Cape Town Just Got a Few More Weeks Before It Runs Out of Water on 'Day Zero'

[ravi_iitian]

“After three years of persistent drought, the government has warned that the coastal city would be forced to turn off most of its taps in 2018 - a date also known as ‘Day Zero’.” 

https://www.sciencealert.com/cape-town-water-crisis-zero-day-postponed-third-time

[reinierb]

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@Ravindra B wrote:

“After three years of persistent drought, the government has warned that the coastal city would be forced to turn off most of its taps in 2018 - a date also known as ‘Day Zero’.” 

https://www.sciencealert.com/cape-town-water-crisis-zero-day-postponed-third-time

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 The worst part of this is that the Western Cape provincial government was warned about the impending crisis ten years ago...

Nonetheless, it's not only Cape Town that is affected. Almost the entire Western Cape, as well as the neighboring Eastern Cape provinces are facing a major disaster if the winter rains don't start on time. There are also other places in the country that are in very serious trouble, and the drought has now been declared a national disaster. 

[boshoffirene]

The thing with bulk water storage in South Africa, i.e. dams, is that it is not in the hands of provincial government, but national government. National government knew about the issue years ago, yet they did nothing about it.

Luckily, recent rains have pushed back Day Zero in the Western Cape by a little. Not much, but a little.

Our province (Gauteng) was in crises two years ago with certain water restrictions imposed. The drought was broken last year (landing me a huge tree that broke in half and decimated my front garden). We have had some great rain in our neck of the woods this year. Hope the same for next year's rainy season.