103 Days of Water Left!

Mar 22, 2017Enviromental Management, Uncategorized0 comments

by Mandlakazi Mgwebi & Tracey Phillips

Water Scarcity is a Global Challenge

Water is the foundation of life but clean, safe drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce. It’s hard for many of us to imagine that clean, safe drinking water is not something that can be taken for granted or wasted. Yet nearly 1 billion people in developing countries don’t have access to water, and in some countries people may spend their entire day searching for water.

The problem of water scarcity is growing each and every day. As more people put ever-increasing demands on limited supplies, the cost and effort to build or even maintain access to water will increase. As the crisis grows, water will become increasingly important to political and social stability.

Not surprisingly Goal 6 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is “Clean Water & Sanitation”. You can read many more interesting facts about the United Nation’s take on water scarcity here.

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Headline News

A case in point is Cape Town, South Africa where this made headline news a couple of days ago …

City of Cape Town:103 days left of water!

This scary story is really brought home by amazing drone footage showing the state of Western Cape’s dams.

The City is searching for small-scale emergency measures and perhaps if the rains come we will make it … this time.

But what about the future?

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Future News

Predictions are that by 2030 South Africa’s water demand will exceed supply by 17%.

In this scenario water wars become a very real possibility. Word is that this is already a reality in some areas of Africa.

If we don’t want stories and headlines like this “Fighting for water security in a time of demand” to become common place, we need to do something fast.

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Rising to the Challenge

We can do the extraordinary to cope with crises, like this amazing young man trucking water to drinking holes to keep animals alive.

But what do we do in the longer term?

The good news is that we have the technological capabilities to give the planet hope.

The challenge is how to make this technology affordable and accessible to remote, poor communities.

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What are we doing?

Gondwana Alive is working with remote, rural communities in Southern Africa to make the most out of what little rain does fall.

If you have any suggestions that will allow remote, rural communities to mimic modern technologies and ensure a supply of fresh, drinkable water – please do contact us so we can share the information with those in need.