Retrofitting Stormwater Ponds to Infiltration Ponds: A framework for the City of Cape Town

Cape Town is a city with over four million people and a growing population. Due to three consecutive dry summers as a result of climate change, a growing population and an increased per capita water demand, the city’s main water supply was nearly depleted. Cape Town depends for 98% on surface water stored in dammed reservoirs, which is...

Satisfying Urban Thirst: Towards a water sensitive and inclusive urban ecosystem through the metabolism of Cape Town

In 2018 Cape Town faced the threat of becoming the first city in modern age to run out of drinking water and reach Day Zero, the day when due to a 3-year long drought the city’s taps are switched off and residents are compelled to fetch their daily 25 liters of water from communal taps. This time the city successfully managed to avoid the...