The acute phase of the response focuses on delivering purified bottled water. Over 2 million litres are currently being distributed to homes for the elderly, orphans, disabled, clinics & schools - all institutions where people cannot manage to stand in line to collect water from springs or collection points. With poor rainfall predicted, increasing demand and potentially 7 million people affected - the focus is now on providing drinkable water daily - through boreholes around the Cape.
Significant rainfall is not guaranteed & water supply cannot meet the basic essentials of drinking, washing, ablution and hygiene. Animals are dying of thirst, people stand in queues to collect water from springs that haven't been tested for infection. 170 institutions catering for the physically and mentally challenged, elderly & orphans are in a state of distress.
While the initial response of delivering bottled water is a success - it is neither sustainable nor cost-effective. Our hydrology team have identified groundwater sources in and around Cape Town that can sustain the communities surrounding the boreholes for the next few years. The boreholes are tested for yield, quality and then equipped with pumps, tanks, solar panels, pipes and taps - and finally secured - enabling communities to access drinking water daily.
In each community that the borehole is installed: - the demand on the primary water supply is reduced - children do not need to skip school to wait in queues to collect water - the risk of people getting sick by drinking untested water is diminished - the schools can continue their classes and feeding of students As we add more and more areas - day zero is pushed out hopefully long enough until the rain comes or government infrastructure plans are in place.
