The potential stress that Cape Town is facing, is a significant shortage
of water supply. However, this is not a new challenge for the
South-African city, as it experienced the water crisis from
2017/2018. This fact might ease the study case, because the following
consequences and problems are known from the crisis that occurred. On
the other hand, it also makes the case more interesting: what are the
lessons learned from the first crisis? How could this have happened?
And should a different approach be maintained if this were to happen
again?
This report tried to answer these questions, by first examining the
effects on the urban network. The following most important stresses
and shocks have been found here; the collapse of the sanitation
system, straining the health care system. The negative impact on the
economy, due to the setback of tourism, agriculture and water taxes.
Furthermore, the social inequality in Cape Town would exacerbate as
water would become a high-valued product. Secondly, the attempt has
been made to answer how the probability of this crisis will change as
a result of climate change, which does not give a good prospect.
Finally, several possible solutions are investigated, from which a
sustainable way of re-using water in combination with the
construction of aquifers could be a crucial solution.