The Stream, July 3, 2019: Three U.S. Great Lakes Expected to Break Record-High Water Levels

The Global Rundown

Three of the U.S. Great Lakes are on track to reach record-high water levels. Amid dry conditions in much of India, a torrential downpour kills 30 in Mumbai. A new study finds that California’s widespread tree die-off in 2015-2016 was caused by depletion of deep-soil water. Denver, Colorado, plans to replace the last of its lead water pipes. Conflict in Libya continues to disrupt water supplies. 

“Drinkable water is a daily issue for my family.” –Usama Mohamed Dokali, a resident of Tripoli, Libya, who relies on bottled and donated water to meet his family’s needs. Damage to water infrastructure has plagued Libya during the country’s eight-year conflict. In western Libya, the power grid and water control system are both damaged, and a UN report warns the system could fail completely at any time. Reuters 

In context: HotSpots H2O: Attack on Libya’s Capital Cuts Off Water for Civilians, Detained Refugees.

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

PERSPECTIVE: Water Risks Threaten to Derail Vietnam’s Economic Success — Depletion and pollution of Vietnam’s water supplies are hurting the country now, and could cause economic losses up to 6 percent by 2035, says new World Bank report. 

HotSpots H2O: France Endures Hottest Day on Record as Heatwave Parches Europe — A record-breaking heatwave is scorching parts of Europe, sparking wildfires and prompting water restrictions. 

By The Numbers

30 People who died in and around Mumbai, India, on Tuesday as the city experienced its heaviest monsoon rains in 14 years. Most of the casualties occurred when heavy rains caused a wall to collapse on hillside shanties. The rains also disrupted air and rail transportation. Reuters 

3 U.S. Great Lakes, along with Lake St. Clair, that are on the verge of record-high water levels. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that lakes Erie, Ontario, and Superior likely hit all-time highs for June, although the official data won’t be calculated until later this week. Record-keeping began in 1918. The Detroit News 

In context: Record Heat in 2016 Broke Lake Temperature Records Too. 

Science, Studies, and Reports

On the heels of a three-year drought, a catastrophic tree die-off swept through California in 2015-2016. According to a new study by the University of California – Irvine, the intense die-off was caused by depletion of deep-soil water, which left trees unable to reach the diminishing groundwater. Science Daily 

On the Radar

Denver, Colorado, wants to replace the last of its lead water lines, which serve 90,000 homes. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment proposed adding orthophosphate to the lines, which prevents the leaching of lead, but Denver Water says they hope to replace the lines altogether. CPR