The Stream, September 18: Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut Leave Flooding, Destruction In Their Wake

The Global Rundown

Typhoon Mangkhut pummels the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China, leaving dozens dead. Turkey says it will move forward with its Kanal Istanbul pipeline despite government spending cuts. A newly-installed pipeline in northern Pakistan eases tensions among villagers. Pollution impacts biodiversity in half of India’s Ganga river, researchers say. Water officials in Israel predict above-average winter rains. Hurricane Florence makes landfall, drenching North and South Carolina in record-breaking rains.

“This remains a significant disaster that affects much of our state. The next few days will be long ones as the flooding continues.” –Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina, in reference to the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall on the U.S. East Coast on Friday. Heavy rains continue to swamp the Carolinas, where flooding has damaged houses and left residents stranded. The risk of water contamination remains high, with thousands of manure lagoons, superfund sites, and chemical plants located in flood-prone areas. The New York Times

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

What’s Up With Water – September 17, 2018 – “What’s Up With Water” condenses the need-to-know news on the world’s water into a weekly snapshot. Coverage this week includes: Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut, the “water mafia” in Karachi, Pakistan, and the impacts of India’s intense monsoon season   .

HotSpots H2O, September 17: Tribal Clashes Leave Several Dead In Kenya as Resources, Aid Dry Up – Water shortages are stirring unrest across Kenya, from the Rift Valley to refugee camps.

By The Numbers

70 percent Proportion of Israel’s water that is now supplied by desalination as a five-year drought saps the country’s natural water sources. According to the Israeli Water Authority, rainfall will be above-average this winter, but the precipitation will not be enough to fully restore the country’s depleted lakes and aquifers. The Times of Israel

In context: Israel’s Mediterranean Desalination Plants Shift Regional Water Balance.

5 billion liters Water channeled through a newly-installed pipeline in northern Pakistan each year. The pipeline carries mountain springwater and snowmelt to 4,000 villagers, and has eased conflicts over water. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

Super Typhoon Mangkhut cut a path of destruction across the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China over the weekend. In the Philippines, landslides and flooding left more than 60 people dead. In China, four people were killed, and thousands of buildings sustained damage. The storm, now a tropical depression, is making its way toward China’s mountainous Yunnan Province, where it is expected to weaken further. The New York Times

On The Radar

Despite halting new investments, the Turkish government plans to continue construction of Kanal Istanbul, a 45-kilometer shipping canal that is being dug parallel to the Bosphorus strait. The $16 billion project has drawn criticism, with environmentalists fearing it will destroy Istanbul’s water basins. Reuters

In context: Drought, Pollution, and Expansion Imperil Istanbul’s Best-Laid Water Plans.

Spotlight: India

Follow The Stream for daily coverage on India’s water crisis.

Forty-nine percent of India’s Ganga River shows high biodiversity, but little aquatic life was found in the rest of the waterway, according to a recent survey. Researchers believe that the poor biodiversity is due to pollution from sewage, industrial chemicals, and agricultural runoff. The Times of India

Kayla Ritter

Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter