The Stream, October 30: Malawi Hydropower Declines By Two-Thirds

The Global Rundown

Low water levels in Lake Malawi are significantly cutting hydropower production on Malawi’s largest river, wells are going dry in northern India as groundwater levels drop, and Chinook salmon are declining in California’s Sacramento River as the state’s drought continues. Areas of several major cities in China performed poorly on a government evaluation of water pollution controls. Floods in Baghdad exacerbated poor conditions for thousands of displaced people, and New York City marked the 3-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. High temperatures and dry weather in northern Australia are bringing venomous snakes to town.

“I now spend most of my day thinking whether we will get enough water tomorrow. The hand pump has stopped working and I have to ride two kilometers every day to get water. Life has become hell.”–Raj Kumar Jaiswal, a resident of India’s Pratapgarh district, on depleted groundwater reserves that are leaving wells dry. (Reuters)

By The Numbers

66 percent Decline in Malawai’s hydropower production on the Shire River, the largest in the country, due to low water levels. The drop in electricity has sparked concerns about people using wood as an alternative energy source, putting pressure on the country’s forests. Reuters

217,489 fish Number of juvenile Winter Run Chinook salmon counted this year in California’s Sacramento River downstream of Shasta Dam, a 22 percent drop from the same time last year due in part to the state’s severe drought. Reuters

3 years Time since Superstorm Sandy hit New York City, causing $32 billion in damage. The city’s efforts to protect against future storms are still a work in progress. Inside Climate News

Science, Studies, And Reports

Areas of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Hubei Province, and Henan Province are not doing enough to implement water pollution control guidelines, according to an evaluation by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection. As a result, new development projects in some municipalities will be put on hold until pollution controls improve. Xinhua

On The Radar

Floods in Baghdad have affected thousands of people displaced from other regions of Iraq, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian said. The agency highlighted concerns about shelter, food, and clean water in the refugee camps. Xinhua

Warm, dry temperatures brought by an El Nino weather pattern are luring highly venomous eastern brown snakes into urban areas in northern Australia. In their search for water, the snakes are coming into greater contact with humans. Xinhua

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