The recent drought and water shortages in the Western Cape have highlighted the importance of water in our lives and the need to secure its supply. Other provinces have also faced problems of drought and water shortages as well as poor water management with water supplies being unfit for human consumption due to pollution and poor maintenance. However, these water supply problems are experienced all over the world and it is even predicted that wars will be fought over access to water. But how have these problems of water supply impacted on working class people?