Burdens of Extraction — The Growing Coal Mining Industry in Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Region

Burdens of Extraction — The Growing Coal Mining Industry in Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Region

Farmers and small town residents grapple with the pressures of an unprecedented expansion in coal mining. Read More…

The Price of Water 2012: 18 Percent Rise Since 2010, 7 Percent Over Last Year in 30 Major U.S. Cities

The Price of Water 2012: 18 Percent Rise Since 2010, 7 Percent Over Last Year in 30 Major U.S. Cities

Rates have increased in many cities, but local conditions dictate by how much and how the increase is distributed. Chicago prices are up nearly 25 percent, while Los Angeles is down by 9 percent. Read More…

In These Dry Times, Groundwater Rescues New Mexico Farmers

In These Dry Times, Groundwater Rescues New Mexico Farmers

Surface water allocations last year were 10 percent of normal, but record levels of groundwater pumping buoyed production in the state’s top agricultural region. Read More…

Australia’s Agriculture and Energy Sectors Clash Over Water

Australia’s Agriculture and Energy Sectors Clash Over Water

Rural culture and the industrial economy are at odds. Read More…

Forecasting Western U.S. Water Supply in 2012: La Niña Again Delivers a Wet North and a Dry South

Forecasting Western U.S. Water Supply in 2012: La Niña Again Delivers a Wet North and a Dry South

As water availability data starts coming in, this year’s water allocations and the potential consequences for irrigation, hydropower, wildfires, and flooding are being assessed — La Niña weather patterns have returned this year, but water supply conditions generally are not as extreme as they were 2011. Read More…

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Brett Walton  May 17th, 4:12 pm
waltonwater: Colorado River basin report: quantifying demand through 2060 under six scenarios http://t.co/R2nPIsO8Colorado River basin report: quantifying demand through 2060 under six scenarios http://t.co/R2nPIsO8
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Ned Breslin  May 18th, 2:49 pm
NedBreslin: Classic, will keep this in mind RT @kiwanja To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.Classic, will keep this in mind RT @kiwanja To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
More Tweets :: Follow :: Bio :: Articles :: Contact


 
Nadya Ivanova
A native of Bulgaria, Nadya is a Chicago-based reporter for Circle of Blue. She co-writes The Stream, a daily digest of international water news trends.
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nadyaivanova: RT @eosnos: Five Books on China: The new Page-Turner blog is a perfect occasion to cite the reasons why we’re having a flu... http://t ...RT @eosnos: Five Books on China: The new Page-Turner blog is a perfect occasion to cite the reasons why we’re having a flu... http://t ...
May 15th, 10:58 pm


nadyaivanova: Волейболен сценарий за Мисия Лондон. Сега остава да измислим как да докараме "кралицата"...Волейболен сценарий за Мисия Лондон. Сега остава да измислим как да докараме "кралицата"...
May 15th, 12:14 pm




nadyaivanova: Flawed water trading system is choking Australia's rivers, says @UniofAdelaide's Mike Young http://t.co/XCFKlvTF But what's the alternative?Flawed water trading system is choking Australia's rivers, says @UniofAdelaide's Mike Young http://t.co/XCFKlvTF But what's the alternative?
May 9th, 7:30 pm

Brett Walton
Brett Walton is a Seattle-based reporter for Circle of Blue. He writes our Federal Water Tap, a weekly breakdown of U.S. policy.
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waltonwater: Colorado River basin report: quantifying demand through 2060 under six scenarios http://t.co/R2nPIsO8Colorado River basin report: quantifying demand through 2060 under six scenarios http://t.co/R2nPIsO8
May 17th, 4:12 pm


waltonwater: Art break: experiments with light in the far north of Quebec http://t.co/CkAe3RdWArt break: experiments with light in the far north of Quebec http://t.co/CkAe3RdW
May 17th, 1:08 pm

waltonwater: Report from FLOW says Canada has gaps in legislation to protect water resources and inadequate funds for research http://t.co/NCMJUTcWReport from FLOW says Canada has gaps in legislation to protect water resources and inadequate funds for research http://t.co/NCMJUTcW
May 17th, 12:20 pm

waltonwater: I take a look at the last ten years of American Rivers "Endangered Rivers" reports; the most cited river? the Snake http://t.co/W9xWyXBII take a look at the last ten years of American Rivers "Endangered Rivers" reports; the most cited river? the Snake http://t.co/W9xWyXBI
May 17th, 12:15 pm

waltonwater: USGS report: how climate change will affect river runoff and water availability in 14 US basins http://t.co/yrEpQl3eUSGS report: how climate change will affect river runoff and water availability in 14 US basins http://t.co/yrEpQl3e
May 17th, 12:12 pm

waltonwater: Faked water meter readings in Baltimore (stories like these don't help any agency's credibility) http://t.co/VzjjUlZoFaked water meter readings in Baltimore (stories like these don't help any agency's credibility) http://t.co/VzjjUlZo
May 16th, 12:26 pm



waltonwater: Poor groundwater quality--in addition to unsustainable withdrawals--is a problem in India, according to govt data http://t.co/3ksxEIRwPoor groundwater quality--in addition to unsustainable withdrawals--is a problem in India, according to govt data http://t.co/3ksxEIRw
May 15th, 11:14 am

Keith Schneider
Keith Schneider is a Traverse City-based senior editor for Circle of Blue. He has reported on energy, water, and climate change from four continents.
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modeshift: #China Demand For #Food, #Energy Raising Prices, Consumer Ire in U.S. Writing new law of U.S. supply, demand, prices. http://t.co/p5P8OcU2#China Demand For #Food, #Energy Raising Prices, Consumer Ire in U.S. Writing new law of U.S. supply, demand, prices. http://t.co/p5P8OcU2
April 27th, 12:19 pm

modeshift: A Story I'm Interested in: The Ohio River Valley's Steady Rise to Economic Relevance. On assignment. http://t.co/C31lyvNgA Story I'm Interested in: The Ohio River Valley's Steady Rise to Economic Relevance. On assignment. http://t.co/C31lyvNg
April 26th, 2:30 pm



modeshift: Collapsing US Support Means More Trouble For # Clean #Energy, Says New Report from Brookings, Breakthrough, and WRI. http://t.co/C31lyvNgCollapsing US Support Means More Trouble For # Clean #Energy, Says New Report from Brookings, Breakthrough, and WRI. http://t.co/C31lyvNg
April 18th, 7:16 am



modeshift: Benzie County's Second Annual Water Festival Happens Tomorrow here along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. http://t.co/EhppBfolBenzie County's Second Annual Water Festival Happens Tomorrow here along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. http://t.co/EhppBfol
April 13th, 8:26 am

modeshift: @RandySimes Randy, can you call me? Keith Schneider here. I write for the NYT. 231-920-0745, keith@citistates.com@RandySimes Randy, can you call me? Keith Schneider here. I write for the NYT. 231-920-0745, keith@citistates.com
April 12th, 9:19 am


Codi Yeager-Kozacek
Codi Yeager-Kozacek is a reporter for Circle of Blue based out of Enterprise, Alabama. She studied journalism and biology as an undergraduate at West Virginia University and graduated summa cum laude from the university's Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. She co-writes The Stream, Circle of Blue;s daily digest of international water news trends.
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Circle of Blue
Circle of Blue is the international network of leading journalists, scientists and communications design experts that reports and presents the information necessary to respond to the global freshwater crisis. It is a nonprofit affiliate of the internationally recognized water, climate and policy think tank, the Pacific Institute.
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circleofblue: The Stream, May 18: Climate Change Will Affect U.S. Water Availability | Circle of Blue - http://t.co/k6DxrHRV The Stream, May 18: Climate Change Will Affect U.S. Water Availability | Circle of Blue - http://t.co/k6DxrHRV
May 18th, 12:01 pm








J.Carl Ganter
J. Carl Ganter, a Traverse City-based photojournalist, is director and co-founder of Circle of Blue. He is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Council on Water Security.

Interests: All Things Water.
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Ned Breslin
Ned Breslin is the CEO at Water For People, a nonprofit that implements drinking water and sanitation solutions in 11 developing countries. He is author of Rethinking Hydrophilantropy.

Interests: Health, Humanity, Water.
Follow :: Bio :: Articles :: Contact

NedBreslin: Classic, will keep this in mind RT @kiwanja To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.Classic, will keep this in mind RT @kiwanja To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
May 18th, 2:49 pm

NedBreslin: RT @DIVatUSAID: RT @MollyKinder "Obama: 'we'll speed & scale innov via mobile phones for better data in farmers hands'" see DIV gran ...RT @DIVatUSAID: RT @MollyKinder "Obama: 'we'll speed & scale innov via mobile phones for better data in farmers hands'" see DIV gran ...
May 18th, 9:53 am



NedBreslin: Appreciate you sharing this! MT @CaseFoundation Don’t let someone else tell your story – do it yourself. VIDEO: http://t.co/qPEI03joAppreciate you sharing this! MT @CaseFoundation Don’t let someone else tell your story – do it yourself. VIDEO: http://t.co/qPEI03jo
May 17th, 1:55 pm


NedBreslin: . @PlanGlobal @darrens200368 MT @meowtree looking at # of people used for study - Time needed? Can data be opened? (not pdf). @PlanGlobal @darrens200368 MT @meowtree looking at # of people used for study - Time needed? Can data be opened? (not pdf)
May 17th, 11:15 am




James Workman
James G. Workman is an award-winning journalist and has served as an environmental consultant to U.S.-cabinet members.

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DroughtDoctor: Half a century on, Eichmann trial still echoes in halls of justice http://t.co/6P7wfQTgHalf a century on, Eichmann trial still echoes in halls of justice http://t.co/6P7wfQTg
April 24th, 3:39 pm

DroughtDoctor: Boycott World Water Day%21 %7C Circle of Blue WaterNews http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FeegdqGBoycott World Water Day%21 %7C Circle of Blue WaterNews http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FeegdqG
March 22nd, 11:48 am

DroughtDoctor: Horse Race Politics: Watch the Republican Presidential Campaign Unfold! http://t.co/nwpia65Q via @slateHorse Race Politics: Watch the Republican Presidential Campaign Unfold! http://t.co/nwpia65Q via @slate
March 17th, 11:22 pm

DroughtDoctor: Ebooks Encourage Authors To Stare At Their Shoes Instead Of Shoot For The Stars - Forbes http://t.co/RuOY0SUvEbooks Encourage Authors To Stare At Their Shoes Instead Of Shoot For The Stars - Forbes http://t.co/RuOY0SUv
March 2nd, 10:33 pm

DroughtDoctor: Global Perspectives: How Dry Weather in Argentina Could Affect Chicken Prices in Chicago | Circle .. http://t.co/biEsTHYZGlobal Perspectives: How Dry Weather in Argentina Could Affect Chicken Prices in Chicago | Circle .. http://t.co/biEsTHYZ
February 22nd, 6:27 pm

DroughtDoctor: Currents To Currency: Tradable Personal Carbon Allowances In Smart Markets. Two interesting articles on a proposed sys…http://t.co/KKwjfC5HCurrents To Currency: Tradable Personal Carbon Allowances In Smart Markets. Two interesting articles on a proposed sys…http://t.co/KKwjfC5H
February 20th, 7:46 pm

Water Law
Water Law is mainly focused on U.S. court cases involving water, though international law will be covered as well. Water Law is sponsored by Patrick | Miller | Kropf, Attorneys at Law.

Law and Water, of course
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waterlaws: Vermont is the first US state to ban fracking http://t.co/xYTlXMJkVermont is the first US state to ban fracking http://t.co/xYTlXMJk
May 17th, 12:04 pm

waterlaws: Canada's govt backs a bill to prevent bulk exports of water from the country's transboundary rivers http://t.co/WGiYpM4o via @globeandmailCanada's govt backs a bill to prevent bulk exports of water from the country's transboundary rivers http://t.co/WGiYpM4o via @globeandmail
May 17th, 11:56 am

waterlaws: Ohio senate passes new fracking regulations: water withdrawal accounting, disclosure of chemicals, but not the formula http://t.co/ASxe3q5mOhio senate passes new fracking regulations: water withdrawal accounting, disclosure of chemicals, but not the formula http://t.co/ASxe3q5m
May 17th, 11:06 am

waterlaws: Water district in Silicon Valley under investigation for violating water pollution law http://t.co/6At2cHjn via @mercnewsWater district in Silicon Valley under investigation for violating water pollution law http://t.co/6At2cHjn via @mercnews
May 16th, 12:10 pm





waterlaws: The confusing legal and legislative tango between Southern California water agencies over groundwater storage http://t.co/A0ZpGpFiThe confusing legal and legislative tango between Southern California water agencies over groundwater storage http://t.co/A0ZpGpFi
May 14th, 2:11 pm

Aubrey Ann Parker
Aubrey Ann Parker is a Traverse City-based assistant editor for Circle of Blue. She specializes in data visualization.
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aubreyH2O: Are mining laws too weak in #GreatLakes region? Some say the #water is susceptible to acidic waste from copper/sulfer http://t.co/binX8z6BAre mining laws too weak in #GreatLakes region? Some say the #water is susceptible to acidic waste from copper/sulfer http://t.co/binX8z6B
May 18th, 1:34 pm



aubreyH2O: RT @TheEconomist: What Mr #Sendak's books get so right about childhood is that violent imbalance between narcissism and oppression http: ...RT @TheEconomist: What Mr #Sendak's books get so right about childhood is that violent imbalance between narcissism and oppression http: ...
May 16th, 11:17 am

aubreyH2O: Continued ice loss on #GreatLakes may cause widespread change in ecosystems—We did have mild winter here in #NMi http://t.co/e5Buh4kdContinued ice loss on #GreatLakes may cause widespread change in ecosystems—We did have mild winter here in #NMi http://t.co/e5Buh4kd
May 16th, 11:12 am




aubreyH2O: RT @WRIAqueduct: Interesting questions on groundwater in Africa - groundwater not always cheap or renewable! @aubreyh2o @circleofblue h ...RT @WRIAqueduct: Interesting questions on groundwater in Africa - groundwater not always cheap or renewable! @aubreyh2o @circleofblue h ...
May 4th, 1:16 pm

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The Daily Stream

Newest Article
 

May 18: Climate Change Will Affect U.S. Water Availability

Water levels on the flooding Rio Negro in Brazil have reached 29.78 meters, the highest in a century, prompting 53 cities to declare a state of emergency, Xinhua reported.

India could see its first commercial shale gas production in four years, Bloomberg News reported. Companies are waiting for further data analysis and government policy before any serious drilling begins.

China’s government has announced it will spend $US 79 billion on nearly 6,000 projects to prevent and control water pollution, Xinhua reported.

Climate Change
The United States Geological Survey has studied how climate change will affect water availability in 14 basins across the U.S., United Press International reported. The findings: a warming trend will likely reduce snowpack, meaning less water flowing into river basins.

After mapping Australasia’s temperature trends for the past 1,000 years, scientists at Australia’s University of Melbourne found that the last 60 years have been the hottest, the Guardian reported. The study’s authors say it supports the idea of man-made climate change.

Climate change, particularly droughts and floods, cost Kenya $US 11.5 billion in 2011, Xinhua reported, citing Kenya’s prime minister. A study estimates that it will take $US 1 billion for drought recovery efforts in the country.

The United Nations climate chief urged countries to set emission reduction targets now in order to prepare for a global climate deal in 2015, AlertNet reported.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

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Water News

Newest Article
Recent Articles

Burdens of Extraction — The Growing Coal Mining Industry in Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Region

Burdens of Extraction — The Growing Coal Mining Industry in Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Region

Farmers and small town residents grapple with the pressures of an unprecedented expansion in coal mining.

Map: 2012 Water Prices in 30 Major U.S. Cities

The price that Americans pay for water is rising faster than the cost of any other utility service in the United States — be it gas, electricity, or telephone charges.

U.S. Congress to Get Asian Carp Solutions by 2013, Two Years Ahead of Schedule

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking steps to speed up its recommendations for keeping invasive species out of the Great Lakes — but will its actions be quick enough to stop Asian carp?

Infographic: 2010, 2011, and 2012 Water Pricing Survey for 30 Major U.S. Cities

The price of water can be influenced by the supply sources and systems, in addition to the number of users who are sharing these water resources and the burden to pay for the supply system's maintenance.

The Price of Water 2012: 18 Percent Rise Since 2010, 7 Percent Over Last Year in 30 Major U.S. Cities

Rates have increased in many cities, but local conditions dictate by how much and how the increase is distributed. Chicago prices are up nearly 25 percent, while Los Angeles is down by 9 percent.

A Precarious Recovery: Food Security Remains Uncertain in the Horn of Africa

Although a repeat famine is unlikely, the situation in East Africa remains dire despite recent rains.

Map: Annual Australian Water Use By Individual States and Territories

Agriculture is the largest water user in Australia. Where do other sectors like mining, manufacturing, and household use fall?

Film Review: Last Call at the Oasis

A documentary film on the world’s water crisis opens this weekend.

In These Dry Times, Groundwater Rescues New Mexico Farmers

Surface water allocations last year were 10 percent of normal, but record levels of groundwater pumping buoyed production in the state’s top agricultural region.

Map: Interbasin Water Transfers in Iran

The country already has major water transfer projects moving 2,110 million cubic meters (557 billion gallons). Just two weeks ago, Iran began construction on a new $US 1.5 billion project that will transfer more water from the Caspian Sea.

Photo Slideshow: Australia’s Agriculture and Energy

The scale and rapid development of the nation's coal seam gas industry is changing the social fabric of the country’s small towns and farming regions, which have become protest centers.

Australia’s Agriculture and Energy Sectors Clash Over Water

Rural culture and the industrial economy are at odds.

Forecasting Western U.S. Water Supply in 2012: La Niña Again Delivers a Wet North and a Dry South

As water availability data starts coming in, this year's water allocations and the potential consequences for irrigation, hydropower, wildfires, and flooding are being assessed — La Niña weather patterns have returned this year, but water supply conditions generally are not as extreme as they were 2011.

Ned Breslin: Navigating Public Toilets in the City, Begging for Change in the WASH Sector

Sometimes, all it takes is a little outside-the-box thinking to make a difference, as Ned Breslin describes of a recent trip to Rwanda’s capitol.

Draft Plan for Australia’s Murray-Darling Reignites Old Flames

After the 20-week public consultations ended last week, three key basin states have rejected the proposed plan and more than 60 Australian academics have slammed the document for neglecting to include climate change projections and for its lack of transparency.

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In The Circle: Fresh Focus

Newest Article
Recent Articles

Water Shortages Trickle Down the Rio Grande

Groundwater is a proven crutch for dry times, but how much weight can it hold?

Endangered Rivers and Success Stories

Leavening the imperiled areas from the latest “Endangered Rivers” report with a few bright spots.

Defining Water Data

Circle of Blue intern Varun Mangla summarizes the first two weeks of the summer he plans to spend with us.

New Generation Oil and Gas Lease Ensures Water Protection and Big Money

In Ohio, Circle of Blue's senior editor finds mineral leases are being negotiated by an attorney representing the landowners.

Parsing the Water Pricing Data

Which cities have the highest rates? And why?

Water Technology Gets Creative By Air, Land, and Sea

Necessity is the mother of invention, and there is a global need for a lot of water.

Drugs in the Water (And Ways to Prevent that from Happening)

Last month's national drug takeback day was more popular than ever. Antibiotic-resistant genetics have been found in California wetlands. FDA seeks voluntary disclosure of antibiotics in animal feed.

Himalayan Landslide Floods

At least 17 people are dead in the latest disaster in the landslide-prone region.

Designing Water Use and Pricing

Circle of Blue intern Amanda Northrop summarizes the first week of the summer she plans to spend with us.

Interpreting New Data on Africa’s Groundwater

Ever wonder what we’re working on behind the scenes here at Circle of Blue?

Emerald City Water

Circle of Blue reporter Brett Walton’s thoughts on water supply in the United States, specifically Seattle, where he lives.

Putting Iran’s Water Transfer Project in Perspective

Circle of Blue reporter Codi Yeager's thoughts on water transfer projects around the world.

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Choke Point: China

Newest Article
Recent Articles

Map: Major Hydropower in China

China is pushing its renewable energy agenda by investing in hydropower. By 2015, the Chinese government expects that the country's hydropower installed capacity will amount to 300 million kilowatts, thus reducing the nation's reliance on fossil fuels.

“Choke Point: China” Findings Cited in Congressional Hearing

Choke Point: China findings presented at Congressional hearing.

Update: China Completes Tunnel Under Yellow River for South-North Water Transfer Project

China is on target to begin transferring water from the Yangtze River Basin to Hebei, Shandong, and Tianjin by 2013.

Choke Point: China on Wilson Center’s Dialogue Program

On Wednesday evening, dialogue — an award-winning television and radio program that explores the world of ideas through weekly, half-hour conversations with renowned public figures, scholars, journalists, and authors — will feature "Choke Point: The World's Looming Water Crisis."

Infographic: China’s Water Pollution Events and Protection Policies (2004-2011)

China has some of the dirtiest and most dangerous water in the world. This detailed and interactive timeline shows key pollution events, protests, and policy reforms from the last eight years at both the national and regional levels as China tries to clean up its act.

EIA Report: Global Energy Use To Grow 50 Percent by 2035 — Half of Increase from Fossil Fuels in China and India

The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently published its annual report on global energy projections. Though renewable energy sources and nuclear power, along with unconventional fossil fuels, will phase out coal production over the next two decades, it will not be at the pace necessary to offset greenhouse gas emissions

Building China’s 21st-century Megacity: Shanghai’s Experiment with Water and Nature

A new community on the Yangtze River has, so far, been more successful at attracting ducks than people. But city officials have their sights set high for Lingang Port City, which they say could be home to nearly a million people by 2050. Cleaner water will be a big help.

China Turns Profit From Coal-to-liquid Fuels Production, May Expand Controversial Program

Though China suspended most of its coal-to-liquid fuels refineries in 2008 due to concerns for scarce water resources and high production costs, recent financial gains may lead it to reconsider its policy.

Video: Confronting Water Scarcity & Energy Demand in China

Choke Point: China is an on-the-ground report that displays in text, photographs, and interactive graphics the powerful evidence of a potentially ruinous confrontation between growth, water, and fuel that is already visible across China; a confrontation that is virtually certain to grow more dire over the next decade.

China to Cap Energy Use by 2015 in National Low-Carbon Plan

The energy target will be the highlight of a document to come later this year, as well as a cornerstone of China's efforts to curb soaring greenhouse gas emissions, which currently stand at a quarter of the global total. Cutting coal consumption will inevitably also cut water use, as coal is China's largest industrial user of water.

Infographic: Map of Pollution Levels in China’s Major River Basins

The seven major river basins, as a whole, have had steady improvements in water quality over the past decade.

Double Choke Point: Demand for Energy Tests Water Supply and Economic Stability in China and the U.S.

The cords of energy demand and water supply are tightening around the world's two largest economies.

Photo Slideshow: Xilinhot, City of Coal on the Inner Mongolia Steppe

Xilinhot—an Inner Mongolian outpost of 177,000 residents, separated from Beijing by a 12-hour train ride—is at the center of the Xilin Gol Grassland, one of China's largest prairies and livestock production regions. The north's coal mines, trucks, and power plants of Inner Mongolia are representative of the nation's coal dependency, a lifeline with an insatiable thirst for water.

Energy Economy Brings Change to Shepherd Life: Modernization Comes to the Dry Grasslands of Inner Mongolia

Along the vast frozen grasslands, 23-year-old Wu Yun and her father, Bao Zhu, tend their flock of sheep and cattle. Just over the ridge, the northern city of Xilinhot is booming as the coal industry continues to expand. But it will take a lot of water to feed both the city and the mining.

Rains Bring Relief For Six-Month China Drought, But Chronic Water Problems Loom

Although now satiated, the dry spell is the latest in a growing trend of severe water shortages threatening China's food production, energy generation, and accelerating modernization.

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Infographics

Newest Article
Recent Articles

Map: 2012 Water Prices in 30 Major U.S. Cities

The price that Americans pay for water is rising faster than the cost of any other utility service in the United States — be it gas, electricity, or telephone charges.

Infographic: 2010, 2011, and 2012 Water Pricing Survey for 30 Major U.S. Cities

The price of water can be influenced by the supply sources and systems, in addition to the number of users who are sharing these water resources and the burden to pay for the supply system's maintenance.

Map: Annual Australian Water Use By Individual States and Territories

Agriculture is the largest water user in Australia. Where do other sectors like mining, manufacturing, and household use fall?

Map: Interbasin Water Transfers in Iran

The country already has major water transfer projects moving 2,110 million cubic meters (557 billion gallons). Just two weeks ago, Iran began construction on a new $US 1.5 billion project that will transfer more water from the Caspian Sea.

Once A Cleanup Leader, Michigan Struggles With Leaking Fuel

The state’s water is at risk from 9,100 leaking underground storage tanks, second most in the United States.

Infographic: Timeline of American Water Infrastructure Development (1651-2011)

In the United States, turning on the tap and receiving clean water is viewed as so basic to the quality of life that Americans take it for granted. But, as this detailed and interactive timeline shows, it has been a long road to supply running water to virtually every household in the country, and maintaining these investments continues into the modern era.

Infographic: American Plumbing — Tapping Into Water Infrastructure

At least 85 percent of Americans use a municipal water system for drinking water or sewer services. This interactive infographic explains how water moves to and from your tap.

Map: Major Hydropower in China

China is pushing its renewable energy agenda by investing in hydropower. By 2015, the Chinese government expects that the country's hydropower installed capacity will amount to 300 million kilowatts, thus reducing the nation's reliance on fossil fuels.

Infographic: Unprescribed — Drugs in the Water Cycle

In 2009, 3.9 billion prescriptions were dispensed in the United States, and an estimated 10 to 40 percent of medicines are not used. With 78 million baby boomers reaching the age when prescription drug use will increase, how will this affect environmental and drinking water?

Infographic: China’s Water Pollution Events and Protection Policies (2004-2011)

China has some of the dirtiest and most dangerous water in the world. This detailed and interactive timeline shows key pollution events, protests, and policy reforms from the last eight years at both the national and regional levels as China tries to clean up its act.

Infographic: WASH and Urbanization — Providing Sanitation and Water Services by Country

Entry in the 2011 Urban Water Design Challenge, sponsored by Visualizing.org and Circle of Blue.

Interactive Map: U.S. Cities Acting Now to Reduce Water Risk from Climate Change

A report from the Natural Resources Defense Council describes water threats and adaptations in a dozen American cities.

Infographic: Wild Rice is Keystone Species for Upper Great Lakes Region

Wild Rice is an aquatic grass that is harvested annually for its nutritious grain. Throughout its growth cycle, wild rice encounters many external threats, both environmental and human-made, which are being compounded by the effects of climate change.

Infographic: Map of Pollution Levels in China’s Major River Basins

The seven major river basins, as a whole, have had steady improvements in water quality over the past decade.

Infographic: An Elemental Concern—Arsenic in Drinking Water

Arsenic is both naturally occurring and artificially produced, and the toxin is very dangerous since it often has no color, taste, or smell. This graphic breaks down how arsenic gets into drinking water supplies and how arsenic affects the U.S. on the state level.

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Choke Point: China in Chinese

Newest Article
Recent Articles

中国庞大的调水工程功效未卜 干旱的北方焦渴等待

当局希望新的西线工程通过审批，将水通向西部的能源储备地。

借助水权转换和高技术电站缓解中国北方能源与水资源的冲突

中国沿黄河开展雄心勃勃的节约用水和水权转换计划以应对迫在眉睫的水资源危机

中国之瓶颈：水匮乏与能源需求

愈演愈烈的具有全球意义的资源困境

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Business

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Burdens of Extraction — The Growing Coal Mining Industry in Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Region

Farmers and small town residents grapple with the pressures of an unprecedented expansion in coal mining.

The Price of Water 2012: 18 Percent Rise Since 2010, 7 Percent Over Last Year in 30 Major U.S. Cities

Rates have increased in many cities, but local conditions dictate by how much and how the increase is distributed. Chicago prices are up nearly 25 percent, while Los Angeles is down by 9 percent.

In These Dry Times, Groundwater Rescues New Mexico Farmers

Surface water allocations last year were 10 percent of normal, but record levels of groundwater pumping buoyed production in the state’s top agricultural region.

Photo Slideshow: Australia’s Agriculture and Energy

The scale and rapid development of the nation's coal seam gas industry is changing the social fabric of the country’s small towns and farming regions, which have become protest centers.

Australia’s Agriculture and Energy Sectors Clash Over Water

Rural culture and the industrial economy are at odds.

Forecasting Western U.S. Water Supply in 2012: La Niña Again Delivers a Wet North and a Dry South

As water availability data starts coming in, this year's water allocations and the potential consequences for irrigation, hydropower, wildfires, and flooding are being assessed — La Niña weather patterns have returned this year, but water supply conditions generally are not as extreme as they were 2011.

Draft Plan for Australia’s Murray-Darling Reignites Old Flames

After the 20-week public consultations ended last week, three key basin states have rejected the proposed plan and more than 60 Australian academics have slammed the document for neglecting to include climate change projections and for its lack of transparency.

Photo Slideshow: Australia’s Coal and Gas Boom Boosted By Asian Demand

Massive hydrocarbon production has created worries over water use and pollution as the "Down Under" nation rises to the top of global exporters.

Global Energy Demand Driving Australia’s Coal and Gas Export Boom

International demand and new technologies push nation to the top for hydrocarbon exports. But massive production has also created worries over water.

Clean Energy Picture Dramatically Changed For Midwest, As U.S. Fossil Energy Boom Gathers Steam

With the price of natural gas falling thanks to innovating drilling solutions in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, investments in water-sipping energy models like wind and solar have dried up.

National Security Assessment: Water Scarcity Disrupting U.S. and Three Continents

In a new report, the U.S. State Department finds a global confrontation between growing water demand and shrinking supplies, in addition to predictions for the next 30 years of water scarcity.

Chicago’s $7 Billion Plan to Fix Crumbling Infrastructure

From expanding its largest airport to replacing century-old water pipes, Chicago introduces an ambitious construction plan that will be partly financed with public-private partnerships.

Agriculture and Sewage Dead Zone: Taking on Nutrient Pollution in the Mississippi River Watershed

As the impact of agriculture on water quality intensifies around the globe, two lawsuits in the United States aim to reduce the size of the Gulf of Mexico's ‘dead zone’ by setting limits on nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River Basin.

Ned Breslin: Shifting Gears — Promoting Potential, Not Poverty, Is Positive Pledge for World Water Day

We need a mind shift this World Water Day; a transformation in how we think about and the approach we take to getting the message out to the world about water on this one day. And the shift is long overdue.

Infographic: Timeline of American Water Infrastructure Development (1651-2011)

In the United States, turning on the tap and receiving clean water is viewed as so basic to the quality of life that Americans take it for granted. But, as this detailed and interactive timeline shows, it has been a long road to supply running water to virtually every household in the country, and maintaining these investments continues into the modern era.

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North America

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Map: 2012 Water Prices in 30 Major U.S. Cities

The price that Americans pay for water is rising faster than the cost of any other utility service in the United States — be it gas, electricity, or telephone charges.

U.S. Congress to Get Asian Carp Solutions by 2013, Two Years Ahead of Schedule

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking steps to speed up its recommendations for keeping invasive species out of the Great Lakes — but will its actions be quick enough to stop Asian carp?

Infographic: 2010, 2011, and 2012 Water Pricing Survey for 30 Major U.S. Cities

The price of water can be influenced by the supply sources and systems, in addition to the number of users who are sharing these water resources and the burden to pay for the supply system's maintenance.

The Price of Water 2012: 18 Percent Rise Since 2010, 7 Percent Over Last Year in 30 Major U.S. Cities

Rates have increased in many cities, but local conditions dictate by how much and how the increase is distributed. Chicago prices are up nearly 25 percent, while Los Angeles is down by 9 percent.

Film Review: Last Call at the Oasis

A documentary film on the world’s water crisis opens this weekend.

In These Dry Times, Groundwater Rescues New Mexico Farmers

Surface water allocations last year were 10 percent of normal, but record levels of groundwater pumping buoyed production in the state’s top agricultural region.

Forecasting Western U.S. Water Supply in 2012: La Niña Again Delivers a Wet North and a Dry South

As water availability data starts coming in, this year's water allocations and the potential consequences for irrigation, hydropower, wildfires, and flooding are being assessed — La Niña weather patterns have returned this year, but water supply conditions generally are not as extreme as they were 2011.

Water Law: U.S. Supreme Court Navigates Waters of Ownership, Clarifies Possession of Missouri River Bottomland

Montana may have lost the bottom, but the state was awarded — and entrusted — all that floats to the top as part of a public trust authority to protect water resources.

Q&A: Subir Bhattacharjee on the Geopolitics of Oil and Alberta’s Tar Sands

Subir Bhattacharjee — a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta and one of Canada’s top water quality experts — tells Circle of Blue about the water cycle of the tar sands while he attends a high-level conference in Alberta, Canada.

Clean Energy Picture Dramatically Changed For Midwest, As U.S. Fossil Energy Boom Gathers Steam

With the price of natural gas falling thanks to innovating drilling solutions in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, investments in water-sipping energy models like wind and solar have dried up.

Water Rights: Arizona Senators John Kyl and John McCain Meet With Navajo Nation Leaders

Decades in the making, a Navajo-Hopi water rights settlement faces grassroots opposition, as tribe members fear the proposed settlement gives away too much and promises too little.

Chicago’s $7 Billion Plan to Fix Crumbling Infrastructure

From expanding its largest airport to replacing century-old water pipes, Chicago introduces an ambitious construction plan that will be partly financed with public-private partnerships.

Once A Cleanup Leader, Michigan Struggles With Leaking Fuel

The state’s water is at risk from 9,100 leaking underground storage tanks, second most in the United States.

Satellite Perspectives: NASA’s GRACE Program Sees Groundwater From Space

A first-of-its-kind space mission shows dips in groundwater supplies globally.

Agriculture and Sewage Dead Zone: Taking on Nutrient Pollution in the Mississippi River Watershed

As the impact of agriculture on water quality intensifies around the globe, two lawsuits in the United States aim to reduce the size of the Gulf of Mexico's ‘dead zone’ by setting limits on nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River Basin.

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Climate

Newest Article
Recent Articles

Draft Plan for Australia’s Murray-Darling Reignites Old Flames

After the 20-week public consultations ended last week, three key basin states have rejected the proposed plan and more than 60 Australian academics have slammed the document for neglecting to include climate change projections and for its lack of transparency.

Satellite Perspectives: NASA’s GRACE Program Sees Groundwater From Space

A first-of-its-kind space mission shows dips in groundwater supplies globally.

India Supreme Court Again Pushes National River Linking Project to Proceed

This is the second time the court has promoted the mega-project that would link the major rivers in the north with those in the south as a way to better manage water, moving it from areas of perceived surplus to areas without sufficient supplies.

Food vs. Water: High Commodity Prices Complicate Aquifer Protection in Colorado’s San Luis Valley

Decades of groundwater pumping have left one of the San Luis Valley aquifers in a perilous state. To restore its health — and the foundation of the local economy — valley leaders are developing a plan to pay farmers to fallow up to 16,000 hectares. But with commodity prices soaring, will anyone go for it, or will the state have to step in?

Pacific Institute Report: Setbacks and Solutions of Water-Energy Clash in U.S. Intermountain West

At the forefront of a national trend, this region is already suffering from intense conflicts that willy only worsen with climate change and population growth. However, the report also highlights several ways to dramatically reduce the water requirements for electricity generation.

Eurobarometer Survey: Europeans Say Climate Change More Dire Than Economic Situation

Just over half of respondents in the European Union’s 27 member states mentioned climate change as one of the world’s most serious problems, and 20 percent felt it is the single most serious problem.

2011 is Record-setting Year for Climate Change: Ice Melts in Arctic, High Temps in U.S.

A new study has revealed that ice volume in the Arctic Sea reached an all-time low in 2010. Meanwhile, in the United States, more high-temperature records have been set this summer than in any other year previously, as well as many regions that have broken rainfall and drought records.

Peter Gleick: When Climate Changes Come and Water Policies Fail. Pray for Rain?

Texans and the rest of the country are getting a preview of the future of water when national and local leadership on climate and water policies fails.

Water and Food Security: Somalia Famine Grows, Drought Could Ease

Meteorologists are hopeful for future rainfall, though they say the current disaster was preventable. The lack of rain, which is also affecting neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia, and political instability have tipped Somalia into a food crisis that could persist, even as drought conditions abate.

Watered Down: Hurricane Irene Renews Debates About U.S. Budget and Climate Change

Hurricane Irene killed at least 40 people, caused billions of dollars in damages, and cut power to nearly 8 million homes and businesses as the storm moved from the Caribbean through the East Coast of the United States last week. But while financial analysts and members of Congress focus on who and how much to pay for recovery, climate experts are pointing out holes in the system.

Interactive Map: U.S. Cities Acting Now to Reduce Water Risk from Climate Change

A report from the Natural Resources Defense Council describes water threats and adaptations in a dozen American cities.

Infographic: Wild Rice is Keystone Species for Upper Great Lakes Region

Wild Rice is an aquatic grass that is harvested annually for its nutritious grain. Throughout its growth cycle, wild rice encounters many external threats, both environmental and human-made, which are being compounded by the effects of climate change.

Where Food Grows on Water: Environmental and Human Threats to Wisconsin’s Wild Rice

For generations, the upper Great Lakes region has boasted harvests of wild rice, growing in Lake Superior and other watersheds within the basin. But disease, dams, and climate change are now endangering the uncultivated bounty.

Coal Conversion in the Rust Belt: Will It Be a Diamond for Small Ohio River Town?

An energy company has plans to withdraw water from the Ohio River, the potential site for a coal-to-liquid fuels conversion plant, which would be the first of its kind in the United States and the sixth in the world. Though it will bring jobs to the region, the proposal is facing strong opposition from environmental groups.

U.S. House Passes Bill to Accelerate Decision on Tar Sands Keystone XL Pipeline

If the Republican-sponsored bill passes the Democrat-controlled Senate, the final decision could come by the beginning of November.

Ned Breslin

Ned Breslin is the CEO at Water For People, a nonprofit that implements drinking water solutions in 11 countries.
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    • James Workman

    James G. Workman is an award-winning journalist and has served as an environmental consultant to U.S.-cabinet members.
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