The Stream, October 6: Thousands Without Water in Flood-Hit South Carolina

The Global Rundown

Areas of South Carolina were without water in the aftermath of severe flooding that disrupted state infrastructure. A federal appeals court in the United States ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to revisit rules for ballast water, while the White House proposed two new marine sanctuaries. The U.S. Justice Department revised the total of BP’s settlement for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Researchers found a connection between volcanic eruptions and reduced flows in some rivers. Countries in the Nile River Basin postponed a meeting to discuss Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam.

“This is a huge ruling. It basically, in our opinion, changes the seascape, for how we can set protections in place against aquatic invasive species into our Great Lakes.”–Marc Smith, senior policy manager at the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center, on a federal appeals court decision that requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rewrite rules for ship ballast water discharges in the Great Lakes. (MPR News)

By The Numbers

40,000 people Number without water in South Carolina following extensive flooding that disrupted water treatment and distribution systems. Associated Press

$20.8 billion New amount of the already record-setting settlement between oil company BP and the United States for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Bloomberg

2,265 square kilometers Area in Lake Michigan the White House proposed for protection as one of two new marine sanctuaries. The other is a 36-square-kilometer area in Maryland’s Mallows Bay on the Potomac River. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

Reflective particles released into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions create a cooling effect and are linked to lower rainfall and reduced water flows in tropical rivers like the Amazon and the Nile, according to a study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh. Low water flows were typically measured one to two years after an eruption. University of Edinburgh

On The Radar

Talks between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan about the Grand Renaissance Dam, scheduled for Monday, were postponed until later this month due to changes in the Ethiopian government. The countries will address ongoing efforts to characterize how the dam will affect water resources and water users in the Nile River Basin. Cairo Post

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