The Stream, August 7, 2020: Water Stock Rises in Seven Mumbai Lakes

The Global Rundown

Water stock is up in Mumbai, but it still may not be enough to keep the city from running out of water. The EPA settled a lawsuit with the state of Utah over a mine waste spill. New research shows extreme droughts are likely to become more common across Central Europe. Hurricane Isaias continues to wreak havoc on the United States’ East Coast. Egypt pulls out of negotiations with Sudan and Ethiopia. Farmers in Ohio struggle with conservation efforts on Lake Erie.

“I think as we get older and closer to meeting our Maker, we get a little more conscientious about the things we do. That being said, as the new generation comes out of education systems where they’re subjected to the up-and-coming thing, they will probably bring ideas to the older generation. And the older generation actually has the financial ability to make it happen. I think it’s a blending of those two generations that actually gets the best results.” – Bill Myers, a farmer in northwest Ohio where agriculture has been under scrutiny for contributing to algal blooms in Lake Erie. Myers, and other farmers in the area, acknowledged that there is a problem, but said they’re working to remediate it though processes such as soil testing and planting cover crops. Great Lakes Now

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By The Numbers

$363 million The amount of money the Environmental Protection Agency agreed to fund the state of Utah for clean water projects and remediation projects at abandoned mine sites. The U.S. government settled a lawsuit Wednesday over a mine waste spill caused by federal workers that released 2 million gallons of wastewater from the inactive Gold King Mine to pollute rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Utah’s lawsuit was one of several legal claims filed over the incident, but no other settlements have been reached. The Colorado Sun

37.36 The percentage of water stock filled in the seven lakes that supply water to Mumbai, India. The amount is up from 34.95 percent on Tuesday after the city received more than half of their monthly average of rain in just four days. The water stock is still down significantly from last year when it sat at 89.96 percent, and many worry the city will run out of water in a little over 100 days. Hindustan Times

Science, Studies, and Reports

New research has shown that extreme droughts could happen seven times more often in Central Europe if greenhouse gas emissions continue. The study adds to an increasing body of research showing the impacts of global heating on Europe, which has experienced the hottest years on record the past two years. Researchers said the study “highlights the urgent need for climate action.” The Guardian

On the Radar

Eight people were killed by Hurricane Isaias that battered the United States East Coast after making landfall in North Carolina. Millions were left without power on Wednesday and New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Patrick Foye said the city hadn’t experienced that strong of winds since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Al Jazeera

Egypt has withdrawn from the latest round of negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam because of a new draft for filling guidelines proposed by Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa. Egypt’s water ministry said that the draft lacked regulations on the operation of the dam or any legal obligations, as well as a legal mechanism for settling disputes. Egypt and Sudan demanded the meetings be suspended for internal consultation, the water ministry said in a statement. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has caused conflict between the three countries for years. While Egypt and Sudan fear the dam will strip them of access to the Blue Nile, Ethiopia insists it will bring electricity to millions of its citizens. Al Jazeera

In context: HotSpots H2O: Tensions Rise in Horn of Africa as Ethiopia Fills Controversial Dam

Jane Johnston

Jane is a Communications Associate for Circle of Blue. She writes The Stream and has covered domestic and international water issues for Circle of Blue. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she studied Multimedia Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Grand Valley, she was the host of the Community Service Learning Center podcast Be the Change. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jane enjoys listening to music, reading and spending time outdoors.