Circle of Blue
  • Podcasts
  • Great Lakes
  • Tapped Out
  • Water Debt
  • WASH
  • WaterNews
    • WaterNews
      • The Daily Stream
      • Federal Water Tap
      • Fresh
      • Weekly Water Newsletter
      • HotSpots H2O
      • Convenings
        • Special Reports
          • Drying American West
          • Water, Texas
          • Legionnaires’
          • Fair Bluff
          • After Paradise Burned
          • Water Scarcity in India
          • Michigan’s Groundwater Emergency
          • Groundwater
          • Water Pricing
          • Water Affordability
          • Delhi Waits For Water
  • Features
    •  
      • The Biggest Dry: Arizona
      • Lake Mead
      • Water and Financial Risks
      • California Drought
      • Septic Infrastructure in the U.S.
      • Stranded Assets
      • Cape Town
      • Flint Water Crisis
      • Australia
      • Hidden Waters, Dragons in the Deep
      • Himalayas
      • Designing Waters Future
      • Zeropolis
        • Big Cities, Little Water
      • Water and Climate
      • Unearthing Water Risks of The Global Mining Industry
      • Chennai
  • Choke Point
    • The World at a Choke Point
      • Choke Point: Australia
      • Choke Point: Tamil Nadu
      • Choke Point: South Africa
      • Choke Point: China
      • Choke Point: India
      • Choke Point: Australia
      • Choke Point: Tehuacán Valley
      • Choke Point: U.S.
        • Choke Point: Index
          • California Central Valley
          • Great Lakes Algae
          • Ogallala Aquifer
          • Water Data
  • About
    • Fellowship
    • About Circle of Blue
    • Team Members
    • Board of Directors
    • Ethics and Sponsorship
    • Internships
    • Underwriters
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Overwhelmed by Public Response, UK Government to Double Pandemic Relief Support

July 23, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

Following an overwhelming response from the British public, the U.K. government will double its support for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Coronavirus Appeal, according to a statement today by the International Development Secretary.

The Coronavirus Appeal provides aid to refugees living in overcrowded camps around the world and the U.K. government will match public funding up to £10 million. Over the course of nine days, the public donated £9.8 million. A £25 public donation, along with a match from the government, could purchase essential hygiene kits to two families.

The DEC is a coalition of 14 different U.K. charities. To prevent the spread of the virus, they are providing frontline doctors and workers with proper equipment, supplying food to those who may be malnourished, and distributing clean water and soap to families.

The total pandemic aid now pledged by the U.K. is now £774 million.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-23 13:14:392020-07-23 13:14:39Overwhelmed by Public Response, UK Government to Double Pandemic Relief Support

Los Alamos National Labs Shut Down Water Monitoring for Months Due to EPA Policy

July 22, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

In late March, in the early days of the pandemic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allowed facilities to suspend water quality monitoring during the health emergency if virus restrictions impeded the work.

One of the facilities that halted its water monitoring work is Technical Area 54 (TA-54), a contaminated site at Los Alamos National Labs in New Mexico. The site shut down its regularly required water monitoring for almost three months due to the EPA’s Covid-19 policy, according to a Forbes report published today.

The temporary policy, which relaxes environmental enforcement obligations, expires August 31.

One obligation at TA-54 that stopped during this time was the treatment of groundwater for chromium, a toxic heavy metal. Once treated, the clean water is pumped back into the ground. This process began again at TA-54 in July, more than three months after it stopped. Other routine groundwater monitoring started again June 8.

Just over 350 facilities across the nation did not submit water monitoring reports during the EPA’s temporary Covid-19 measures, according to The Hill. Among others, these facilities included fossil fuel companies, water treatment plants, coal mines, and recycling centers.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-22 14:55:052020-07-22 14:55:05Los Alamos National Labs Shut Down Water Monitoring for Months Due to EPA Policy

Harrowing Conditions in Egyptian Prisons See Covid-19 Outbreaks

July 21, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

Human Rights Watch released a statement Monday announcing suspected Covid-19 outbreaks in recent weeks in Egyptian prisons and police stations.

Leaked letters, witness accounts, and credible reports from local rights groups and media indicated 129 suspected cases, 64 positive cases, and 14 deaths from Covid-19 complications. Overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and limited resources and medical care have turned these prisons and police stations into a hotbed for the pandemic.

Most inmates rely on families to deliver disinfectants or medicines, according to accounts. At the Minya Maximum Security Prison, a letter smuggled out by two inmates highlighted a great number of prisoners with Covid-19 symptoms, but an absence of sufficient care. Water cuts were routine and lasted up to 20 hours at a time. Those who objected to their conditions were severely punished. Punishments could include beatings, transfers, or the confiscation of necessary hygiene products.

These revelations affirm longstanding concerns about conditions in Egypt’s prisons. In April, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Egypt to release those convicted of non-violent offenses and held in pre-trial detention. “Egypt’s prisons and detention facilities are often overcrowded, unsanitary, and suffer from a lack of resources,” the statement read. “Detainees are routinely denied access to adequate medical care and treatment.”

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-21 12:03:382020-07-21 12:03:38Harrowing Conditions in Egyptian Prisons See Covid-19 Outbreaks

Pandemic Thrusts Venezuelan Migrants Deeper into Crisis

July 20, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

Venezuelan migrants housed in temporary shelters in La Guajira, just across the border in northeastern Colombia, are grappling with two debilitating forces: Covid-19 and lack of clean water, according to the NGO network HelpAge International.

“We are hugely concerned about COVID-19 breaking out in La Guajira,” said Marcela Bustamante, a regional representative at HelpAge, in a statement. “The health services were already buckling under the strain caused by the large numbers of people living in desperate circumstances. If COVID-19 takes hold, it will be chaos and potentially lead to a colossal loss of lives.”

Due to crowded conditions, isolation is not an option for the more than 7,000 people living in shelters in La Guajira who are also dealing with government restrictions on movement.

A survey conducted by HelpAge in January highlighted that 84 percent of older migrants do not have handwashing stations and 78 percent do not have access to safe drinking water. Nearly 5,000 migrants in the area are elderly.

After the Covid-19 outbreak, these conditions have not changed. Of the 395 cases of the disease reported in La Guajira, 18 have been fatal. According to HelpAge, without proper water or sanitation facilities, the pandemic disease could spread quickly.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-20 14:41:482020-07-20 14:41:48Pandemic Thrusts Venezuelan Migrants Deeper into Crisis

Amid Water Shortages, Covid-19 Surges Within White Mountain Apache Tribe

July 17, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

One out of every three members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe who was tested for Covid-19 has tested positive, according to an update published today by the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center.

With a population of around 13,420 and just over 2,000 cases overall, one out of seven members has contracted the virus.

The high percentage is due in part to a testing strategy that focuses on high-risk individuals, according to Arizona Central. The large numbers overall can be attributed to many families members sharing houses. Water shortages that the Tribe suffers during summer months are another factor.

There may be no water for showers or even an absence of drinking water in some reservation communities, according to Tribe Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood. A majority of the reservation’s population depends on a small well field, but the production has declined in recent years. In summer the areas of Cibecue and Carrizo are particularly affected. The Tribe won a settlement in 2010 to fund a drinking water project, which was then revised again in 2018.

After Arizona reopened earlier this summer, cases of coronavirus spiked, and the state has since reimposed some restrictions in order to contain the surge.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-17 16:39:112020-07-17 16:42:43Amid Water Shortages, Covid-19 Surges Within White Mountain Apache Tribe

Covid-19 and Conflict a Double Hit on Water Workers

July 16, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

The International Committee of The Red Cross (ICRC) published a report today on the importance of water workers in conflict zones and the challenges they confront during the Covid-19 pandemic. The virus has left a secondary impact on health, water, sewerage and electricity services, and overwhelmed those personnel in the field along the way.

The report highlighted water and sanitation work in conflict and post-conflict areas like Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, and Ukraine. Lack of funding, damaged infrastructure, delays in repairs, and distribution of hygiene products are only some of the issues facing countries in conflict as they also struggle with the pandemic. In Iraq, the Directorate of Water has the task of both restoring services from the conflict in Mosul, in 2017, and dealing with Covid-19.

“We’ve managed to keep water treatment plants and pumping stations running 24 hours a day to ensure that people get clean water,” said Engineer Muaed, director at the Directorate of Water. “But we’re facing a 75 percent cut in employee working hours and shortage of funds for routine operation and maintenance.”

The ICRC noted that as in conflict, the most vulnerable communities are hit hardest. Covid-19 hinders current water services, as well as prevents the extension of services to those in need.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-16 18:33:002020-07-16 18:33:00Covid-19 and Conflict a Double Hit on Water Workers

Study Finds Water Accessibility Challenges in Vanuatu

July 15, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

A study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that access to safe and reliable water in two provinces in Vanuatu is a greater challenge for menstruating women, people with disabilities, and those with incontinence.

The Water, Women, and Disability study highlighted that while 93 percent of people are likely to collect water themselves, only 66 percent of people with disabilities were able to do so. Those who did collect water felt unsafe due to fears of abuse from others. The study also noted the distance and inaccessibility of latrines and sanitation stations as a challenge for those with disabilities, and the importance of this access during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report analyzed 11,446 households and 56,402 individuals in Vanuatu. According to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, there have been no confirmed cases of Covid-19 on the island as of July 15.

The study was conducted in partnership with World Vision and funded by the Australian government’s Water for Women Fund.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-15 14:58:172020-07-15 14:58:17Study Finds Water Accessibility Challenges in Vanuatu

UN-Habitat Installs Handwashing Stations in Kathmandu Markets and Slums

July 14, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

UN-Habitat set up touch-free handwashing facilities to curb the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The stations were installed in the capital’s vegetable markets, urban slums, and areas outside temples.

This “Water for Life” project is primarily supported by the people of Fukuoka, Japan. The communities, managed by mostly women, led in the selection of the sites, management of water and soap decisions, and the safe removal of wastewater. Four of the vegetable market handwashing stations are visited by over 10,000 customers and vendors every day. Bhagwati Adhikari, secretary of one women’s association in Nepal, noted that the handwashing stations not only encourage hygiene, but also help prevent a stigma against those who live in the Kathmandu slums.

For over a decade, UN-Habitat has been working to support Nepal’s national sanitation campaign, and the agency will continue to install handwashing facilities in 64 rural communities, overall targeting 1.4 million people.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-14 12:41:132020-07-14 12:41:13UN-Habitat Installs Handwashing Stations in Kathmandu Markets and Slums

Oxfam Focuses on Hygiene to Mitigate Virus in Nepal, Philippines, U.K.

July 13, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

Oxfam, along with the U.K. Department for International Development and the consumer goods company Unilever, began a 12-month program in Nepal and the Philippines to improve hygiene practices to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The program will build on Oxfam’s handwashing initiative Mum’s Magic Hands, which uses storytelling to encourage good hygiene.

The organization will train community volunteers to communicate the curriculum in the field as well as remotely through digital messaging, social media, or local news networks. Because women and girls are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, the new program will design activities specifically focused on challenges they face. Oxfam will also focus on its home territory by implementing more handwashing stands in Manchester and Oxford.

There have been just over 16,000 confirmed cases of the novel virus in Nepal and 56,259 cases in the Philippines, according to the World Health Organization. The UK has close to 900,000 confirmed cases, and has recently begun reopening its economy.

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-13 14:03:522020-07-13 14:03:52Oxfam Focuses on Hygiene to Mitigate Virus in Nepal, Philippines, U.K.

IOM Constructs New Water Purification Facilities in Sierra Leone

July 10, 2020/in Water News/by Circle Blue

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of National Security in Sierra Leone constructed new water purification facilities to support those without access to clean water during the pandemic. The facilities were installed in five communities, including a resettlement area called Mile Six on the outskirts of the capital, Freetown.

The solar-powered water plants utilize the Japanese purification system called Poly Glu. The Poly Glu powder works as a coagulant which removes any dirt from the water by pulling the debris to the bottom of a container. Clean, purified water remains at the top. More than 1,000 residents at Mile Six now have access to the system for drinking as well as hygiene and hand washing, according to IOM.

Sierra Leone has confirmed 1,572 cases of Covid-19 and an estimated 2.9 million people live without clean water.

Jeneba Kargbo, the chair of displaced families in Mile Six, highlighted the need for the new taps. “We will continue our usual hygiene practices and encourage people to follow the Covid-19 preventative measures,” she said in a IOM press release. “Especially to practice proper hand washing.”

https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png 0 0 Circle Blue https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Circle-of-Blue-Water-Speaks-600x139.png Circle Blue2020-07-10 14:16:122020-07-10 14:16:12IOM Constructs New Water Purification Facilities in Sierra Leone
Page 3 of 10‹12345›»

© 2022 Circle of Blue – all rights reserved
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Donate to Circle of Blue
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Accept settingsHide notification only
Make an impact this #GivingNewsDay
Journalism with this kind of impact is free to consume but costly to produce.
Support fact-based journalism with your tax-deductible donation
For a limited time, NewsMatch will match your gift, dollar for dollar
Support Independent Journalism
You have the power to inform the world's most important decisions
with your tax-deductible donation
 Tweet
 Share
 Copy
 E-mail
 Tweet
 Share
 Copy
 E-mail
 Tweet
 Share
 LinkedIn
 Reddit
 Copy
 E-mail