Cape Town Water Crisis: Analysis and Recommendations Case Study

This case study analyzes the Cape Town water crisis, examining its causes, including population growth, climate change, and inadequate water infrastructure. The study explores the impact on various sectors, particularly tourism, and the implementation of the 'Day Zero' strategy. It presents alternative solutions for decision-makers, such as investing in water management systems, diversifying water sources (wastewater treatment, underground water, desalination), and implementing strict water usage policies. The study recommends improving water management, monitoring policy implementation, communicating water-saving techniques, investing in water treatment, encouraging lifestyle restructuring, planting trees, and utilizing media strategies. The author disagrees with sole reliance on rainwater, waiting for droughts to impose rules, and implementing the 'Day Zero' concept, advocating for proactive water management and wastewater treatment. This case study is a great resource for students on Desklib.

Running head: DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Response to Question 1: Key facts
The main reasons identified for the outcome of water scarcity are, increasing
population rate, climatic changes, unstructured and unorganized water infrastructure.
Another set of reasons identified for the scarcity of water in South Africa are, poorly
managed system for water management, inability to structure the resources usage with
the increasing population and unparalleled growth in the economy.
The water scarcity in Cape Town resulted in the fall of various sectors dependent on
tourist inflow (Dutta & Shah, 2018).
Planting trees is considered to be one of the significant factor influencing the
replenishment of water resources (Dutta & Shah, 2018).
Around 80 percent of wastewater have been found untreated or which have not been
reused on a global scale.
Due to the inability to maintain the water level in reservoirs and major dependence on
rainwater caused the state of water scarcity in South Africa, especially in Cape Town.
The strategy of ‘Day Zero’ was declared along with other water consumption
restrictions, limiting the water usage up to 50 litres a day (Dutta & Shah, 2018).
In the ‘Day Zero’ concept, the tap water usage will be restricted for a whole day.
Response to Question 2: Alternatives for decision-maker
Investing in a well-structured water management system, which will not wait for the
‘Day Zero’ or drought state of the region to act efficiently.
Shift the dependency of water sources from only rainwater to water treatment of
waste or grey water for reuse, usage of underground water and adopting the process of
desalination (Dutta & Shah, 2018).
Restricting the overutilization of water for persona or industrial consumption by
imposing strict policies and rules (Dutta & Shah, 2018).

2DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Encouraging the limited utilization by conducting seminars and events for spreading
awareness about the actual situation and for teaching simple in-house techniques for
saving and reusing water.
Water emergency stations near grocery shops for encouraging the general public to
limit their daily usage (Dutta & Shah, 2018).
For preventing the execution of ‘Day Zero’ concept, the government should attempt at
implementing an improved water management system and spreading the valuation of
existent water level.
Response to Question 3: Recommendations
Improving water management system- For responding to the increasing population of
Cape Town and for shifting the dependency from rainwater to other sources like,
waste water treatment and strict restriction in excessive water usage.
Monitoring policy and rules implication in each locality- For ensuring the water usage
level and for spreading the awareness about the current situation.
Communicating water saving/reusing techniques- The water usage techniques can be
improved for personal and industrial usage by teaching the techniques by the
concerned decision makers.
Investing in water treatment procedures- For treating the dumped water by industries
Encouraging restructuring of lifestyle- For a restricted and optimal utilization of water
resources.
Planting trees- It will improve the drastically changing climate condition of Cape
Town.
Media strategies- For attracting tourist inflow by communicating the improving state
of water scarcity. Tourist inflow will improve the economic condition of Cape Town,
which is depleting due to water scarcity.

3DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Response to Question 4: Disagree
I will not recommend the sole dependency on rainwater.
I will not recommend the factor of waiting for drought for imposing stricter rules.
I will not recommend the execution of ‘Day Zero’ concept, instead the city to abide
by the rules and policies of water management/water consumption.
I will not recommend the ignorance towards treating waste water in consideration of
the required investment, as it will be beneficial for long-term conservation.

4DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
References:
Dutta, S., & Shah, R. (2018). Cape Town water crisis. What lies ahead? (pp. 1-13).
Bangalore: Amity Research Centers Headquater.