Cape Town, South Africa is facing what’s being called “day zero.” That’s when the South African city of more than four million people would be the first major metropolitan area in the world to run out of water. City officials say that date could be as soon as April 12. To avert what the mayor calls “the disaster above all disasters,” the city has limited water to 11 gallons a day. Residents are being urged “save water like your life depended on it,” to flush toilets as infrequently as possible and to shower for 90 seconds only twice a week.
At the location of what used to be Theewaterskloof #dam, which is under 15% right now. Felt like we were in a movie scene of an apocalypse. Only thing is, this is very real and deeply saddening. #DayZero #Watercrisis #Waterislife #CapeTown #Water pic.twitter.com/ESGQyodfEg
— Kirtanya Lutch (@kirtanya_lutch) January 25, 2018
So what caused the crisis? Climate change for one. Cape Town is suffering through a three-year-long drought. The local reservoir that supplies the city is drying up quickly. But also local officials were told this crisis was coming. And, in what should be a warning to water managers in burgeoning cities everywhere, the locals in Cape Town did little to alter water consumption and add supply until it was too late. The hope is to conserve until the rainy season, which is supposed to begin in May. But by then, the city may be dry.