The V&A Waterfront has recently announced exciting plans for a desalination plant that will ensure a fresh water supply – a great aid for any future crisis that could affect the Mother City.
The plan was largely inspired by the 2018 Cape Town water crisis, and the desalination project has reportedly been in the works since.
Now that Growthpoint Properties received approval to move forward with the 3.3 megalitre facility, construction is predicted to begin in the first quarter of 2022, set to see completion in 2024 as News24 reports.
At a time where water is critical given the impact climate change continues to have on water supplies, secure management of water resources becomes vital.
The water crisis that Cape Town remembers well was triggered by a “severe and unanticipated drought that turned all the local reservoirs into dustbowls” as the BBC reminds, on top of mismanagement of government infrastructure as BBC reminds.
Another way locals are trying to alleviate the potential of a drought is in an unusual fashion – by cutting down trees.
“The pines are not indigenous to this area. They use up so much water – much more water than indigenous plants. This is the green infrastructure that we need to fix,” explained Nkosinathi Nama, who is coordinating the work for The Nature Conservancy on behalf of the Greater Cape Town Water Fund.
The pines, and other alien species like the eucalyptus, are now responsible for consuming an estimated 55 billion litres of water per year – equivalent to two to three months of the city’s annual consumption according to those a part of the axing to save water endeavour.
“One of the lessons of Day Zero is that our water catchment areas need to be rehabilitated and restored so that they are resilient,” Nama further said.
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Picture: Instagram @forever_twentynine