The Stream, May 4: Thailand Invests In Water

Asia
Thailand’s biggest private water company plans to invest $US 97 million to improve its water storage and pipeline capacity in order to supply the rapidly growing demand from manufacturers, Bloomberg News reported.

Meanwhile, 50 of Thailand’s provinces have been declared drought-hit areas, according to the Bangkok Post.

Rising sea levels and irregular rains due to climate change will likely endanger rice production in Southeast Asia, with agricultural output in the region expected to decline 10 to 50 percent in the next 30 years if nothing is done, according to the World Bank, National Geographic reported. This article outlines some of the solutions that scientists are exploring.

A drought in China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has left 229,000 people with drinking water shortages, according to Xinhua.

Energy
All of Japan’s nuclear reactors will be shut off tomorrow for the first time in nearly 50 years, the Guardian reported. What will this mean for the country’s energy future, and how will it impact the environment?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delayed the release of its draft report linking hydraulic fracturing to water pollution in Wyoming due to a request from the state’s governor, giving the state time to refute the findings, the Associated Press reported.

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