Deep Dive
What percentage of the world's population experiences severe water scarcity at least part of the year?
Around half of the world's population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year.
Why has the water crisis in Karachi, Pakistan, worsened in recent years?
The water crisis in Karachi has worsened due to rising temperatures, poor infrastructure, and theft, leading to a 50% gap between water demand and supply.
How does Gloria Shirazi in Karachi manage her household water usage?
Gloria Shirazi stores water in large bottles and tanks, relying on government-supplied water every 15 days and purchasing additional water from tankers, which is expensive.
What changes did Gloria make to her cooking habits due to water shortages?
Gloria stopped preparing water-intensive dishes like biryani and switched to pasta, noodles, and pre-washed frozen vegetables to conserve water.
What was Cape Town's 'Day Zero' and how did the city avoid it?
Day Zero was when Cape Town was predicted to turn off the taps due to severe water shortages. The city avoided it thanks to rainfall in April 2018, which increased dam levels by 1%.
How did Cape Town's water restrictions impact daily life?
Cape Town residents were limited to 50 liters per person per day, restricted outdoor water use, and reused greywater for flushing toilets and other non-drinking purposes.
What measures did Cape Town implement to improve water management after the crisis?
Cape Town invested in stopping water leaks, exploring groundwater extraction, and removing alien trees to conserve water.
How does water rationing work in Bogotá, Colombia?
Bogotá divides the city into nine zones, with each zone having its water supply turned off for 24 hours on rotation due to low reservoir levels.
How do businesses in Bogotá adapt to water rationing?
Businesses like restaurants and cafes store water in tanks, use biodegradable packaging, and reduce menu options that require significant water, such as soups.
What is desalination and why is it challenging?
Desalination is the process of extracting pure water from seawater. It is challenging due to the energy required, the corrosive nature of salt, and the environmental impact of disposing of brine.
How does Alexei Levine's company make desalination more sustainable?
His company uses solar power to distill water, repurposes leftover salt into usable products, and avoids releasing toxic brine back into the environment.
What challenges do lower-income countries face in adopting desalination technology?
Lower-income countries often lack the financial support from organizations like the World Bank to underwrite desalination projects, even though they pay a premium for water.
- 40% of Karachi's population faces severe water scarcity.
- Water tankers provide a subsidized but expensive water supply.
- Residents adapt by changing their cooking habits, using less water for cleaning, and purchasing more expensive pre-washed foods.
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