Cape Town's water supply

[markings]

Of the water we use only a small amount is used for drinking and cooking. In the new 50L water 'ration' it may be about 4L. The rest is used for cleaning, laundry, ablutions, etc

Here is an idea and I don't know about its feasibility or long-term consequences:
Why not switch the piped water supply to non-potable water only treated to a level that makes it not harmful to humans and animals, but only for non-consumption.

That would make it easier to reclaim water, increasing the reclaim rate. The same may be the case for any purification treatment. Maybe a certain amount of salt water could be added as well.

When it comes to distributing water at collection points it would be far easier to only deliver let's sat 10L per person potable water than to turn the taps off and deliver all the water needs, be that 50L per person or whatever, of which 90% will be used for non-potable use anyway.
This could also keep the sewage systems in a reasonable state.

Once enough water is available one could switch back to potable water supply again.

 

[Gordon_R]

I touched on this topic in the main discussion about CapeTown's water problems.

The idea has a certain logic, but is impractical, unlawful, and wrong on so many levels that it is unlikely to be taken seriously...

 

[satanboy]

I touched on this topic in the main discussion about CapeTown's water problems.

The idea has a certain logic, but is impractical, unlawful, and wrong on so many levels that it is unlikely to be taken seriously...

FB post:

to WATER SHEDDING WESTERN CAPE.
January 19 at 11:57pm ·
Ok so let me get this right. Delille and city of Cape Town say that in three months time the water will officially run dry and all water supply to business and households stop!! 21April is day Zero!!
However they have emergency stage 3 plan that has “ planned” or identified 200 spots in the area affected where one may collect 25lt per person. Great.

Now lets look closer. There are 3,72million of us here in Cape Town. If we were all equally divided into 200 groups where we collect water, from these magic water holes “ identified” by COCT, then there will be 18600 of us at each water point. Let that sink in for a moment - that is roughly a half full Newlands rugby stadium. Then we each have a 25 lt drum ( not sure where we got it , but yes i better get down to plastics warehouse and buy one because they about to sell 3,72 million of them over the next three months.) So now its my turn for water, it takes 5 mins to fill 25 lt, and then its your turn... sounds fair. The only problem is there are 18600 of us, at 5min each means 93000 mins, or 1550 hrs or in days basically 62 of them before the whole 18600 have had a drink. Then we start it all over again.... wake up people , its unworkable!!!!

Just imagine people in the 60-100 age group lugging a filled 25l drum around with them. Most of those people wouldn't even be able to lift such an object.

 

[maumau]

It wouldn't make sense to use standard taps. They'll have to fit those wide pipes.

Agree about carrying 25lt of water. No way can most people manage that.

 

[Inzaghi007]

FB post:



Just imagine people in the 60-100 age group lugging a filled 25l drum around with them. Most of those people wouldn't even be able to lift such an object.

Some people will use this as a business opportunity. Just collect on other peoples behalf.

 

[Brawler]

I touched on this topic in the main discussion about CapeTown's water problems.

The idea has a certain logic, but is impractical, unlawful, and wrong on so many levels that it is unlikely to be taken seriously...

Is it really wrong? I've been to many places in Asia like this. You can use the water for everything but drinking and cooking.

 

[maumau]

Some people will use this as a business opportunity. Just collect on other peoples behalf.

They'll be selling water in no time.

 

[satanboy]

They'll be selling water in no time.

Every bloody shop already does that.

Plus that water point wil NOT be free.

 

[Gordon_R]

Is it really wrong? I've been to many places in Asia like this. You can use the water for everything but drinking and cooking.

The water quality guidelines in South Africa as defined in the Water Act preclude the kind of standards found in some other countries (in that respect we have a first-world system).

The domestic use guidelines include all possible uses of water, so the Act would need to be changed to allow non-potable and recycled water into the supply pipes: http://www.dwa.gov.za/iwqs/wq_guide/Pol_saWQguideFRESH_vol1_Domesticuse.PDF

The use of water in the domestic environment is common to all consumers and probably
provides the widest direct experience of the effects of water quality. The term “domestic
water”, as used in these guidelines, refers to water which is used in the domestic environment
and refers to all uses water can be put to in this environment. This includes water for:
! drinking
! food and beverage preparation
! hot water systems
! bathing and personal hygiene
! washing, for example, dishes
! laundry
! gardening which may include water for fish ponds

For example, the wrong kind of water can stuff up the geysers in a million households!?

Once enough water is available one could switch back to potable water supply again

Edit: This is where the real problem comes in. How do you flush out the system and ensure that the quality gets back to potable standards? Its just way too risky IMO...

 

[Fulcrum29]

Some people will use this as a business opportunity. Just collect on other peoples behalf.

No, won't be easy,

//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180121/b4f64badbeb783777845da1bbacedf1f.jpg

It looks like collection will require personal and municipal identity, and water will be charged per level 7 restrictions.

 

[AchmatK]

No, won't be easy,

//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180121/b4f64badbeb783777845da1bbacedf1f.jpg

It looks like collection will require personal and municipal identity, and water will be charged per level 7 restrictions.

What about tenants who do not have a municipal account in their name?

Based on the above, my tenants will not be able to collect water as the account is in my name.

 

[Nanfeishen]

Of the water we use only a small amount is used for drinking and cooking. In the new 50L water 'ration' it may be about 4L. The rest is used for cleaning, laundry, ablutions, etc

Here is an idea and I don't know about its feasibility or long-term consequences:
Why not switch the piped water supply to non-potable water only treated to a level that makes it not harmful to humans and animals, but only for non-consumption.

That would make it easier to reclaim water, increasing the reclaim rate. The same may be the case for any purification treatment. Maybe a certain amount of salt water could be added as well.

Actually one could create a loop system for "grey water"

Jojo tanks at all run-off points such as gutters etc, that water can be pumped to a small domestic water tower



The water from that is then run through a domestic filter system



That water will be clean enough for domestic use such as showers, and could also be fed to a geyser or washing machine without creating complications for either.

The run off from a shower could be fed back into the loop, or a seperate tank to supply toilet cisterns with water.

Essentially then the only water coming out of your taps is for drinking/cooking.

 

[CathJ]

Hand wash water really should be potable as well, considering how often things for hands touch end up in or near your mouth.

 

[Gordon_R]

Hand wash water really should be potable as well, considering how often things for hands touch end up in or near your mouth.

Grey water is only appropriate for toilet-flushing and gardens. All the other points I listed above require potable water:

! food and beverage preparation
! hot water systems
! bathing and personal hygiene
! washing, for example, dishes
! laundry

 

[MidnightWizard]

Military Operations

I was wondering how the military took care of provision of water during large operations

Here is something from Desert Storm

https://www.gao.gov/assets/220/215060.pdf

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a545433.pdf

There is also Operation Overlord to look at as well

I wonder if anyone from the CoCT / DA have called in any REAL professionals to assist ( apart from the Tony Leon crowd [who I guess would use Israelis] )

IF it all goes -- wheels in the air -- they will have NO option but to call in the SANDF and much extra policing

Anyone know what security and contingency plans have been made for the EVAL day -- Armageddon

It feels like the script is being written day by day page by page ......

THREE days is the deadline for dehydration ........

Perhaps good title for the MOVIE
At least SA and the DA can lay claim to a WORLD first ....... ( something that will be remembered in history for ever )

 

[Willy Strong]

See you guys soon.

 

[PeterBee]

Can a bit of sea water not be added to potable water, without making it unsuitable for drinking, washing etc? I mean at what point does the salt content become a problem?

 

[yebocan]

I hear all the concerns, I am more worried about how this is going to effect the sewerage system!

 

[The_Ogre]

I hear all the concerns, I am more worried about how this is going to effect the sewerage system!

I'm also concerned with the fact that 90% of us work office hours. This is going to wreak havoc with starting/knock-off times

 

[Gunner182]

I'm also concerned with the fact that 90% of us work office hours. This is going to wreak havoc with starting/knock-off times

We were informed last year that if things get too drastic that we'll have to work from home. Luckily for me my parent's town doesn't have a shortage so this is probably where I'll end up for the time being.