The Stream, August 23: The Struggle for Safe Drinking Water

This photo slideshow demonstrates the effects of coal extraction on water, vegetation and lifestyles in northwest China. A recent report from Greenpeace speaks out against the expansion of coal bases in the region, according to the Guardian.

Safe Drinking Water
Algal blooms are spreading in South Korean rivers. Although the cause of the blooms is up for debate, residents of metropolitan Seoul have been advised to boil all tap water before drinking it, Nature reported.

As the cholera epidemic in West Africa grows worse, UNICEF representatives say “sanitation is never given the priority it deserves,” according to The New York Times.

In Namibia, however, access to safe drinking water has doubled in the last 21 years, according to statistics released by the European Union Delegation’s Attaché for Rural Development. Internationally and domestically funded WASH programs are responsible, New Era reported.

Weather
Taiwan is preparing for heavy rainfall and strong winds as typhoons Tembin and Bolaven approach. These storms follow typhoon Saola, which induced landslides and flooding that killed five people earlier this month, according to AlertNet.

Despite the forecast for other Pacific nations, Australia is unlikely to suffer from impending El Niño conditions. The weather pattern could in fact benefit sugar growers in the long run, Reuters reported.

These juxtaposed images from NASA’s Earth Observatory illustrate how the Mississippi River has trickled down to a historically low level over the past 12 months.

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.