Compare and contrast: Global heating and urbanisation to blame for severity of UAE floods, study finds
The Guardian
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution team said downpours in El Niño years such as this one had become 10-40% heavier in the region as a result of human-cased climate disruption, while a lack of natural drainage quickly turned roads into rivers. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: California sets long-awaited drinking water limit for ‘Erin Brockovich’ contaminant
Associated Press
The rule is the first in the nation to specifically target the heavy metal, known as chromium-6, and is expected to reduce the number of cancer and kidney disease cases from long-term ingestion, state officials say. More than 200 million Americans are estimated to have the chemical compound in their drinking water, according to an analysis of federal water testing data by the Environmental Working Group. Click here to continue reading
Manitoba First Nation sues governments over chronic flooding, wants protection
CTV News
The lawsuit also alleges two nearby municipalities diverted water from their areas to improve drainage, but in a way that added to flooding on the reserve’s land. Click here to continue reading
The longer spilled oil lingers in freshwater, the more persistent compounds it produces
EurekAlert!
Oil is an important natural resource for many industries, but it can lead to serious environmental damage when accidentally spilled. While large oil spills are highly publicized, every year there are many smaller-scale spills into lakes, rivers and oceans. Approximately 600,000 gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the environment in 2023, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, a group that monitors oil spills. This figure represents ocean spills as well as freshwater spills in rivers and lakes. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: Is filtered water healthier than tap water?
BBC News
Table-top filters can remove contaminants from tap water – but are they really necessary, and could they cause unintentional harm? Proponents argue that filtering water can bring about numerous benefits, from removing toxins and pathogens to reducing hardness and improving odour and taste. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: Mexican communities fighting for water
Associated Press
As a drought in Mexico drags on, angry subsistence farmers have begun taking direct action on the water-intensive avocado orchards and berry fields of commercial farms that are drying up streams in the mountains west of Mexico City. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: Flint residents grapple with water crisis a decade later: ‘If we had the energy left, we’d cry’
The Guardian
Studies later showed that after officials changed Flint’s water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River, the percentage of children with elevated levels of lead levels in their blood doubled – and in some parts of the city, tripled. “Flint was a poor community and majority people of color,” Harris said. “If it had been in another community – a majority white or more affluent community – I think actions would have been taken much sooner”. Click here to continue reading
Province asks all southern Alberta municipalities to reduce water usage
Calgary Herald
The province is “strongly encouraging” southern Alberta municipalities not participating in recently signed water-sharing agreements to decrease usage and implement reduction measures.
The request comes after the Alberta government signed four voluntary deals with 38 major southern Alberta water users last week.“We’ve made it clear to everybody as we go to these water restrictions, everybody needs to abide by them,” said Snodgrass. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: Water theft laws and penalties in the Murray-Darling Basin are a dog’s breakfast. Here’s how we can fix them
The Conversation – Australia
Water is one of Australia’s most valuable commodities. Rights to take water from our nation’s largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, are worth almost A$100 billion. These rights can be bought and sold or leased, with trade exceeding A$2 billion a year. But water is also being stolen (no-one knows how much) and the thieves usually get away with it. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: Climate change makes life harder: in South Africa it’s likely to bring heatwaves, water stress and gender-based violence
The Conversation – Africa
South Africa is feeling the impacts of global warming. Heat is frequent and more intense. Human-induced climate change made the severe 2015–2017 drought three to six times more likely. But climate change also doubled the likelihood of the heavy rain that hit parts of South Africa in April 2022, which led to 400 people being killed and many thousands forced to flee their homes. Click here to continue reading