water security
Credit: Amio James Ascension/Flickr
Rising sea levels threaten women's reproductive health in Bangladesh
Women in Bangladesh are suffering severe health impacts from saltwater intrusion, a consequence of climate change that could soon affect other parts of the world.
Zoya Teirstein and Mahadi Al Hasnat report for Grist, Vox, and The 19th.
In short:
- Saltwater intrusion in Bangladesh is causing reproductive health issues, including irregular menstrual cycles and infections, particularly affecting women.
- The rise in sea levels, intensified by climate change, is pushing saline water inland, contaminating drinking water supplies and driving migration from rural areas to cities.
- Similar threats from rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion are emerging globally, affecting countries like Egypt, Vietnam, and the U.S.
Key quote:
“The people are trapped. When you don’t have water to drink, how do you live?”
— Zion Bodrud-Doza, researcher at the University of Guelph.
Why this matters:
As sea levels rise, saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies is a growing global health crisis, especially impacting women's reproductive health and driving mass migrations. Read more: Of water and fever.
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Credit: VectorMine/BigStock Photo ID: 325356871
Europe's groundwater crisis deepens
Europe's groundwater, once considered abundant, is now facing a critical decline in both quality and quantity due to climate change and industrial overexploitation.
Zeynep Sentek, Jelena Prtorić, Sarah Pilz report for Under the Surface.
In short:
- More than 15% of Europe's aquifers are in poor condition, impacting major crop-producing countries like Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
- Many countries fail to provide comprehensive data on groundwater status, hindering the assessment of the full extent of the crisis.
- The EU is criticized for not enforcing stricter water management laws, often succumbing to agricultural and chemical industry pressures.
Key quote:
“Water is difficult to find and expensive. It is no longer sustainable this way. More and more growers are giving up.”
— Bart Trybou, Belgian farmer
Why this matters:
Groundwater depletion and contamination threaten food security, public health, and economic stability across Europe. The failure to address this issue could lead to severe shortages and broader environmental crises. Read more: Farming for a small planet.
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Credit: kaninw/BigStockPhotos ID: 430959740
Recent court rulings bolster state power to safeguard groundwater
In a significant shift, western states are gaining ground in the battle to conserve their precious groundwater resources.
In short:
- Recent court decisions in Idaho, Nevada and Montana have empowered states to enforce stricter groundwater usage rules to combat overpumping.
- The rulings are part of a broader movement that includes California's steps to penalize over-extraction and the White House's consultation with scientists on federal support.
- These measures address the critical decline in groundwater levels, a vital source for drinking water and agriculture exacerbated by climate change.
Key quote:
"This is truly exciting. There has been stuff like this off and on, but not in such a short period of time across the western states."
— Upmanu Lall, director of both the Water Institute at ASU and the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University.
Why this matters:
Groundwater depletion poses a threat to the sustainability of drinking water supplies, agricultural productivity and urban development. Whereas deference to water rights established in a bygone era have maintained a legacy of water injustice, these recent court decisions signal a pivotal shift to more equitable water considerations.
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Credit: Danielle Brigida/Flickr
‘We said, there must be ladies’: the pioneering Maasai women ending all-male leadership of the land
In one Kenyan reserve, women are taking up roles that give them a say in community life and protecting the land they depend on – inspiring a new generation to follow in their footsteps.
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Photo by John Gibbons on Unsplash
Lake Powell is still in trouble. Here's what's good and what's alarming about current water levels
Low water puts a hydropower plant at risk and highlights volatility for an important form of clean energy.
Credit: pmonaghan/Flickr
Midland's water woes: Texas' drilling dilemma
The clash between water conservation and oil drilling in the Permian Basin is reaching a critical juncture.
In short:
- Midland faces a water crisis as oil companies consume vast amounts of groundwater, leaving local residents and agriculture struggling for supply.
- Concerns grow over potential environmental damage caused by excessive drilling.
- The city grapples with tough decisions on balancing economic interests with the urgent need to protect its water resources.
Key quote:
"I think in the greater context, we’re seeing a lot of problems with these underground injection wells. It seems like something that’s not safe to do so close to the water supply."
— Virginia Palacios, executive director of Commission Shift, an environmental watchdog group
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate and health.
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Credit: Charles Henry/Flickr
Midland reaches settlement over wastewater disposal worries
The city initially protested Pilot’s applications to drill the wells close to its water supply.
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