There are still people who are in denial about our water crisis. Plenty of conspiracy theories are doing the rounds.
You’ve heard them and seen them on social media:
* That the dams aren’t really empty - some people have shared pictures of dams with supposedly healthy-looking water levels.
* That the “drought” is just a money-making scheme, and the City of Cape Town is playing on citizens’ fears to drive up the price of municipal water.
* Then there are those who believe that Day Zero won’t actually happen; that God will provide, and the “rains will come”.
But what if the conspiracy theories are... just that. What if the heavens don’t open up and the desperately needed rains don’t come?
Are we ready for the dreaded Day Zero - on 12 April or whenever the dams do run dry?
The City and the Province are not. That much is clear.
They’ve woken up far too late. Even though this natural disaster was coming on for years, they’ve decided to activate their disaster management plans now.
But ja, klaar wat dit so is. What’s done is done, blaming anyone never ever filled a JoJo tank.
All we know for now is that when Day Zero arrives, there will be 200 collection points across Cape Town, where each citizen will be able to get 25 litres of water per day.
SAPS and the SANDF will be overseeing the distribution of water.
It’s been reported that citizens will have to present their ID and rates documents upon collection; and the amount collected will form part of your municipal water account.
Apparently, containers for water will not be provided, but there are talks about transporting the elderly and disabled to water points.
NOT READY FOR DAY ZERO: Mmusi Maimane cannot provide solutions
What we don’t know is:
* Where these will points be; which ones will be open 24 hours; will people be able to collect for their kids and other family members?; and what about tenants and people who do not pay rates and water accounts?
* Another burning question is: why will the water be cut in formal residential areas but not in informal settlements?
The authorities had better get their act together and come up with all the answers soon.
What about you? Are you ready for the day when you wake up and turn on the tap to find it’s dry?
If you haven’t thought about it, here are a few survival tips:
* Save and stock up on water - for drinking and for washing.
* If you’ve never washed yourself using a bucket or basin before, try it and get used to it.
* Do the same with your laundry and dirty dishes.
* Stock up on waslappies and wet wipes (You’ll thank me later).
* And most importantly, if you haven’t done so already, keep your cistern filled (with used water).
It takes a lot of water to keep your toilet clean and smelling bearable.
Eish, we’re in for a miserable time, mense.
Vasbyt, keep saving water and make du’ah. And let’s keep the pressure on our leaders to find solutions to this crisis.