The Stream, August 30: More Crop Per Drop

A theme of food and water waste reduction, especially in agriculture, characterizes a large number of speeches and events as World Water Week in Stockholm continues, according to Environmental News Service.

Hurricane Isaac is not on track to hydrate drought-stricken areas in the Midwest, contrary to many farmers’ hopes. Instead, it may saturate and ruin crops that are already ready for harvest in other areas, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.

Summer monsoon rains in India are 14 percent below the long-term average. But Farm Secretary Ashish Bahuguna says the Indian monsoon is unlikely to be affected by El Niño conditions, according to Reuters.

Typhoons Tembin and Bolaven are battering North Korea, and the poor infrastructure and a deforested landscape are worsening the deluge. The storms follow weeks of flooding, increasing the already high need for humanitarian aid, The Associated Press reported.

As major river basins and aquifers run dry, economists are advising the establishment of new water pricing structures, such as a sliding scale, government management, and corporate offsets, according to National Geographic.

Tap water, rather than bottled, will be available at this January’s U.S. presidential inauguration ceremonies after the general manager of Washington’s water authority sent a letter to Congress with this request, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Guardian Environment editor John Vidal writes that the reason for water access and sanitation issues in Africa is because governments are not making them a priority. He cites a recent United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) survey in which 40 percent of leaders said that financial constraints are not the sole reason for limited improvement.

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.