South Africa Faces Looming Water Crisis, Star Says

South Africans use 235 liters (62 gallons) of water a day compared with the international average of 173 liters, and this is pushing the country into a water crisis, the Johannesburg-based Star newspaper reported, citing an Institute for Security Studies report.

Jakkie Cilliers, co-author of the report entitled “Parched Prospects: The Emerging Water Crisis in South Africa,” said 60 percent of the 223 river ecosystems are threatened and 25 percent are critical.