×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

South Africa's Cape Town moves back to August "Day Zero" forecast

by Reuters
Wednesday, 7 March 2018 13:45 GMT

Cape Town's taps may not run dry at all because August is in the middle of the rainy period

- South Africa's city of Cape Town said on Wednesday that if no rainfall comes then "Day Zero", when the taps are predicted to run dry, would be pushed back to 27 August from July 9, and that the bullet could be dodged completely this year.

"Provided we continue our current water savings efforts, Day Zero can be avoided completely this year," deputy mayor Ian Neilson said in a statement.

"The city now projects that, if there was to be no rainfall, Day Zero would arrive on 27 August 2018. As this date falls deep within the normal rainfall period, it is no longer appropriate to project the date without any consideration of rainfall," the statement said.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Ed Stoddard)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->