The Stream, July 20: Saving The Jordan River and The Dead Sea

Middle East
Israel’s government plans to return 150 billion cubic meters of water to the ailing Jordan River each year, banking on a new surplus of water created by large investments in infrastructure and desalination, Reuters reported.

Yale Environment 360 analyzes a $US 10 billion plan to transfer water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, where water levels are dropping more than one meter (3.3 feet) each year.

China
The average per capita carbon footprint in China has reached 7.2 metric tons, nearly as much as the 7.5 metric tons per capita in the European Union, according to a new study released by PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, the Guardian reported. Average per capita emissions in the United States are 17.3 metric tons.

Heavy rainstorms in China’s Hunan province this week affected 2.3 million people, pushed reservoir levels to the brink, and brought 236.5 millimeters (9.3 inches) of rain to one town, Xinhua reported.

North America
Canada Wednesday announced new regulations meant to improve effluent control and treatment before wastewater is released into rivers and lakes, Bloomberg News reported. The government placed the price tag for required municipal upgrades at $US 4.96 billion.

A new shop in New York City’s trendy East Village is selling city tap water that has been filtered using ultraviolet rays, ozone treatments and reverse osmosis, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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.

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