This paper is targeted towards addressing the extent of water scarcity and its impacts, particularly addressing shortage of water in South Africa. The main aim is to make my key audience, my fellow classmates and instructor, understand the relevance of water conservation and equal distribution. Unlike South Africa, many countries still have water resources that could serve them in the coming years. However, with poor distribution and management, the future generations will also lack water and face the challenges currently witnessed in Cape Town. Many individuals may also be misusing water in their daily usage particular when taking showers or during washing. The article would help in understanding how precious the commodity is and why misusing it may cause major impacts. My intention is to show how the scarcity of water as a commodity has left the residents of South Africa suffering, and that the problem may even worsen in future. Furthermore, it is important to understand that lack of proper management and inadequate policies would only worsen the situation. Based on this understanding, I hope that my audience would change their attitude as they consume the precious utility.
Scarcity of Portable Water
Portable water has become scarce over the years particularly with the rising cases of global warming and increasing population across the world. Many human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and commercial farming have resulted in the clearing of water resources thereby reducing the availability of water. The problem of water shortage does not only affect poor developing nations, but also developed countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. In an article, "As Cape Town's water runs out, the rich drill wells. The poor worry about eating", published on 23rd June 2018, Andrew Braford highlights the challenging water shortage in Cape Town, South Africa. The author notes that the situation is worsening as a result of class disparity which has played the most significant role in creating gap in water access. Through the article, it becomes apparent that water resource conservation is a critical component of sustainable development.
The problem of water scarcity in South Africa is very alarming. This is associated with the fact that most parts of the country are unable to receive portable water. In particular, Braford notes that the water taps in Cape Town are expected to dry up in the next few months as a result of drought. Currently, Gugulethu settlement is one of the most hit areas. Amidst the fact that there is high population, the people are used to share the limited resource in small quantities. Although water still arrives through the communal taps, a single tap is shared by almost 200 people. This number is very high and would mean that the residents would spend several hours line waiting for water. Furthermore, it would mean that they only get limited amount with nothing to store for the predicted drought.
According to Braford, corruption is the major contributor of water scarcity. In South Africa, this is the case as the country has the highest class inequalities registered across the world. In the article, it is stated that South Africa is the world’s highest Gini coefficient holder as it has the highest measure of inequality. More than 90% of the country’s wealth is owned by merely 10% of the population who belong to the wealthy class. This has been directly transferred to the division and access of water resource in the country. According to Braford, barely one mile away from Khayelitsha settlement where the average annual income is barely $2000, a luxurious hotel had been built worth $10,000 per night. This indicates that the few wealthy can easily afford water as the poor remains in search of the precious commodity.
The effect of water shortage may become alarming if nothing is done. Water is a basic need to all population as it is used for domestic purposes while also in the running of industries and farming. Braford notes that in the United States and Europe where water shortage had been witnessed in the early 20th
century, the poor residents who did not access water experienced outbreak of diseases like cholera due to poor sanitation. This may be the case in South Africa where poor households are only allowed to access 13 gallons of water every day. Without remedying the situation, the residents would equally suffer from water-borne diseases like cholera.
Alternative access to water remains very expensive in South Africa, thus, unaffordable to the poor. It is noted in the article that in order to dig a borehole, one needs to part with at least $6000. The money-making companies that sell water have also hiked their prices; machines that are able to turn moisture into portable water are worth $2000. Furthermore, the residents can access special washing machines which minimize water at a high price of $400. This means that only those in middle and upper class can afford water in the country. However, the poor income earners in settlements could go for weeks or months without the basic commodity. Doug Cloete, who is a South African resident, shares that he can only afford water because of his middle class. He asserts that the poor will always be the most affected due to the high price of water.
In summary, the article outlines the possible causes and impacts of water shortage. Although water shortage is always associated with natural phenomenon, the situation in South Africa shows that government policies and class inequalities are the major contributors. Otherwise all the country residents would be accessing water. It is important that the government come up with policies that promote water resources management and conservation including afforestation and underground/surface water conservation. This would help to renew the scarce resource in the coming years so that the next generation does not suffer from the current limitation.
Work Cited
Braford, Andrew. "As Cape Town's Water Runs Out, the Rich Drill Wells. The Poor Worry About Eating." "Washington Post 24 Feb, 2018. Chicago Tribune." Accessed on 22 June, 2018 from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-south-africa-water-20180224-story.html.
