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19 Apr 2024
Standoff in investments and potential renationalization of Thames Water
In early April, Thames Water’s parent company Kemble sent a formal notice to shareholders to announce that it had defaulted on its debt payments on a € 468 million bond. Thames Water has been experiencing financial difficulties for some time, and British regulator OFWAT has been working with the utility in recent months to develop a response to the challenges it is facing...
18 Apr 2024
Global Study of PFAS concentrations in water show pervasiveness of contamination
A study published in Nature Geoscience on the 8th of April has combined data from around the world on the concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface and groundwater to help improve mitigation measures, such as providing regulatory guidance. PFAS substances are a class of more than 14,000 synthetic chemicals which have been used for more than 70 years in a broad range of industries and consumer products...
9 Apr 2024
Heavy Rain and Rapid Snowmelt in Upper Ural River Causes Dam Burst and Flooding
A rapid rise in the Ural River caused a dam burst leading to floods and emergency evacuations in Russia’s Orenburg region on the 6th of April. The Orsk Dam, built in 2010, was built for a water level of 5.5 metres. However, at the time of its collapse, a combination of heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt raised water levels in the Ural River to 9,6 metres...
5 Apr 2024
White House and EPA warn against cyberattacks on water systems
The National Security Advisor and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to all U.S. Governors urging them to secure critical water infrastructure against cyberattacks. The letter from the White House, dated 18th of March, stated that disabling cyberattacks are striking water and wastewater systems throughout the United States...
5 Apr 2024
Investing in watersheds: A New African Water Fund in Sierra Leone
A new water fund in Sierra Leone is the latest addition to a series of African Water Funds which invest in the protection of water towers for long term water security of the continent’s cities. The launch of The Western Area Peninsula Water Fund (WAPWF) was marked through an investment of U.S. $ 2 million – to leverage a U...
5 Apr 2024
Water’s Strong Linkages to Peace
This year’s theme for the World Water Day was been “Water for peace”. This is a powerful signal because it is time to include water when we think about security. Unequal access to clean freshwater and disease-causing wastewater are major drivers of tension and conflict. Climate change, population growth, and increased water consumption for industry and energy will accelerate this global development...
4 Apr 2024
New article explores transboundary water conflict and cooperation trends
A study published on the 7th of March in the journal Water International explores findings and evolution in thinking on transboundary water conflict and cooperation over the last three decades. As the authors point out, large proportions of the world’s water resources are transboundary in nature, including 313 shared river (and lake) basins, more than 300 wetlands and close to 600 aquifers...
4 Apr 2024
Dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery River Water reemerges amid drought
The dispute over the allocation of the waters of the Cauvery River in India flared up again during March amid an intense drought largely attributed to the El Niño climate phenomenon. The Chief Minister of Karnataka State in India declared in Mid-March that the state will not comply with central government requests to release water to the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu...
3 Apr 2024
Legal status obtained for conservation of Croatia’s Mrežnica and Tounjčica Rivers
In early March, Croatia’s Karlovac County Assembly officially confirmed the protection of the Mrežnica and Tounjčica rivers and the establishment of two new protected areas. The two rivers are among the last free flowing rivers in Europe, and there is a growing number of stakeholders who have worked together to achieve its protection...
3 Apr 2024
The Impact of Afghanistan’s Water Developments in the Amu Darya Basin
Authors from the Center for International Development and Environmental Research and the Institute for Advanced International Studies have published a policy brief on the impact of Afghanistan’s water developments in the Amu Darya basin of Central Asia. This region, with its dry climate, has undergone significant institutional change since 1991 as former Soviet states each pursued their own programmes for water resources development...
3 Apr 2024
The importance of rainwater harvesting:
Water resources constitute the most significant natural resource for the survival of humankind and the socio-economic development of nations. The relevant knowledge of water resources is consequently a prerequisite condition for the elaboration of development projects and to appraise sustainable resources...
2 Apr 2024
The Green Climate Fund: Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Water in Barbados as an adaptation measure
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) recognises the urgent need for a comprehensive, innovative approach to water security. It emphasizes – amongst others through its call to action - that water resources management is a top priority sector in National Adaptation Plans and other regional climate adaptation plans...