Millions of people in and around Cape Town, South Africa, are being forced to live on 13 gallons of water per day due to massive shortages caused by a prolonged drought. These restrictions have been implemented in an unprecedented effort to conserve what little water remains in reservoirs until alternative sources can be tapped. If this drastic step doesn’t work, residents will be forced to start living on less than half that amount within the next couple of months.
Water Lines
Imagine having to take large plastic containers to public distribution centers and wait in line for hours every day just to replenish supplies. Think about having your fill-ups recorded by officials and being publicly-shamed if people think that you’re drinking too much. Consider not being able to flush your toilet more than once a day or being rewarded for skipping showers. This is the new normal for millions of residents living in a modern city who are being forced to adapt and cope.
Unfortunately, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. Reports of violence at distribution centers are becoming more-common. People are at risk of being attacked as they bring their water home. Smuggling and theft are also becoming growing problems in a city that is already struggling to cope with the ills of widespread poverty and crime.
Martial Law
It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the city will be under martial law when a full-blown water emergency is declared. Soldiers will guard distribution centers and conduct neighborhood patrols. Homes will be searched in an attempt to curb hoarding and prevent people from selling excess supplies to others. The imposition of these restrictions, and the oppressive presence of the military on city streets, may fuel violent protests, contribute to civil unrest and devastate what was once a flourishing economy in a region known for it’s endemic poverty.
It Can Happen Here
What’s happening in Cape Town may seem like a distant problem, but it’s important to remember that parts of our country came close to experiencing a water catastrophe not-too-long ago. Years of drought in the West could have produced similar results if it weren’t for a last-minute reprieve from mother nature that refilled reservoirs and replenished aquifers, at least temporarily. Millions of people were about a year away from experiencing severe rationing and even the possibility of being under martial law as well.
You can use your imagination in terms of what living under those conditions may entail. However, it’s safe to say that a widespread water shortage is something that would be disruptive, if not devastating to our way of life, and many people are more vulnerable than they think.
The general rule of thumb in a survival situation is that individuals need a minimum of a gallon of water per day to cover their basic, immediate needs. However, there’s a difference between minimalist survival living and trying to cope with an ongoing shortage that permeates our daily lives as well. The reality is that a lot of sacrifices would need to be made, and habits would need to change in order to cope with 13 gallon per day restrictions.
How would you cope if you were forced to live with similar restrictions for an indefinite amount of time? Take time to think about how water plays into your overall preparedness efforts, and use what’s happening in South Africa as an opportunity to find ways to establish access to a reliable supply during a crisis. Remember that a drought represents just one of many threats to the stability of water supplies, and people are a lot more vulnerable to disruptions than they may think. Don’t be one of them.
