Water File

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa examines water crises in several global cities to provide insights for Cape Town. It details the causes of water stress—ranging from lack of planning and infrastructure decay to climate-driven droughts—and evaluates the effectiveness of short-term responses versus long-term resilience strategies like demand management and supply diversification.

• Several global cities have faced severe water crises due to a combination of poor planning, environmental degradation, and climate events. São Paulo experienced a crisis from 2014 to 2016 where the Cantareira reservoir fell below 5%, bringing the city within 20 days of running out of water. Mexico City struggles with groundwater over-abstraction leading to subsidence and a lack of daily water access for 18% of residents. Karachi faces a supply-demand gap exacerbated by delayed projects and a "tanker mafia" that illegally accesses the KWSB supply line.
• Infrastructure failure and pollution significantly impact water availability. In Karachi, approximately 450 million litres of wastewater containing hazardous chemicals are discharged daily into the sea without treatment, contributing to a daily shortfall of over 380 million litres. In Nairobi, the Thika dam, which provides 84% of the city's water, has operated at around half capacity due to drought and catchment degradation since 2014.
• Managing demand and improving efficiency are identified as the most sustainable and cost-effective ways to address water challenges. Brisbane reduced water use from 330 litres per person per day to below 140 litres during the "Millennium Drought" (1997-2009) through leaking infrastructure repairs, demand management, and supply diversification. Similarly, Seville achieved significant demand reduction through water awareness and new tariffs following a drought from 1992 to 1995.
• Over-reliance on imported water creates energy intensity and vulnerability. During its drought, Los Angeles imported 89% of its water from over 300km away. A University of California, Los Angeles study suggests the region should transition toward maximizing recycled water, storm water capture, and groundwater to reduce this dependence.
• WWF identifies Cape Town as the top city at risk of water shortages on a list of 20 cities. This list, which includes cities in China and Chile, is based on average supply versus demand, recent droughts, and projections to 2050. WWF emphasizes that cities must address water access as a matter of social justice and environmental health.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). Water File. https://www.wwf.org.za:443/bucket_list/?24364/wednesday-water-file-08

Chicago

WWF South Africa. Water File. n.d. https://www.wwf.org.za:443/bucket_list/?24364/wednesday-water-file-08.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=Water File |url=https://www.wwf.org.za:443/bucket_list/?24364/wednesday-water-file-08 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandwater, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{Water File}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://www.wwf.org.za:443/bucket_list/?24364/wednesday-water-file-08}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }