Day Zero

This WWF South Africa fact sheet explains the concept of 'Day Zero' in Cape Town, describing it as the point when municipal water supplies are insufficient to maintain normal services and taps are closed. It outlines the projected impacts on residents, businesses, and health, while providing specific water-saving guidelines to delay the onset of this crisis.

• Day Zero is defined as the date when water levels in the six major dams supplying the area are so low that normal services cannot be maintained and residential taps are shut off.
• As of February 1, 2018, Cape Town residents were limited to a water usage allowance of 50 litres per person per day.
• If Day Zero occurs in June, the city will enter a full Stage 2 Emergency. Under this scenario, water to homes and businesses will be closed, with priority given to hospitals and clinics. Residents would be required to collect 25 litres of water per person per day from approximately 200 designated collection points.
• The consequences of closing the taps include potential failure of sewage systems, increased risk of disease, and negative economic impacts. It is noted that dams could take months to recover, and residents might need to survive on minimal water for three to six months after Day Zero, depending on rainfall.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). Day Zero. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/WWFWaterFiles_isiXhosa_FINAL.PDF

Chicago

WWF South Africa. Day Zero. n.d. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/WWFWaterFiles_isiXhosa_FINAL.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=Day Zero |url=http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/WWFWaterFiles_isiXhosa_FINAL.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandday, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{Day Zero}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/WWFWaterFiles_isiXhosa_FINAL.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }