The Stream, July 10: Torrential Rains in Japan Kill More Than 100 People, Force 2M to Evacuate

The Global Rundown

More than 100 people are left dead after record-breaking rainfall led to flooding and landslides in western Japan. China’s fourth-largest pig producer is caught illegally disposing manure and wastewater. The lakeside cities of Auburn and Syracuse, New York, may need to deepen water intake pipelines amid a toxic algae bloom. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands brace for heavy rain from now-dissipated Tropical Storm Beryl. Two workers are killed in an attack on Libya’s Tazirbu water plant.  

“An armed attack was carried out by terrorist groups on the Tazirbu site causing havoc, looting, killing and terrorizing families, children and the workers who ensure the supply of water to cities.” –A statement by the Great Man-made River Project, a network of pipelines bringing groundwater from the Sahara to northern Libya. The attack, which left two plant workers dead and two kidnapped, was the second assault on a Libyan water plant in the past week. Reuters

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

What’s Up With Water – July 9, 2018 – “What’s Up With Water” condenses the need-to-know news on the world’s water into a weekly snapshot. Coverage this week includes: Poor water quality in Europe, algae blooms in U.S. waterways, and “absolute drought” in Ireland.

HotSpots H2O, July 9: Protests in Iran Turn Violent as Discontent Over Water Scarcity Grows  – Water-related protests in Iran turned violent last week, leaving eleven people injured in the city of Abadan.

By The Numbers

2 million Number of people who were ordered to evacuate their homes as torrential rains caused flash floods and landslides in western Japan. The record-breaking rain left more than 100 people dead and many others missing. BBC

$10.5 million Estimated cost of extending the water intake pipeline in Owasco Lake, which supplies Auburn, New York, from 35 to 100 feet below the surface in an attempt to stop toxic algae from polluting drinking water. Auburn, along with the neighboring city of Syracuse, are struggling to combat ever-deepening toxic blooms in the lakes that supply their water. Syracuse.com

In context: Toxic Algae Blooms: Symptoms of a system out of balance

Science, Studies, And Reports

A review by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment found that one of the country’s largest pig producers, Jiangxi Zhengbang Technology, is illegally dumping manure and allowing wastewater to seep into nearby farmland. China recently declared that it plans to crack down more thoroughly on environmental pollution in rural areas, where soil and groundwater contamination is widespread. Reuters

On The Radar

Heavy rains and strong winds are expected to hit Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl make their way through the region. Many residents of Puerto Rico are still without roofs and electricity following Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island last September. The New York Times

Kayla Ritter

Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter