The Role of Wealthy Individuals in Urban Water Scarcity

Rich elites' excessive use of limited water resources for nonessential activities like private swimming pools, irrigating gardens, and washing cars could trigger urban water crises, according to a study published in the journal Nature Sustainability. The study focused on Cape Town, South Africa, and found that the wealthiest groups were responsible for over half of the city's water consumption, despite representing less than 15% of the population. The study's authors said their findings were relevant to other cities with high inequality and that policies addressing inequality and consumption imbalances were needed to avert future water crises.