Entries by Kayla Ritter

The Stream, August 31: Fracking Wastewater Overwhelms the United States’ Permian Basin

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The Global Rundown Drillers in the Permian Basin, a major United States oil field, struggle to dispose of fracking wastewater. Urgent changes are needed to salvage Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin plan, according to the project’s Productivity Commission. Portugal attracts drought-stricken farmers to its lush Alqueva reservoir. The death toll from floods in India this year nears […]

The Stream, August 30: Global Demand for Lithium Fuels Water Competition in Chile

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The Global Rundown Global demand for lithium jeopardizes water supplies in Chile. Desalination may soon be needed in Sydney, Australia, as dam levels plummet. A failed dam in Myanmar forces 50,000 people from their homes. Detroit, Michigan, finds elevated levels of copper and lead in school drinking water. Scientists in Pune, India, use nano-material in […]

The Stream, August 29: Poor Water Management Compounding Instability in MENA Region, Report Says

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The Global Rundown A new report by the World Bank and the FAO finds that poor institutional choices are exacerbating water issues in the Middle East and North Africa. Experts warn that post-conflict recovery in Syria will be hampered by water shortages. China’s Jiangsu province sues a chemical producer for dumping waste lye into the […]

The Stream, August 28: Half of Schools Worldwide Lack Clean Drinking Water, Toilets

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The Global Rundown Nearly half of the world’s schools lack clean water and proper sanitation facilities, according to international health experts. Officials lift a month-long water advisory in Parchment, Michigan, which began in late July due to the discovery of PFAS in the city’s municipal water system. India and Pakistan plan to discuss their river-sharing […]

HotSpots H2O, August 27: Gaza Fuel Shortage Could Shut Down Hospitals, Water, and Sanitation Facilities

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The Rundown Fuel, medicine, and other essentials are running low in the Gaza Strip, threatening to force the closure of hundreds of health, water, and sanitation facilities. The shortages come amid increasing unrest between Israel and Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip. In retaliation against recent Hamas violence, Israel halted gas […]

The Stream, August 24: 1.5 Million Michigan Residents Drinking PFAS-Contaminated Water

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The Global Rundown The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality reports that 1.5 million state residents have been drinking municipal water contaminated with PFAS. Weekend rains are in the forecast for parched eastern Australia. Ancient “hunger stones” become visible in the Czech Republic’s Elbe River as water levels drop. India hesitates to accept international aid for […]

The Stream, August 23: Bankruptcy Looms for Drought-Hit Danish Farmers

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The Global Rundown Farmers across Denmark face bankruptcy as drought ravages crops. Water levels in Hungary’s Danube river drop to record lows, disrupting shipping operations in the country. Rivers in Karnataka, India, overflow while lakes in the state go dry. Mexican farmers allege that “hail cannons” used by Volkswagen are causing drought in the state […]

The Stream, August 22: Michigan Health Director To Stand Trial for Flint Water Crisis Deaths

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The Global Rundown Michigan health director Nick Lyon is set to stand trial over involuntary manslaughter charges related to the Flint water crisis. The thickest sea ice in the Arctic breaks up for the first time on record. Floodwaters begin to recede in swamped Kerala, India. A long-term study of California’s Carrizo Plain details the […]

The Stream, August 21: Clean Water In Short Supply In Flood-Hit Kerala, India

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The Global Rundown Clean water shortages intensify in flood-hit Kerala, India. Shifting weather patterns are likely to bring hotter summers and heavier downpours in the northern hemisphere, according to scientists. Brazil’s Alagoas state declares a state of emergency as drought leaves thousands short on water. Water and sanitation systems continue to crumble in Yemen, fueling […]

HotSpots H2O, August 20: Taliban Attack on Ghazni, Afghanistan, Cuts Off Water, Power

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The Rundown On August 10, Taliban fighters attacked the Afghan city of Ghazni from four sides. Ghazni is a key corridor between the capital Kabul, which lies 90 miles to the north, and southern Afghanistan. The siege lasted five days and resulted in numerous civilian and military casualties. The Afghan army has retaken control of […]

The Stream, August 17: Colorado River Cutbacks Possible by 2020, Federal Report Warns

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The Global Rundown A newly-released U.S. federal report warns that water cutbacks in the southwestern United States could occur by 2020 as Colorado River water levels fall. Bushfire season begins early in parched Australia. Lead in U.S. Army bases is poisoning service members’ children, a new report claims. Delhi, India, neglects traditional rainwater harvesting amid its […]

The Stream, August 16: Water Use in U.S. Fracking Has Risen by 770 Percent Since 2011, Study Finds

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The Global Rundown A new study shows that water used for fracking in the United States has risen by 770 percent since 2011.  An acute water shortage is expected in Kerala, India, as the “worst flood in a century” submerges water treatment plants. Volunteers in drought-stricken Colorado continue to deliver water to wild horses. Germany […]