Circle of Blue WaterNews
Circle Of Blue
Founded in 2000 by leading journalists and scientists, Circle of Blue provides relevant, reliable, and actionable on-the-ground information about the world’s resource crises.
With an intense focus on water and its relationships to food, energy, and health, Circle of Blue has created a breakthrough model of front-line reporting, data collection, design, and convening that has evolved with the world’s need to spur new methodology in science, collaboration, innovation, and response. To document emerging and recognized crises, Circle of Blue collaborates with leading scientists and data experts. Through its partnerships, Circle of Blue then dispatches top journalists to map and define the region where the change is occurring. Making connections from localized occurrences to global trends, Circle of Blue publishes these reports online — free of charge — to inform academics, governments, and the general public, catalyzing participation across disciplines, regions, and cultures.
With an intense focus on water and its relationships to food, energy, and health, Circle of Blue has created a breakthrough model of front-line reporting, data collection, design, and convening that has evolved with the world’s need to spur new methodology in science, collaboration, innovation, and response. To document emerging and recognized crises, Circle of Blue collaborates with leading scientists and data experts. Through its partnerships, Circle of Blue then dispatches top journalists to map and define the region where the change is occurring. Making connections from localized occurrences to global trends, Circle of Blue publishes these reports online — free of charge — to inform academics, governments, and the general public, catalyzing participation across disciplines, regions, and cultures.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 17, 2020 • 12min
What's Up With Water 8.17.20
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. Stories this week: North Carolina regulators cite water quality impacts as a reason for rejecting a permit for a natural gas pipeline, WHO/UNICEF report on hand washing facilities in schools, and Venezuelans finding creative ways to get water amid economic crisis and governmental failure. Plus a COB story on the success of New York City's watershed protection program.
Aug 17, 2020 • 27min
Three Thirsty Texas Cities Are Global Leaders In Water Innovation
The third in a series of stories on water in Texas, from Circle of Blue. This episode is titled "Three Thirsty Texas Cities Are Global Leaders in Water Innovation: Austin, El Paso, and San Antonio Prepared for Growth and Drought"
Aug 10, 2020 • 10min
A Circle of Blue Investigation: Water Debt
This is an excerpt from Circle of Blue's August 10, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water.
This week Circle of Blue presents the first story in a series on the debt that American households owe to their water departments.
Most Americans give little thought to water bills, paying them on time and in full. But for some homeowners and renters, water debt is relentless and menacing.
Circle of Blue’s investigation focused on a dozen major U.S. cities with publicly operated water utilities. Collectively, they represented over a billion dollars in past-due water bills, owed by about a million and a half households. Businesses, industries, and other commercial operations in those cities owed another $416 million.
Aug 10, 2020 • 13min
What's Up With Water - August 10, 2020
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: monsoon flooding in Mumbai, rural water system struggles in North Carolina, and the first in a series of Circle of Blue exclusives on water debt in America.
Aug 9, 2020 • 21min
A Pause For Energy Developers Threatening Texas Big Bend Region
Circle of Blue's second installment in its Water, Texas series.
Aug 3, 2020 • 25min
What's Up With Water August 3, 2020
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week, legal action on Flint's water crisis, a deadly year for environmental campaigners and a dry prognosis for Texas. Circle of Blue presents the first in a series of reports offering an in-depth look at water in the Lone Star State.
Aug 2, 2020 • 21min
When It Rains, Texans Forget Drought And Worsening Water Scarcity
"When It Rains, Texans Forget Drought and Worsening Water Scarcity" After the Pandemic, Soaring Population Growth, Industrial Development Will Again Overwhelm Planning and Water Supply
Jul 27, 2020 • 5min
Coronovirus Response In Brazil
This is an excerpt of our July 27, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water, as Circle of Blue reports on the coronavirus response in Brazil, where community leaders have stepped in to compensate for government failures.
In the midst of a pandemic, Brazil has no health minister. Luiz Henrique Mandetta was fired by President Jair Bolsonaro in April, and Mandetta’s successor stepped down in May. Even though water, sanitation, and hygiene are bedrocks of public health, the federal government refuses to make them a priority, decreasing investment in the sector by billions of reals over the past decade. Despite prior success with both the Zika and swine flu outbreaks, Brazil’s federal, state, and local governments have largely failed to coordinate a clear and effective response to the coronavirus.
Jul 27, 2020 • 9min
What's Up With Water - July 27, 2020
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. Stories this week: record river pollution fine handed out in Russia, severe floods continue in Asia, and Covid-19 outbreaks in Egyptian prisons. Plus a CoB feature on community coronavirus response in Brazil.
Jul 20, 2020 • 8min
Phoenix Water Restrictors
This is an excerpt of our July 20, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water, as Circle of Blue reports on an experiment in Phoenix that is an alternative to shutting off water to homeowners who are behind on their bills.
It involves a simple disk that’s no larger than a quarter. But Kathryn Sorensen and the staff at Phoenix Water Services Department think it could address one of the utility’s most vexing problems.
