Crisis in Cape Town

•  South Africa's drought-hit Cape Town moved its estimate for 'Day Zero' to July 9 from June 4 due to a decline in water usage. Day Zero refers to a point when taps are expected to run dry
• According to the South African Weather Service, two of the driest seasons ever recorded for the city happened in the last three years: In 2015 when 549 mm (21 inches) fell and last year - the driest year on record - when annual rainfall totalled 499 mm.
• South Africa has declared a national disaster over the drought afflicted southern and western regions, including Cape Town, which means the government could spend more money and resources to deal with the crisis.

Analysis:

• Reservoirs in Cape Town and surrounding areas are now less than a quarter full. The largest dam supplying water to the city, the Theewaterskloof Dam, is filled to only 11.3% of its capacity.
• The city is fast approaching what the local authorities are calling ‘Day Zero’, when water supply to nearly 75% of the population would have to be cut.
• After that, water would be rationed at some designated distribution points only.
• The city has already reduced water supply from about 1,200 million litres per day in 2015 to about 566 million litres per day.
• Residents of the city do not have access to more than 50 litres of water per person per day.
• Climate change can be the possible reason behind this. However, it is difficult to ascertain the impact of climate change over a small geographical region.
• The area is prone to fluctuations in rainfall, and climate change does accentuate the variability.
• Three-year cumulative rainfall deficits (as in the current situation) have become five times more likely due to global warming.

By: Vishal