Water News
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Alberta Water News is a free, subscription-based service that provides the latest information on water news across Alberta and upcoming events.
The news is distributed weekly on Mondays via a collated email and Monday to Friday via WaterPortal social media (X was Twitter). Please note that news will not be distributed on Holiday Mondays and will be released the following Tuesday.
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Compare and Contrast: Maui Fires Could Contaminate the Island’s Waters
Scientific American
Researchers in Hawaii are studying the effects of the deadly blazes on its island of Maui, including how they have impacted drinking-water quality and might affect local marine ecosystems. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: China vs. Japan: Tension over Fukushima’s radioactive ocean dump | About That
CBC News
Japan is dumping treated radioactive wastewater from the ruined Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. China has responded by instituting a seafood ban that could create billion-dollar losses for Japan. Click here to continue reading
Can this forest survive? Predicting forest death or recovery after drought
Science Daily
How long can trees tolerate drought before the forest dies? Researchers from UC Davis can now predict which forests could survive despite future drought. Their new method links precipitation to tree growth, and it can help people decide where to put their resources as climate change affects patterns of snow and rainfall that impact the health of forests. Click here to continue reading
What’s in Floodwaters?
Scientific American
As water accumulates in a region, whether the cause is a storm’s effects, a dam failure or any other reason, it picks up a host of threats to human health, including bacteria, viruses, chemicals, debris, downed power lines and even wild animals. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Hurricane Idalia batters south-eastern US causing storm surges and power outages
The Guardian
Federal officials warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening” flooding across the south-eastern US on Wednesday after Hurricane Idalia crashed ashore in Florida with 125mph winds, torrential rains and surging seawater. Later in the afternoon the storm made its way up the coast to Georgia and the Carolinas. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: New EPA rule weakens protections for wetlands after supreme court ruling
The Guardian
The Biden administration weakened regulations protecting millions of acres of wetlands on Tuesday, saying it had no choice after the supreme court sharply limited the federal government’s jurisdiction over them. The rule would require that wetlands be more clearly connected to other waters like oceans and rivers, a policy shift that departs from a half-century of federal rules governing the nation’s waterways. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Rare blue supermoon could raise tides to exacerbate Idalia storm surge
The Guardian
A rare blue supermoon could raise tides above normal just as Hurricane Idalia smashes its way across Florida’s west coast, exacerbating flooding from the storm. The moon will be closest to the Earth on Wednesday, the day Idalia made landfall in Florida. While a supermoon can make for a spectacular backdrop in photos of landmarks around the world, its intensified gravitational pull also makes tides higher. Click here to continue reading
Heavy precipitation, glacier runoff forces trail closure in Nunavut’s Auyuittuq Park
CBC News
Parks Canada has closed a popular hiking route in Nunavut’s Auyuittuq National Park amid concerns over heavy precipitation, glacier runoff, and an increased risk of flooding and landslides. The closure last week meant that some hikers already in the park had to be retrieved by helicopter, while others had to rethink their travel plans. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Foreign ownership of Australia’s water rights on the rise
The Guardian
Foreign interests hold almost 12% of all water entitlements in the Murray-Darling Basin and the level of foreign ownership in water is increasing, a new report shows. Foreigners own or have a significant share in 4,503GL of Australian water entitlements, which is 11.3% of all the entitlements across the country, the Australian Taxation Office’s report says. Click here to continue reading
Why Alberta researchers are monitoring wastewater for opioids, lethal drugs
CTV News
A Calgary researcher is flagging the importance of monitoring Alberta’s wastewater for the presence of opioids and other lethal drugs, saying it could save lives. Dr. Monty Ghosh has been monitoring wastewater for a research study and says the use of carfentanyl, a synthetic opioid used in veterinary medicine to tranquilize large animals, rose dramatically in June when drug overdoses in the province spiked. Click here to continue reading