Cape Town Water Cycle Model
Below you can find a series of maps and models that aim to explain the interaction between the different technologies, stakeholders, and encountered problems that are relevant to the water cycle of Cape Town.
In the top left corner of the diagram you can toggle between 4 different diagrams of the model. The first three tabs show a model of the Cape Town water cycle that incorporates the identified critical problems, involved stakeholders, proposed mitigation solutions, and their inter-relations along the 4 parts of the water cycle: Sources, distribution, usage, and wastewater management. The ‘Mapping phase’ tab (tab 1) describes the initial analysis of the critical problems in the water cycle . The ‘Mitigation phase’ tab (tab 2) addresses the critical problems with potential solutions and the proposed encompassing mitigation strategies. The ‘Integration phase’ tab (tab 3) shows the interconnection between the different mitigation group strategies. The final ‘Stakeholders map’ tab (tab 4) shows the overarching interrelations between relevant stakeholders in Cape Town and South Africa.
Black water is household wastewater that comes from toilets, and is therefore likely to contain pathogens [20]. Gray water comes from other household items, such as sinks and washing machines. Though less harmful than black water, gray water may still contain harmful chemicals and germs that affect human health [20]. Primary treated wastewater is sewage water that passes through large filters, such as metal bars, for the removal of contaminants [21]. Secondary treated wastewater “uses biological processes to catch the dissolved organic matter missed in primary treatment” [21].