The Stream, January 21: Federal Fracking Regulations Revised by Interior Department

Revised federal rules will guide drilling for oil and gas on public lands. Interior Department officials announced the revision Friday, The New York Times reported, and said the updates will require chemical-use disclosures, methane-emissions control and drilling-wastewater management.

Wetlands Investment

China is effectively protecting its drinking water through forest, wetland and stream preservation. That according to a report focusing on projects that provide environmental-service payments, National Geographic reported—China has invested billions in its watersheds since 2011.

Around the world, countries invested more than $US 8 billion in watershed-protection projects last year. While China led the way, cities like New York City joined the investors, and Inter Press Service reported that New York alone has saved between four and six-billion dollars that it would have spent on wastewater treatment plants by protecting freshwater supply from wetlands.

Women in Rural Sri Lanka

In Sri Lankan villages, women are often the only water providers. So an Asian Development Bank proposal in 2006 focused primarily on women to bring safe drinking water to 900,000 people in north-central and eastern Sri Lanka.

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