Cape Town 'Day Zero'
Behavioural Water-Crisis Management (South Africa)
Cape Town, South Africa
Highlight
Combined behaviour change, real-time data and pressure management to avoid a major city running out of water.
Extended description
During the 2015–2018 drought, Cape Town faced 'Day Zero', the risk of becoming the first major city to run out of water. Rather than relying only on new infrastructure, the city combined aggressive behaviour change, real-time data tools, transparent consumption targets and network pressure management to cut demand dramatically and avoid the shutoff. It is a landmark example of demand-side, behaviour-led climate adaptation under acute water stress.