The Stream, July 24, 2019: Newark Lead Contamination Mirroring Parts of Flint Water Crisis, Expert Says

The Global Rundown

Pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha, who helped expose the Flint water crisis, says that lead drinking water contamination in Newark, New Jersey, is reminiscent of Flint. Power is slowly restored in Venezuela after the worst blackout in months. Heavy rains and flash flooding replace a heatwave in the northeastern United States. The death toll from monsoon flooding in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh exceeds 300. A vast study of wells in the U.S. shows that Americans are drilling deeper for groundwater. 

“When I walk the streets of Newark, I feel like I am walking in Flint.” –Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and professor at Michigan State University who helped uncover the Flint water crisis in 2015. Hanna-Attisha says the current situation in Newark, where recent water testing showed lead levels three times above the federal action level, is mirroring Flint in many ways. She recommends that residents install water filters, and called on local government to replace old pipelines. Business Insider 

In context: Circle of Blue’s coverage of the Flint water crisis.

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

HotSpots H2O: Eight Water Facilities Attacked in Northwest Syria — Eight water facilities in northwest Syria were damaged during skirmishes in recent weeks, disrupting drinking water provision for nearly 250,000 people.

What’s Up With Water – July 22, 2019 — This week’s edition of What’s Up With Water includes coverage on monsoon flooding in South Asia, drought in North Korea, and water outages in Zimbabwe. 

By The Numbers

4 inches Rain that fell in parts of Long Island, New York, this week. Severe storms caused flash flooding, power outages, and flight cancellations across the northeastern United States on late Monday and early Tuesday. Reuters

300+ Most recent death toll from monsoon flooding in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. More heavy precipitation is forecast for parts of India, including the southern state of Kerala, where flooding killed nearly 500 people last year. Reuters

Science, Studies, and Reports

Researchers from the University of California–Santa Barbara surveyed decades of data from nearly 12 million wells in the United States, and found that many wells are running dry, forcing Americans to drill new or deeper wells. From 1950 to 2015, 79 percent of the areas studied showed trends toward deeper drilling, from California’s Central Valley to the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Phys.org

In context: New Estimate Finds Less Fresh Groundwater in U.S. Than Previously Assumed.

On the Radar

The worst power outage since March struck large parts of Venezuela on Monday, causing taps to go dry and knocking out phone and other services. Government officials say the blackout was caused by an “electromagnetic attack.” Power has now been restored in the capital city Caracas, and is gradually flickering on in other parts of the country. Reuters

In context: HotSpots H2O: Worst-Ever Power Outage Deepens Venezuela Water Insecurity. 

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