The Stream, April 29: California May Impose $10,000 Fines for Major Water Wasters

The Global Rundown

California is warning that water wasters could face steep fines, while drought in the western United States brought Lake Mead to its lowest level on record. Djibouti is pursuing geothermal power to bring down energy prices, and Brazil and Bolivia may build a major new hydropower dam. Organizations in Latin America are calling for a ban on glyphosate, and North Carolina’s Duke Energy is providing bottled water to families with contaminated wells.

“We believe the precautionary principle should be applied, and that we should stop accumulating studies and take decisions that could come too late.” –Javier Souza, coordinator of the Latin American Pesticide Action Network, on efforts to ban the herbicide glyphosate after the World Health Organization found it is probably carcinogenic. Activists say the herbicide affects health, soil and water when it is sprayed over crops. (Inter Press Service)

By The Numbers

$10,000 fines Amount California Governor Jerry Brown proposed for the most egregious cases of water wasting during the state’s drought. Associated Press

329 meters above sea level Water level in Lake Mead, the lowest level recorded in the reservoir’s history. The lake continues to shrink due to drought.Las Vegas Review-Journal

1,000 megawatts Energy the Djibouti government hopes to produce from geothermal sources, which rely on steam from reserves of hot water deep underground. Bloomberg

Science, Studies, And Reports

Duke Energy will begin providing bottled water to North Carolina families affected by contaminated drinking water wells. State testing recently found that the wells, located near several of Duke’s coal ash sites, contained unsafe levels of chemicals and heavy metals. Guardian

On The Radar

Brazil and Bolivia are planning to build a 3-gigawatt hydropower plant on the Madeira River to improve economic performance, according to Brazil’s energy minister. The dam could be operational by 2022. EFE

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