Evaluating changes in groundwater storage during the 2015-2018 drought in the Western Cape using GRACE data
The frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts are increasing globally, putting severe pressure on water supply systems worldwide. The Western Cape Province suffered from a period of severe water shortages that began around January 2015 and lasted until about July 2018. During this recent drought, there was a forced reduction in water use, predominantly from the agricultural sector. Citizens also reduced water use and increasingly tapped into groundwater for their needs irrespective of whether the hydrogeology was considered favourable or not.