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9 Oct 2023
Panama Canal experiences lowest water levels in history
One of the world's largest waterways, the Panama Canal is currently experiencing its lowest water levels in history, according to data from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Experts attribute the extreme drought to the El Niño climate phenomenon. This phenomenon causes the Pacific jet stream to move southwards and spread eastwards during the winter season, bringing heavy rainfall to South America...
9 Oct 2023
Water in COP 28: An Interview with AGWA’s Ingrid Timboe
Tobias Schmitz: I wanted to have a discussion with you about the role of water in the upcoming COP 28. I believe that the host country, the United Arab Emirates, has identified three priority areas to discuss cooperation on water, i.e., restoring freshwater ecosystems, enhancing urban water resilience and boosting water resilient food systems...
2 Oct 2023
Cauvery Water Authority orders Karnataka to release water for Tamil Nadu
On the 27th of September the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) ordered the State of Karnataka to release 85 m³ of water per second to downstream Tamil Nadu for 18 days, starting from September 28. This decision is the latest development in a water dispute between Indian federal states that dates back more than a century, when both Mysore (now Karnataka) and Madras (now Tamil Nadu) proposed using the water of the Cauvery River for respectively dam construction and irrigation development...
28 Sep 2023
Mounting water conflict between Dominican Republic and Haiti
On the 11th of September the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader suspended visas for Haitians and threatened to close the border between the two countries following a water conflict between the two countries. By the 18th of September the Dominican Republic indeed shut all land and sea borders with Haïti...
18 Sep 2023
Libyans briefly united in response to deadly floods in Derna
Libyans, divided and ruled by two rival governments since 2014, have united briefly in response to the disaster caused by storm Daniel in early September. The storm produced 8 months of rain in 24 hours and led to the collapse of two dams, resulting in a wall of water rushing through the city of Derna in the early morning of the 11th of September, creating Africa’s deadliest flood on record...
12 Sep 2023
Water utilities request transparency over discharge permits as Meuse River quality deteriorates
The quality of the Maas / Meuse River, shared by France, Belgium and the Netherlands has deteriorated further due to the discharge of harmful chemicals. Over the past year, concentrations above the permitted levels have been measured for 79 substances. In 11% of all measurements of water quality along the river, pollution levels were found that were above the maximum set by European norms...
7 Sep 2023
Preserving Precious Ecosystems: The Urgent Need for Wetland Conservation
Wetlands, which are sometimes overlooked in favor of more beautiful vistas, are essential to the health of our planet. Since they filter water, sustain biodiversity, and moderate climate change, these unique ecosystems require our attention and protection. As the global community grapples with environmental concerns, the value of wetland ecosystems has come into sharper focus, with examples from Africa and elsewhere demonstrating their importance...
7 Sep 2023
Microplastics discovered in human heart
In August, microplastics were found for the first time in human heart tissue. A discovery that is now raising new concerns about their long-term impact on health. A Chinese team discovered the presence of microplastics after examining tissue samples from 15 cardiac surgery patients. The presence of chemicals, such as acrylic or Plexiglas, provides "direct evidence of the presence of microplastics in cardiac surgery patients", although there may be some doubt about contamination during surgery, according to doctors...
7 Sep 2023
Sudan Update: The Water Diplomat Speaks to Action Against Hunger
Tobias Schmitz: From your perspective, what is the current status of the conflict and which areas are currently affected: has this changed geographically since mid-May? Paloma Martin: The fighting that began with the outbreak of conflict on 15 April between the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudanese security forces has resulted in frequent air attacks and shelling of military and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, in the capital Khartoum and other parts of the country...
7 Sep 2023
Malawi and South Sudan Announce Presidential Compacts on Water and Sanitation
On the 21st of August, at Stockholm Water Week, the governments of Malawi and South Sudan announced the launch of Presidential Compacts on Water and Sanitation. This builds on an initiative in 2022 by the Government of the Netherlands, together with IRC WASH, SWA and UNICEF, to directly engage heads of state in the drive to prioritise action on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)...
7 Sep 2023
China suffers flooding and emerging food safety concerns
Since the end of July, and for just a few days, China experienced severe flooding caused by the aftermath of typhoon Doksuri. Flooding took place in the grain-growing region of northeast China whereby flood waters inundated farmland. The floods have resulted in a double catastrophe for the country, which is concerned not just about the damage from the water but also about its food security...
7 Sep 2023
Release of Water from Fukushima Nuclear Plant Begins
On August 24, Japan began the process of releasing water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The position of Japan is that a special process is being applied, with many precautions taken, one which is "common practice in the nuclear industry worldwide". The water has been filtered beforehand to remove most of its radioactive substances, with the exception of tritium...