The ways to respond to our looming Day Zero are as vast as the diversity in this country. But there seems to be two poles in conflict with each other: Those who have decided to do what they can to avoid it – as we still can. This means you’ve made your calculations. Minimum 3 million folk for 200 water points? I think best the City delivers the water in trailers behind the … [Read more...]
Cape water crisis: it’s time to prepare for day zero
For the last few months, Capetonians have been talking about Day Zero. In the first of a regular weekly update, WWF South Africa have published a water file to help households and businesses in the Western Cape to prepare for life beyond Day Zero when we will have access to very little water. When is Day Zero likely to happen? At present, Day Zero is calculated to be … [Read more...]
Planned Mpumalanga coal mine will devastate water hotspot
Yesterday, a coalition of eight civil society and community organisations launched proceedings in the Pretoria High Court against Indian owned mining company Atha-Africa Ventures Pty Ltd. The coalition is asking the High Court to stop the mining company from commencing with any mining or related activities inside the Mabola Protected Environment outside Wakkerstroom in … [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...]
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...]
Temporary drought relief for Aliwal North
Extra water released from the Katse Dam at the end of last year is expected to reach drought-stricken Aliwal North, an Eastern Cape town on the Orange River. Water and sanitation director Margeret-Ann Diedricks gave the go-ahead for the release on December 31 in an effort to stabilise water levels in the Orange River. “The water was observed yesterday near Quthing in … [Read more...]
Water donations crisscrossing the country – all hands on deck
“Harrowing stories from children competing with cows for drinking water to farmers committing suicide, echoes over our barren land.” This from the national drought relief effort Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA). Whilst water is not falling where it’s needed or in sufficient quantities in 5 of our 9 provinces South Africans are rallying around and donating water across the … [Read more...]
Pitch in and help Operation Hydration to send water to desperate communities
There are communities in South Africa so desperate for water that they are drinking sewage water. "Operation Hydrate" hopes to deliver over 1-million liters of drinking water to drought-stricken areas by the end of next week, in a bid to help desperate South Africans affected by severe water shortages. Some 350 000 liters of water have already been distributed to affected … [Read more...]
What is the state of environmental governance transparency?
Around 50% of the records requested from the Department of Environmental Affairs during 2015 were supplied to the Centre for Environmental Rights. The rest did not exist or were not under control of the Department. The Department of Mineral Resources released only 12.5% of requested records. The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has released its fifth report on access to … [Read more...]
Drug waste in SA’s drinking water raises health concerns
Traces of antiretrovirals, anti-epileptic drugs, antibiotics and antidepressants are allegedly lingering in South African tap water. Compounds of these drugs have been found in several studies on water sources around South Africa between 2013 and June 2015. Professor Hugh Patterton, chief researcher at Stellenbosch University, said the compounds and concentration levels … [Read more...]
New city festival builds enthusiasm for water conservation
Cape Town’s fresh water supply is under major threat. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) most analysts predict that South Africa’s water demand will outstrip its supply by 2025. Already the demand for water has overtaken supply in 60% of South Africa’s water management systems. However, according to water scientists, changing our everyday behaviour … [Read more...]
Zuma has 30 days to halt fracking process
"We want to see physical steps to halt the fracking process....He is the one that needs to put a stop to it [bearing in mind] the new evidence," CEO Jonathan Deal told reporters in Johannesburg. TKAG and civil rights group Afriforum hand-delivered a letter to Zuma's offices at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday. In the letter the groups call for Zuma to investigate … [Read more...]
SA insurers polled over fracking risk
Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) and AfriForum have formally approached South African Insurers and the South African Insurance Association to clarify their policy on the unique risks presented by shale gas mining and ancillary activities. With the advent of new technology and shale gas mining spreading at a rapid pace in the United States, insurance providers are … [Read more...]
