The Stream, April 18: China Report Says One-Fifth of Farmland Polluted

Pollution
Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and nickel are some of the most common pollutants contaminating approximately 19 percent of arable land in China, according to an official report, The Wall Street Journal reported. The contaminants are deposited in the soil by water and air, and some of the most polluted areas are in the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta.

A study of water samples from North Carolina’s Dan River found that the water is safe for farmers to use for irrigation, the Greensboro, N.C.-based News and Record reported. There have been concerns about the water’s safety following a spill of tons of coal ash into the river in February.

Water Scarcity
Approximately 110 water tankers have been deployed to deliver water in rural areas of India’s Tripura state, where residents are suffering from a drought, The Hindu reported. Hundreds of people have been protesting the water shortages.

Water Safety
A man in Portland, Ore., urinated into one of the city’s open drinking water reservoirs this week, prompting the city to drain 143 million liters (38 million gallons) of water, NPR reported. The incident is the second time in three years that someone has been caught urinating into the city’s reservoirs, which hold treated drinking water that will be directly released to consumers.

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