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water > features
Pressure mounts on world water resources
Fresh water supplies are one of 12 key indicators of a sustainable 'eco-economy' chosen by the Earth Policy Institute for special monitoring. Indeed, water scarcity may be the most underrated resource issue the world is facing, the Institute says. Elizabeth Mygatt reports. ... more
Melting glaciers threaten world's water supplies
Climate change and falling water tables are having a dramatic effect on the world’s water resources. And the rapid melting of the planet's glaciers is making the problem even more serious, writes Satu Hassi, a Member of the European Parliament. ... more
Water harvesting hope for thirsty Beijing
by Yingling Liu
It is not sensational to predict that if China ever moves its capital city, this will be due largely to water shortages. The current capital, Beijing, is exuding dryness from every pore, particularly during the spring and autumn when it is plagued by inland sandstorms and strong winds. But now, says this China Watch report, the city is looking for new ways of water harvesting. ... more
Saving water, saving the river
by Brian Thomson
Water is a scarce and valuable commodity in the Chihuahuan desert region of northern Mexico. But in the Delicias district, which lies about 90km south of Chihuahua City — the state capital — there’s an abundance of water rushing into the fields to irrigate extensive alfalfa crops and pecan tree plantations. ... more
SUCCESS STORY:
Women are greening India's Kutch
by Freny Manecksha
For days a stream of curious villagers thronged the small plot of land that Halimabai Usman owns in the village of Nanhi Arhal, in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India. They all begged to be allowed to do the honours - pressing a switch that would magically start the solar-powered pump for the well. ... more
India's water problem needs local solutions
Grand infrastructure schemes with dams and long-distance pipelines cannot solve India’s water problems. Prudent policies must find local solutions and include wastewater recycling, says Sunita Narain. ... more
Bottled water pours resources down the drain
by Emily Arnold
The global consumption of bottled water reached 154 billion litres (41 billion gallons) in 2004, up 57 per cent from the 98 billion litres onsumed five years earlier. Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing - producing unnecessary garbage and consuming vast quantities of energy. ... more
Breaking down the US salmon barriers
by Jamie Pittock
From its headwaters high up in the Cascade Mountains of south-west Oregon, the Rogue was a rich salmon river, meandering its way hundreds of miles to the Pacific Ocean. But unless some of its many man-made barriers are removed, it will never be restored to its former glory. ... more
Nature's water "factories" under threat
Pollution, dam construction and climate change, are all combining to destroy watersheds and freshwater ecosystems at a rapid rate. But by putting a price on - and protecting these - "natural services", cities and rural areas can purify drinking water, alleviate hunger, mitigate flood damages, and meet other societal goals at a fraction of the cost of conventional alternatives, says a new Worldwatch study. ... more
Crunch time for Nam Theum dam
by David F. Hales
In April this year, funding was finally assured for the controversial Nam Theun dam, across a tributary of the Mekong River in Laos. The Asian Development Bank joined the World Bank in extending US$400 in loans and risk guarantees for the project which will affect not only thousands of peasants facing eviction from their homes, but the future shape of dam building around the world. The following report by David Hales was written before the decision was announced. ... more
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