The Stream, May 20: Mongolia’s Shrinking Tuul River Poses Risks for Water Supplies

Average water flows in Mongolia’s Tuul River have been declining, dropping to 10 cubic meters per second between 1996 and 2012 compared to its historical average of 25 cubic meters per second, The Diplomat reported, citing government meteorological data. The river is important for recharging aquifers that supply water to Mongolia’s capital, Ulan Bator, raising concerns that the city may have to find new water supplies.

United States
As many as 14,500 jobs could be lost due to the ongoing drought in California, where farmers have fallowed almost half a million acres of land, according to a new economic study, Reuters reported. The drought could also cost farmers in California’s Central Valley $US 1.7 billion, the study found.

Thirty-four communities in Texas have just 90 days of water supplies left, while 12 of those communities have less than a 45-day supply, Kens 5 TV reported, citing statistics from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The drought is shrinking lakes and prompting some communities to truck in water from outside sources and dig new wells.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules governing water intakes used for cooling at electric power plants, adding protections for aquatic wildlife, Climate Progress reported. Environmental groups are not happy with the rules, largely because they failed to require power plants to use water-saving technology.

Health
More than 300 people have died and more than 190,500 have been treated for disease this year in Zimbabwe due to contaminated water supplies, Bloomberg News reported, citing local media. Zimbabwe’s National Water Authority announced in April that it was nearing bankruptcy.

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