Cape Town, a coastal South African city of about 4 million people, is about to run out of fresh water.

After three years of persistent drought, the government is warning that "Day Zero" — when it will be forced to turn off most faucets — will be May 11. That's when reservoirs and water sources are forecast to hit 13.5% capacity, at which point the city is expected to move most residents to a strict water-rationing system.

As Cape Town's reservoirs of fresh water get dangerously close to dry, locals are beginning to store water in jugs and fill up at spring-fed taps set up by local breweries. Those who can afford it are boring mini backyard wells to collect private water stashes, and some hotels are investing in pricey desalination plants to make ocean water drinkable.

Take a look at how people are dealing with the looming crisis: