Is KwaZulu-Natal facing its own #DayZero?
Rain is at an all-time low and the same #DayZero fate that Cape Town faces may dawn on KwaZulu-Natal in the near future.
The Western Cape's water woes will become a reality for KwaZulu-Natal in under 12 months if water consumption is not drastically reduced and heavy rainfall does not make its way to us.
If the water crisis continues in Cape Town - which looks very likely, the city will become the first major city in the world to run out of water.
Read: Water restrictions remain in place in KZN
Could this happen to KZN and Durban?
The water crisis in KZN has been largely overlooked in recent months following the recent sporadic rain patterns experienced, but this rain is not enough and big changes need to occur in order for the province to prevent its own #DayZero.
According to a Times Live article, "Umgeni Water - which is the largest supplier of bulk potable water in KwaZulu-Natal - fears that the biggest dam in its operational area may dry up in a few months unless there is torrential rainfall."
Read: #PhoneTap: Ronald shares water-saving tips ahead of Cape Town's #DayZero
In 'Let's Get Local', Jane Linley-Thomas spoke to Matthew Savides from TimesLive about the potential drought in KZN. Is the situation in KZN as bad as it is in the Western Cape?
Currently, the Cape Town water crisis has resulted in level 6B restrictions, which means that water consumption has been reduced to 50 litres of water per person, per day. Heavy fines are being issued if people do not comply with these rules.
Read: Cape Town clamps down on water wasters
As for KZN, water restrictions are here to stay because if water usage is not reduced, then 80% of the province could face a water crisis in a year's time.
One has to wonder what will happen to a city if there is absolutely no water in sight? More so, what happens to those who do not have the means to buy water for their survival? It will become a battle between rich and poor...
Read: How Cape Town businesses are tightening the taps
The reality is, if the taps dry out, there will be chaos. There's simply no nicer way to put it!
- Environment: Trees will wither away and there will be an increase in contaminants in confined bodies of water.
- Human Health: The absence of clean drinking water and water for body washing results in dehydration, diarrhoea and related illnesses, along with skin sores and malnutrition.
- Economy: The farming community will be heavily impacted and many will be forced to shut down operation, causing job losses.
- Civil Society: A war for water may arise. Those who can afford to buy water will do so and the poor will be left the most affected.
It's important that we do not look at Cape Town in isolation. The fact is that temperatures are rising globally and the scarcity of water is growing. The impact of global warming is fast becoming a reality. The Eastern Cape is expected to reach #DayZero, too - and KZN could be next.
According to information supplied by Umgeni Water, the fate of KZN is as follow:- Midmar Dam - expected to dry up by November 2018
- Albert Falls - expected to dry up by March 2018
- Inanda Dam - expected to dry up by May 2018
These are the hard facts and a harsh reality.
Jarryd Subroyen spoke to Shami Harichunder, the Spokesperson for Umgeni Water, about the drought that is forecast to hit KZN in 2018.
The heavy rains that we need may not arrive, and it is not only the job of the government to prevent a crisis - making necessary changes is also up to us. We need to reduce our water consumption and we can do so by applying the following to our daily lives:
- Turn off the tap between washing your face, brushing your teeth, and shaving
- Take five-minute showers
- Do not fill up bathtubs
- Use low flow shower heads
- Fill kettles with only the amount you need
- Fix leaking toilets
- Use a bucket to wash your car, instead of a hose
- Reduce the number of times you flush the toilet
Let the crisis in Cape Town be the wake-up call we need in KZN. Water shortages are here and it seems like they are here to stay. It is not only up to Umgeni Water and the City of Durban to prevent KZN's #DayZero, it is also down to every single individual living in the province to conserve water properly.