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 …
Pushed aside, Atlantis once took the lead for water wise cities
In fiction, Atlantis is a city that fell out of favour with the deities and sank to the bottom of the ocean. In South Africa, the town of Atlantis had similarly volatile dealings with the powers that be. But, it will go down in history books as a place that rose above one of its biggest challenges. Placed far away …
Gough: The remote island that brings the weather close to home
Every October, a small crowd gathers at the East Pier Quay at Cape Town to welcome the SA Agulhas II home. On-board is a small group of people that just spent a year at one of the most remote places on Earth with a constant human presence. It’s called Gough Island. The Subantarctic and Antarctic are extreme regions both in …
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 …
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 …
Ten top tips to save water in the garden
Gardens are some of my favourite things, but can be like thirsty sponges that suck up hundreds of litres of water. Good for the mind, and the heart, your garden should also be good to the planet that it grows on. To save water in your garden is a great place to start. (If you are wondering why this matters, …
We lost people’s trust
“Water is connection. During the drought, when we almost ran out of water, we saw things come to the fore that we never thought about because so many things are connected to water. Water also has the power to transform. It can transform relationships within and between communities. This continues to motivate me to do the work that I do. Before …
We were only allowed one bucket a day
“It was very difficult for me. Where we stay, we were allowed one bucket of water a day. The tap was only open from around 4 to 4:30 each morning. So, I had 10 litres of water each day for me and my kid. We are four people in our house that could each get one bucket of water. Others …
A drought changes your relationship with water
“Water is my life. It’s what I do on a daily basis. Working with water is about the importance of protecting it, and how we take this generation forward to the next. I have been living in Cape Town since 1981, with a five year break. Once restrictions came we’d been living water-frugally already. We were not heavy users, but …
Sometimes you have to go through a crisis
“I am from Zimbabwe, but I left because of the economic situation. I came to Cape Town for greener pastures. I’ve been here for eight years, and stay in an apartment in a block of flats in Goodwood with my wife and two children. Sometimes you have to go through a crisis to learn. The drought taught us a lot. …
I used to judge people that did not flush the toilet
“I used to judge people if they did not flush the toilet, now I judge them if they flush after only one pee. I think it’s crazy how much water we flush down the toilet. I’ve been staying in Cape Town since 2016. I moved here for work. When we stared Day Zero in the face, I had to consider …
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