South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of income inequality. This
means that when the water crisis hits Cape Town, the lower strata of the society are
likely to be badly affected. People with higher incomes may be able to buy water for
their daily needs. However, poor people do not have the money to do so. Help Cape
Town people by suggesting ways to conserve water?
Answers
Answer:
In a dry climate, with rapid urbanization and relatively high per capita water consumption, Cape Town had all the makings of a water crisis. In 2018, after three years of poor rainfall, the city announced drastic action was needed to avoid running out.
Reducing demand was a key priority. The City of Cape Town worked to get residents and businesses on board with a host of water-saving initiatives. People were instructed to shower for no longer than two minutes. A campaign with the slogan “If it’s yellow, let it mellow” promoted flushing the toilet only when necessary. And the use of recycled water – so-called greywater – was also pushed.
At the most extreme, residents were restricted to a maximum of 50 litres a day – not easy when showers alone can use up to 15 litres a minute. Backed up with data on each household’s water use, people pulled together, sharing tips on social media.