Cape Town, South Africa: The First Major City To Run Out Of Water?

Given that the surrounding regions had experienced its most severe drought in living memory for about three years now; will Cape Town be the first major city to run out of water by Earth Day 2018? 

By: Ringo Bones

With draconian water rationing measures has since been enforced since 2017 due to the region experiencing its worst ever drought in more than a century, it looks like Cape Town, South Africa which, at present, is suffering from severe municipal water supply shortage, could be the first major city ever in living memory to run out of water. At present, Cape Town’s water supply is sourced from six dams which are now currently at dangerously low levels and policymakers in charge of the city’s water supply warns that by April 22, 2018 – Cape Town could completely run out of its drinking water supply. 

In a recent BBC interview back in January 17, 2018, Cape Town’s mayor Patricia DeLille had criticized Cape Town residents for their selfishness in not following measures in conserving water for their daily domestic use despite of the severe water shortage plaguing the city. At present, the level Cape Town’s dams now stands at 28-percent which is critically low for its day to day function. And experts say that the so-called “Day Zero” will be reached once the levels of Cape Town’s dams reach 13-percent and this could happen by Sunday, April 22, 2018, which happens to be this year’s Earth Day – which is quite ironic indeed.