Water Inequality Fuels Urban Water Shortages While Elites Indulge

A new study finds that while lower-income city residents responsibly conserve water, wealthy residents excessively consume city water supplies for amenities and landscaping.
In Cape Town, the richest 14% of residents use over half the city’s water despite being a small minority of the population.
During crises like Cape Town’s “Day Zero,” the poor suffer disproportionately despite using far less water in normal times.
As urban populations grow, cities must curb elite overconsumption to ensure fair and sustainable water access for all residents.