The Stream, November 13: Study Finds Growing Risk to Water Supplies From Snowpack Melt

The Global Rundown

Melting snowpack in regions around the world, including California’s Central Valley and the Rio Grande basin, is expected to significantly increase the risk of declining water supplies by 2060, according to a new study. A drought in Ethiopia requires hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, but the country’s government does not expect it to affect GDP. Meanwhile, power supplies in Zambia are forecast to decline further due to low hydropower reserves. Communities near the source of Mexico City’s water are concerned about the effect on their rivers. Brazil fined two mining companies that own the iron ore mine where burst tailings dams unleashed a devastating flood and mudslide.

“I joined the group in 2003 because many bad things were happening to our rivers. Our crops have been affected. There aren’t as many fish as before. Because they took the water from underground, the land is dry. It is all the fault of the Cutzamala system. Now, we’re asking the government to pay us back for what we’ve lost. We’re not fighting, we are just defending our rights.”–Ofelia Lorenzo, a member of the Zapatista Army of Mazahua Women in Defence of Water, on the group’s efforts to raise awareness about the sources of Mexico City’s water. (Guardian)

By The Numbers

$66 million Amount of environmental fines Brazil imposed on BHP Billiton and Vale SA, the owners of an iron ore mine where burst tailings dams released deadly mudslides downstream. Reuters

$600 million Estimated amount needed to respond to a drought emergency in Ethiopia. The government said it does not expect the drought to negatively affect the country’s gross domestic product growth. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

There is a 67 percent risk that less water will be available by 2060 from snowpack, which provides drinking water for 2 billion people, according to a study published in Environmental Research Letters. California’s Central Valley and the Rio Grande Basin shared by Mexico and the United States are expected to be particularly hard hit, the study found. National Geographic

On The Radar

Zambia’s electricity deficit is expected to increase from 700 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts by December, according to government officials. The country relies almost exclusively on hydropower, and water levels in its biggest dam have declined to 21 percent of capacity. Bloomberg

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