Compare and contrast: Supercharged thunderstorms: have we underestimated how climate change drives extreme rain and floods?

The Conversation – United States

A hotter atmosphere has the capacity to hold more moisture. But the condensation of water vapour to make rain droplets releases heat. This, in turn, can fuel stronger convection in thunderstorms, which can then dump substantially more rain. Click here to continue reading

CELA and OMWA call for action to reduce lead amounts in Ontario drinking water

Water Canada

Ontario’s lead in drinking water standard remains too high to protect public health. Lead is a serious public health concern, especially for children and older adults. Despite Health Canada’s expert recommendation that the lead in drinking water standard be lowered to 5 ug/L five years ago, Ontario’s standard remains twice that level, at 10 ug/L. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: Farmers’ union lobbied to increase pesticide limit in UK drinking water

The Guardian

“The suggestion that pesticide residues in water should be allowed to increase is very concerning, particularly at a time when much of our freshwater is already in very poor condition, not least from agricultural runoff”. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: Will Mexico City Run Out of Water?

Scientific American

The global press recently warned that as early as June 2024, Mexico City, home to 22 million people, could face “Day Zero—the complete loss of fresh water at the taps. The situation on the ground, although dire, is more nuanced. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: Costa Rica to ration electricity as drought bites

Phys.org

Costa Rica has become the latest Latin American country to introduce rationing due to drought, announcing Thursday it will limit access to electricity for which it relies heavily on hydro-generation. Dams that feed the country’s hydro-electric plants were low due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, officials said. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: Kenya floods: as the costs add up pressure mounts on a country in economic crisis

The Conversation – Africa

There were early warnings that Kenya’s long rain season – between March and May – was going to bring above-normal rainfall. The extreme intensity of the rain has resulted in devastating floods in many parts of the country. Forty of the country’s 47 counties have been affected. Click here to continue reading

Drought signs raise fears of another fish die-off in B.C. rivers

CBC

Scientists and others like Shepherd worry that climate change and the threat of another year of drought could have further dire consequences for populations of salmon, trout and other fish in B.C. “Water is life, water is our kin and the water is the home and habitat for more than fish. We are all connected, everything is connected,” Shepherd said. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: Disease and hunger soar in Latin America after floods and drought, study finds

The Guardian

In a summary of last year’s toll in this region, the WMO said disasters and climate change, along with socioeconomic shocks, are the main drivers of acute food insecurity, which affects 13.8 million people. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: In Millions of Homes, High Fluoride in Tap Water May Be a Concern

Undark Magazine

Many cities add low levels of fluoride to drinking water in a bid to prevent tooth decay, but the policy has long been controversial. Lost in that debate are the roughly 3 million Americans whose water naturally contains higher concentrations of fluoride — often at levels that even some fluoridation advocates now acknowledge could have neurodevelopmental effects. Click here to continue reading

Compare and contrast: Barcelona is banking on a floating desalination plant to fight drought in northeastern Spain

EuroNews Green

Local authorities say it is a more economical and environmentally sustainable solution than shipping in water. Spain’s drought-stricken region of Catalonia will install a floating desalination plant to help the city of Barcelona guarantee its drinking water supply, regional authorities said Thursday. Click here to continue reading