The Stream, June 5: Egypt Raises Water Prices By Up to 46.5 Percent

The Global Rundown

Prices of piped drinking water in Egypt spike by up to 46.5 percent. Plastic chokes beaches and waterways in coastal Vietnam. As the 2018 hurricane season begins, thousands in Houston, Texas, are still displaced from 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. Schools shut down in Shimla, India, as the city’s water crisis persists. Rainfall in the southwestern United States fails to quench two wildfires raging in New Mexico and Colorado.

“The rains came and we’re glad of it. But it didn’t do it. We’re still burning out of control.” –Judith Dyess, a spokeswoman for the South West Incident Management Team in New Mexico. Two large wildfires are blazing in the southwest U.S., which is tinder-dry after months of drought. The first fire, in New Mexico, is now 23 percent contained. The second fire, which began on Friday in Colorado, is only 10 percent contained. New York Times

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By The Numbers

46.5 percent Amount that bills for piped drinking water are increasing in parts of Egypt. Residents can also expect to see a 12 percent rise in sewage fees. The increase is the second rate hike in a year, following a rise in drinking water and sewage prices in August 2017. Reuters

25,000 Number of Houston, Texas, households who are still displaced nine months after Hurricane Harvey inundated the city with trillions of gallons of water. As the 2018 hurricane season gets underway, many Houston residents fear the city will be struck again in the midst of trying to rebuild. The New York Times

Science, Studies, And Reports

Plastic bags, packaging, bottles, and more are clogging the beaches and waterways of Vietnam’s coastal cities. According to a 2015 study by the University of Georgia, Vietnam is the fourth-largest contributor to marine plastic pollution worldwide. Recently, 41 embassies and international organizations signed a pledge to combat plastic waste on Vietnam’s once-pristine beaches. U.S. News & World Report

In context: Vietnam’s tourism and fishing industries drown in waste.

On The Radar

Water scarcity persist in Shimla, India, where many households have been without running water for two weeks. Local authorities claim the situation is improving, but Shimla’s schools were shut down this week due to the shortages, and the lack of water continues to negatively impact the town’s tourist industry. The Hindustan 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