Group items tagged

"South-north diversion project aimed at preventing water shortages has had no shortage of problems and criticism"

"Five hundred scientists meeting in Bonn last month warned that 9 billion people would face the consequences of severe water shortages within a generation or two, but did not point the finger at industries devastating fresh water supplies. Meanwhile, a battle against a metal mining industry that has ravaged freshwater supplies in El Salvador shows just how difficult it is for a developing country to build economic alternatives for a water-secure future."

Australia and US offer desalination and reverse-osmosis units as severe drought worsens in Pacific archipelago

"Last week drought in São Paulo was so bad, residents tried drilling through basement floors for groundwater. As reservoirs dry up across the world, a billion people have no access to safe drinking water. Rationing and a battle to control supplies will follow"

"Critics of California's current water policy advocate more infrastructure spending on things like dams, canals, and desalination plants.  Many would also curtail water releases for the benefit of fish and other wildlife. Certainly, infrastructure spending would be better than wasting money on the governor's high-speed-train fantasy.  However, California cannot spend enough money on water infrastructure to prevent water shortages."

"From California to the Middle East, huge areas of the world are drying up and a billion people have no access to safe drinking water. US intelligence is warning of the dangers of shrinking resources and experts say the world is 'standing on a precipice'"

"North Korea says it is facing the worst drought in a century, sparking fears of worsening food shortages."

"Rising population and dwindling water supplies will affect millions of people and exacerbate conflict in the region"

It's estimated that we use 9tn cubic metres of water every year. As the global population grows, it is becoming an increasingly precious resource, with millions forced to walk for more than a mile to collect their daily supply. We investigate the innovative technologies that will help tackle our water crisis in future.

California has the unfortunate characteristic of being prone to prolonged and severe droughts at any time.

"A Billion people don't have access to sufficient water and with water use growing at twice the rate of the population, water will surpass oil as the most desired and needed liquid. BBC sent 4 correspondents around the world to investigate. Then Matt Frei talkes with Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University."

Severe drought and water shortages are causing blackouts and threatening a range of businesses in Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo, authorities have said. Rio de Janeiro state's government warned on Friday that the Rio region was experiencing its worst-ever water crisis, while low water levels in the Paraiba do Sul river affected Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, which is suffering ts worst drought in nearly 100 years.

The U.S. Drought Monitor, which publishes its colorful drought map every Thursday, this week is expected to show a slight decline in the dark brown parts of California suffering the most acutely from a drought that has parched the state four years in a row.

The recent World Economic Forum Global Risks report identifies the 10 "biggest threats to the stability of the world" over the next 10 years. These are difficult times, and the catalogue of potential threats includes many that may seem familiar, including high unemployment, war and the spread of infectious disease.