South Africa’s Western Cape region declares drought disaster

May 23, 2017

South Africa’s Western Cape region declares drought disaster

Matt Bracken 0 Comment The Baltimore Sun Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa’s Western Cape region, which includes Cape Town, declared a drought disaster May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years.

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108km from Cape Town. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. The Western Cape Province, which includes Cape Town is suffering from one of the worst water shortages in living memory. This has necessitated the Cape Town City Council to establish stringent water usage restrictions, and unless unexpectedly heavy rains fall soon, the province will begin a cycle of drought. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A truck crosses a bridge at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, on May 10, 2017, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town, as previous high water marks are visible on the pylons. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows dry cracked mud staring out at the sky at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: People queue up to collect drinking water from taps that are fed by a spring in Newlands on May 15, 2017, in Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand exposed to the sky at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108 km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows a dried out fish lying on the sand at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: People queue up to collect drinking water from taps that are fed by a spring in Newlands on May 15, 2017, in Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: People queue up to collect drinking water from taps that are fed by a spring in Newlands on May 15, 2017, in Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows a boat lying on the sand at the Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108 km from Cape Town. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. The Western Cape Province, which includes Cape Town is suffering from one of the worst water shortages in living memory. This has necessitated the Cape Town City Council to establish stringent water usage restrictions, and unless unexpectedly heavy rains fall soon, the province will begin a cycle of drought. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows what is left of a narrow body of water at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. The Western Cape Province, which includes Cape Town is suffering from one of the worst water shortages in living memory. This has necessitated the Cape Town City Council to establish stringent water usage restrictions, and unless unexpectedly heavy rains fall soon, the province will begin a cycle of drought. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows boat moorings lying on the sand at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man collects drinking water from taps that are fed by a spring in Newlands on May 15, 2017, in Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and a narrow body of water facing the sky at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: A picture taken on May 10, 2017 shows bare sand and small bushes staring out at the sky at Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

: Lisa Wheeler, secretary of the Theewaterskloof Sports Club, shows where the high water mark of the dam is, which has less than 20% of it’s water capacity, on May 10, 2017, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. South Africa’s Western Cape region which includes Cape Town declared a drought disaster on May 22 as the province battled its worst water shortages for 113 years. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it’s usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not usable, due to the silt content. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)

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