The eucalyptus tree grows widely in Kenya, and rumours of the non-native tree’s remarkable thirst are nearly as rife. In a water-scarce country this raises concern, but is the gumtree’s reputation accurate?
Tag: water
#WorldWaterDay: 10 facts – some surprising – about Africa’s water
How many people in the region don’t have safe water? Do Cape Town residents use it mainly for their pools and gardens? Do well-off Nairobians pay less for their water?
ANC at 107: Eight birthday claims by party leader Ramaphosa fact-checked
Claims
Eight claims from the ANC’s 2019 "January 8th statement"
Source: ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa
checked
Verdict
Three correct, two mostly correct, one incorrect, two misleading
No, Kenya’s capital Nairobi doesn’t rake in KSh10bn a year from Murang’a water
Claim
Nairobi makes KSh10 billion from Murang’a county water every year.
Source: Murang’a county governor Mwangi wa Iria (October 2018)
incorrect
Verdict
Nairobi earned KSh5.1 billion from sale of water in 2016/17 - and not all from Murang'a.
Do 80% of Nigerians lack safe drinking water? It’s worse than that
Claim
Close to 80% of Nigerians lack potable water.
Source: Journalist Dele Sobowale (May 2018)
downplayed
Verdict
90.8% of Nigerians’ household drinking water contaminated by E coli bacteria.
Does South Africa guzzle 235 litres of water per person daily?
Claims
Two claims on South Africa's water consumption
Source: South African Local Government Association president (SALGA) Parks Tau
checked
Verdict
Ratings of mostly correct and unproven
checked
Nairobi’s water supply: 2 claims about losses & high prices in slums evaluated
Is nearly half of capital city’s water lost and do inhabitants of slums pay much more for water than those in swanky apartments? We judged two of governor Mike Sonko’s claims about Nairobi’s water supply
checked
#5facts: Water in South Africa
While it pours with rain in Johannesburg, Cape Town residents are worried about the taps running dry. We look at 5 facts about water in South Africa
correct
Yes, SA has less water per person than Botswana & Namibia
It sounds implausible that South Africa would have less water available per resident than its neighbours Botswana and Namibia, home of the Kalahari and Namib deserts. But the claim checks out.
checked
Do formal residents use 65% of Cape Town’s water, with half going to gardens & pools?
The City of Cape Town municipality is battling to bring down water use during a protracted drought. Are residents in formal housing the biggest culprits?