Cape Town - Cape Town woke up to a new reality on 1 February as new water restrictions of 50 litres per person kicked in, the latest desperate bid to stave off Day Zero, currently set at 16 April 2018, when the taps will be turned off.
SAPeople shared local blogger, Girl Unplugged social media footage from one of the springs in the CBD, where she interviewed residents queuing for their ration at dawn.
The springs which which flow off the mountain have become a life-line for residents, as water wars become the order of the dry day take a look
SEE: #CapeWaterCrisis: Myths and facts you need to know
In the video below, residents can be seen struggling with the load with some carrying the heavy containers on behalf of older people who are unable to do so themselves.
One resident says, “Scary sh*t – I literally can’t believe that it has come to this. I feel so let down by both the provincial and national governments. If competent people were in place, this would never have occurred.”
Girl Unplugged says, “We are all stock piling for day zero. Then we will be limited to what one can collect. We carry these containers far. I’m young and healthy, yet I can hardly carry 25L for 15 metres! We’re sometimes standing in 40 degree heat for hours!."
But there have been more heated encounters around the collection of water -
These are some of the latest water crisis stories you may have missed - be sure to stay informed and save water.
1. Schools will not close on Day Zero - Zille
Schools will not close if Cape Town reaches Day Zero, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille said on Wednesday, 31 January. In addition to this, she says that "schools will remain open with water."
She adds that hygiene and sanitation, disease prevention, and fire safety are top priorities for keeping schools "water secure".
2. #CapeWaterCrisis: How to secure safe drinking water after Day Zero
If water has not been treated it’s best to assume it is not safe to drink. The only way to know if rainwater or groundwater are safe to drink is to have a water sample tested in a registered laboratory or you can use hydrogen-sulphide home tests to indicate whether it has harmful bacteria.
3. Newlands Spring water to be rerouted
Following a physical altercation and mass congestion for water at the Newlands Spring in Cape Town, the city has decided to reroute the water to the Newlands swimming pool site down the road.
Safety, Security and Social Services MMC Alderman JP Smith thanked residents for collecting natural spring water in an effort to improve the city's water security, but says the current set up was not working, resulting in a reroute.
4. #CapeWaterCrisis: Myths and facts you need to know
From blaming farmers and SA Weather Service for the drought, to believing that decreasing in-bound tourists will save water, many #CapeWaterCrisis myths are doing the rounds. We set the record straight by dishing out a few facts and myths. Check it out here.
Wesgro CEO Tim Harris, CEO of South African Tourism (SAT) Sisa Ntshona, and Fedhasa Cape Chairperson Jeff Rosenberg say that SA and Cape Town are "open for business" but visitors "must be mindful" of the water crisis.
“Any visitor must save like a local and learn how this scarce resource must be treated with utmost respect,” says Harris. Meanwhile, many businesses across the tourism sector have already been implementing innovative ways to keep their enterprises thriving.
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