With no proper rain in sight, authorities in Knysna are worried about the added pressure holidaymakers could put on the town’s limited water supply. Experts said the seaside town has only 26 days of usable water left. Thousands of tourists are expected to converge at the popular spots in the coming months. Due to the drought gripping the Western Cape, Knysna was … [Read more...]
Disaster relief money starts flowing into Western Cape
The Western Cape government has received the first tranche of the money it needs to cope with the devastating drought and fires in the province, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen said on Tuesday. The first tranche of R34 866 263 was transferred on August 21 to the municipalities of Cape Town, Bitou and Theewaterskloof and a second … [Read more...]
Weathering the violence of climate change
With India experiencing its worst drought in 140 years, Indian farmers have taken to the streets. At a protest in Madhya Pradesh this summer, police opened fire on farmers demanding debt relief and better crop prices, killing five. In Tamil Nadu, angry growers have held similar protests, and lit candles in remembrance of those killed. And at one rally in New Delhi, farmers … [Read more...]
Cape Town’s bleak water future: time to call in the groundwater experts
Premier Helen Zille’s Day Zero of March next year is highly credible, and without drastic action we could run out of water. The city and the province could find solutions by pulling in the experts who can play a role in helping us through the next summer. We need to plan for the worst, and hope for the best. Now. The Western Cape province in general and the City of Cape Town … [Read more...]
Fracking in the Karoo: a disaster in the making
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure, which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. This is the basis for fracking, and also the root of the problem in the Karoo. As you may or may not … [Read more...]
Cape Town adopts “precautionary approach” to underground water tunnels
The City of Cape Town has responded to a video filmed by vlogger Adam Spires in which he explored the city’s underground tunnels and claimed to have discovered that almost 7 billion litres of water appears to run through the tunnels and out into the sea where it goes to waste. The City said it has been aware of these springs off the Table Mountain range and has been … [Read more...]
Can Cape Town turn water crisis into leading by example?
As Cape Town continues to experience the worst drought on record in South Africa, the city has the opportunity to implement solutions that will not only address this acute environmental shock, but also strengthen the fabric of the city overall. The city has less than 10% of its useable water remaining for all of its nearly 4 million residents, representing one of the lowest … [Read more...]
Western Cape declared a disaster area amid worst drought in 100 years
Premier Helen Zille has officially declared the Western Cape a disaster area in response to the current drought – the worst since 1904. “The disaster declaration will accelerate the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre’s project 'Avoiding Day Zero', the province’s strategy to ensure that taps do not run dry,” said Zille. The declaration will be formally gazetted … [Read more...]
Cape Town issues critical warning on dire water shortage
The City of Cape Town has issued a “critical warning” to its residents to only use water for drinking‚ bathing and cooking. This comes after its usable dam water levels reached 11.2% this week. The city has also applied to the mayoral committee for the application of level 4 water restrictions. “This communication serves as a critical warning to all water users in Cape … [Read more...]
De Lille to address Cape Town drought intervention plans
The mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille, will join a panel discussion on Tuesday to discuss the city's interventions in the metro's drought crisis. De Lille will address the Climate Change Coalition at Green Point Urban Park, and will also discuss the city's stance on climate change, and the risks associated as a water-scarce city. The event will take place at the … [Read more...]
World Water Day puts the spotlight on marine pollution
There has never been a better time to act against marine pollution. This is the opinion of Charlotte Metcalf, executive member of the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA). Statistics quoted by organisations like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund highlight the dangerous levels of marine pollution and, together with her member bottlers, are striving … [Read more...]
Forgotten tunnels could provide the answer to Cape Town water shortage
As I sit in traffic during Cape Town’s busy rush hour, it’s difficult to imagine that running beneath this city of approximately 3.75 million are hundreds of kilometers of underground brick tunnels, tunnels that transport millions of liters of fresh spring water from Table Mountain directly out into the sea. The mountains that overlook this beautiful city were once its … [Read more...]
Solving SA’s water crisis is an ongoing job
The current drought may have brought water scarcity into the spotlight, but in truth, South Africa has been in crisis a lot longer. Clean and safe drinking water is still inaccessible to millions of South Africans. This World Water Day, on Wednesday 22 March, the Rotary SafeWater Project will be installing two community water filtration units and 30 household units at … [Read more...]
