The Stream, December 7: England Floods After Major Storms

The Global Rundown

Storms brought extreme rainfall and floods to northwest England over the weekend. Water supplies are dwindling in southern Australia’s reservoirs due to a drought, forcing farmers to have water delivered. South Africa plans to increase water rates next year in an effort to upgrade its water infrastructure. Ten countries in Africa have pledged to restore degraded land and reduce desertification, and a pipeline to carry water from Israel to Jordan has been voted down.

“There’s no water, everything’s dry. I don’t know how they’re going to go with their stock. I think we’ll have a fair bit to do.”–Clinton Beever, a water carrier in southwest Victoria, on drought conditions that are forcing households and farmers to schedule water deliveries as water supplies in their dams and reservoirs decline. (ABC)

By The Numbers

100 million hectares Area of degraded land that 10 African countries have pledged to restore by 2030 in an effort to reduce desertification and boost agricultural yields. Reuters

201.8 millimeters Amount of rain that fell in some areas of northwest England on Saturday during storms that triggered widespread flooding and power outages. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

A proposed pipeline to carry water from Israel to Jordan was voted down on concerns that the water should instead be delivered via the Jordan River, which is in need of rehabilitation. Israel’s water authority said it had studied the possibility of sending the water through the river, but determined it was unfeasible. Haaretz

On The Radar

South Africa is planning to increase water tariffs next year in order to upgrade and expand critical infrastructure like storage facilities and pipes. The country is currently experiencing a severe drought that has led to disaster declarations in several provinces. Bloomberg

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek