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Cape Town faces Day Zero

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murchr		#1 Posted : Monday, February 05, 2018 4:44:12 AM
Rank: Elder Joined: 2/26/2012 Posts: 15,980		Imagine this, In 10 weeks engineers will turn off water for a million homes as this South African city reacts to one-in-384-year drought. The rich are digging boreholes, more are panic-buying bottled water, and the army is on standby The head of Cape Town’s disaster operations centre is drawing up a plan he hopes he never has to implement as this South African city on the frontline of climate change prepares to be the first in the world to turn off the water taps. “We’ve identified four risks: water shortages, sanitation failures, disease outbreaks and anarchy due to competition for scarce resources,” says Greg Pillay. “We had to go back to the drawing board. We were prepared for disruption of supply, but not a no-water scenario. In my 40 years in emergency services, this is the biggest crisis.” The plan – being drawn up with the emergency services, the military, epidemiologists and other health experts – is geared towards Day Zero, the apocalyptically named point when water in the six-dam reservoir system falls to 13.5% of capacity. At this critical level – currently forecast for 16 April – piped supply will be deemed to have failed and the city will dispatch teams of engineers to close the valves to about a million homes – 75% of the city. “It’s going to be terrifying for many people when they turn on the tap and nothing comes out,” says Christine Colvin, freshwater manager for WWF and a member of the mayor’s advisory board. In place of piped water, the city will establish 200 water collection points, scattered around the city to ensure the legally guaranteed minimum of 25 litres per person per day within 200 metres of every citizen’s home. "There are only two emotions in the market, hope & fear. The problem is you hope when you should fear & fear when you should hope: - Jesse Livermore .
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mkenyan		#2 Posted : Monday, February 05, 2018 8:57:32 AM
Rank: Veteran Joined: 4/1/2009 Posts: 1,885		murchr wrote: Imagine this, In 10 weeks engineers will turn off water for a million homes as this South African city reacts to one-in-384-year drought. The rich are digging boreholes, more are panic-buying bottled water, and the army is on standby The head of Cape Town’s disaster operations centre is drawing up a plan he hopes he never has to implement as this South African city on the frontline of climate change prepares to be the first in the world to turn off the water taps. “We’ve identified four risks: water shortages, sanitation failures, disease outbreaks and anarchy due to competition for scarce resources,” says Greg Pillay. “We had to go back to the drawing board. We were prepared for disruption of supply, but not a no-water scenario. In my 40 years in emergency services, this is the biggest crisis.” The plan – being drawn up with the emergency services, the military, epidemiologists and other health experts – is geared towards Day Zero, the apocalyptically named point when water in the six-dam reservoir system falls to 13.5% of capacity. At this critical level – currently forecast for 16 April – piped supply will be deemed to have failed and the city will dispatch teams of engineers to close the valves to about a million homes – 75% of the city. “It’s going to be terrifying for many people when they turn on the tap and nothing comes out,” says Christine Colvin, freshwater manager for WWF and a member of the mayor’s advisory board. In place of piped water, the city will establish 200 water collection points, scattered around the city to ensure the legally guaranteed minimum of 25 litres per person per day within 200 metres of every citizen’s home. most, if not all, of the well off people in cape town wont be affected much by actual lack of water. they have invested in boreholes and wells and reverse osmosis machines so shall be okay. problem will be the lack of water in the poor areas and the resultant anarchy.
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majimaji		#3 Posted : Monday, February 05, 2018 11:04:16 AM
Rank: Veteran Joined: 4/4/2007 Posts: 1,162		Sound like Nairobi, Mombasa or Kisumu.
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Lolest!		#4 Posted : Monday, February 05, 2018 11:16:06 AM
Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma		They seem to be taking measures all the same I've not been there but heard their local govt is very efficient. Is there any place in the world where fresh water sources are increasing?
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hardwood		#5 Posted : Monday, February 05, 2018 11:37:13 AM
Rank: Elder Joined: 7/28/2015 Posts: 9,562 Location: Rodi Kopany, Homa Bay		What a $hithole city cape town is. All down to poor planning then they blame it on "worst drought in 100yrs".
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Angelica _ann		#6 Posted : Sunday, February 11, 2018 10:36:18 AM
Rank: Elder Joined: 12/7/2012 Posts: 11,937		https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-42982959 In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins - cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later - H Geneen
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Fyatu		#7 Posted : Sunday, February 11, 2018 1:56:42 PM
Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/20/2011 Posts: 1,820 Location: Nakuru		Angelica _ann wrote: https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-42982959 Does it mean that Nairobi and Mombasa are not considered major cities? People go for weeks without drinking water in this two cities and no one gives an eff about it. Dumb money becomes dumb only when it listens to smart money
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Mukiri		#8 Posted : Sunday, February 11, 2018 2:39:16 PM
Rank: Elder Joined: 7/11/2012 Posts: 5,222		Fyatu wrote: Angelica _ann wrote: https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-42982959 Does it mean that Nairobi and Mombasa are not considered major cities? People go for weeks without drinking water in this two cities and no one gives an eff about it. Is there absolutely no way, that Ocean water can be made palatable? With all the technology, advancements and resources at the human disposal? Proverbs 19:21
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hardwood		#9 Posted : Sunday, February 11, 2018 2:55:26 PM
Rank: Elder Joined: 7/28/2015 Posts: 9,562 Location: Rodi Kopany, Homa Bay		Angelica _ann wrote: https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-42982959 Hehe even Cairo has no water? And the river Nile passes right through the city? All they need to do is tap the fresh water some 5km before the river gets to the city, before it becomes polluted. Just how dumb are the city authorities?
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harrydre		#10 Posted : Sunday, February 11, 2018 4:17:57 PM
Rank: Elder Joined: 7/10/2008 Posts: 9,131 Location: Kanjo		hardwood wrote: What a $hithole city cape town is. All down to poor planning then they blame it on "worst drought in 100yrs". They should invent in a recycling plant(s). The ocean is all around them. I will excuse them for now since this hasn't happened for decades. It's now real that sahara is expanding rather rapidly. i.am.back!!!!
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