Circle of Blue WaterNews

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: oxygen depletion in lakes, China flood risk, and dams located near toxic waste sites. Plus, a CoB exclusive feature on "water savings accounts" in Lake Mead.

This is an excerpt of the May 24, 2021 edition of What's Up With Water. Frank Picozzi, the mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island, wants $10 million to replace water and sewer pipes. In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards floated the idea of $300 million for water and sewer infrastructure. Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, meanwhile, is putting $250 million into upgrading his state’s water systems and connecting rural residents to clean drinking water. These potential investments are made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act, a coronavirus relief package that includes substantial sums for public works. President Biden is promoting a multitrillion-dollar standalone infrastructure bill — a proposal that includes over 100 billion dollars to remove lead pipes, upgrade rural water systems, and clean up toxic PFAS chemicals. But in the meantime, the American Rescue Plan Act is a windfall of its own. When lawmakers in Congress passed the $1.9 trillion rescue plan in March, they opened the public purse in a bid to stoke the economy and help the country recover from a deadly pandemic. In addition to stimulus checks and support for families with children, the act set aside $350 billion for states, cities, and tribal governments. The act allowed for state and local funds to be spent in several ways, including premium pay to essential workers, aid to businesses and households, and covering expenses incurred during the pandemic. The act also stated that funds can be used for “necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.” But what is a necessary investment?

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: drought in Taiwan, carbon emissions from dam reservoirs, and dirty water tanks in the US. Plus an exclusive CoB feature on water infrastructure investments from the American Rescue Plan.

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. Stories this week on Great Lakes water levels, the deep fingerprints that drought left on Australia's rivers, and failure to plan for climate adaptation. And an exclusive CoB feature on dry conditions in the American West.

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week - water and sewer utility privatization in Brazil and a legal test of the rights of nature in California. Plus, a CoB exclusive feature on financing innovations that are changing the shape of water, sanitation, and hygiene access around the world.

This is an excerpt of the May 3, 2021 edition of What's Up With Water. In December, when Congress completed the 2021 budget, lawmakers added more funding to help low- and middle-income Americans withstand the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to a second round of stimulus payments, lawmakers included over $600 million for households that were behind on their water bills. It was the first time that Congress had set aside federal funding for that purpose. Little more than two months later, Congress doubled down on the approach, adding another $500 million to what is now officially called the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. In total, over a billion dollars will be available to relieve households of water debts. That’s where the process has slowed. As of late April, none of those funds has been allocated to the states, let alone distributed to families in need. State allocations, to be set by the Department of Health and Human Services, are based on poverty levels and high housing costs. Recently, the department’s Office of Community Services said that they expect the initial funding to be disbursed to states, tribes, and territories by late May.

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. Stories this week on financing a canal around Istanbul, how the pandemic reduced the rate of snow melt in South Asia, an unstable glacial lake in Tibet and the threat of historic drought in California. Plus CoB on the status of federal aid for household water debts.

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: a Gallup poll about drinking water pollution, Louisiana lawmakers wanting to create a report card for drinking water systems, and concerns about dry wells this summer in California. Plus an exclusive CoB story on the risk of dry wells globally.

This is an excerpt of the April 19, 2021 edition of What's Up With Water. Circle of Blue looks at a report on California’s drinking water systems showing that hundreds are below health standards, and hundreds more are at risk. In 2018, when California lawmakers were debating a funding package for clean drinking water, one of things they didn’t know was the extent of the need. The State Water Resources Control Board has released the 2021 Drinking Water Needs Assessment report, so now regulators have a detailed picture of where things stand: how many small water systems are failing or at the brink of failure and what it would cost to bring them up to par. The California needs assessment found over 300 public water systems that consistently fail to provide drinking water that meets state and federal standards. Add to this some 600 public water systems that are at risk of failing. There are also roughly 600 state small systems, those that serve fewer than 25 people, that are at high risk of failing to meet health standards because of their location in aquifers with a high risk of contaminated groundwater.

Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: Stories on the volcanic eruption in St. Vincent, drying of Dhanauri wetlands in India, and $205M settlement in Delaware over air and groundwater contamination from a chicken processing plant. Plus a CoB exclusive feature on failing water systems in California.