Recycled water is more readily available than freshly sourced water. If systems can incorporate rainwater as well as treated wastewater, then this means access to a supply of water in no danger of running out.

Day zero. It sounds like the title of an apocalyptic horror movie. Yet these two words have a real world meaning referring to the water crisis currently threatening a number of the world’s cities. This year, Cape Town prepared itself for a “day zero” – a dreaded day when water reserves become so low that central water supplies are turned off and the resource of water becomes rationed. This has now been put back to 2019.