DROUGHT
SA needs skills to tap into groundwater
Unless there is a miracle, Cape Town residents are headed for tough times as the province’s dam levels evaporate
In the absence of an immediate solution to Cape Town’s water woes, groundwater can become a solution for the deepening crisis that began six months ago. It is clear from current weather patterns that, unless there is a miracle, Cape Town residents are headed for tough times as the province’s dam levels — now averaging 30.8% — evaporate. While most of SA experiences heavy downpours that have filled dams to capacity, Capetonians are wondering whether the winter rains will save them from a natural disaster. If winter rains don’t materialise in sufficient quantities, tankers will deliver water to residents. The Department of Water and Sanitation has done this before in drought-stricken provinces. But this can only be a temporary measure to save lives and crops. Which raises the question: what is the long-term solution to water availability? The Western Cape government has suggested desalination, among other ideas, to create a sustainable water resource for the province. While this is a ...
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