The Stream, September 23: South Africa Considers Stopping Water to Botswana Capital

The Global Rundown

South Africa cautioned that it may cut off water to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, as drought draws down water levels at a dam supplying the city. Officials in Zambia said the hydropower-dependent country will face electricity deficits up to half of maximum demand this month. Water districts near Los Angeles presented plans to expand water recycling programs in the region, Hillary Clinton announced her opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, and a new study predicted worsening floods along the east and south coasts of the United States. Poor monsoon rains in India continued to damage sugar cane crops.

“I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone pipeline as what I believe it is, a distraction from the important work we have to do to combat climate change, and unfortunately from my perspective one that interferes with our ability to move forward to deal with all the other issues. Therefore, I oppose it and I oppose It because I don’t think it’s in the best interest of what we need to do to combat climate change.” –Hillary Clinton, U.S. presidential candidate, stating her position on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would carry crude oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The project has also been opposed on concerns about water contamination in the case of a spill. (Guardian)

By The Numbers

985 megawatts Estimated electricity deficit in Zambia in September, equal to half of the country’s peak demand. Nearly all of the country’s electricity is produced by hydropower dams, where water levels are declining due to a drought. Bloomberg

168,000 acre-feet Amount of recycled water to be produced in the Los Angeles area each year if the region’s water district goes forward with a new plan to expand its water recycling program. Los Angeles Times

Science, Studies, And Reports

Flooding along the the eastern and southern coasts of the United States, as measured by a flood index that includes the height and duration of floods, could become 4 to 75 times greater by the end of the century even if carbon emissions are reduced, according to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The projections are based on the combination of rising sea levels and more intense storms. The Earth Institute

On The Radar

Water levels dropped to 8 percent of capacity in South Africa’s Molatedi Dam, prompting the country to consider stopping water releases to Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. The dam provides 16 percent of Gaborone’s water, while some of the city’s other water sources have either dried up or are unreliable. Bloomberg

Poor monsoon rains in India are damaging sugar cane crops and will likely drive up global prices as farmers refrain from planting the water-intensive crop. India is the world’s second largest sugar cane grower and still plans to export sugar from its stockpiles. 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