Water profiteers thrive in Sicily as drought intensifies
Caltanissetta, Italy Reuters A drought on the Italian island of Sicily has become so severe that many residents of the city of Caltanissetta have been without running water for two months, leading to handsome profits for unauthorised private sellers. In a situation more readily associated with a developing country than an advanced European economy, thousands […]
In Spain’s drought-hit Costa Blanca, people queue for bottled water
Teulada-Moraira, Spain Reuters A severe drought has rendered tap water undrinkable in several towns along Spain’s Costa Blanca, forcing holidaymakers and locals to queue at distribution points for bottled water to cover their basic needs. As water levels have dropped, salinity has increased, prompting authorities in some areas to deem tap water unsafe for drinking […]
Martian subsurface harbours oceans’ of life-giving liquid water
Singapore Reuters A study released Monday using data from NASA’s Mars InSight lander shows evidence of liquid water far below the surface of the fourth planet, advancing the search for life there and showing what might have happened to Mars’ ancient oceans. The lander, which has been on the Red Planet since 2018, measured seismic […]
Destruction of Gaza water wells deepens Palestinian misery
Gaza Reuters Israel’s military blew up more than 30 water wells in Gaza this month, a municipality official and residents said, adding to the trauma of airstrikes that have turned much of the Palestinian enclave into a wasteland ravaged by a humanitarian crisis. Salama Shurab, head of the water networks at Khan Younis municipality, said […]
Crisis-hit Ukrainian city prepares for life after the war
Mykolaiv, Ukraine Reuters For the mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, wartime crises like water and power outages and a crumbling local economy are short-term obstacles to a long-term plan. Oleksandr Sienkevych believes that reforms and accountability, including overhauling how public firms are run, are critical to the Black Sea port’s future as […]
Greek islands face water crisis as tourist season peaks
Naxos, Greece Reuters The biggest reservoir on the Greek island of Naxos has dried up, useful only to the turtles that cruise its muddy shallows. Downstream, sea water has seeped into empty irrigation wells, harming the island’s prized potato crop. Further south, on Karpathos island, authorities have imposed restrictions on topping up swimming pools, while […]
Gaza conflict has caused major environmental damage, UN says
Reuters The conflict in Gaza has created unprecedented soil, water and air pollution in the region, destroying sanitation systems and leaving tons of debris from explosive devices, a United Nations report on the environmental impact of the war said on Tuesday. The war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, […]
Essay: How clean water and faith go hand-in-hand
In an article first published on Religion News Service, SUSAN BARNETT, founder of Faiths for Safe Water, says clean water is a conduit of care and love…
Mexico City residents protest “unprecedented” water shortages
Mexico City Reuters Frustrated Mexico City residents have been protesting weeks of water shortages, with officials warning of “unprecedented” low levels in a main system that supplies millions of people. The bustling metro area of 21 million people – one of Latin America’s largest cities – is struggling after years of low rainfall blamed on […]
Japan earthquake survivors battle unsanitary conditions with no running water
Suzu, Japan Reuters A month on from a huge earthquake that struck Japan’s west coast, survivors are battling freezing and unsanitary conditions while tens of thousands of homes remain without running water. Some areas in the isolated Noto peninsula may not have water restored for another two months, the government of Ishikawa prefecture said, adding […]