Cape Town, a city of 4 million people, is less than 3 months away from running out of water.
Residents have been told they can use no more than 13.2 gallons of drinking water per day in an effort to avoid “Day Zero,” the day it must shut off its taps. The average American uses an estimated 80 gallons of water per day.
Based on current projections, “Day Zero” is forecast for April 12. That would make Cape Town the world’s first major city to run dry. If that day does come, people would have to go to guarded collection points for a daily ration of 6.6 gallons.
But even with the shutoff looming, officials say 60% of people are still not complying with the current restrictions. “We’re at the point of no return,” one resident says.