The Stream, February 16: Water Resources Constrain Industrial Growth in Mexico

The Global Rundown

Industrial growth could be curtailed in Mexico if the country does not improve its water management, a new report found. Blackouts continued over the weekend in South Africa to allow hydropower and other energy supplies to rebound, the United States may overhaul its 39-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act, and Germany is considering a law that would allow fracking. Tensions over water remain especially high in California’s San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, while lawsuits in states including Iowa and North Carolina are challenging large livestock operations over water and air pollution. Cities need to make the case for climate resilience funding to the private sector, experts say.

“I think the challenge is then for the cities to make the private sector realize that [spending to protect] these public goods, in terms of climate resilience, is good for them in terms of protecting their own assets.”–Peter King, of USAID, speaking to researchers and development experts at the Resilient Cities Asia Pacific conference last week about the need to fund climate adaptation in cities. (Reuters)

By The Numbers

2,000 Megawatts Initial power cut instituted across South Africa by Eskom as part of rolling blackouts meant to aid the recovery of hydropower dams and diesel fuel supplies. Reuters

39 years Time since the passage of the United States Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates chemicals. The law may get an overhaul this spring, due in part to recent events such as a chemical spill last year that shut down drinking water in West Virginia’s state capital. Guardian

Science, Studies, And Reports

Water resources in Mexico, while not scarce, could still constrain the country’s industrial and economic growth if they are not managed properly, according to an analysis by Stratfor. One of Mexico’s primary challenges is the uneven distribution of water-rich areas and water-scarce areas, the report says. Stratfor

On The Radar

A number of lawsuits across the United States are challenging water and air pollution coming from large livestock operations. The results could have wide-ranging implications for the application of the country’s clean water laws. Associated Press

As California enters its fourth year of drought, tension is growing over water in the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, where there has long been conflict between the needs of farmers and cities and the environmental needs of threatened species like the Delta Smelt. The New York Times

A draft law in Germany would allow hydraulic fracturing to occur below 3,000 meters and would set up a special review process for approving fracking at shallower depths. Fracking has been under a moratorium in the country for the past four years. Guardian

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