ENVIRONMENT

Cape Town is edging closer to ‘Day Zero’, the long-feared time when the city will run out of freshwater. (Geographical and the Los Angeles Times)

Where does Cape Town get its water supply? Use today’s MapMaker Interactive map to find out.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including today’s MapMaker Interactive map.

Discussion Ideas

• Where does Cape Town get its freshwater? Take a look at today’s MapMaker Interactive map for some help.
  • Cape Town, and South Africa’s entire Western Cape province, is primarily supplied by six big dams:
    • The Steenbras dams (upper and lower), collect water from the Hottentots Holland Mountains.
      • The upper Steenbras reservoir is the fullest of Cape Town’s reservoirs, at 90.2% capacity.
      • The lower Steenbras reservoir is at 45.5% capacity.
    • The Berg River dam dams the Berg River to the east of Cape Town. Its reservoir is at 55% capacity.
    • The Wemmershoek dam dams the Wemmershoek River. Its reservoir is at 52.3% capacity.
    • The Voëlvlei dam collects water from the Cape Fold Mountains. Its reservoir is at 18.6% capacity.
    • The Theewaterskloof dam dams the Sonderend River. Its reservoir is at 14.2% capacity.

• Why are the Western Cape’s dams not at capacity?
  • drought. The Western Cape has experienced three dry winters in a row.

• What are some other factors are contributing to Cape Town’s water shortage?
  • rapid population growth. The city’s population has doubled since 1999, and is currently approaching 4 million residents.
  • failure to develop alternate water systems. The city is scrambling to develop other water supply systems, including four desalination plants, two groundwater wells, and a facility that would purify reclaimed water.

• What steps are being taken now to combat the water shortage? Take a look at the handy image above, or download the PDF here to get started.
  • individual or family conservation. Residents are encouraged to take shorter showers, restrict their toilet use, and stop washing vehicles, among other cutbacks listed in the graphic above.
  • community conservation. All community pools, fountains, and showers have been closed.
  • water restrictions. Residents are encouraged to limit their water use to 23 gallons per day, and that number will shrink to 13 gallons in February. This program is voluntary, and only 39% of Capetonians are adhering to the limit.

• What are some definite or possible water limits once Cape Town reaches “Day Zero”?
  • water rationing. People will line up at one of 200 water stations around the city to collect 6.6 gallons per person, per day.
  • community cutbacks. Municipal water supply may be turned off for all but essential services, such as hospitals.
  • evacuations. Capetonians may become urban climate refugees if the government is not prepared for “Day Zero.”

• The Los Angeles Times says “a number of details of the crisis plan remain unclear.” What questions remain?
  • How would one person carry 26 gallons of water for a family of four?
  • How would the elderly and disabled cope?
  • What about the fact that officials expect there will be insufficient water to flush the city’s toilets?
  • What impact will this have on Cape Town’s primary industry, tourism?
  • How will cutbacks impact agricultural areas?
  • Where will Capetonians relocate, and are those areas prepared to adapt to an influx of new residents?

• Is there rain in the long-term forecast for Cape Town?
  • There may be some temporary relief before “Day Zero,” but most long-term climate models are leaning toward redefining the region’s climate zone. “There is good evidence to expect similar, possibly more severe, and likely more frequent drought events in the future.”

TEACHERS TOOLKIT

Geographical: Drought forces Cape Town to the brink of ‘Day Zero’

Los Angeles Times: In Cape Town, ‘Day Zero’ is coming very soon — the day the water runs out

Quartz: Cape Town’s drought and water shortage has officially escalated to disaster levels

Nat Geo: Cape Town at ‘Day Zero’ map

City of Cape Town: Day Zero

Nat Geo: What is a drought?