The Stream, August 27: Water Versus Carbon

Technology
Desalination technologies are expanding as freshwater scarcity rivals carbon emissions as a major environmental hazard, and the industry is expected to be a $US 17 billion business within the next five years, according to Bloomberg.

A report by the International Water Management Institute has proposed low-cost, small-scale irrigation strategies for farms in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where drought is putting stress on food supply, AlertNet reported.

Sanitation
Tanzania’s government has launched a nationwide sanitation program designed to diminish the number of sanitation-related water-borne illnesses across the country, AllAfrica reported.

Oxfam International is planning to fly eight tons of water purification aid to Sierra Leone tomorrow to help combat the cholera crisis.

Rainfall
United States farmers are hoping Tropical Storm Isaac will counter the drought conditions they have been battling all summer, The Chicago Tribune reported.

The Indian government announced Friday that the nation’s reservoirs were only filled to 57 percent of capacity, which is 12 percent down from last year but equal to the 10-year average level. Conditions have improved, however, since late July, according to Reuters.

Heavy rains in the Southwest U.S. filled flood channels and flooded major roadways late last week, Associated Press reported.

Murray-Darling
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has warned he will not settle for a “second-best” plan for the Murray Darling River Basin. A lack of consensus among the eastern states remains, although proposals for the draft plan were due Monday, according to The Australian.

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.