The Stream, March 11: Iran Lakes and Wetlands Disappearing

The Global Rundown

Iran’s fresh water supplies are dwindling, and rising seas are threatening the Marshall Islands and Kiribati. South Africa completed a feasibility study on a new desalination plant for Cape Town. Legislators in California heard testimony from state agencies that regulate oil wastewater, Des Moines voted to move ahead with its nitrate pollution lawsuit, and the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill to tackle nutrient pollution.

“I want the government to bring water back. If there is water, my life will change.”—Aziz Sabouri, resident of southeast Iran, on the country’s dwindling water resources that have dried up lakes and wetlands. Last year, per capita water availability fell to 1,900 cubic meters compared to 7,000 cubic meters in 1956. (Bloomberg)

By The Numbers

$1.3 billion Estimated cost of a new desalination plant planned for Cape Town, South Africa, that could produce 450 million liters of water each day. Bloomberg

Science, Studies, And Reports

State lawmakers in California expressed skepticism about state agencies’ ability to overhaul their regulation of oil field wastewater during an oversight hearing Tuesday. Recent reports have shown that some wastewater injection wells could contaminate water supplies. Los Angeles Times

A series of before and after photographs of the Marshall Islands and Kiribati document rising sea levels that have caused flooding and drinking water contamination in the Pacific. Guardian

On The Radar

Des Moines, Iowa, will move ahead with its lawsuit against surrounding counties to curb nitrate pollution in its drinking water supplies. The city’s Water Works Board voted to approve the lawsuit Tuesday. Radio Iowa

The Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed a version of a bill this week that will tackle nutrient pollution from fertilizer runoff, a major driver of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. Toledo Blade

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