Cape Town is on the western ...
Published by Caliphs Zvinowanda
Cape Town is on the western seaboard, which receives cold winds. its sister towns in terms of location is Walvis Bay and Swakopmond in Namibia. These areas have desert climatic conditions
Hence, due Cape Town's geological location, it is prudent that any planning on sustainable water supply to this city should include sea water desalination.
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The emergency drilling for groundwater that is now taking place in Cape Town should have been implemented several decades ago. The source potential of groundwater in the Cape Town area has long been speculated, but not systematically explored and assessed. South Africa has the in-country scientific and technological expertise needed for long term water supply planning but has not overcome the procrastinating short-term political myopia that has prevented the necessary investment in quantifying back-up groundwater resources.
The "lesson" from the Cape Town crisis is that cities should invest now (in advance of a possible drought situation) in scientific assessments of potential surrounding groundwater reserves. Wells could be constructed and well-heads secured, and so that if a crisis occurs all that is needed in the installation of pumps. Depending on the individual well's supply potential these sources could then be quickly integrated into the water supply distribution system or serve as temporary independent supply sources.
Perhaps the most important benefit of advance identification of potential groundwater supply sources is that land-use protection strategies can be implemented to avoid the specter of contamination. The biggest hurdle ............. educating decision-makers!
Published by Andrew Stone