The Stream, May 14: Syrian City Faces Extreme Water Shortage After Supplies Cut

Water Shortages
A severe water shortage caused by the shutdown of two water pumping stations is threatening supplies for more than 2 million people in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the Los Angeles Times reported. It is believed that the shutdown was an intentional attack by an antigovernment Islamist group, but some think government bombing is to blame.

A photo essay published by MSNBC shows the daily struggle for water in a southern Ethiopia community, where women and girls walk miles to collect water from drying rivers. Many times, they must dig in the river beds to reach water.

Spain is considering a proposal that would transfer water from the Rhone River in southern France to Catalonia in northeastern Spain, Bloomberg News reported. The transfer would extend 353 kilometers, but has not yet been discussed with France, according to local news sources.

Water Pollution
Canadian mining companies are responsible for the destruction of glaciers, the contamination of water supplies and deforestation in Latin America, according to a new report released by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Guardian reported. Canada’s mining industry has been expanding in Latin America in recent years, the report says.

The oil and gas industry in the United States must improve public trust in regard to water pollution and other environmental concerns surrounding hydraulic fracturing, industry leaders said at the Washington Energy Conference, Oil & Gas Journal reported. The conference recognized that public support is key for fully realizing the potential of oil and gas reserves.

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.

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