Entries by Kayla Ritter

The Stream, May 24: England Could Face Major Water Shortages Due to Leaks, Overuse, and Climate Change

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The Global Rundown England’s Environment Agency warns that the country could see significant water shortages by the 2050s. The replacement GRACE satellites, which monitor changes in the earth’s water and ice, launch from California. Colombia evacuates nearly 5,000 people amid fears that the Ituango Dam could overflow. The U.S. EPA bars reporters from the second […]

The Stream, May 23: Oil Spills Poison 90 Percent of Groundwater in Nigeria’s Ogoniland

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The Global Rundown Decades of oil spills dirty the water in Nigeria’s Ogoni region. Rising temperatures melt glaciers in Kashmir, disrupting water supply. Officials survey damage in western Montana as floodwaters begin to recede. Cities in southern Texas restrict water use as drought causes aquifer levels to drop. Rapid urbanization leaves Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo […]

The Stream, May 22: Gully Remediation Project Aims to Improve Great Barrier Reef Water Quality

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The Global Rundown Conservationists patch gullies in Queensland, Australia, to keep damaging sediment away from the Great Barrier Reef. Cape Town, South Africa, begins receiving water from a small-scale desalination plant. Washington plans to test hundreds of water systems in the state for PFAS contamination. Maize output in Malawi falls by 19 percent due to […]

HotSpots H2O, May 21: Drought, Then Floods, Destabilize Kenya

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The Rundown In recent years, Kenya has grappled with recurring drought. The dry spells are detrimental to agriculture and force many Kenyans to travel long distances for water. An estimated 2.4 million Kenyans are food insecure, and many lack access to clean drinking water. Resource shortages and political disputes trigger a variety of conflicts in […]

The Stream, May 18: Avocado Production is Drying Up Chile’s Petorca Region, Villagers Claim

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The Global Rundown Villagers in Petorca, Chile, claim that avocado plantations are sapping the region’s water supply. A study in South Africa’s Kruger National Park reveals that river ecosystems are being disrupted by an increase in cyclone-driven extreme floods. Fog catchers provide water to villages in the mountains of Morocco. Warming ocean temperatures are pushing […]

The Stream, May 17: Water Shortages Will Be Environmental Challenge of the Century, NASA Warns

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The Global Rundown NASA predicts widespread water scarcity after a study shows freshwater decline in 19 global hotspots. Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan agree to study the impact of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. A leaked report warns that the construction of Cambodia’s largest dam could devastate the Mekong River. The Zambian government levies fees […]

In Kabul, Residents Chase Receding Groundwater

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The number and depth of wells is constantly increasing in Afghanistan’s capital city.

The Stream, May 16: Toxic Algal Blooms Becoming More Frequent in U.S., Study Finds

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The Global Rundown A new report shows that algal blooms are becoming more frequent in U.S. waterways. Bottled water producers in Europe vow to increase plastic recycling. Portugal prepares for wildfire season after severe drought left 106 dead during the 2017 season. Trillion-dollar investors warn against oil extraction in the Alaskan wilderness, fearing “enormous reputational […]

The Stream, May 15: Turkey’s Ambitious Kanal Istanbul Threatens Water Sources, Wildlife, and Farmland

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The Global Rundown Farmers and environmentalists decry Turkey’s ambitious Kanal Istanbul plan, which aims to ease traffic on the Bosphorus Strait. The Kenyan dam that burst last week was built illegally, an initial investigation shows. Gaza’s sole fuel entry point is destroyed, jeopardizing access to water and sewage treatment. British Columbia, which was swamped by […]

HotSpots H2O, May 14: Water Shortages, Malnutrition, and Ebola Overwhelm the Congo

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The Rundown The Democratic Republic of Congo’s once-peaceful Kasai region descended into violence in August 2016. Since then, conflict has forced more than 1 million people from their homes and cut off countless others from basic amenities. Many displaced people died after spending months in the bush without adequate food and water. In recent months, […]

The Stream, May 11: Dam Bursts in Kenyan Town, Killing 47 in a ‘Sea of Water’

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The Global Rundown A dam in Kenya’s Rift Valley bursts after weeks of heavy rain, killing at least 47 people. Puerto Rico rations water, food, and other supplies in preparation for the Atlantic hurricane season. Mexico and the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada are likely to see cutbacks in water supply from the Colorado […]

The Stream, May 10: Water-Related Terrorism On the Rise, Analysis Finds

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The Global Rundown A new analysis finds that water-related terrorism rose by 263 percent from 1970 to 2016. U.S. President Donald Trump signs a disaster declaration for Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii, following devastating floods and landslides.  After drought stunted Argentina’s soy crops, heavy rains complicate harvesting. Flooding caused by seasonal rains has killed 132 people […]