Collective Responses to the 2018 Water Shortage in Cape Town: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Abstract

In 2018, the Western Cape region in South Africa experienced a significant drought. At a certain date termed “Day Zero”, it was projected that about 3.7 million people in the City of Cape Town would run out of water. In this qualitative study, we provide a context for the situation and explore how a group of individual residents interpreted and adapted to the situation by changing their norms in order to preserve water. A systematic text condensation identified three superordinate themes that captured essential aspects of how the informants interpreted the situation and mobilized to cope with the environmental crisis. Three core processes are exemplified with direct statements from the informants. Specifically, these were labeled “making sense of the situation”, “taking part in the action” and “looking to the future”. The interview data suggest that the water shortage emerged as a significant existential experience transcending personal norms, mobilizing action, and reminding the informants about an uncertain future. The findings from this study may inform future research on pro-environmental action and sustainability.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Households’ Vulnerability to Drought in Western Cape, South Africa

“…The result also reveals that less than 9% of the households were not aware of the restrictions. According to Eid and Øyslebø [70], when awareness is raised, people can adapt to new social norms and engage in collective efforts to address an imminent environmental crisis. This is in line with a study by Matikinca et al [69] that found households obtained information about the Day Zero communication campaign and rationing of water from a range of different sources, such as social media, posters, municipal workers, and community members.…”

“…The result also shows that a reasonable percentage of the respondents strongly disagree, disagree, and are neutral that the public is cooperating with the water restriction imposed by the authorities. In 2019, the water crisis was less imminent, but residents were encouraged to continue to preserve water and remain conscious of a potentially volatile environmental situation [70]. Table 2 also shows the distribution of the households' perceptions of the authorities' effectiveness in dealing with the drought situation in the study area.…”

“…According to Matikinca et al [69], most households in CoCT changed the way they used water in their households, as the majority mentioned toilet flushing as the most common use of water in their households before the crisis and the introduction of greywater (bath water collected) for flushing under the water restrictions. water crisis was less imminent, but residents were encouraged to continue to preserve water and remain conscious of a potentially volatile environmental situation [70]. Table 2 also shows the distribution of the households' perceptions of the authorities' effectiveness in dealing with the drought situation in the study area.…”

“…The result also reveals that about 20% of the households did not agree that the authorities communicated the water restrictions well. In a study by Matikinca et al [69] and Eid and Øyslebø [70], some respondents indicated that they were frustrated because CoCT did not provide sufficient and clear information about restrictions.…”

“…Matikinca et al [69] and Eid and Øyslebø [70], some respondents indicated that they were frustrated because CoCT did not provide sufficient and clear information about restrictions. They criticized the initial passive attitude from the authorities and emphasized how the government could have provided more information at an earlier point in time and found solutions to preserve water, while others noted that they were fine with water restrictions being ramped up, stating that the drought had put Cape Town in a very bad situation concerning the availability of water.…”