If you’ve been to Namibia, the country’s strained relationship with water is obvious. The parched landscape makes for an impressive sight. Dunes that undulate from glaringly white to copper red attract visitors from afar. At places, a lone aloe might break the otherwise bare horizon. The bitterly cold Atlantic that runs along its coast jealously guards moisture, rarely letting enough …
San Francisco embraces wastewater for bright future
In San Francisco, all water is seen to be of value; as little as possible should be wasted. So much so that, in 2012, San Francisco became the first municipality in the country to adopt groundbreaking legislation to allow onsite non-potable water systems. Tapping from alternative water sources The Non-potable Water Ordinance allows for the use of alternative water sources …
The promise and peril of stormwater management in Cape Town
Cape Town is a place like no other. That’s why millions of local and international visitors stream to the city’s famous shores each year. A large part of the attraction is the natural environment that it’s built on – not only the famous Table Mountain, the endless beaches and the icy sea, but also a vast array of rivers and …
How green roofs save Toronto on the cheap
Toronto, Canada’s most populous metropolitan area, sits anchored on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The city is incredibly diverse. The roughly 2.7 million people here speak over 160 languages. The city rests on a broad sloping plateau crossed with rivers and ravines, though the skyline is marked by skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. The city is famous for being one …
One thing cities that need water MUST do
While reports of cities running out of water worldwide are streaming in, some cities are learning to cope. Somewhat perplexing, these places often also suffer from drought, have to cope with more people and manage with old and creaky pipes. Yet sometimes, without having to immediately find more water, the people that live there don’t suffer for it. These places …
The map that helped save Cape Town
Around 2016 to 2018 an extraordinary drought swept through Cape Town. The effect on the famous city was so severe, officials asked residents to stick to dramatic water restrictions. Capetonians had to limit their household water use to 50 litres of water per person per day. Across the world, people sat up and took notice; especially when the mayor announced …
Lessons from Cape Town’s Day Zero
Cape Town made international headlines in 2018 when the mayor announced it could soon run out of enough water. That day, “Day Zero” never arrived, but South Africa’s water crisis still paints a bleak future. Gareth Morgan, the City of Cape Town’s Director for Resilience, shared the lessons Cape Town learned from Day Zero, and how they are building a …
How this city gets the best tap water in the world
Hygge. It souns something like hoo-gha, and describes a feeling of cozy contentment by enjoying the simple things in life. It’s big here in Denmark, and I understand why. Simple things here are good; better than good even. Take the tap water as example. In Danish capital Copenhagen, the tap water is said to be the best in the world. …
Can you save water, and your holiday?
Saving water starts at home. I should know – I wrote an entire article on how exactly to do that. But how can you save water on holiday? I travel often. Its a big perk of my job. I’ve had meetings on slowboats floating down the Mekong River and seen leatherback sea turtles hatch under the moonlight, on the shores …
Two thirsty cities on how they save water now, and for the future
Some cities have to look further than ever before in search of water. They pump it from further away, look for it underground, take it from the sea, or might tow it from Antarctica. However, finding more water is only a part of the solution. “As the saying goes: you can’t build yourself out of a drought,” says Priya Reddy, …