Embracing informal settlements and nature are part of the dramatic transformation that could be part of Durban’s development plans.
Too little, too dirty, too much, at the wrong time and place: South Africa’s water crisis
South Africa’s ‘looming’ water crisis crashed onto international front pages that day when Cape Town announced it might run out of water. However, many would say a major catastrophe has been hiding in clear sight for decades. We are running out of water. Digging into the details, it’s clear the crisis hasn’t been looming for a long time already. South …
What is a water resilient city?
Have you noticed that as we built ourselves closer to necessities like roads, we have detached ourselves from water? It’s not uncommon for cities that suffer from water shortages, to also suffer from floods. People might see rain fall outside their windows, but not have enough coming from their taps. Often, people are surrounded by water, but are unable to …
How managers are tapping into new ideas for Singapore’s water supply
Imagine standing at the edge of a lake. The water is dotted with a rich variety of birds. It’s weekend, and you are enjoying a lazy afternoon with your family, ambling along the paved walkway that runs like a neat pencil-line along the lake. Now imagine that the lake is actually a water treatment plant. Tough to believe? In Singapore, …
How did cities develop, and what went wrong?
A trickling stream runs invitingly over a smooth, brown pebble bed, calling thirsty passers-by in its wake. But to those that can still hear it, the sound is a cruel reminder of better times gone by. It’s been a long time since the water was clean enough to drink. Not far away, there is a tap, connected to a row …