The Stream, January 9: China Moves Forward With South-North Water Transfer Project

China has completed the tunnel under the Yellow River for the South-North Water Transfer Project, which will divert water from the Yangtze River Basin to thirsty cities and industries in the country’s North, Xinhua reported. Check out Circle of Blue’s photos from the construction site and more.

United States
The U.S. Department of the Interior is expected to announce a 20-year ban on uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, according to an environmental group monitoring the issue, Bloomberg reported.

The residents of a northeastern Pennsylvania village are up in arms over a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cancel fresh water deliveries to the area despite evidence of water contamination by a natural gas drilling operation, Associated Press reported.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case in which a couple from Idaho says EPA improperly ordered them to restore wetlands that the federal agency alleged they had illegally destroyed near Priest Lake, Huffington Post reported.

Australia
Toxic abandoned mines in Australia’s New South Wales require a massive clean-up, for which state budget funding is “substantially inadequate,” The Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing a new study.

How is the energy boom sucking up Australia’s, India’s and China’s diminishing fresh water resources?

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.