The Stream, May 14: Drying Puerto Rico Imposes Water Rationing

The Global Rundown

Puerto Rico has announced it will start water rationing, while Duke Energy has announced it will provide water to nearby North Carolina residents with polluted wells. An old pipeline sprung a large leak in a Hawaiian forest, and Wyoming has criminalized citizen science.

“This is not the time to be filling up pools, washing cars or using hoses to clean.” — Alberto Lazaro, executive president of Puerto Rico’s water and sewer company, on water rationing that will affect the island’s capital San Juan. (Guardian)

By The Numbers

160,000 – Number of Puerto Ricans in and around the capital of San Juan affected by water rationing. Water will only be available every other day, with officials warning that the cuts could start lasting 36 hours and 70,000 more residents could be affected if rain does not fall soon. The Guardian

3 million gallons – Estimated water loss from a leak in a pipeline in a Hawaiian forest. The pipeline in central Oahu was originally built in the early 1900’s to serve the old Oahu Sugar Mill. A hiker discovered the leak and reported it, and the responsible partly, the Waiahole Ditch Water System, says the line will likely be blocked off permanently. KHON2

Science, Studies, And Reports

A new law in Wyoming makes it illegal for citizens to collect environmental data and submit it to state or federal governments. Many of Wyoming’s streams are polluted with E. coli because of cattle spending too much time in and near them. The law was politically driven by cattle ranchers who fear having to better manage their herds to keep them further from streams. Slate

On The Radar

Duke Energy is planning to deliver bottled water to those with tainted wells living near its coal ash pits. Water in the wells of 150 homes near Duke’s operation has been found to contain dangerous levels of heavy metals. In a settlement with federal prosecutors, Duke is expected to plead guilty to 9 environmental crimes and to pay $102 million in fines and restitution. WSOC-TV