Entries by Kayla Ritter

The Stream, August 30, 2019: Clean Water Shortage Raising Ebola Risk in DR Congo

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The Global Rundown Residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo fear that Ebola may spread more rapidly due to clean water shortages. A plan by New South Wales, Australia, to protect the state’s native fish species is called a “Band-Aid” by critics. Residents of Florida stockpile food and water as Hurricane Dorian nears the […]

The Stream, August 29, 2019: Flood Severity Increasing in Britain, Decreasing in Eastern Europe, Study Finds

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The Global Rundown A far-reaching study maps the impact of climate change on flooding in Europe. Research shows that more precipitation is expected in the Upper Nile Basin in coming decades, but the increased rainfall will likely be offset by hot weather and population growth. Tropical Storm Dorian is upgraded to a hurricane as it […]

The Stream, August 28, 2019: Upcoming Rainfall Unlikely to Halt Amazon Rainforest Fires

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The Global Rundown Rainfall in coming weeks is unlikely to ease wildfires in the Amazon Rainforest, forecasts show. Environmentalists warn that coal ash may be contaminating wells in West Michigan. A new study warns that “100-year floods” may actually begin occurring every one to 30 years. An analysis finds that more than 100 U.S. coal […]

The Stream, August 27, 2019: Indonesia to Move Capital to Borneo as Jakarta Sinks

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The Global Rundown Indonesian President Joko Widodo announces that the country’s capital will be moved from Jakarta to the island of Borneo, largely due to Jakarta’s land subsidence problems. Newark, New Jersey, plans to borrow $120 million to fix aging water lines in the city. Reservoir levels in Sydney, Australia, drop below 50 percent for […]

HotSpots H2O: Hydropower Construction Heightens Political Pressure Along Mekong River

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Low water levels are fueling tensions between those living on the Mekong River and those who aspire to wring electricity from the backbone of Southeast Asia by damming it.

The Stream, August 23, 2019: WHO Says Microplastics in Drinking Water Not a Health Risk

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The Global Rundown A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that microplastics in drinking water aren’t necessarily a cause for concern for human health. The U.S. Trump administration allegedly moves to hides a report detailing the dangers to California salmon if more water is pumped to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. A […]

The Stream, August 22, 2019: California Approves $1.3bn Clean Drinking Water Initiative

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The Global Rundown The California State Water Resources Control Board approves a $1.3 billion clean drinking water fund. A new report finds that a few big irrigators have taken a majority of water extracted from Australia’s Barwon-Darling river system in recent years. Flint, Michigan, is in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act after failing […]

The Steam, August 21, 2019: Wildfires Blaze in Drought-Hit Alaska

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The Global Rundown Wildfires strike parched areas of Alaska. The National Olympic Committee says they are confident that organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics can fix lingering water quality issues. Drought cuts palm oil production in Indonesia. Residents of Newark, New Jersey, where lead is polluting some household drinking water, say that their water has […]

The Stream, August 20, 2019: India Using Water as a Weapon of War, Pakistan Says

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The Global Rundown Pakistan accuses India of using water as a weapon amid conflict over the Kashmir region. Records show that Detroit, Michigan, has shut off water at nearly 12,000 homes this year. Steady rainfall finally reaches Chennai, India. Drought-stricken Zambia says it will not “beg” for aid. Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico will face their […]

HotSpots H2O: Drought and Unrest Push Residents Out of Central America’s Dry Corridor

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Residents of Central America’s Dry Corridor are at a crossroads: stay in the drought-stricken region, where food insecurity and violence are rampant, or migrate.

The Stream, August 16, 2019: Microplastics Reach Remote Arctic Waters

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The Global Rundown Microplastics are found in remote Arctic ice. A UN report finds that some families in the “Dry Corridor” of Central America plan to migrate due to drought. Newark, New Jersey, halts bottled water distribution after some bottles are found to be expired. Warmer winters are altering the composition of the Black Sea, […]

The Stream, August 15, 2019: Multi-Year Snow Droughts Could Be New Normal for Western United States

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The Global Rundown Scientists warn that “snow droughts” will become more common in the western United States. Human rights groups warn that a proposed hydroelectricity project in Myanmar could displace thousands. The death toll from monsoon flooding in India rises to 270. Water at several hundred beaches in Massachusetts tests positive for hazardous levels of […]