Entries by Codi Kozacek

Great Lakes Water Quality: Technology and Regulations Work to Eliminate Major Shipping Pathway for Invasive Species

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Political action and technological advances are cutting down on the transfer of invasive species via ballast water. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue The ocean-going freighter Federal Polaris prepares to leave the harbor in Duluth, Minnesota. Stricter ballast water regulations and technological advances have slowed the transfer of invasive species into the […]

The Stream, June 7: Annual Food Waste = 170 Billion Cubic Meters of Water

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Food and Water The amount of food wasted each year contains approximately 170 trillion liters (45 trillion gallons) of water, according to a new report from the World Resources Institute, NPR reported. Fruits and vegetables account for the largest share of water lost through food waste. U.S. subsidy policies meant to conserve water by encouraging […]

The Stream, June 5: Europe Braces for More Floods

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Extreme Weather Eastern Germany is bracing for high water as the floods that have plagued Austria, Bavaria and the Czech Republic move east, Bloomberg Businessweek reported. The floods have set records in some towns, and prompted governments in both Germany and the Czech Republic to declare a state of emergency. Water Contamination After a summer […]

Global Grain Reserves Are Low; Legacy of U.S. Drought

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Dwindling water supplies, low grain supplies, high prices for bread, meat, milk are outcomes of one of the worst droughts in the American history.

The Stream, May 31: Mines Turning to New Sources for Water

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Mining companies are being forced to turn to costly recycling and desalination systems to secure enough water for their operations as rivers and other traditional sources run dry, Reuters reported. Water infrastructure now makes up about 10 percent of mining capital costs. Jordan’s water supply and distribution system is struggling to keep up with the […]

The Stream, May 29: Ethiopia Begins Nile Water Diversion

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Africa Ethiopia is proceeding with construction of the controversial Grand Renaissance Dam, now 21 percent complete, in order to boost its hydropower production, Reuters reported. On Tuesday, the country began diverting part of the Nile to facilitate further construction. Fighting has damaged infrastructure and created a severe water shortage in Mali’s city of Gao, Voice […]

The Stream, May 24: Scientists Warn of Global Water Shortages

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At a conference in Bonn, Germany, water scientists warned that the majority of the world’s population will be dealing with water shortages within two generations, the Guardian reported. The shortages will affect both developed and developing countries, driven by climate change, over-use and pollution. Natural Disasters The United States could see as many as 11 […]

The Stream, May 22: Hydropower and the Congo River

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Africa Planned hydropower dam projects on the Congo River could generate as much as 40,000 megawatts of electricity, making the Grand Inga system the largest in the world, the Guardian reported. Securing financial backing and buyers for the electricity are still hurdles faced by developers, but the project is gaining momentum. Water levels on Lake […]

The Stream, May 17: The Cost of Natural Disasters

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Droughts, floods and other natural disasters are creating huge economic losses around the world, totaling about $US 2.5 trillion this century, according to estimates by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Bloomberg BNA reported. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged businesses to take steps to reduce disaster risk exposure when investing in new buildings […]

The Stream, May 15: Chickens and Water Quality

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Poultry farms may not be creating as much water pollution as previously thought, according to research that challenges U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards used to forecast pollution in water systems, USA Today reported. The research could change the implementation of federal programs meant to clean up dead zones in bays and rivers, such as the […]

The Stream, May 10: World’s CO2 Hits 400 ppm

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The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the world’s atmosphere reached a daily average of 400 parts per million (ppm), according to measurements taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, the Guardian reported. The measurement is the highest recorded at the observatory, and scientists believe similar CO2 levels have not been seen for several […]

The Stream, May 8: Finding Water for Cities

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For Water, Cities Look to Farms Conserving water on farms is the key to securing water for cities that face recurring shortages, according to a new study published in the journal Water Policy, National Geographic reported. The growth of both irrigated agriculture and cities in water-scarce regions has fueled these shortages, necessitating working relationships between […]