http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews Reporting the Global Water Crisis Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:03:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A “New Great Game” of Geopolitical Control Surfaces in Russia’s Old Backyard The Kura River winds through Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, amid banks crowned with houses and old churches. From Tbilisi, the river flows east and gradually broadens into an extensive lowland as it nears Azerbaijan. by Nadya Ivanova Maps by Hannah ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/the-forgotten-south-caucasus-where-oil-and-water-mix/ California is in the midst of an ugly debate about water--uglier than normal--because of a confluence of events, including a "hydrologic" drought caused by nature, a longer-term trend to restore some water back to failing ecosystems, and the gross mismanagement of the state's water, which has been going on for ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/peter-gleick-wake-up-here-is-what-a-real-water-crisis-looks-like/ Turkey’s government announced Wednesday its plans to continue the construction of the controversial Ilisu hydroelectric dam in the underdeveloped southeastern Anatolia despite concerns over the infrastructure’s effect on the environment, the population and the archaeological remains in the area. Turkey’s environment minister Veysel Eroglu said during a news conference that the ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/despite-historic-ecological-and-international-concerns-turkey-vows-dam-construction/ Amid prolonged drought and rising electricity demands, Kenya is struggling to maintain its power supply. The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) shut down a 14-megawatt hydropower dam after water levels fell below the minimum safety margins, Reuters reported Tuesday. At the time of closure, the Masinga Dam level was one and ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/dry-spell-weakens-kenyas-hydropower/ Many enterprising Coloradoans collected rainwater in secrecy for years in the past, but today they no longer have to hide their habit. Thanks to a new state law that went into effect on Tuesday, those with well permits can now obtain permission to legally collect rainwater for domestic use, fire ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/north-america/rain-collection-no-longer-criminal-in-colorado/ A new study in Monday's issue of Nature Geoscience reports "significant" drowning of the Mississippi River delta is "inevitable" over the next century due to the dual threats of insufficient sediment supply and rising sea levels worldwide. The report, by Michael D. Blum and Harry H. Roberts of Louisiana State University, ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/north-america/holdin-the-mississippi-delta-no-choice-but-to-drown/ Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar came to California on Sunday to hear firsthand about California's drought. Unfortunately, some of what he heard was misleading or false. Certainly farms and farmers are suffering, so are fish and ecosystems. But so is the truth. Here are three oft-repeated falsehoods. Myth 1: Farmers ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/peter-gleick-truth-drought-californias-real-shortfall/ Demand for Desalination Plants Increases Worldwide Large scale desalinization already takes place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This plant in Ras al-Khaimah, contributes to the nearly 8.5 million cubic meters of water produced per day in the UAE (click image to enlarge). by Connor Boals Infographics by Hannah Nester Circle of Blue Pressed by ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/drinking-from-the-sea-demand-for-desalination-plants-increases-worldwide/ As the world’s water future stands at a crossroads, Marseille is on track to become the next global hub for water discussions. The World Water Council (WWC) selected the French port city to host the 6th World Water Forum in 2012, committing France to create “the Forum of Solutions,” a ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/france-wins-vote-to-host-2012-world-water-forum/ After four months of exploration, engineers in Yemen have found an important new source of high-quality water. The Local Corporation for Water Supply and Sanitation (LCWSS) in the provincial capital Mukalla discovered a huge underground reservoir that can provide the city with potable drinking water for the next 50 years, ... http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/middle-east/yemen-uncovers-buried-water/