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I'm currently in Brisbane, and arrived here while the big drought was still in progress (around 2008). Numerous restrictions, legislation for water saving meas

I'm currently in Brisbane, and arrived here while the big drought was still in progress (around 2008). Numerous restrictions, legislation for water saving measures, desal plants, etc were being implemented at the time, with pretty astounding results in terms of average water consumption. The drought broke in January 2011, and it's a little sad to see how much that was learnt, has been forgotten in the last 7 years. Desal plants all but mothballed, average consumption gone up (almost double the drought levels again), etc. I really hope the drought in Cape Town breaks soon (I have many friends there), but I hope they don't unlearn the lessons, and kill infrastructure when it does. Interestingly, late last year, it was pointed out by the authorities that the dams are at warning (pre restriction) levels again here, so I dare say we will see it all again.

mikro2nd 9y ago
Very unlikely that the Cape Town drought will break any time soon. The city is in a Winter rainfall region, so there's little chance of significant rains before May or June, and even then -- and assuming that rainfall returns to something resembling "normal" -- it will take several years for dams to fully restock. A single rainy season ain't gonna do it (unless there're some pretty catastrophic rains. ;)
- nevi-me 9y ago
  Which is sad, and shows the reality of climate change. In Joburg we've had a few "100 year" floods in a year, so much water pouring down that we're forgetting that we had a drought last year.
- tonteldoos 9y ago
  Very fair point, although I didn't imply that it might break this year. Whenever it breaks though, I hope the usage remains low, just in case such an event reccurs.
danmaz74 9y ago
Doesn't it make total sense to mothball the desal when you don't need it? Pity about water consumption though.
- tonteldoos 9y ago
  The desal plants need to be kept running (at least ticking over), otherwise it deteriorates to the point where large parts need to be replaced/fixed again where needed, afaik. I may be wrong that the Gold Coast one is mothballed, but there were also issues about how it was funded, which means it's facing funding problems now when the drought is gone.

mikro2nd 9y ago

Very unlikely that the Cape Town drought will break any time soon. The city is in a Winter rainfall region, so there's little chance of significant rains before May or June, and even then -- and assuming that rainfall returns to something resembling "normal" -- it will take several years for dams to fully restock. A single rainy season ain't gonna do it (unless there're some pretty catastrophic rains. ;)

nevi-me 9y ago
Which is sad, and shows the reality of climate change. In Joburg we've had a few "100 year" floods in a year, so much water pouring down that we're forgetting that we had a drought last year.
tonteldoos 9y ago
Very fair point, although I didn't imply that it might break this year. Whenever it breaks though, I hope the usage remains low, just in case such an event reccurs.

danmaz74 9y ago

Doesn't it make total sense to mothball the desal when you don't need it? Pity about water consumption though.

tonteldoos 9y ago
The desal plants need to be kept running (at least ticking over), otherwise it deteriorates to the point where large parts need to be replaced/fixed again where needed, afaik. I may be wrong that the Gold Coast one is mothballed, but there were also issues about how it was funded, which means it's facing funding problems now when the drought is gone.