PASSING THE BUCK AS THE DROUGHT DEEPENS

Blame for Cape Town’s drought is heaped on residents by the local council, and seems to be supported by the BBC in tonight’s radio news.

However, back only hours from that beautiful city, I can tell a very different story about the severe drought suffered by South African’s Mother City.

The BBC quotes the mayor, Patricia de Lille, with this accusation, ‘Despite our urging for months, 60% of Capetonians are callously using more than 87 litres per day.’

I spent more than a month in the city and I can report that almost everyone I spoke to at least claimed to have cut back extraordinarily on their use of water.

FLUSHED ONLY FOR SOLIDS

Many heap blame for the situation on Mrs de Lille and her council.

Where I stayed, two minutes showers were the rule, the toilet was flushed only for solids, and remained unflushed with urine for many hours at a time. The washing machine was rationed to once a week. Dish washing water was used over and over for several meals.

... two minutes showers were the rule, the toilet was only flushed for solids, and remained unflushed with urine for many hours at a time. The washing machine was rationed to once a week. Dish washing water was used over and over for several meals.

This is the third year of the severe drought, and the third year when the council appears to have done very little about finding an alternative source of water.

The Cape usually gets most of it from heavy winter rains, thanks to the South Atlantic and its adjoining Southern Ocean. But not for three years running.

WARNINGS AND THREATS

Instead of following Israel’s example, and brilliant methods of turning seawater into good drinkable water, the council seems to have restricted itself to warnings and threats to its ratepayers.

In the meantime, the world’s most stunning city is hosting a record number of tourists. The tone of drought messages for the huge population of visitors is extraordinarily subdued compared to the bullying of its citizens. Continues on the blogs for my sailing adventure story, Sailing to Purgatory, at SailingToPurgatory.com