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This report chapter argues that the solution to global freshwater scarcity is not increasing supply through costly and environmentally damaging infrastructure, but radically increasing water productivity through efficiency and demand-side management across agriculture, landscaping, buildings, and industry.

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.