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Humanity’s challenge of the century: Conserving Earth’s freshwater systems

Humanity’s challenge of the century: Conserving Earth’s freshwater systems
  • Many dryland cities like Los Angeles, Cairo and Tehran have already outstripped natural water recharge, but are expected to continue growing, resulting in a deepening arid urban water crisis.
  • According to NASA’s GRACE mission, 19 key freshwater basins, including several in the U.S., are being unsustainably depleted, with some near collapse; much of the water is used indiscriminately by industrial agribusiness.
  • Many desert cities, including Tripoli, Phoenix and Los Angeles,
… [more…]
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Soil-powered fuel cell promises cheap, sustainable water purification

Soil-powered fuel cell promises cheap, sustainable water purification

Soil microbial fuel cells as designed by researchers at the University of Bath. Credit: University of Bath

Engineers at the University of Bath have shown that it’s possible to capture and use energy created by the natural reactions occurring in microorganisms within soil.

A team of chemical and electrical engineers has demonstrated the potential of cheap, simple “soil microbial fuel cells” (SMFCs), buried in the earth to power an electrochemical … [more…]

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Protect Your Groundwater Day

Graphic: Protect Your Groundwater Day 2020

Save the date!

We all rely on groundwater in some way, and groundwater relies on us to protect it.

Protect Your Groundwater Day takes place on September 1, 2020. PYGWD is an annual observance established to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater. The event is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and well maintenance.

Check out the Groundwater Foundation’s tools for engaging the next … [more…]

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World population facing water stress could ‘double’ by 2050

World population facing water stress could ‘double’ by 2050 as climate warms

The number of people exposed to water stress could double by 2050 if efforts are not made to keep global warming below 2C above pre-industrial levels and future population growth is high, a study finds.

This means an additional 380 million people could face water stress by mid-century, when compared to the number in 2010.

Even if the world does meet the Paris Agreement’s temperature target of limiting warming to … [more…]

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Single Systems: Great Lakes cities’ sewer designs mean waste in the waters

Single Systems: Great Lakes cities’ sewer designs mean waste in the waters (Lake Ontario)

The video shot in the summer of 2016 is grisly.

In it, Mark Mattson, co-founder of the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, displays materials skimmed from the Toronto harbor, which lies along the northwestern end of Lake Ontario.

As his small boat bobs in the water, he lays them on a wooden oar: slimy condoms, tampons and wet naps.

And he points to a likely culprit: the millions of gallons of raw … [more…]