Groundwater factsheet

The document combines a technical factsheet on groundwater in Cape Town with a 'Care for Creation' manual for youth. It explains the function of aquifers, the risks of over-extraction and pollution, and integrates these environmental concerns with Anglican theology. It advocates for sustainable water use, the protection of the Table Mountain, Cape Flats, and Atlantis aquifers, and provides practical guides for water and energy audits and waste reduction.

• The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality relies on three primary aquifers: the Table Mountain Group Aquifer, the Cape Flats Aquifer (a shallow aquifer), and the Atlantis Aquifer (a large sandy aquifer).
• Groundwater is generally potable because soil acts as a filter for pollutants, including minerals, harmful chemicals, and living organisms, although testing is recommended for boreholes in urban areas.
• The Table Mountain Water Source Partnership, operational since 2020 and funded by the Danish Embassy with WWF as the key implementer, focuses on managing groundwater in and around Cape Town.
• Global groundwater resources provide approximately 50% of all drinking water, 40% of water for irrigated agriculture, and one third of industrial water supply.
• Climate change and the reduction of surface water have led to an increase in borehole drilling, which risks draining aquifers faster than they can be recharged and threatens future food security.
• Water-intensive activities, such as the cultivation of cotton, soya beans, and lithium mining for electric cars, as well as almond production in California, have significant negative impacts on groundwater.
• In South Africa, one third of food is wasted, occurring at various stages including in fields, during transport, in supermarkets, and in households.
• The 'Day Zero' drought in early 2018 was caused by three consecutive dry winters from 2015 to 2017, leading to a citywide water usage reduction of nearly 50% in less than three years.

APA

WWF South Africa (2022). Groundwater factsheet. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/1_annexure_1_appendix_c.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. Groundwater factsheet. 2022. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/1_annexure_1_appendix_c.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=Groundwater factsheet |date=2022 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/1_annexure_1_appendix_c.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafrica2022groundwater, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{Groundwater factsheet}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2022}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/1_annexure_1_appendix_c.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }