The Stream, January 19: Sao Paulo Reservoir Could Dry Up By March

The Global Rundown

Sao Paulo is running out of water quickly, state water officials admitted, while homes in Northern Ireland are without water due to a dispute over pensions. Oil spilled into Montana’s Yellowstone River, and a judge in Washington state ruled for the first time that dairy farm manure was a solid waste polluting drinking water. Turkey recorded its driest year for hydropower ever, while Japan is planning to build the world’s largest floating solar power plant on a dam reservoir.

“It’s possible that it will dry up in March. If it continues like this it’s possible. So, that’s why we’re closing the taps.”–Jerson Kelman, president of water utility SABESP in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on the extremely low water levels in the main reservoir that supplies the city of 20 million people. The city finally admitted it is rationing water. (Agencia EFE)

By The Numbers

1,600 homes Number without water in Northern Ireland following a dispute over pensions for workers at the region’s water utility company. BBC News

189,271 liters Oil spilled into the Yellowstone River by an oil pipeline breach in Montana. Great Falls Tribune

20 percent Share of hydropower in Turkey’s energy mix in 2014, its driest year ever, according to the country’s energy minister. Daily Sabah

Science, Studies, And Reports

A judge in Washington state found manure from a dairy farm to be a solid waste that was polluting drinking water in the first ruling of its kind in the United States. Associated Press

On The Radar

The world’s largest floating solar power plant is set to be built on the reservoir of Japan’s Yamakura Dam. It is scheduled to be completed by March 2016. National Geographic

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