The Stream, March 20: $1 Billion in Emergency Funding for California Drought Announced

The Global Rundown

The United Nations has unveiled a report that demonstrates how lack of water access disproportionately affects women. California Governor Jerry Brown and top lawmakers have unveiled $US 1 billion in emergency drought spending. Kenya has started a national fund to improve water access, with government agencies, NGOs and businesses all participating. Finally, fighting in eastern Ukraine is taking its toll on drinking water supplies.

“It’s estimated that globally [women and girls] spend 200 million hours every single day simply collecting water for themselves and their families – time that could be spent in education, working and earning, with their family, or contributing to the community.” — Water for Women report, released today by the United Nations. (Forbes)

By The Numbers

$US 1 billion – Emergency funding for California’s drought in proposed legislation announced yesterday by Governor Jerry Brown and top legislators. If approved, the funding would hasten water projects and provide support to suffering Californian communities. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

The United Nations released its Water for Women report today, and the main takeaway is that impoverished women lose a lot of time (and potential productivity) without good access to clean water. Time spent walking to obtain water (the average for women in Asia and Africa is 3.7 miles), and time lost due to illness from substandard water quality takes away from time that could be spent working, obtaining education, or contributing to the community. Forbes

On The Radar

In rebel-held east Ukraine, water quality has deteriorated as fighting has interfered with treatment. Damaged filtering stations and a lack of chlorine have given the water a noticeable smell and color. The regional water company says it is still safe to drink, but some aid groups and citizens disagree. Japan Times

Kenya has initiated a fund to provide clean water access to 9.3 million people in the country, called ‘The Nairobi Fund’. The public-private partnership will be financially supported by mixture of government agencies, businesses, conservation groups and utility companies, including Coca-Cola and The Nature Conservancy. Bloomberg Business