The Stream, October 9: Israel Receives Bids for Construction of World’s Largest Desalination Plant

The Global Rundown

Israel receives seven bids for construction of the world’s largest desalination plant. Queensland, Australia, grants the Adani mining company an additional year to pay for a controversial water license. Iraqis live without water and electricity in areas formerly occupied by ISIL. Hurricane Michael, currently a Category 1 storm, moves toward the Florida Panhandle. India must halt coal expansion to keep temperature rises to 1.5 degrees, says Greenpeace. The death toll from Indonesia’s recent earthquake and tsunami nears 2,000.

“It’s a zombie town. Everything’s destroyed. Nothing’s left. We’re on our last legs. There’s no food, no water.” –Johnny Lim, a resident of Donggala, Indonesia, near the epicentre of the country’s recent 7.5 magnitude earthquake. The official death toll from the disaster, which devastated more than 70,000 homes, has reached 1,948. Al Jazeera

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

What’s Up With Water – October 8, 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: PFAS contamination in Tucson, Arizona, drought-driven economic losses in China, and Australia’s driest September on record.

HotSpots H2O, October 8: Millions in South Sudan Rely on Distant, Dirty Water Sources — In many areas, residents rely entirely on unimproved water sources, including rivers, swamps, and unprotected wells, many of which are shared with animals.

By The Numbers

200 million cubic meters Water that will potentially be produced at a new Israeli desalination plant. Israel has received seven bids for the construction of the plant, which would be the world’s largest. Reuters

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

12.5 billion litres Water that the Adani mining company hopes to extract from the Suttor river in Queensland, Australia, for the Carmichael mine. Adani was supposed to pay $18.5 million for a water extraction license by July 1, 2018, but failed to meet the deadline. The Queensland government has now granted Adani a controversial year-long extension on the payment. The Guardian

Science, Studies, And Reports

Residents of Iraq’s western Anbar desert, which was formerly controlled by ISIL, are living without water, electricity, and other basic services. ISIL destroyed much of the region’s infrastructure, and occasional attacks by the armed group continue to occur, delaying reconstruction efforts. Al Jazeera

In context:
Islamic State Occupation Wrecks Iraq Environment and Infrastructure
HotSpots H2O, July 16: War, Drought, and Upstream Dams Hinder Water Access in Iraq

On The Radar

Hurricane Michael, a Category 1 storm as of Monday evening, is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday. Mandatory evacuation orders and states of emergency have been issued along the coastline. Meteorologists say the storm could strengthen to a Category 3 by Tuesday. Reuters

Spotlight: India

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

Coal expansion in India must end if the country hopes to keep temperature rise at or below 1.5°C (2.7°F), according to Greenpeace India. A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that a temperature increase of 1.5°C instead of 2°C (3.6°F) would protect millions of people from extreme heat waves and heightened water scarcity. The Economic Times

In context: Chased by Drought, Rising Costs, and Clean Technology, India Pivots on Coal-Fired Power.

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