The Stream, July 11: One in Four Drinking Water Samples in Mumbai Found Contaminated

Water Management
After more than two weeks of complaints from customers about having dirty water pumped into their houses, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai found 26% of water samples, up from 16% last year, unfit for consumption, The Times of India reported. Cases of waterborne disease in the city have been rising in direct proportion to the contamination levels.

The Australian southwest’s drying climate and growing water demands are forcing the State Government to quickly decide on the region’s next major drinking water source, The West Australian reported. Recycling sewage water appears to be a largely viable option, based on results from a three year trial project that proved the system cheaper, closer, and more energy efficient than building the decade’s third desalination plant.

Ecology
A paper published Wednesday indicates that trees may be using less water as a result of increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, The New York Times reported. While this will reduce dependence on dwindling water supplies for forests, it could also indicate a reduction of transpiration into the atmosphere, and consequently less rainfall for farming areas downwind.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Western Lake Erie this year, making this the second time the administration has issued an annual outlook for the region, The Fish Site reported. While not as toxic as the record-setting 2011 bloom, this year’s HAB will have a significant amount of cyanobacteria and heavily impact business on the lake.