Zero Water Day – possible implications and Issues
If “Zero Water” Day arrives ……..
……….. what then?
At some point a debate will have to start as to what should and will be done. No doubt authorities will be thinking it through carefully but perhaps at some point the public needs to be included in the process. We will be in uncharted territory, with a whole array of unique issues to be faced and unprecedented questions to be decided. The situation could be extremely fraught.
I have been thinking about this and related matters for some time. It is not my aim to spread concern but rather to initiate some debate by those who are expert in their fields for the benefit of those who are not; once more to help provide clarity and understanding now, while the situation is still somewhat unpressurised. Here are just a few “thought starters” on issues that may arise and need resolution in a looming very low near zero or zero water situation:
- should a humanitarian crisis be declared and the agricultural allocation diverted for human consumption? if so, only that of the export producers? or only the wine farmers and not the fruit farmers? or cut all fruit and leave only the vegetables? or what?
- is the tourism season to be curtailed? or stopped? or should hospitality establishments be limited to some percentage of the water they used last season? or cut them down to zero and channel all water for consumption only by proven residents?
- what happens to industry? do all heavy users of fresh water (e.g. laundries) get stopped completely? or do water supplies to all industries get cut by 50% and leave them to decide what processes to suspend or reduce?
- what happens to residential users? how far can water usage targets be reduced? how tough do we get on those that still do not reduce consumption? do we register and commandeer pools for the water in them? is rationing introduced? how do we administer and control whatever systems are introduced?
- should installation of tanks and sumps be encouraged with subsidies? or loans? if so, how do we decide to allocate subsidies (FIFO? deserving? communal?)? how are loans to be made and at what interest rates and re-payment terms?
- what about water-related unemployment? job losses? social security services and payments? who receives what? who decides and who administers? if so, on what basis? can the unemployed be set to work helping create new or rehabilitate old water sources?
- what about security? should martial law be declared? what about looting from businesses and houses that may have been locked and left by those fleeing? theft of water from those that have stored water by those that haven’t? black markets? extortion? gangsterism? is there a point where one starts applying violent means to quell unrest?
- is the current political dispensation capable of dealing with such issues? of making the hard decisions? at what point does humanitarianism outweigh politics? how should the public be involved? what steps are desirable, optimal, defensible, justifiable, viable? how do we decide? do prevailing laws and regulations allow what is necessary to be done?
There are many, many questions in every imaginable discipline that will have to be asked and answered in such a situation. Many bedrock principles upon which society is founded and operates may need to be suspended, changed or replaced.
Here are some ways in which you can prepare for Day Zero:
- Beware of misinformation, and worse, disinformation (“fake news”) and make sure that you are accurately informed. Join a reputable social media group like ‘Water Shedding Western Cape.
- Try not to get worked up over deliberately incendiary political comments on social media. Much of it is uninformed clap-trap. Ignore it and don’t get agitated. No one, but no one is trying to make this potential catastrophe happen and many, many skilled people are doing all they can to help avoid disaster. Trust that fact. If you want to understand the underlying politics contact your local councillor and ask for an update. Ignore the rumours. Be clear that no one will be favoured in the resolution of this situation and all would suffer the inconvenience of Day Zero should it arrive. Also, be reassured that no part of the metro is connected to any specific dam – the water from any dam can reach any part of the municipality and suburbs.
- To obtain good information and advice, search the Water Shedding Western Cape FB group page for different themes (eg storing and caring for water) and read up on suggestions. Get your thinking sorted out on how you can best save water and what to do to prepare for possible problems. At least invest in some drums or tanks and start saving rain water so that you have some personal water independence – there will be plenty of rain still across the metro before winter arrives.
- There is no need to wildly start buying supplies now but do draw up some contingency lists and then do some window-shopping, checking availability of items and prices, and set aside some ready cash. If the situation does deteriorate then perhaps start laying in extra supplies during April. Get your insurances, IDs and municipal accounts in order.
- Chat to your neighbours in your street and start a local WhatsApp group [I suggest call the group “Water Warriors – xyz Street” that will be easily remembered and others possibly looking for you will will be able to easily find your group and get in contact. Keep each other informed on local issues and plan to help elderly or infirm folks.
- Beware of renegade plumbers offering to bypass meters. This would not only be anti-social but also a crime and open you to prosecution.
6 Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
stefan1983
Thank you for your fantastic updates and articles. It’s been fantastic to read an informed, logical, rational and transparent take on what we’re facing. Bottom line, I’m starting to get pretty terrified of what we’re going to do! It looks like it’s no longer a matter of if, but when we’ll run out of water and then when that time comes, what happens?
What do we, as individuals, do? Install well-points, get as many storage tanks as possible, build high fences and wait it out? What, for example, are you doing on a practical level to start preparing for day zero? Would love to hear your thoughts.
tombrown
Hi Stefan.
Both for the near and long-term try to build water resilience into your household. By that I mean local storage under your direct control coupled with all sensible measures to reduce consumption and to re-use your grey water. Here are some suggestions based on what I and many others are doing and have done.
1.) Install tanks gathering water from roof gutters. Go to the UCT site http://cip.csag.uct.ac.za/webclient2/waterharvest/ to model your household’s situation and determine what size tank(s) to install. If you can afford it, buy two tanks (failsafe) interconnected, with total capacity 60 (days) x 20L x nr ppl in your family; 4 pers family = 4800 L = (2x 2500L tanks). Rule of thumb – 1mm rain falling on 1sqM roof area produces 1L water x ?80% efficiency. So 10mm falling on 150sqM should produce 1200+L. Should still get enough rain during rest of winter to fill the tanks. Keep second tank as a minimum 30day “iron reserve” and use first tank if/as needed, refilled periodically by rain. In extremis one can drop to 10L/pers/day so this storage can actually last 3-4 months. And depending where you live, CT invariably gets some rain every month sufficient to replace most usage at 10L/p/d. Dose the tanks periodically with with 100ml Jik or Miltons and toss into each a few Tblspoons of vegetable oil to coat the surface and discourage mosquitoes, etc. Use gravity or if needed install a pump and piping to lead this water to separate taps in bathroom, kitchen and laundry for very controlled use. Boil this water before consumption. Install lockable valves on the tanks. Display required “non-potable” signage (at least for now).
2.) If you are in a suitable area, do install a well. This can give 500 L/day or more and water is suitable for all secondary uses. Tend to dry up around Feb/Mar as the water tables drop but quickly recharged when rains commence around May/Jun. If you do, then split the tanks, pump well water to one for general use and keep rainwater in other tank for consumption and personal use. Mineralisation can give issues.Installer will be able to advise.
3.) Create some form of sump (brick built sealed, metal, lined pit or whatever) low down on the property to which one can lead any other rain run-off e.g from garages, yards, driveways, etc thereby gathering useful water for undemanding use (e.g. toilet flushing). Pump this water through a filter back up to a conveniently located drum with a tap from which water can be drawn for general use.
4.) Take all possible steps to reduce consumption habits down to 20L or less per person per day.
– Reduce laundry to minimum (air and re-use outer clothes, bedding).
– Wipe all plates and dishes with paper before cleaning in basin with hot boiled water. Air dry. If using dishwasher wipe all first then pack washer to fullest before using econ cycle every 2nd day.
– Shower every second day; catch warming water in bottles/jugs for kitchen use; standing in a plastic basin, damp all over, water off, soap lightly using a flannel cloth, water back on to rinse. On other day use household spray bottles to damp all over, wipe with lightly soaped flannel for minimum soapiness, spray again and wipe off with soap-free flannel. Shower water goes to flush toilet or garden.
– Minimise toilet; boys pee in buckets, dilute then water plants; girls use toilet but let mellow, only flush once something darker is deposited; use only one toilet in the house, refill cistern with shower water. [If it gets really bad, one may need to use camping style toilets or perhaps even dig long-drops in the garden.]
– Generally; grey or sump water for toilets and garden; use sump or rain water for all general cleaning; rain water for personal washing and laundry; municipal, bottled or boiled rain water for consumption/cooking.
5.) Write off most of the garden. Keep trees and shrubs alive with sump and grey water and a small patch of lawn and a few flower beds to help keep one sane (and use up grey water). Create furrows to redirect rain run-off to plants and beds. Definitely create a vegetable area (near to laundry to facilitate piping grey water to garden) and plant some essentials (spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkin, butternuts, onions, celery, cauliflower, aubergines, a few favourite herbs, melons); it doesn’t take much area, adds interest, saves money and uses worst quality water; sprinkle only around base of plants, not on leaves or fruit; for underground items use only rain or sump water (not grey).
6.) Lastly encourage water saving and capture/storage at one’s place of work, sport, etc if practical. Harvested water can be pumped to toilets and hand basins and be used for washing and cleaning. In extremis can be used to ration 5-10L /day to disadvantaged employees who may have no other source of water.
I sincerely hope that “Zero Water Day” never arrives. But going this route can make your personal household water-resilient, give you great peace of mind, add value to the home, and can pay back the cost within 3-5 years. Apart from anything else you would have contributed directly by reducing your household demand on Muni water to almost nothing. There is not much that we can do about society in general but we only have ourselves to blame if we do not provide for our own requirements.
And if only everyone would take such actions – the water crises would simply disappear as the primary water capture/storage would be at the household level in the towns while the big dams would store years of backup water in the mountains for exceptionally dry times. Enough water falls in the towns to meet all our needs if we just harvest and store it. The big investments could then go into sophisticated recycling of waste and storm water to be used for non-potable purposes. Tapping the aquifers would supply extra water if ever needed and expensive desalination could be postponed for decades or forever.
I suggest act right away. Then become a “water warrior” and spread the word.
Good luck, Tom.
stefan1983
Hey Tom,
Thanks so much for the detailed response! Lot’s to think about and do. I think getting to a more self-sufficient situation would definitely help. Going to have to read your response a few more times and see what we can implement at home.
Thanks again!
tombrown
Welcome, Stefan.
Hope I wasn’t teaching “grandma to suck eggs”. Important thing is to install tanks. At least one. You will miss the good rain this weekend, but more is forecast for end-July and also first week August – probably enough to capture 4000-5000L.
None of what I suggest is “rocket science” – just need to start changing habits. Buy a few buckets and sturdy plastic tray to stand in the shower, buy a few flannels, keep and re-mission some empty household cleaner spray bottles and you will be in business.
How many in your family and where are you located?
Let me know how you progress.
Regards, Tom.
stefan1983
Hey Tom,
Yep, we’ve actually installed two tanks (500L ea) which isn’t a lot but it’s a start. Thinking of getting another tank. It’s just my wife and I in a small house in Lakeside.
We already do quite a lot to reduce our water usage and we’re currently at about 120L per day for the household, but trying to reduce further. I think the scary part is that no matter how much we save, if there is no water in the system, we are in trouble! But having some tanks with backup water and knowledge of how little we can use, is a great help.
The other side is that I own a small craft brewery that just started. If we run out of water, I will be in bug trouble there …
tombrown
Hey Stefan.
How is your household water storage system coming along?
Tom.