Chapter 10 - Water crisis and possible CRs in South and West Africa

Abstract

This chapter explores how to quench thirst in south and west Africa. In 2018, Cape Town became the first large city in the world with the “Day Zero” water crisis, i.e., the tap water runs dry. In the future, more and more cities in this region will have the same phenomena. A close look of the runoff data in Cape Town shows that the city is not running out of water, but water is running out of its rivers. By developing 5700GL/year of runoff from Orange River, the Namibia, and S. Africa's west beach could be nourished. Likewise, by developing the runoff from Senegal River, the water up to 22,000GL/year can thrive the north Atlantic coast. Other places along the Atlantic coast are wetter compared to these two extreme ends, a coastal economic corridor can be developed if the runoff lost to the sea is managed in a smart way.