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The Global Rundown |
China quashes a protest but responds to the grievances. California does a poor job of conserving water, while its water utilities use a lot of electricity. European water companies look to India for new business opportunities as a water software business in the United States grows. Water rationing begins in Taiwan.
“More corporates will be forced to spend on water self-sufficiency. With government announcements about shutting polluting industries along the Ganges, we’ll see more industrial demand for water recycling in the coming decade.” — G.V. Giri, an analyst with IIFL Capital Limited, talking about the growth potential for India’s water sector. European giants such as Veolia and Suez are angling in the market. (Livemint)
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By The Numbers |
2.8 percent: California urban water conservation in February, the worst performance since monthly accounting began last June. The statewide average that was hurt by increasing use in Southern California. Circle of Blue
10 percent: Share of California’s electricity used by water and wastewater utilities. Union of Concerned Scientists
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Science, Studies, And Reports |
As many as 2,000 riot police were used to end a village protest over pollution from a chemical refinery in Inner Mongolia, a province in northern China. Villagers wrote on social media websites that they were protecting their rights to clean air, land, and water. Chinese officials responded by closing the refinery. Washington Post
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On The Radar |
Taps in more than one million households in Taiwan will be dry two days per week as the island begins rationing water in response to the worst drought in decades. BBC
A San Francisco software company that uses data from water bills to encourage conservation raised $US 7 million in funding. WaterSmart’s services are used by roughly 2 percent of North America’s 100 million metered water connections. Forbes