Water Conservation in the U.S.

A recent study by Pacific Institute shows more people are moving to the hot, dry Western States, which could be bad news for water conservation efforts. Water shortages are seen as one of the biggest threats to the planet as populations increase worldwide.

Total U.S water use has been kept flat since 1975 and has even decreased slightly in recent years thanks to a switch to sprinklers in agriculture, better industrial efficiency and more water efficient homes. However, experts say climate change will make this problem worse in areas where water is scarce.

Another threat to conservation efforts is water use by coal and nuclear plants. Their water use has steadily increased since 1985 and accounted for just under half of all water withdrawals in 2005. Experts say the answer lies in producing energy using renewable resources that don’t consume a lot of water.

Chinese Clean Chemicals out of Yangtze River

Chinese workers are busy cleaning dangerous chemicals and an oil spill after two shipping accidents this weekend. A ship carrying 100 tons of hydrochloric acid sunk in the Yangtze River after colliding with another vessel.

The Yangtze River provides drinking water for tens of millions of people. A test of the water around the accident scene has shown the water’s acidity is within the normal range which suggests the acid has not leaked into the water.

An oil spill happened after an Iranian container ship ran aground in bad weather near the Yangshan port in Zhejiang province. Thirty-seven people aboard the ship were rescued.

These accidents show the vulnerability of China’s waterways which are corridors for transporting industrial and chemical goods.