The Stream, November 19: Zimbabwe Has Water and Sanitation Crisis, Report Says

Health and Sanitation
Waterborne diseases caused by water supplies contaminated with sewage are a major threat to public health in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch. The city’s crumbling water and sanitation infrastructure means that many residents are forced to defecate outside, while aging city sewage pipes have burst and flooded streets.

The United Nations designated today as the first World Toilet Day, urging countries to improve access to clean water and sanitation, Bloomberg News reported. More than half of India’s population does not have access to toilets, which can lead to learning and development setbacks for children.

Natural Disasters
Italy declared a state of emergency on the island of Sardinia following heavy rain and damaging floods caused by Cyclone Cleopatra that displaced 2,700 people, Reuters reported. The country’s lead environmental group said the storm was a reminder that development in coastal areas has increased Italy’s flood risk.

Heavy rain storms could wash debris from Yosemite’s rim fire into local drinking supplies, CBS Sacramento reported. The fire destroyed a quarter of one watershed that feeds Don Pedro Lake, which supplies drinking water to Modesto.

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