The Stream, March 21: Donors Raise $560m to Build Gaza Strip Desalination Plant

The Global Rundown

International donors raise $560 million to build a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip. A water crisis looms in Phoenix, Arizona, as temperatures rise and water supply falls. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) claims that sustainable agriculture could cut water-related migration. The spread of infection at a hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, is likely linked to bacteria in the water supply. Brazil plans to launch a second canal to deliver water to two drought-stricken northeastern states.

“We’re talking about an extraordinary recovery of the driest region in Brazil.” –Helder Barbalho, head of Brazil’s Ministry of National Integration, in reference the impact of a canal which began delivering water to the country’s parched northeastern states last year. After a series of delays, Brazil plans to complete a second canal by the end of this year. Reuters

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

What’s Up With Water – March 19, 2018 – “What’s Up With Water” condenses the need-to-know news on the world’s water into a snapshot for the start of the workweek. Listen to this week’s edition to hear coverage on Russian cyberattacks, hydropower projects in Europe, and microplastics in bottled water.

HotSpots H2O, March 19: Spotlight on Eastern Ukraine  – Civilian water infrastructure has been targeted repeatedly during eastern Ukraine’s four-year conflict.

By The Numbers

2 million Number of people in the Gaza Strip who will have access to safe drinking water once a desalination plant is constructed. International donors recently raised $560 million to build the plant, which will help alleviate severe water scarcity in the region. The New York Times

4 Number of children at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow, Scotland, who have fallen ill with an infection likely linked to bacteria in hospital’s water supply. Scottish health and water agencies are investigating the infection at both the RHC and the neighboring Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. BBC

Science, Studies, And Reports

Water stress is driving migration around the world, but water-smart agricultural practices could mitigate the problem, according to a a new study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The report says that developing sustainable agriculture is key as climate change brings irregular rainfall, worsening drought, and higher temperatures. Reuters

On The Radar

The future of water in Phoenix, Arizona, which has been called the world’s ‘least sustainable’ city, is looking grim. Most of the city’s water is pumped from the depleted Colorado River, which lies hundreds of miles away. The city is also experiencing increasingly hot temperatures, leading to severe drought. As Phoenix continues to grow, it is unclear how America’s fifth-largest city will avert a water crisis. The Guardian

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