Officials of South Africa's second-largest city, Cape Town, say it could run out of water on April 12, which they're calling Day Zero, when taps run dry.

The issue has prompted Cape Town residents to implore a number of conservation practices. In February, city officials instructed the city's nearly 4 million residents to use only 50 liters per day, the Associated Press
reported. According to CNN, residents have been encouraged to recycle bath water to flush toilets, use hand sanitizer and limit showers to 90 seconds. 

If Day Zero arrives, many residents would then have to go to collection points to receive 25 liters of water per day. However, the taps would still run in hospitals, schools and in poor areas to avoid the threat of disease although the poor already has limited water access, the Associated Press reported.

It's being called "Day Zero" — the day when the taps run dry. Officials in Cape Town, South Africa, say their city could face this challenge in less than three months https://t.co/kN7cNfrG0p
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But as CNN reported, some Cape Town officials reportedly believe all city residents haven't taken the necessary steps to adhere to city advisories. 

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille said Day Zero is "now very likely" in a press release issued last week.

"We have reached a point of no return," the statement read in part. "Despite our urging for months, 60 [percent] of Capetonians are callously using more than 87 litres per day. It is quite unbelievable that a majority of people do not seem to care and are sending all of us headlong towards Day Zero. At this point, we must assume that they will not change their behaviour and that the chance of reaching Day Zero on 21 April 2018 is now very likely."

It’s not amazing that one can use little water for so much. What amazed me when I went to the city was how much water was used. It was shocking to me.

City officials initially projected Day Zero as April 21, and scientists have suggested that an increase in Cape Town's population and man-made global warming could have contributed to extreme weather conditions and droughts. Day Zero is a dire situation that needs the world's attention.

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