The Stream, December 1: AIDS Fight Requires Improved Water and Sanitation

The Global Rundown

Clean water is necessary for the fight against AIDS in Africa. Waterborne diseases are on the rise in Mosul, while Sao Paulo is two months away from running out of water. Floods have killed five people in southern France, and Ireland’s water utility is spending millions on legal fees. India’s desalination business is growing, while people in China are increasingly concerned about water.

“There has not … been a focus on making sure people living with HIV/AIDS also have clean water, basic toilets and the means to wash themselves and keep their surroundings clean.”—Barbara Frost, chief executive of WaterAid. The organization released a report finding that a lack of access to clean water and sanitation in Africa reduces the effectiveness of medicine that fights the disease. (Reuters)

By The Numbers

2 months of water Left in Sao Paulo’s reservoirs, though increased use over the holiday season could reduce supplies faster. Reuters

$100,000 / week Spent by Irish Water on legal fees, with more than $6 million spent since August 2013. Irish Times

3,000 people Evacuated from their homes in southern France due to severe flooding that killed five people. Guardian

Science, Studies, And Reports

The vast majority—96 percent—of people living in China’s cities say that water is a “serious” issue in the country, a survey by Xylem Inc. found. Bloomberg

India’s desalination industry could reach $1.9 billion and make up 14 percent of the global market by 2019, according to a report from Noida-based TechSci Research. Bloomberg

On The Radar

Mosul is suffering from a lack of clean water under the control of the Islamic State, prompting an increase in waterborne diseases. AFP

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