The Stream, August 18: Himalaya Floods Hit Northern India

India
At least 28 people have died and 1,500 communities have been flooded in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state following heavy rainstorms in the Himalayas, Reuters reported. Dams in the mountains are already overflowing and exacerbating the flooding, which is expected to continue with more rain forecast for the region.

A break in a major water pipeline shut off a quarter of Mumbai’s water supply Monday, affecting the western, eastern and southern areas of the city, Bloomberg News reported. The new supply cut comes after drought-induced cuts were lifted last week.

Infrastructure
Ongoing conflict in Donetsk damaged and prompted the closing of two water filtration plants in the Ukrainian city of 1 million residents, Bloomberg News reported. Donetsk is currently controlled by pro-Russia separatists.

A severe drought in Brazil has drawn down hydroelectric reservoirs so far that the country’s aluminum smelters—major consumers of energy—cut back production and began selling their electricity instead, Bloomberg News reported. Aluminum output in July was at its lowest level since 1996 and aluminum prices are at a 17-month high.

Sulfate chemicals, added to treat drinking water and found in sewage, are corroding sewer systems around the world, according to researchers from the University of Queensland, Business Insider Australia reported. Removing the chemicals from sewers is difficult and costly, but reducing the amount of aluminum sulfate used to treat drinking water could lead to a 35 to 60 percent cut in concrete corrosion.

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