How Cape Town was changed by drought
As you browse property for sale in Vereeniging, it is easy to forget about the water concerns from years past in Gauteng, as well as the recent Cape Town water crisis. In this article we look at how this had an impact on the Mother City, and what can be learned from the situation.
While browsing property for sale in Vereeniging, you may never think about the Cape Town water crisis, but understanding the impact of such a disaster can help you tailor your lifestyle and avoid having to deal with the same problem in years to come.
Many Gauteng residents will quickly forget how close the province came to their own disaster years ago, but Cape Town residents were not as lucky. As their dams emptied, panic took hold and many people were scrambling to save water as Day Zero approached – the day that the city would run dry. This would have been a first for any major city in the world, and it was so close, that local government had even pinpointed a specific day that it would happen as people looked up to the heavens wishing for rain.
The property market was one area that would also suffer, with stock depleting for many offices across the province, according to Harold Kolnik, who is the principal for Jawitz Properties South Peninsula. Buyers were being put off by the situation, and it took some time before normalcy returned.
The tourism and holiday market was also impacted, with holiday occupancy dropping as the severity of the drought escalated. At one point, the option of making use of a luxury bath in your guesthouse or hotel was not available, with plugs removed and visitors being urged to help save water.
Moving to mid-2018, things have turned around for the city after some much-needed winter rains, and dam levels are finally at a level that does not instil fear – with Cape Town’s dams now at over 50% full. This means that water security is ensured for around two years when looking at the daily requirements of the residents and visitors.
Residents have also benefited from gaining valuable experience in saving water, and many have set up sustainable systems to use grey water and collection tanks. This will continue to assist them even when dam levels are no longer an issue, and with water set to become one of the most valuable resources on the planet, it is beneficial for generations to come.
Intrestingly, with the news spreading far and wide, it would have been thought that foreign investment in property would suffer too, but instead there was continued interest from foreign buyers despite the crisis.
