"Not a Drop To Drink; World Water Shortages" by Shayla H.
The infamous T. Dawa has always predicted that the world’s third world war would be over one of the simplest commodities…water. Climate change, pollution, and natural disasters are already occurring in our society today, and these predictions might soon become a reality. In Cape Town, one of Africa’s most prosperous metropolises of over four million people, water is one of, if not the least, abundant resources. Because of world population growth and a record high, three year drought, the Theewaterskloof Dam is running dry and the city may soon have to turn off all taps and water access points.
It’s funny to think that what is stereotyped as the world’s most abundant asset covers 70% of Earth’s surface. Yet fresh water, the water that we drink, shower in, and use for our livelihood, is incredibly rare. Out of the 70%, only 3% of the world’s water is fresh, and two thirds of it is unavailable to use. Over 1 billion people worldwide can’t reach the plentiful water needed to survive, and with more and more shortages taking place (i.e. Cape Town) the number will continue to increase.
Inside the commotion of the Cape Town Crisis, South African leaders hint that their last drop of available water will come on “Day Zero,” a day that many Africans get sick thinking about. The day will be set into place when the city turns off both home and business taps. The day… is almost inevitable. Sources differ on the estimated arrival date of Day Zero… National Geographic claims mid April of 2018, while the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) estimates that Day Zero will take place in early July. When will Day Zero occur, and just how bad are the side effects going to be?
The question is asked as to why so many droughts and water shortages have come into news recently in both MDCs and LDCs. Not only does Cape Town have a water crisis, but Mexico, the United States, and over 20 cities globally have been identified to see signs of a shortage in this resource. Worldwildlife.org claims that “by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population is expected to face water shortages.” If this claim is in fact true, changes in the world’s environment and economy will have to take place. The topic of climate change and pollution are controversial issues that will not settle for years to come, and water shortages are just another statistic that politicians and researchers use to progress their arguments. Kevin Winter, a professor at the University of Cape Town, states that in order to be ready for a future water crisis, cities must diversify water sources and be more efficient in the water use. How long will these preparations take, and will they be successful?
South African resource management expert Anthony Turton says, “There is no more time for solutions. We need an act of God. We need divine intervention.” With lack of access to water comes many unidentified diseases, illnesses, and fevers. Whether cholera, inadequate sanitation, or dehydration in itself is the cause of death, lack of water is a major issue that plagues our planet in it’s augmented state.
Works Cited
“Azerbaijan May Face Water Shortages.” AzerNews.az, 8 July 2015,
Gottisdiener, Laura. “Detroit Is Ground Zero in the New Fight for Water Rights.” The Nation, 15
July 2015, www.thenation.com/article/detroit-is-ground-zero-in-the-new-fight-for-water-rights/+.
“'Water Scarcity' Affects Four Billion People Each Year.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group,
“Why Cape Town Is Running Out of Water, and Who's Next.” National Geographic, National
Geographic Society, 5 Feb. 2018, news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/cape-town-running-out-of-water-drought-taps-shutoff-other-cities/.
“Why Is Cape Town Drying Up?” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations,
Good job, Shayla! I appreciate your multifarious word choice throughout this post... it shows how hard you try and how much effort you put into your work.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the actual content, this is terrifying! You mentioned the other places facing future water shortages, including some cities in the U.S... where? When? And what are the best solutions you found or can you think of yourself after researching it this much?
This is great, as usual! I love your picture use. This is a heartbreaking issue and the fact that there is no foreseeable solution is terrifying. What solutions are there for these things to not happen in the future? And what are other countries doing to help, are they doing anything? Thank you for writing about this I really had no idea this was going on.
ReplyDeleteThis is the scariest blog I have ever read! I do believe that WWIII will be fought over water, but I had no idea it was already that bad in South Africa. For me, water use is an issue that we must immediately address in our society. I think we have to realize that some of the way we use water must change now before it's too late. Great job Shayla!
ReplyDeletei love how well this was written, and how structured it is. It is very sad the world does not have enough clean water to survive. It needs to be addressed more, and recognized by the mass public. I learned new things, Good Job!
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