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Invest in wetlands to combat climate change
Wetlands don’t always come to mind other than on February 2nd, when we celebrate World Wetlands Day, and people probably don’t realise their worth, but Canada’s CBC Radio show What…
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Texas storm aftermath: a case for investing in resilience of critical infrastructure
Almost 8 million Texans still had problems with their water supply as of last Monday as a result of a winter storm that caused widespread power losses, reported Reuters. According to Governor Greg Abbott, about 3.5 million bottles of water were distributed across the state. Even after power was restored, people were advised to boil water […]
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The SDGs in the wake of the pandemic: getting back on track
Every year since 2016, the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report reviews the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, the report also looks at the initial impacts of the pandemic.
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The global pandemic threatens efforts to end water poverty by 2030
Human rights advocates warn that we are far from achieving UN Sustainable development Goal 6, access to water and sanitation for all, and the global health pandemic is making things worse, hindering efforts to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) worldwide, informs The Telegraph. The COVID-19 pandemic, together with the latest cholera and Ebola outbreaks […]
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The world is at a greater risk from coronavirus due to poor water infrastructure
Water infrastructure has been suffering from inadequate funding for decades; as a result many countries are at increased risk during this coronavirus crisis due to inadequate access to water and sanitation, reports The Guardian. Handwashing is the first measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but 75% of homes in developing countries do not […]
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Women in the water sector: barriers to gender diversity
Water and sanitation companies must become more productive and efficient to meet the challenges ahead, as pressures on water resources increase in the face of rapid urbanisation and climate change. New approaches, technologies and solutions are needed to move away from business as usual: this is where employee diversity can provide fresh perspectives to help […]
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After a disastrous flood, more hazards: what is in floodwater?
Besides the obvious damage caused by water, floods can also prove dangerous even after the water starts to retreat. Floodwater can be polluted with sewage and chemicals. Moreover, standing water can hide other dangers: sharp objects, animal carcasses, open manholes and electrical hazards. A BBC article points out some of the infectious diseases and other […]
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This is what the Earth would look like if the oceans dried up
A new video by the NASA shows what our planet would look like if the oceans dried up, reports Forbes. In 2008 Dr. Horace Mitchell, from NASA, made an animated video where the three-fifths of the globe’s surface that are covered by the ocean could be seen. Now Dr. James O’Donoghue, a scientist in Japan’s […]
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Singapore prepares a US$72 billion plan to survive in an extreme global warming scenario
Countries all over the world are having a tough time to comply with the objectives of the Paris agreement, that is, limit global temperature rise to 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels and sea level rise to 0.5 meters. Meanwhile, Singapore is planning ahead. Both a country and a city, this island nation about half the size […]
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The domestic water demand increased more than 600% in 50 years
The World Resources Institute (WRI) has analysed new data from its Aqueduct platform, showing that the domestic water demand rose 600% between 1960 and 2014, while water withdrawals by other sectors increased at a slower rate. Agriculture and industry are the largest water users, with 70% and 19% of the total water use, respectively. Agriculture has […]
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Global water crises could end at a cost of 1% of GDP
A new publication by the World Resources Institute, Achieving Abundance: Understanding the Cost of a Sustainable Water Future, shows that delivering sustainable water management to solve the world’s water crises could cost less than we may think, in fact, slightly over 1% of the global GDP annually (about $1.04 trillion) until 2030. The WRI stresses that ‘The solutions […]
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Water recycling will be required in all schools run by the government of Delhi
Delhi’s government has proposed mandatory zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in the schools it runs, reports the Hindustan Times. The purpose of this measure is to save water in school compounds: reusing reclaimed water will reduce freshwater consumption. The proposal was approved earlier this month and is expected to be notified before the month ends. […]
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High methane emissions reported from mangrove forests killed by climate change
Mangrove biomes are able to remove CO2 from the atmosphere into long-term storage more so than other types of vegetation cover, making them some of the best carbon scrubbers. These forests thrive in muddy and saline environments in tropical coasts, such as those of northern Australia. Their litter decomposes slowly because they are flooded at […]
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Ageing sewers and climate change behind flash floods in Washington
Last Monday a month’s worth of rain fell on Washington DC flooding streets, basements and any low-laying areas, reported The New York Times. Washington’s weather station at Reagan International Airport recorded 3.44 inches on July 8th, an amount that overwhelmed the capital city’s storm sewer system. Most it was built almost one century ago (the average […]
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What is happening with India’s drinking water?
This week a new article in India Today analyses water issues in India focusing on drinking water, and examining local problems, such as drinking water waste due to the use of water purifiers attached to taps in homes, and inefficient use by the bottled water and soft drink industries, as well as global solutions, such […]
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Rains in the American Midwest prevent planting popcorn
This winter we might have to pay a higher price for popcorn when we watch a film. The supply of this tasty snack may be lower than usual because popcorn growers in the Midwestern United States could not plant as early as they wished to, due to persistent rains this past spring, reports United Press […]
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From flood-prone to running out of water: Chennai’s water crisis
In 2015 severe flooding devastated the city of Chennai, killing hundreds of people. This month, the city faces a water crisis as its reservoirs are nearly dry. The crisis was brought on not just due to lack of water, but to lack of proper management, according to an analysis by the Water Resources institute (WRI). […]
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5 ways to reduce the water footprint of our food
When we think about our water footprint, we think about the amount of water we use to drink, wash, cook, do laundry, etc. But the food we eat accounts for a much higher water use than what we drink or use daily in our homes. An average person drinks 2-4 litres of water every day, […]
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Sinkholes continue to appear in Turkey due to groundwater overdraft
Overuse of groundwater for irrigation purposes in the Konya Plain, an important wheat producing area in the central Turkish province by the same name, has caused sinkholes to appear in recent years, informs the Turkish journal Daily Sabah. Some 330 sinkholes have appeared so far, and although there are no casualties to regret, a portion […]
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Iran’s water crisis: drought, floods and poor management
A recent analysis by Geopolitical Futures looks at Iran’s water crisis: persistent drought, poor management and extreme weather patterns, compounded by the effects of international sanctions, paint a bleak outlook for the country’s water resources, while possible solutions are discussed. How did water problems arise? Iran, a mostly arid country with scant water resources, has […]
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