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...]
Tackling environmental challenges with the help of a 100 city network
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...]
How hard is climate change affecting the world’s poorest nations?
When Nicholas Herold was hunting for data on how much climate change was affecting the world's poorest nations, he was surprised when he couldn't find answers in the published research. "Everyone's spoken for years about how poor countries are going to suffer more – or are suffering more – and I couldn't find one figure actually showing this," the research fellow at the … [Read more...]
Cape Town water crisis: desalination could see prices spike
If Capetonians don't cut water use even more, the next step to avert dry taps could be putting treated waste water back into the system and an expensive desalination plant, which would push water prices up by at least 50%, Mayor Patricia de Lille said on Tuesday. With the dams that feed the city at 33% capacity, De Lille plans to ask for Cape Town to be declared a disaster … [Read more...]
Ministers sign secret deal to mine strategic water zone
Documents unearthed a week ago show Environment Minister Edna Molewa signed the approval for mining in the Mabola protected environment on August 20 2016, three months before Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane signed it on November 21. The permission for Indian company Atha Africa Ventures to mine in Mabola, a critical water catchment area near Wakkerstroom, … [Read more...]
Cape storage dams have fallen to 35.7% of overall capacity
Combined water stored in the six main Cape dams fell to 35.7% of overall capacity (down from 36.9% last week). According to DWA figures published today, net outflows from the six main dams during this past week decreased to 10.4 Million cuM vs the prior week’s reported net outflow of 14.5 Million cuM. This implies a massive decrease in consumption, lower even that … [Read more...]
Cape Town’s water restrictions: a necessary, new way of life?
“The drought that has impacted many regions within South Africa for a considerable length of time now has exposed the poor, or lack of, water management (monitoring and control) ability of many water institutions, as well as the difficulties and inability of municipalities and their consumers to be able to reduce their consumption when required” says Steve Gillham, General … [Read more...]
