Zeropolis – Big Cities, Little Water

Today we are faced to reckon with an era of water uncertainty where “Day Zero” countdowns are becoming increasingly more frequent. “Zeropolis: Big cities, little water,” a new series by Circle of Blue, highlights cities across the globe that are grappling with severe water shortages, investigating why water is being depleted, who is most affected, and if the city is likely to experience its own “Day Zero.”

The Next Urban Water Crisis? Inadequate Data Clouds the Forecast

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August 15, 2019

What is the next center of population and commerce to be roiled by a severely constricted water supply?

Groundwater Plummets in Delhi, City of 29 Million

January 10, 2019

Experts warn that Delhi could reach “zero groundwater levels” by 2020.

A Decade After Barcelona’s Water Emergency, Drought Still Stalks Spain

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July 17, 2018

Precipitation in 2017 was scarce, plunging Spain into its worst drought since 2008.

Water Access In Lima Complicated by Inequality and Climate Uncertainty

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June 28, 2018

Lima, Peru, is at high risk for water shortages.

Tehran Faces Crisis As Iran’s Water Supply Runs Low

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June 6, 2018

Tehran, the capital and largest city, could soon be the epicenter of Iran’s water crisis.

In Kabul, Residents Chase Receding Groundwater

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May 16, 2018

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

Amman Faces Water Squeeze as Refugees Rush into Jordan

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May 3, 2018

Water shortages abound in Amman, home to more than 40 percent of Jordan’s people.

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Karachi’s Water Supply Curtailed by Theft and Mismanagement

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April 26, 2018

Theft, corruption, and disrepair hamper water access for millions in Pakistan's largest city.

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Drought, Pollution, and Expansion Imperil Istanbul’s Best-Laid Water Plans

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April 19, 2018

Long-term, a variety of problems threaten Istanbul's water supply, including climate change, water pollution, and industrialization.

Pollutants and Heavy Metals Taint Moscow’s Water Supply

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April 12, 2018

Studies show that both surface water and groundwater in Moscow…

Recurring Dry Spells Fuel Water Worries in Tokyo

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April 4, 2018

The Japanese megacity now experiences a dry spell every decade or so.

Water Scarcity Looms in London’s Future

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March 28, 2018

The city's water demand is expected to exceed supply within the next decade.

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Egypt’s Nile River Pressured by Population Growth, Rising Sea Level

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March 21, 2018

Threats to the Nile and explosive population growth are pushing Egypt toward severe water scarcity.

Water-Stressed Beijing Exhausts Its Options

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March 14, 2018

After depleting groundwater reserves, China's capital is becoming increasingly reliant on water pumped from the country's flood-prone South.

São Paulo Heading To Another Dry Spell

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March 7, 2018

Three years after the megacity nearly ran out of water, signs of a new crisis emerge.

Booming Infrastructure Poisons Bangalore’s Lakes, Depletes Groundwater

February 28, 2018

Bangalore’s largest lake is so contaminated that it routinely…