SA Cape Town Day Zero clock

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Not good for anyone in Cape Town, but I will be watching to see how well this is handled.

A lack of water isn't something I've ever experienced.

https://www.tickcounter.com/countdown/448689/time-to-cape-towns-water-day-zero

I thought it got pushed back to july?

 

[jontte]

they've been lucky sofar,when white farmes have supplied water from their own supply to the town,but without that water,which is prolly running out too
it's not looking good...

hard to imagine a situation where you don't have water,it could very well be a "Mad Max scenario" down there any minute ( the original one)

 

[Silent Earth]

Watch it rain on the last day for about ten minutes then stop that will trigger the riots. I would not want to be within 500 miles of capetown when the taps are turned off

 

[jontte]

just hope our friend JoeSA is safe

 

[Brent S]

just hope our friend JoeSA is safe

Haven’t heard from Joe in a while but have thought about him recently with all the turmoil there.

 

[Kevin L]

I'm suprised that desalination plants aren't more common in South Africa.

I know that South Africa had nukes in the past (but gave them up, so my hat's off), so I assume (perhaps wrongly, because I'm too lazy to look it up) that they have nuclear power plants.

With nuclear power, isn't desalination rather straightforward?

 

[Brent S]

I'm suprised that desalination plants aren't more common in South Africa.

I know that South Africa had nukes in the past (but gave them up, so my hat's off), so I assume (perhaps wrongly, because I'm too lazy to look it up) that they have nuclear power plants.

With nuclear power, isn't desalination rather straightforward?

I just learned (from you) of them ever having nukes. I agree, kudos for giving them up. They do still have a twin reactor plant, and are the only country in the whole of Africa to have one. They are rushing to get a desalinization plant on line for cape town, but it’s only going to be large enough for a quarter of their water demands. Little late in the game to think of this just now. Scary to think of a large city with little to no water.

 

[Kevin L]

I just learned (from you) of them ever having nukes. I agree, kudos for giving them up. They do still have a twin reactor plant, and are the only country in the whole of Africa to have one. They are rushing to get a desalinization plant on line for cape town, but it’s only going to be large enough for a quarter of their water demands. Little late in the game to think of this just now. Scary to think of a large city with little to no water.

It is scary. Epidemics, disease, famine, mass migration of refugees into neighboring countries, and political instability are the least of their problems.

Waste disposal alone will be a nightmare. I would expect dysentary, rotovirus, cholera, and an upswing in STDs like HIV and hepatitis as desperate women turn to prostitution so support themselves and their kids.

Awful.

 

[jontte]

don't belive their neighboring countries can handle that,they are knee deep in shyt already,copeing with desperate refugees is possibly beyond their capabilities..

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

When I was there in 2013 there were already a slew of refugees from Nigeria and Zimbabwe. I have never seen such a walled and gated town as Johannesburg. And some locals in Durbin told me that if you didn't have a fence, you might wake up to two or three families washing clothes with your hose, and cooking over an open fire. In your backyard.

I had three guys who CLEARLY wanted to rob me on the beach, but we talked it out, and had a few beers. They told me it was too dangerous fro me to be out by myself after dark, not everyone was as nice as them. They were building sand castles during the day, and begging, I had seen them earlier.

The shanty towns in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and all along the east coast, would suffer badly without water, they have it trucked in as it is, unless I am mistaken.

I agree with Kevin L, some of the places I went were already too close to what he is describing.

Don't get me wrong, also some really, really nice places in SA.

 

[DrPrepper]

It is scary. Epidemics, disease, famine, mass migration of refugees into neighboring countries, and political instability are the least of their problems.

Waste disposal alone will be a nightmare. I would expect dysentary, rotovirus, cholera, and an upswing in STDs like HIV and hepatitis as desperate women turn to prostitution so support themselves and their kids.

Awful.

I read this article today that said they have hand sanitizer for people that use in public bathrooms ( instead of water) office workers are being asked to eat off of disposable plates or take their Tupperware home and wash it ( instead of washing it at work).
They have hand sanitizer in hotel bathrooms. Signs that request people take no more than 2 minuets for a shower. Hygiene could become a serious problem.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Stinky is fine. Impetigo is something else.

What happens when the showers don't work at all? I mean, you KNOW lots of people are like, "oh well I'll just take a super long shower because everyone else is conserving, it'll be fine."

I read this article today that said they have hand sanitizer for people that use in public bathrooms ( instead of water) office workers are being asked to eat off of disposable plates or take their Tupperware home and wash it ( instead of washing it at work).
They have hand sanitizer in hotel bathrooms. Signs that request people take no more than 2 minuets for a shower. Hygiene could become a serious problem.

I mean, that's the next step after this, no? No showers, no water to clean stuff, only to drink, until that runs out. Man. Better pray for rain. I can't imagine it, it's something outside my life experience. A Midwest drought just means lower creek levels, and the corn is dry earlier.

 

[DrHenley]

You take sponge baths and hang your dirty clothes out in the sun to air. Maybe just wash underwear...

 

[DrPrepper]

You take sponge baths and hang your dirty clothes out in the sun to air. Maybe just wash underwear...

Yes, that’s what it will lead to. They asking them to currently to use only 1/6 the amount of water the average American uses each day. It’s not looking good.

 

[Brent S]

For those who camp remotely, you can get by on a lot less water than most think. When you have to carry your supply of drinking water you really learn to conserve. Most people don’t have a clue though. All I can say is don’t ever thing it couldn’t happen here too. I believe water will become one of the biggest issues in the world within the next 50 years.

 

[DrPrepper]

For those who camp remotely, you can get by on a lot less water than most think. When you have to carry your supply of drinking water you really learn to conserve. Most people don’t have a clue though. All I can say is don’t ever thing it couldn’t happen here too. I believe water will become one of the biggest issues in the world within the next 50 years.

I agree water will be a big problem in the future. Getting by on small amounts of water while camping remotely is true, I think it will be a bigger issue in a more heavily populated area. Just more opportunity for disease to spread due to poor hygiene.

 

[SheilaT.]

That's a lot of the problem though isn't it? It's not only how well you operate hygeine protocols, but your neighbours. You could be squeaky clean and have a composting toilet set up, but if your neighbours are chucking their waste out in the street you are still vulnerable to disease.
People are inherently selfish and will do as they see fit, the local officials are in part to blame for this shortage as they did little to conserve the dwindling supply, knowing it was dwindling.

 

[jontte]

yeah,'cause water falls down from the sky always

 

[SheilaT.]

yeah,'cause water falls down from the sky always

In this case, apparently not.

 

[Silent Earth]

As others point out the thinking rational person / prepper will adapt and use strict hygiene protocols, but the " we are entitled" crowd will just throw all their waste into the street thus causing a vermin and fly outbreak that will spread disease everywhere. its not us who are the risk its the unprepared masses who will sh1t in their own nests then try to sh1t in yours.