South Africa Advises Careful Water Use

The South African drought drains rivers and other water sources. (Wikimedia)

Amid a harsh dry season, the South African government advised the population on October 28 to use water carefully. Facing the possibility of another water crisis like the one that lasted between mid-2017 to mid-2018, the government is reflecting on preventative measures.

This crisis is due to both climate change and a poor internal infrastructure that deprives many of access to a water source. As the threat intensifies, lives are at risk. Water accessibility impacts hygiene, health, and the economy. Rural areas are especially affected by water shortages.

The emergency hits South Africa close to home. Two years ago, Cape Town came close to experiencing a full-scale drought but missed the threshold by quickly creating relief systems. The area counted down the days until its reservoirs would run dry, marking “Day Zero” on their calendars. This was considered the largest drought-induced municipal water failure the country had ever suffered. 

As of October 2019, South Africa has not seen significant rain in five months. Currently, the drought is not a declared disaster, against the advice of some national leaders. Such a classification would result in government and potentially international assistance. 

Drought entails a myriad of consequences throughout the country, primarily for the agricultural industry. Deputy President David Mabuza reflected, “As government, we will not allow our agricultural sector to collapse because farmers are the lifeblood of our economy. That is why as part of our response to these challenges, we have set aside a package of financial assistance to affected farmers in various provinces.”

As South Africa considers new ideas and innovations for its water supplies, the country is increasingly careful to ration its resources.