Drought, water management, and social equity: Analyzing Cape Town, South Africa's water crisis

Abstract

Climate change impacts on hydrologic systems, coupled with increasing water demand and a growing global population, has led to depleted water resources in semi-arid regions around the world. This increase in water shortages has significant implications for environmental justice and equity concerns. One such region impacted by both water scarcity and deep-seated inequality is the Western Cape of South Africa, whose drought crisis reached peak recognition when the City of Cape Town released its notice of “Day Zero” in 2018, the day the city would turn off the taps to residents. This study examines the changes in physical factors prior to and during the 2015–2018 drought in Cape Town and evaluates how policy decisions made in response to this event interacted with existing social injustices. Analysis of the physical data finds only a slight direct relationship between rainfall and dam levels (r2 = 0.3), suggesting a more complex narrative for the decrease in water supply, including increased water use and management decisions. Of the many policies implemented to avoid Day Zero, some were found to be more effective and can be utilized long-term. The study also finds that the Cape Town water crisis has unveiled and heightened existing inequalities through placing a disproportionate financial burden on low-income communities. As droughts become more common, Cape Town provides a crucial case study for understanding the social, political, and environmental implications of drought management in the future.

Urban water crises driven by elites’ unsustainable consumption

“…The stark differences in water consumption patterns resulting from this simulation are largely confirmed by literature from Cape Town and other cities, which suggests that income is a major factor influencing domestic water use [22][23][24] . Overall income level, type and size of house, and amenities are key to explaining the relatively higher level interplay within a city.…”

Literature survey of subseasonal‐to‐seasonal predictions in the southern hemisphere

“…Prolonged drought can lead to a shortage of water supply to citizens, particularly with an increasing population. One such example was during the 2014-2017 drought in Cape Town, South Africa, where overall dam levels supplying the city dropped from 92.5% to 23%, resulting in the city water management announcing a "Day Zero" in January 2018 (Calverley & Walther, 2022). "Day Zero" meant that the city's dam levels will reach 13.5% and water supply would be impossible.…”

Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Disaster Risk Management of Fires: A Case Study From South Africa at Various Geographical Levels

“…interruption of potable water supply and economic damage to mining and manufacturing (Winter, 2011;City of Johannesburg, 2018). In South Africa, lack of safe and sustainable potable water supply can be the result of a complicated socio-economic, political, and technical/infrastructure challenges (Calverley and Walther, 2022). The above-mentioned is just a snapshot of the South African disaster profile, and not an exhaustive list.…”