Knysna, a popular South African tourist town, is close to running out of water, causing authorities to declare a state of disaster. The town, home to about 100,000 people, suffers from drought and leaking pipes that waste 55% of its clean water. Akkerkloof Dam, the main water source, now holds only 20 days of water reserves. Last October, a local retirement centre faced a 10-day water outage. Owner Franco de Grandis spent 250,000 rand to install backup tanks to prevent future crises. Charities like Gift of the Givers deliver water regularly in tankers to help those who can't afford private supplies. Mayor Thando Matika, who has been in office for 11 months, blames past neglect and lack of maintenance for the crisis. The national government has granted $1.25 million to fix boreholes, the desalination plant, and add a new borehole. Plans also include water recycling and building a new dam. Water use is now limited to 50 litres per person daily, much less than the UK average. Restrictions ban watering gardens and filling pools. Tourism heads warn that the term "day zero" may cause panic among visitors. Instead, they focus on water conservation messages. Experts believe many more South African towns will face water shortages as infrastructure weakens and climate change worsens. In nearby Khayalethu township, water shortages are a daily hardship. Residents like 60-year-old Khanyiswa Sewula carry water from municipal tankers due to irregular supply. This situation shows how South Africa struggles to provide basic water rights decades after apartheid. Follow more updates on water issues at BBCAfrica.