The Stream, December 23: Sinking Jakarta Raises Risk of Floods

The Global Rundown

Massive flood-prevention efforts are needed in Jakarta as the city sinks. Meanwhile, scientists are mapping the spread of the deadly dengue virus and the water vapor in Mars’ atmosphere. Two separate oil and natural gas companies face million-dollar fines or more for violating water regulations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The new Great Lakes Water Authority, tasked with revamping Detroit’s water system, held its first meeting.

“Jakarta is a bowl, and the bowl is sinking.”–Fook Chuan Eng, senior water and sanitation specialist at the World Bank, on efforts to keep the Indonesia capital from flooding. The city has sunk four meters in the past 30 years. (Reuters)

By The Numbers

$2.3 million Fine to be paid by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, for discharging sand, dirt and rocks into West Virginia waterways during the constructions of its shale drilling operations, violating the Clean Water Act. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

$999,900 Fine to be paid by Vantage Energy Inc, an oil and natural gas company, for violating state waste disposal and water regulations in Pennsylvania. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

Dengue, a deadly virus carried by mosquitoes, is expected to spread due to climate change, according to researchers from United Nations University have published the first world maps of areas vulnerable to dengue. Spread of the mosquitoes and the virus is driven by warming temperatures in Europe and South America, and poor water and sanitation in Central and West Africa. Reuters

Scientists from Russia, France and the United States have created a map of the water vapor present in Mars’ atmosphere. Daily News and Analysis

On The Radar

The Great Lakes Water Authority held its first meeting last week. The Authority is a new governing body including Detroit and three surrounding counties that was set up during the city’s bankruptcy to operate water and sewer services. Digital First Media

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek