Erin Brockovich Returns to Battle Toxic Water

The Daily Beast reported today that Erin Brockovich is returning to Hinkley, California to battle PG&E who have again contaminated the local drinking water source. The Daily Beast quotes Brockovich who recalls, "when I first met Roberta back in 1991 and 1992, she said PG&E is buying property, handing out bottled water and my horse just died,” said Brockovich. "This year she called and said they're buying property, handing out bottled water and my horse just died.” Brockovich added, “Eerie doesn't describe it. It was out of body—it was like the 20 years never happened.”

Read more here...

Good for the Vatcian

Vatican official says cheap access to water a right for all!  Read more here.

Water demand will 'outstrip supply by 40% within 20 years

The Daily Mail reports, "water demand will 'outstrip supply by 40% within 20 years' due to climate change and population growth".  Read more here.

California Water and Great Lakes Shortages

I am staying in a nice hotel in San Jose where the tap water comes out of the tap merkey and tastes a little toxic.  It is ironic to me that I can fly from Barranquilla, Colombia to Anywhere, USA and find tap water that appears to be lower in quality (who knows what kind of particulate matter could be found in each).

Another interesting piece?  A study by the U.S. Geological Survey shows there could be future water shortages in the Great Lakes area if communities don't make long term water plans.  How can this even be a possibility in a place that hold one fifth of the world's fresh water supply? 

This is why domestic sanitation is so important...

The New York Times reported today that clogged sewers and floods of wastewater have caused an epidemic of cholera that is "now gripping more than half the country". 

Read the full article here. 

Flooding in Colombia

On the coast of Colombia, the poorest of people are living in flooded house and traveling around their riverbed communities on makeshift boats.  In the community where I work a crocodile has crossed the river to feast on the urban stray dogs.  This type of flooding is affecting the entire country and causing the number of internally displaced people to rise even further.  Currently, Colombia has one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world after Darfur.  This map best illustrates the extent of this ongoing natural disaster. 

Levi's Denim Blues

Rueters reports that the finishing process for a pair of jeans runs somewhere near 42 liters of water. However, Levi's is releasing a new line they are calling "WaterLess" and are using 28% to 96% less water in the line's production. Is this a marketing technique based on a need to reduce water use because of factory location (China and India) or simply a desire to cash in on the green fashion movement?

See Reuter's article here.