In South Africa, a new episode of drought affects the metropolis of Nelson Mandela Bay, while the southern winter has settled in the country. This area, located on the south coast and which includes the city of Gqeberha (formerly Port-Elizabeth) and its region, has more than one million inhabitants. This is gradually approaching “Zero Day”, that is to say the moment when the water will no longer flow from the taps.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargeles
This Day Zero is feared by local authorities, while the main water reservoir is 90% empty, and is therefore no longer able to serve part of the metropolis. The other sources of supply manage to compensate for the moment, but their equally low level will not allow them to tarnish for very long. According to metropolitan estimates, in total, the main reserves are only at 12% of their capacity.
The authorities are currently encouraging residents to use only 50 liters a day, but if the situation deteriorates a little more, cuts could be considered and residents will then have to go to one of the water points. put in place. A team from the Gift of the Givers organization is also expected to drill boreholes in the coming days to provide the city with a little more water.
This threat of “Day Zero” brings back memories to South Africans of the drought that also affected the region in 2016, and that which hit Cape Town four years ago.