If you lived in Cape Town, what would you do?

Question

As soon as THIS April, Cape Town will face what they are calling day zero. That’s when the dams and reservoirs that provide water to the city will reach such low levels that water service to city residents will be shut off. People will have to stand in line at guarded taps to pick up allotments of water. 
If you’ve never been there, Cape Town is a beautiful metropolitan city in South Africa.  Many wealthy people live there, but there are also many poor and unemployed people living in townships.
Here’s my question- if you lived in Cape Town right now, and you had the means to leave, would you leave everything behind and move? (I know a lot of people aren’t going to have the resources to just leave.)
There are some screenshots from one of many articles below if you are curious about the details.

Answer

I mean if I could I would move, but I think people need to learn from this, not them, but like they’ve used America a few times as examples, it’s clear water wastage is a big issue in many countries and especially in privileged places, people take little to no notice of it. Instead of simply saying “I would move” maybe we should take note that this could become the future for many many more places if we don’t change, and one day you want be able to just move.

Answer

I would totally pack up and move my family out of there.

Answer

If I could, I would move. I would be worried about increased crime, and a breakdown of society with a major shortage of water.

Answer

I would move. I wouldn’t be able to trust that the government could adequately provide water at distribution locations. I would worry about safety and increasing crime as people became more desperate. Water isn’t something you can just do without.

Answer

The whole time I’m just thinking how sad it is we’re milking the earth dry... but that’s just me.

Answer

My dad was born in Cape Town (his parents moved to Canada for work when he was a kid) and he still has a lot of family in South Africa. His aunt and uncle have lived in Cape Town their whole lives and have put a lot of effort into the city and country. They retired over a decade ago and are still highly involved in the education system. Now they’re leaving the city. It’s really heart breaking for our family, but they aren’t healthy enough to have to stand in line for water pumps and if this gets worse they don’t know how they’ll fair due to various health conditions. 
So they’re moving to Canada to be with my great aunt’s sister for now until they can get settled somewhere. It’s a huge move to be making at their age and they’re leaving a lot behind. But it’s the safer and healthier option for them. Personally, I’d have made the same choice. Water is a necessity for life and if something were to happen to those water pumps it would be devastating for the people still living in Cape Town. It’s such a horrible situation because Cape Town truly is a beautiful city and this is going to really hurt the people there.

Answer

this is the closest south Africa has ever come to being without water but it's a threat every year. hopefully the rainy season starts earlier than it's usual may. I've read a few articles about how the next refugee crisis is likely to be due to climate like this rather than to violence. I fear there are going to be many more stories like this soon.

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Was there briefly in 2004 and loved it so much that if I was to move back to Africa I would settle in Cape Town. But with this new water issue uhmm I don’t know.

Answer

As a South African, I would rather stay in Cape Town. First of all, they'll only hit Day Zero if people don't stick to the water restrictions. Secondly, I'm sorry but the other provinces don't have the capacity/ jobs to house however many people decide to up and leave. Thirdly, there are many individuals, companies and organisations who have collected tons of water to send to Cape Town (my company included).

Answer

I think more people need to watch Blue Gold: Water Wars. I believe its on vimeo, last I knew. 
Water shortages are becoming a very real situation for many metropolitan areas, and a crisis map detailing areas in the United States most affected by water shortages has been created, forcasting potential places of civil unrest due to shortages in water supplies. L.A. and Denver were very red with the highest chances of civil unrest caused by a shortage of water. 
Less than 1% of our fresh water sources are unpolluted, and earth only had 3-4% fresh water in the first place De-salinization is extremely costly. 
Places like Las Vegas shouldn't exist, and I camt believe that corporations are able to privatize our clean water sources and either waste them with fanciful waterfalls or ship them halfway across the world, bottled and expensive. 
The way many human civilizations treat water is scary. Water is sacred, it gives us health and life, and we treat it like its always going to be there. 
For people who live in places like Cape Town, many cannot afford to just up amd move, and that many people displaced due to a loss of an important resources can cause strain on other environments due to population increase when they move. 
Its hard for me to say if I'd move or not. I live somewhere where it was abundant with water, but this was the driest winter we have every had and I'm worried about how much longer this place will continue to be a rain forest. I can't afford to just move right now, but its a life or death situation if we don't. 
So many aspects of the human life needs water, and I conserve when and where I can but when climates change all that conservation has done me little. 
I feel for those people, and I hope the best for their future.

If you lived in Cape Town, what would you do?

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