Fears that taps could soon run dry in Knysna, a popular South African tourist town known for its turquoise waters, sandy beaches and mild...

Fears that taps could soon run dry in Knysna, a popular South African tourist town known for its turquoise waters, sandy beaches and mild climate, have led authorities to declare a local state of disaster. The prospect of reaching “day zero” — when municipal water supplies are switched off — is alarming for the roughly 100,000 people who live along the Garden Route, a 150km (93-mile) stretch of scenic coastal towns on South Africa’s southern coast. Knysna is the latest South African town to be gripped by a severe water crisis, driven by years of neglected infrastructure and increasingly erratic weather patterns. Beneath its picturesque exterior — and its reputation as a retirement haven for wealthier South...