Entries by Kayla Ritter

Booming Infrastructure Poisons Bangalore’s Lakes, Depletes Groundwater

/in , , , /by

Bangalore’s largest lake is so contaminated that it routinely catches fire. Officials are unsure how to contain the city’s pollution. Rubbish at Rampura Lake. (Photo by Mike Prince/Flickr) The Rundown Three years ago, Bellandur Lake caught fire for the first time. Bellandur is the largest lake in Bangalore, India, and nearly half of the city’s […]

The Stream, February 27: U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Case Against the EPA’s “Water Transfers Rule”

/in /by

The Global Rundown The U.S. Supreme Court rejects an attempt by states and environmental groups to overturn the EPA’s “water transfers rule.” Farmers in drought-stricken Malawi use a mixture of sugar and fish soup to fight pests. Cape Town’s Department of Water and Sanitation attempts to access the last 10 percent of water in the […]

HotSpots H2O, February 26: Spotlight on Yemen’s Ongoing Import Blockade

/in /by

The Rundown In early November 2017, Saudi Arabia placed a crippling import blockade on war-torn Yemen. For several weeks the blockade halted food and fuel from entering the country. At the height of the blockade, fuel for pumping water ran out in nine cities, leaving 2.5 million Yemenis without access to clean water. In mid-December, […]

Jakarta, the World’s Fastest-Sinking City, Also Faces Rising Sea Levels and River Pollution

/in , , , /by

Certain parts of the city have sunk 14 feet in recent decades, largely due to illegal well-digging.

The Stream, February 23: PFAS Found in Major Lake Huron Drinking Water System

/in /by

The Global Rundown Low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in a large Lake Huron drinking water supply system. Indonesia’s president announces a seven-year cleanup project for the heavily-polluted Citarum River. The South African government allocates R6-billion ($531.9 million) for drought recovery. Research shows that tropical trees in the Amazon Rainforest may […]

The Stream, February 22: A Study of 571 European Cities Details Risks from Floods, Droughts, Heatwaves

/in /by

The Global Rundown A recent study models flood, drought, and heatwave risks for 571 cities in Europe. Farmers in California are told to expect minimal water as the state’s drought worsens. Cape Town, South Africa, hopes to serve as a “beacon of hope” for other water-stressed cities across the globe. Solar-powered water pumps provide a […]

The Stream, February 21: Cape Town’s Day Zero Moves to July 9 as Residents Cut Water Use

/in /by

The Global Rundown Cape Town adjusts Day Zero again, with taps now forecasted to run dry on July 9. Zambia’s cholera epidemic slows, with seven deaths recorded in the past month. A $5 billion water pollution lawsuit filed by the state of Minnesota against manufacturer 3M Co. ends with a surprise settlement. Sea levels could […]

The Stream, February 20: Activists Take Legal Action As Pollution Chokes India’s Rivers

/in /by

The Global Rundown Environmental activists take legal action in an attempt to restore India’s polluted rivers. Contaminated water sparks a cholera outbreak in Malawi, sickening more than 500. The Indian Supreme Court delivers a verdict on the Cauvery water dispute, increasing Karnataka’s share of water. Stretches of Australia’s Great Northern Highway are underwater after Tropical […]

HotSpots H2O: Spotlight on Somalia

/in /by

The Rundown Cyclical drought has cursed Somalia for the past 25 years. The most recent dry spell began in 2016, and the country has endured four consecutive failed rainy seasons since then. Low rainfall is largely to blame for the drought, but ineffective governance and ongoing conflict have also played a role. Attacks carried out […]

The Stream, February 16: Unexpected Flash Floods Kill 9 People in South Africa’s Western Cape

/in /by

The Global Rundown Unprecedented rains bring deadly flash floods to South Africa’s Western Cape province. Washington state plans to block the Trump administration’s proposal to allow oil drilling along its coastline. A new study finds that temporary lakes and ponds release CO2 into the atmosphere even when they are dry. A growing “red tide” algal […]

The Stream, February 15: Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Jeopardy After Senate Rejects Changes

/in /by

The Global Rundown The future of the Murray-Darling Basin plan is uncertain after the Australian Senate votes against a reduction of the plan’s water recovery targets. An unprecedented amount of rain lifts the Washington D.C. area out of severe drought. Satellite data links melting Antarctic ice sheets with accelerating rises in sea level. Fiji escapes […]