Day Zero: How lack of water could have implications on your health

Stellenbosch University's Jo Barnes talks about some of the health challenges Capetonians will have to deal with beyond Day Zero.

Senior lecturer in Community Health at Stellenbosch University, Jo Barnes says there will definitely be health implications when Day Zero finally hits and the taps run dry.

Premeir Helen Zille had said that there is a plan in place from the Health Department when it comes to the Water crisis but Barnes says none of the citizens are aware of what those plans are.

She says she doesn't think for 25 litres per person it will be possible, over a long term, to keep households clean and safe from infections

This is going to be extremely difficult for homes with babies or frail old people as well as people with chronic diseases to survive on such little water.

Jo Barnes, Senior lecturer in Community Health at Stellenbosch University

What is going to happen is that the population will get very ill.

Jo Barnes, Senior lecturer in Community Health at Stellenbosch University

Barnes gives more suggestions on how to keep the collected water clean for longer. She says that some of the advises given on saving water, like how to keep your kitchen clean without water, are not hygienically good.

She also touched on some of the reasons the country is seeing an outbreak in Listeriosis.

To hear more of this conversation with Jo Barnes, listen below:

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