The Stream, July 10, 2020: Michigan Extends Water Reconnection Order Through End of 2020

The Global Rundown

Ohio plans to lift its Covid-19 moratorium on water shutoffs, while Michigan extends restorations through the end of 2020. China says it will put more funding toward water conservancy and flood prevention projects. Climate disasters are displacing millions of people worldwide each year, disproportionately affecting women and girls. Some residents of Sudan fear the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will destroy their livelihoods, while others hope the project will mitigate the effects of flooding. 

“It is true the Renaissance dam will lower the Nile’s water levels and prevent flooding. However, it will impact farming, and the Wad Ramli area is one that lives off farming.” –Manal Abdelnaay, a resident of the Wad Ramli village, in reference to the Ethiopian megadam that is being constructed near the Ethiopia-Sudan border. Residents of Sudan have varying opinions on the controversial dam, with some praising its potential for flood alleviation and others worrying that changes in the Nile’s flow could disrupt Sudan’s farming, fishing, and pottery industries. Ethiopia plans to begin filling the reservoir behind the dam later this month. Reuters 

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By The Numbers

2,477 Michigan residents who have had their water services restored during the Covid-19 pandemic, including 1,200 families in the city of Detroit. In March, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order requiring public water utilities to reinstate service at disconnected homes to help combat Covid-19. On Wednesday, Whitmer announced that the order will remain in place through the end of 2020. The Detroit News 

1,000+ Households in Ohio’s Appalachian counties that risk having their water supply shut off in the coming weeks. On March 31, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency imposed a ban on water shut-offs in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the moratorium is set to be revoked on Friday. Advocates warn that households in the state’s Appalachian counties, where unemployment is high and water infrastructure has been crumbling for almost a century, are at the greatest risk of water shutoffs once the moratorium is lifted. The Columbus Dispatch

Science, Studies, and Reports

Tens of millions of people were displaced in 2019 due to climate-related triggers, with women and girls bearing the brunt of dangers and difficulties that arise from displacement, according to a report by CARE International. Across the globe, people are migrating due to sudden-onset disasters, like cyclones and floods, as well as slow-onset disasters, like drought and rising sea levels. In both cases, displaced women are at high risk for violence, inequality, and exploitation. Those who collect water for themselves and their families are especially vulnerable. CARE International 

On the Radar

Amid another week of deadly flooding, China announced plans to boost investment in water conservancy and flood mitigation projects, according to state media. Heavy rainfall in several parts of the country has killed more than 100 people over the past several weeks. Reuters

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