Facing drought: The reality for these cities

The Indian city of Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is running dry. The tech metropolis is home to almost 14 million residents and countless major multinational companies, such as Infosys and Wipro. The city requires around 2 billion liters (528 million gallons) of water per day, but in recent weeks the supply has dropped to 50% of that. Thousands of people depend on groundwater from borewells to provide their homes with running water, but a poor monsoon season means that the borewells are almost dry.

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Bengaluru, India -

Residents have been advised to shower only on alternate days, limit washing of clothes, and use disposable utensils to avoid washing up. Water tankers visit the neighborhoods of Bengaluru once every two weeks, forcing hundreds of people to line up with buckets to take home whatever small amount they can carry. The tankers are provided by private companies who charge for the service and increase the prices when demand is high.

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Bengaluru, India -

One family of four told CNN that they used to spend US$70 – 95 on water bills each month, but many residents in the city are now forced to spend half their income on it just to survive. Experts say the water crisis is an inevitable consequence of the city's rapid growth given that the expansion wasn't well planned, and climate change is a major factor contributing to water levels dropping in rivers and wells.

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Mexico City, Mexico -

Mexico City has been in the news as the Cutzamala water system (a network of canals, reservoirs, pumping stations, and dams) reaches historical lows at around 39% of capacity.

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Mexico City, Mexico -

Some estimates point that, without significant rain, the city will not be able to provide its citizens with water by the end of June.

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Mexico City, Mexico -

Mexico City’s mayor, Martí Batres Guadarrama, has dismissed this as “fake news,” but water scarcity is currently a very real threat for the population.

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London, England -

London may run out of water in the next 25 years or so. According to Thames Water, a severe loss of water in the capital could cost the city’s economy approximately £330 million per day.

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London, England -

Rainfall is not abundant, with an average of 620 millimeters a year. Groundwater, therefore, needs to be extracted to quench London's growing population’s thirst.

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Harare, Zimbabwe -

Harare has witnessed severe droughts over the years. The city receives water from four main dams, but those dams are running dry.

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Harare, Zimbabwe -

The country faces several economic challenges, which prevent authorities from investing in water treatment plants and facilities. Cities like Harare may run out of water in just a few years.

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Cape Town, South Africa -

Cape Town is no stranger to water shortages. Back in 2018, things got so bad that household water use was limited to 50 liters per day.

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Cape Town, South Africa -

It’s predicted that by 2100 rising temperatures will reduce surface water supplies by 20%.

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Phoenix, United States of America -

The desert city gets its water mainly from the Colorado River through pipes. Droughts are common, and groundwater sources are used exhaustively until they run dry.

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Phoenix, United States of America -

With climate change, it’s estimated that the Colorado River’s water flow will decrease by 35-50%.

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New Delhi, India -

New Delhi has been struggling with water scarcity for years. With temperatures rising and waterfall levels dropping, together with an increasing population, it’s easy to see where this Indian city may be heading.

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New Delhi, India -

In addition to drought, water production at treatment plants is also affected by high levels of pollutants found in river waters.

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Beijing, China -

In 2002, the Chinese government built a system of canals to transport water from rivers to cities. But even so, Beijing is still struggling with water scarcity.

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Beijing, China -

Overuse of water for agriculture, as well as climate change affecting the rivers, all contributes to how much water the city will be able to get, and for how long.

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São Paulo, Brazil -

The city has suffered major water shortages. In 2015, for instance, São Paulo’s residents faced only 22 days remaining of running water.

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São Paulo, Brazil -

Today, things are not much better. Climate change, a growing population, and mass planting of eucalyptus trees in surrounding areas all contribute to water scarcity in the city.

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Cairo, Egypt -

For thousands of years, Cairo has relied on the Nile River for water. As consumption exceeded the river’s supply, groundwater became an alternative.

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Cairo, Egypt -

Increased human demand, raising temperatures, and rainfall decline during the wet season contribute to the problem.

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Kabul, Afghanistan -

Prolonged droughts are fairly common in the country, affecting both food and water supplies. In the capital, the problem is exacerbated by the large population.

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Kabul, Afghanistan -

In addition, both surface and groundwater sources are polluted. It’s estimated that about 85% of Kabul’s population relies on polluted wells to get water.

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Sydney, Australia -

Droughts, irregular rainfall, and rising temperatures all contributed to water scarcity in Sydney.

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Sydney, Australia -

In 2021, the New South Wales government developed a “20-year, state-wide strategy to improve the security, reliability and quality of the state’s water resources over the coming decades.”

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Montevideo, Uruguay) -

Much of Santa Lucía River dried up due to severe drought. This allowed for salty water from the Río de la Plata to move into the dried-up riverbed.

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Montevideo, Uruguay -

The freshwater from Santa Lucía River became contaminated, and Montevideo’s water purification plant doesn’t have the technology to treat this salty water, so it's pretty much undrinkable.

Sources: (CNN) (The New York Times) (Reuters) (Sigma Earth) (United Nations) (NSW Government)

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Bengaluru, India -

Getty Images

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Bengaluru, India -

Getty Images

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Bengaluru, India -

Getty Images

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Mexico City, Mexico -

Mexico City has been in the news as the Cutzamala water system (a network of canals, reservoirs, pumping stations, and dams) reaches historical lows at around 39% of capacity.

Reuters

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Mexico City, Mexico -

Some estimates point that, without significant rain, the city will not be able to provide its citizens with water by the end of June.

Shutterstock

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Mexico City, Mexico -

Mexico City’s mayor, Martí Batres Guadarrama, has dismissed this as “fake news,” but water scarcity is currently a very real threat for the population.

iStock

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London, England -

London may run out of water in the next 25 years or so. According to Thames Water, a severe loss of water in the capital could cost the city’s economy approximately £330 million per day.

Shutterstock

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London, England -

Rainfall is not abundant, with an average of 620 millimeters a year. Groundwater, therefore, needs to be extracted to quench London's growing population’s thirst.

Shutterstock

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Harare, Zimbabwe -

Harare has witnessed severe droughts over the years. The city receives water from four main dams, but those dams are running dry.

Shutterstock

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Harare, Zimbabwe -

The country faces several economic challenges, which prevent authorities from investing in water treatment plants and facilities. Cities like Harare may run out of water in just a few years.

Shutterstock

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Cape Town, South Africa -

Cape Town is no stranger to water shortages. Back in 2018, things got so bad that household water use was limited to 50 liters per day.

Reuters

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Cape Town, South Africa -

It’s predicted that by 2100 rising temperatures will reduce surface water supplies by 20%.

Getty Images

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Phoenix, United States of America -

The desert city gets its water mainly from the Colorado River through pipes. Droughts are common, and groundwater sources are used exhaustively until they run dry.

Shutterstock

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Phoenix, United States of America -

With climate change, it’s estimated that the Colorado River’s water flow will decrease by 35-50%.

Shutterstock

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New Delhi, India -

Shutterstock

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New Delhi, India -

In addition to drought, water production at treatment plants is also affected by high levels of pollutants found in river waters.

Reuters

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Beijing, China -

In 2002, the Chinese government built a system of canals to transport water from rivers to cities. But even so, Beijing is still struggling with water scarcity.

Shutterstock

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Beijing, China -

Overuse of water for agriculture, as well as climate change affecting the rivers, all contributes to how much water the city will be able to get, and for how long.

Reuters

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São Paulo, Brazil -

The city has suffered major water shortages. In 2015, for instance, São Paulo’s residents faced only 22 days remaining of running water.

Reuters

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São Paulo, Brazil -

Today, things are not much better. Climate change, a growing population, and mass planting of eucalyptus trees in surrounding areas all contribute to water scarcity in the city.

Reuters

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Cairo, Egypt -

For thousands of years, Cairo has relied on the Nile River for water. As consumption exceeded the river’s supply, groundwater became an alternative.

Shutterstock

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Cairo, Egypt -

Increased human demand, raising temperatures, and rainfall decline during the wet season contribute to the problem.

Shutterstock

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Kabul, Afghanistan -

Prolonged droughts are fairly common in the country, affecting both food and water supplies. In the capital, the problem is exacerbated by the large population.

Shutterstock

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Kabul, Afghanistan -

In addition, both surface and groundwater sources are polluted. It’s estimated that about 85% of Kabul’s population relies on polluted wells to get water.

Shutterstock

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Sydney, Australia -

Droughts, irregular rainfall, and rising temperatures all contributed to water scarcity in Sydney.

Shutterstock

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Sydney, Australia -

In 2021, the New South Wales government developed a “20-year, state-wide strategy to improve the security, reliability and quality of the state’s water resources over the coming decades.”

Shutterstock

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Montevideo, Uruguay) -

Much of Santa Lucía River dried up due to severe drought. This allowed for salty water from the Río de la Plata to move into the dried-up riverbed.

Shutterstock

27 / 29 Fotos

Montevideo, Uruguay -

The freshwater from Santa Lucía River became contaminated, and Montevideo’s water purification plant doesn’t have the technology to treat this salty water, so it's pretty much undrinkable.

Sources: (CNN) (The New York Times) (Reuters) (Sigma Earth) (United Nations) (NSW Government)

Shutterstock

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Facing drought: The reality for these cities

Will your city be next?

14/11/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Resources

Water scarcity is a problem many of us associate with countries typically hit by drought. But as populations grow, temperatures rise, and water demand increases, water supplies start to get depleted, even in places where this was not necessarily a problem historically.

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2023 says that one in four people lacks access to clean water. As time goes by, more and more major cities begin to face serious water shortages. For instance, Mexico City has been recently in the news as one of the big cities that may run out of water soon. But what other cities are at risk? Click on to find out.