Entries by Kayla Ritter

The Stream, August 15: Resolution Reached in India’s 50-Year-Old Mahadayi River Dispute

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The Global Rundown Karnataka, India, is awarded additional water from the Mahadayi River, ending a decades-long dispute with the state of Goa. Water utilities in California vary in their utilization of climate change science. ‘Historic’ flooding sweeps through the northeastern United States. Politicians in New South Wales, Australia, urge the government to sell environmental water […]

The Stream, August 14: Malaysia Threatens 10-Fold Price Increase in Water Sold to Singapore

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The Global Rundown Malaysia’s prime minister suggests that the country may raise the price of water sold to Singapore by ten-fold in order to pay off debts. The death toll from last week’s earthquake in Lombok, Indonesia, rises above 430. Failing harvests in Afghanistan heighten food insecurity. Kerala, India, places districts on high alert as […]

HotSpots H2O, August 13: Intercommunal Violence Escalates in Ethiopia, Displacing One Million People

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The Rundown Since April, intercommunal violence — which includes burning houses, killing, rape, and livestock slaughter — has flared in Ethiopia’s Gedeo and West Guji zones, displacing an estimated one million people. The cause of the violence is unclear, but long-time regional tensions over land and water may be partially to blame. Many internally displaced […]

The Stream, August 10: Trump Administration Orders California to Use More Water to Fight Wildfires

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The Global Rundown The Trump administration attempts to allocate more water to fighting California’s wildfires, despite claims by the state that it has adequate water supplies. Officials release water from 24 reservoirs in Kerala, India, as monsoon rains batter the region. A magnitude 6.2 aftershock rocks Lombok, Indonesia, leaving more people without basic amenities. Ecuador […]

The Stream, August 9: Water Quality Still Poor in Puerto Rico 10 Months After Hurricane Maria

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The Global Rundown Water quality in Puerto Rico remains poor nearly a year after Hurricane Maria. U.S. federal agencies are instructed to use any water needed to combat California wildfires. Severe drought leaves Germany with the worst harvest in 24 years. The entire state of New South Wales, Australia, succumbs to drought. A recent study […]

The Stream, August 8: Under-Construction Dams in Guatemala Pollute Water Sources of Indigenous Maya, Activists Claim

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The Global Rundown Activists claim that two Guatemalan dams, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), have polluted indigenous water sources. Switzerland airlifts water to parched cows in the country’s drought-stricken Alpine foothills. Baltimore, Maryland, considers legislation that would ban the sale or lease of its water system. A report by Human Rights Watch urges […]

The Stream, August 7: Despite Desalination Efforts, 5-Year Drought Leaves Israel Thirsty

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The Global Rundown Israel reconsiders its water strategy as a five-year drought challenges desalination capacity. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for a ceasefire in Yemen to distribute cholera vaccines. A decades-long study of Welsh streams reveals a decline in freshwater organisms. Australia announces additional funding for drought-stricken farmers. Residents of Houston, Texas, consider a […]

HotSpots H2O, August 6: Poorly-Defined Water Rights Spark Disputes Over Brazil’s Rivers

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A lack of clarity over who holds the rights to Brazil’s rivers is fueling disputes between industrial leaders, indigenous groups, and the government.

The Stream, August 3: Water Quality Improves Along India’s Ganga River

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The Global Rundown Water quality along India’s Ganga river improves at several locations. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, as well as the state government, are dismissed from a Flint water crisis lawsuit. A hosepipe ban is northwest England is called off amid rainfall and cooler temperatures. Monsoon rains continues to deluge Myanmar, displacing nearly 150,000 people. […]

The Stream, August 2: U.K. Allows Farmers to Use More Groundwater and River Water to Combat Heatwave

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The Global Rundown The U.K. government allows farmers to draw more groundwater and river water as the region’s ongoing heatwave wilts crops. Warm weather in the Nordic region disrupts hydropower and nuclear plants. The U.S. Congress votes to extend federal flood insurance but again delays reforms to the program. Water from a dam in Laos […]

The Stream, August 1: Australia Moves to Expand Mining Operations Under Sydney Water Catchment

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The Global Rundown New South Wales, Australia, moves forward with the expansion of a mine under Sydney’s water catchment despite warnings from an independent panel that there was inadequate data to support the enlargement. Officials in Hanoi, Vietnam, consider evacuating thousands amid heavy rains. A draft environmental assessment of an alternative route for the Keystone […]

The Stream, July 31: From Sweden to Australia, Governments Pledge Drought-Relief Packages

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The Global Rundown In Sweden and New South Wales, Australia, officials announce assistance packages for drought-stricken farmers. High levels of PFAS contaminants are discovered in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Monsoon rains swamp a critical care unit in eastern India. UK lawmakers criticize water companies for failing to meet leakage targets. Flood warnings arrive too late for […]