A graphic image of a city being reclaimed by the sea because of rising sea levels and global warming.

Rising sea levels threaten Philadelphia’s drinking water supply

Fears are growing that seawater could contaminate drinking-water intakes serving millions in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, as an interstate agency warns that existing measures to keep saltwater at bay may fail due to rising sea levels and worsening droughts.

Jon Hurdle reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) says its current water management plan may not prevent saltwater from creeping into drinking-water intakes near Philadelphia as sea levels rise.
A report shows that local sea levels have been rising at more than twice the historical rate, with projections indicating further increases that could push saltwater dangerously close to key water sources.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a key climate agency, faces major staffing cuts under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the accuracy and availability of future sea-level rise forecasts.

Key quote:

"Elevated sea level is the new normal. Then you layer on top of that a reduction in upstream water from a severe drought. Bigger rains keep downstream pressure on the salt front during a storm, but if the frequency of 30- or 60-day droughts continues or increases, then it’s countered."

— John Jackson, senior research scientist at the Stroud Water Research Center

Why this matters:

Rising sea levels and climate-driven droughts threaten the water supply for millions in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. If saltwater infiltrates drinking-water intakes, it could corrode infrastructure, alter water taste, and pose health risks, particularly for those with sodium sensitivities. The problem extends beyond human consumption — an increasingly saline Delaware River could disrupt ecosystems, including fish migration and wetlands. Without effective management, the advancing "salt front" may make securing fresh water increasingly difficult.

insideclimatenews.org

A residential garbage can overflows with plastic bottles and other waste.

Credit: the blowup/Unsplash

New pricing system helps small town slash its garbage output

When Plympton, Massachusetts started charging by the bag for trash, it nearly halved the town’s garbage — and saved thousands of dollars in the process.

Tik Root reports for Grist.

In short:

Plympton cut its annual trash output from 640 to 335 tons after shifting from a flat-fee dump sticker to a “pay-as-you-throw” model charging per bag.
The new pricing system incentivized recycling and composting, saving the town about $65,000 a year and reducing landfill-related emissions.
Nearly half of Massachusetts municipalities now use PAYT, and experts say volume-based pricing drives waste reduction without unfairly burdening small or low-income households.

Key quote:

“We found that demand for waste disposal was really responsive to price. If you raise the price of trash, people are going to find ways to not put as much out at the curb.”

— John Halstead, retired professor of environmental economics at the University of New Hampshire and an author of a study on New Hampshire's pay-as-you-throw model

Why this matters:

Less landfill use means fewer toxics in the air and water, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and more recycled materials in circulation. Plympton’s story shows that smart policy doesn’t have to be punitive or complicated — it just has to make people see the cost of their choices, and let common sense do the rest.

How a government feud threatens decades of scientific progress

The Trump administration’s move to cut off $2.6 billion in federal research funding to Harvard has upended a vital engine of American science, with ripple effects that reach far beyond a single university.

Emily Badger, Aatish Bhatia, and Ethan Singer report for The New York Times.

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