The Stream, June 3: Islamic State Lowers Water Levels in Euphrates

The Global Rundown

Militant action in Iraq threatens the country’s southern provinces with drought. China’s textile industry is under growing pressure to reduce water pollution, a United Kingdom judge argued polluting companies should be fined more, and Venezuela’s oil minister criticized hydraulic fracturing for its effects on water. El Nino will likely cause crop losses in Africa and East Asia this year.

“It is a responsibility of the conventional crude oil-producing countries to develop price mechanisms that take into account these economic and geopolitical actors that promote technologies that threaten the availability of the fundamental resource for human existence: water.”–Asdrubal Chavez, Venezuela’s oil minister, criticizing hydraulic fracturing in the United States during a conference in Vienna. (Reuters)

By The Numbers

$382,300 Amount of a water pollution fine appealed by Thames Water. The appeal was dismissed, and one judge suggested companies responsible for environmental infractions should be fined as much as companies that break laws in the banking industry. Bloomberg

$325,000 to $8 million Range of costs for installing water treatment systems in Chinese textile factories. The industry is under growing pressure to curb water pollution. The Wall Street Journal

Science, Studies, And Reports

The El Nino weather pattern is behind rainy season delays in Africa and altered rainfall patterns in East Asia and will likely lead to crop losses in those regions, scientists say. China, Gambia, India, Indonesia, and Kenya are among the countries that could be hit this year. Reuters

On The Radar

The Islamic State is using a dam on the Euphrates River in Iraq to strategically direct water to aid military actions. As a result, water levels are declining below the dam and could create drought in Iraq’s southern provinces. Reuters

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