Elissa

Most days I take for granted how much water our household uses. But recently, I have been reading about Cape Town’s Day Zero scenario on April 12 this year.

This is when the taps in Cape Town are expected to run dry and people are left without water. The city has been hit by three consecutive years of drought, its biggest reservoir – the Theewaterskloof Dam – has mostly evaporated or been sucked dry.

As from last Thursday residents will only be allowed to use 50 litres of water per person per day. Anyone exceeding the limit can expect major fines, possible jail time and a hefty dose of public shaming, as there is an online map that marks heavy water wasters.

The average Brit uses an estimated 200 litres a day.

Apparently, the rich are digging boreholes, more are panic-buying bottled water and the army is on standby in case of public unrest.

Thinking about how terrifying for many people it will be, when they could turn on the tap and nothing comes out, brought my thoughts closer to home.

Bahrain is listed among the top 10 countries that are likely to suffer from a water crisis in the next 20 years. Bahrain was ranked as one of the top five countries in the world to use the most water per square cm of land. Before 1925 water supply in Bahrain was dependent on natural freshwater springs but during the 1980s most of the springs stopped flowing and demand for water continued to increase leading to a shortage in water supply.

Today Bahrain relies on desalination plants and groundwater. However, desalination facilities consume huge amounts of fossil energy and release enormous quantities of CO2.

Perhaps we should all consider helping our environment by adopting some basic steps like turning off the water tap while brushing teeth and taking shorter showers.

For home owners, install efficient fixtures and appliances and fix those leaks. And, in the meantime, wish rain for Cape Town.