with Cape Town as the most popular tourist attraction captivates the minds of reporters and journalists, while the Eastern Cape as well as other provinces in South Africa are suffering the same severe drought conditions.  

Temporary solutions to Cape Town's water crisis 

• Companies have been contracted to bring water in large tanks to Cape Town.
• Some drinkable water has been rerouted from the Newlands spring to a more convenient collecting point. 
• Three desalination plants are expected to start producing water from March 2018. 
• Not-drinkable water gushing out of boreholes and underground springs will be treated into drinking water. 

For more info and images, google 'cape town water crisis most recent news'

By the way,  

In 2016, Cape Town had an estimated population of 3.74 million, and a population density of 1,530 people per square kilometer. 

Relevant videos:

Phase 1 of Strandfontein desalinated water production set for March 2018

Even-the-birds-in-cape-town-are-thirsty

Until next time,
​Martie 

ShoutOuts:

* marcoujor: stepping-out

* flashpress: ambiance

* warnerwords: hope and optimism not the same (fascinating story of Susan Boyle

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