The Stream, December 11: Somalia Contaminated Well Water Kills 50

The Global Rundown

Contaminated well water killed and sickened people in Somalia’s capital, while water service in the Maldives’ capital is expected to resume next week. In Lima, shrinking glaciers are taking a toll on water supply, and experts at climate talks in the city are urging action to protect mangroves. Great Lakes water levels are rebounding dramatically from historic lows, Israel is cutting its water prices again, and scientists are puzzling out where Earth’s water originated.

“It hardly ever rains down here in the desert environment next to Lima, so the fight for water gets tougher.”–Christof Wünsch, Lima office head at aid organization Bread for the World, on diminishing water supplies from glaciers in Peru. (Deutsche Welle)

By The Numbers

50 people Died after drinking contaminated water from a recently built well in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. More than 150 people were hospitalized. CNN

10 percent Cut in Israel’s water prices that will take effect to begin 2015. Prices have decreased more than 15 percent in the past year. Bloomberg

Science, Studies, And Reports

Water levels in all five Great Lakes have been above average this fall, marking a period of highs not seen since the late 1990s. Scientists say the quick rebound from historically low levels in the past few years is unusual, and variability will likely increase with climate change. Associated Press

Water on Earth did not likely come from comets, according to new analysis from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission. The findings suggest instead that asteroids may have brought water to our planet, scientists say. The New York Times

Mangroves provide carbon-trapping benefits as well as protection from extreme weather, according to experts at the Lima climate talks. They say policies and finance systems to preserve mangrove forests are currently lacking. Reuters

On The Radar

Foreign aid has helped avert a water crisis in the Maldives, where water service in the capital city is expected to resume next week. AFP

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