The Stream, August 16: When Wells Run Dry

U.S. Drought Continues
The drought has literally hit home in the rural Midwestern United States, where some citizens are turning on their faucets to find their wells have dried up, The Associated Press reported.

The Missouri government will subsidize the drilling of new wells for more than 3,700 farmers and ranchers hit by extreme drought, according to NBCNews.com.

Water and Energy
China is planning to build 16 new coal bases by 2015, according to UPI. Greenpeace warns this will set off water crises in the nation’s northwest. The projects would use an amount of water equal to about one-sixth of the Yellow River’s annual water volume. For context, check out Circle of Blue‘s in-depth coverage of China’s water-energy confrontations.

A Brazilian federal court has ordered the suspension of construction work on the Amazon’s Belo Monte hydroelectric dam. The court said further consultations with indigenous people need to take place before work can resume. If completed, the dam is expected to flood a large area within the rainforest, the BBC reported.

International Development
The African Development Bank has allocated a $1 million grant to support projects that will build school latrines, roof water tanks, and other initiatives to minimize water conflict and the effects of drought, according to Bloomberg. The grant will help about 150,000 Kenyans.

The Asian Development Bank has released a report urging Asian cities to install “green” infrastructure to minimize future damage from natural disasters. The report projects that by 2025, 760 million people in Asia will be at risk of flooding, AlertNet reported.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is sponsoring a competition for the creation of a sustainable toilet. The winning invention could bring sanitation to the 2.5 billion people worldwide who do not have access to proper sanitation. Some participating scientists have even devised toilets that convert human waste into renewable energy, The Times of India reported.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.