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2 Jun 2023

European Commission takes Italy to court over lack of urban wastewater treatment

On the 1st of June, the European Commission decided to refer Italy to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for breaching its obligations under the wastewater treatment directive. This decision follows an earlier judgement from the ECJ from 2014 that in 74 urban areas, Italy has been falling behind in its obligations to sufficiently treat urban wastewater before releasing it back into the environment...

11 Apr 2023

Study shows that privileged urban populations are key drivers of urban water crises

In the first two decades of the twentieth century, 79 cities across the world have suffered acute water shortages due to continuous growth in demand as well as the impacts of climate change. Traditional explanations of these crises point to the continuous growth of urban areas, both through population growth and economic growth, as well as changes in the water cycle that reduce the predictability and reliability of existing water supply systems...

8 Feb 2023

Ecologically sensitive urbanisation?

Researchers at the India desk of the World Resources Institute have published a working paper on the effects of expanding built up areas on water bodies, plant cover and permeable open space.  Urban areas all over the world are expanding, leading to the expansion of built-up areas at the expense of natural infrastructure that supports the functioning if the water cycle...

28 Jul 2022 COPENHAGEN, Denmark

European Environment Agency Recommends Circularity In Wastewater Treatment

In a new report the European Environment Agency (EEA) recommends initiatives towards achieving circularity in wastewater treatment and focuses on urban water treatment facilities.

13 Feb 2022 WASHINGTON DC

Over $685 Million USD In Water Infrastructure Loans Announced

Reliability and resiliency of urban water systems, upgrades to aging infrastructure, reduction in flood risk focus of funding support

1 Nov 2021 TURIN

EU Horizon 2020 Project To Create Sustainable Urban Water Loops

EU funding to support development of innovative and enhanced nature-based solutions to create closed and sustainable urban water loops. 

26 Jul 2021 Zhengzhou, China

China Floods: Death Toll Rises, Hundreds Of Thousands Flee

The severe rainstorms have now moved north impacting neighbouring cities and regions, with collapsed roads and damaged dams and reservoirs cutting off power leaving thousands trapped without electricity and water supplies. In one incident, 12 drowned in a Zhengzhou train.

Locals were unprepared for the downpours as weather forecasters had issued a warning for extreme rain for the wrong place and time.

Farmers in the Henan region have lost livelihoods with at least 200,000 chickens and up to 6,000 pigs lost in the floods

4 Jul 2021 ABUJA, Nigeria

World Bank Support For Nigeria WASH Services

World Bank credit line will provide upgraded WASH services to schools and health care facilities and help eradicate open defecation across 500 communities.

4 Mar 2021 BRUSSELS

European Court Of Justice To Investigate Slovenia Waste Water Treatment Failures

The European Commission has decided today to refer Slovenia to the European Court of Justice for failure to comply with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC). The Directive requires Member States to ensure that urban agglomerations (towns, cities, settlements) properly collect and treat their waste waters, thus eliminating or reducing all their undesirable effects...

9 Feb 2021 BRASILIA, Brazil

Brumadinho Mine Disaster: Vale Agrees $7 Billion USD Reparation Settlement

Mining company Vale SA has reached agreement with the government of Minas Gerais in Brazil to pay $7 Billion USD to compensate the state for socioeconomic and environmental damage caused by the collapse of one of its trailings dams in January 2019 which killed 270 people, also polluting rivers with toxic slurry and devastating swathes of local countryside and infrastructure...

3 Feb 2021 THE HAGUE, Netherlands

Water Must Be Driving Force In Climate Change Adaptation Policies

Water challenges featured on the agenda as one of the “action themes” at January's Climate Adaptation Summit 2021, hosted virtually by the Netherlands, with more than 30 world leaders stating unequivocally their firm support of climate adaptation action, and marking a return to the world climate stage of the United States...

27 Jan 2021 PRAGUE

Prague's New Blue-Green Infrastructure Initiative

The City of Prague is aware of the importance of greenery in the urban area and at the same time, the representatives of the city want to support sustainable rainwater management and other adaptive measures within various investment projects of the Czech capital. Thus, the Prague City Hall will launch a brand-new department of Blue-Green Infrastructure...