The Stream, July 18: Water Crisis Averted, Prince George’s Citizens Displeased

Government Action
Nearly 100,000 citizens in Prince George’s County expressed disbelief after the call off of a potential water crisis, The Washington Post reported. Utility workers were able to fix the problem, a 48-year-old broken water valve, on Tuesday, but government officials waited until Wednesday to announce the resolved crisis, after many people had already stocked their households with water.

A May survey revealed that of the 147 government wells in Dar es salaam city, only 80 were working while another 67 were not functional, All Africa reported. The dysfunctional pipes were caused by water shortages, power debts, and mistreatment of pumps, said Dr. Binilith Mahenge, Deputy Minister for Water.

Middle East
Concerned about energy installments that could pollute its only water supply, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is planning a US$ 7 billion project to expand its drinking water source beyond the Persian Gulf and into the Arabian Sea, Reuters reported. “With the Iranian nuclear plant in Bushehr, if something goes wrong the water in the Gulf will be polluted…This is a vital and strategic project to provide water under all circumstances,” said Abdullah J. al-Shibli, assistant economic secretary of the GCC.

Marine Ecosystems
In Vietnam, a traditional “rice first” policy weighs heavily on government decisions as the environmental consequences of farming on the Mekong river pile up, Yale Environment 360 reported. Flood dikes, meant to enable freshwater rice farming, constantly deprive marine ecosystems of important nutrients.