The Health and Safety team at Arcadia University is closely monitoring the ongoing water crisis in Cape Town, South Africa. At present, the situation does not pose any significant risk to student health or wellness, and we do not expect it will impact students’ ability to succeed while abroad.
The general water shortage in the region follows three years of below-average rainfall; the reservoirs that provide the city’s water supply are nearly empty. In response to the drought, Cape Town municipal authorities are exploring alternative sources of water and requiring households to take every measure to conserve water.
City officials are tracking the dam levels and the impact of water conservation methods and currently predict “Day Zero,” when public taps will be turned off, to be June 4, 2018.
Our programs are continuing as normal, and we are working with university and housing partners on the ground to ensure students will have access to sufficient water while in Cape Town, even if “Day Zero” arrives.
Water is available, and students currently studying with Arcadia in Cape Town are actively supporting the community by conserving water in various ways: short showers, reusing “grey water” to flush toilets, relying on bottled water for drinking and being efficient with laundry water usage. Our students’ understanding, resilience and positive attitude are shining through and everyone is contributing in every way they can.
We will continue to review and update our contingency plans regularly to ensure we are prioritizing student safety, as always. We encourage prospective students, parents, and colleagues with questions or concerns to contact any member of our Health and Safety team.