The US's 'dash to frack' for oil or gas, which has transformed the country's energy market, is seriously depleting and contaminating aquifers and surface water supplies, writes Valerie Brown. The choice facing America is plain - energy, or water?
… Fracking boom depletes, pollutes US water supplies Valerie Brown | 20th June 2013 News Water USA Fracking Pollution Waste … and contaminating aquifers and surface water supplies, writes Valerie Brown. The …
California has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water wasters', writes Evan Blake. But agribusiness and water-intensive industries like fracking remain untouched by the restrictions, even though they consume over 90% of the state's water.
… drought: agribusiness, fracking untouched by water rationing Evan Blake | 5th April 2015 News Water USA Corporations Farming Oil Gas … has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water …
The Tea Party of Miami put up a convincing demo last week to oppose a 'land grab' that would see 46,000 acres of sugar farm land restored for Everglades conservation. Just one problem - the 'protestors' were actors each being paid $75 for the two-hour shift.
… News Farming Politics USA Pollution Waste Water big-suar-protest.jpg The Tea Party of … $75 for the two-hour shift. South Florida Water Management District had a meeting last … and remediate seriously contaminated run-off water from sugar farms, and so keep the …
The textile industry has had a reputation for massive waste and water usage for years, but a focus on moving away from fast fashion, the textile industry could become more sustainable.
… has had a reputation for massive waste and water usage for years, but a focus on moving … and toxic dyes in manufacturing. Waste like water and damaged material is also a daily … textile industry requires large quantities of water, about 100 to 200 liters per kilogram of …
America's coal-fired power plants produce 140 million tons of ash a year, reports Ben Whitford, most of it dumped in open storage ponds that contaminate drinking water with arsenic and heavy metals. And now Presidential candidate Jeb Bush is promising to scrap 'new and costly' (actually feeble) EPA regulations before they have even been implemented.
… open storage ponds that contaminate drinking water with arsenic and heavy metals. And now … of coal-fired energy generation, mixed with water to make it easier to pour into an … of the crude pit and entering the local groundwater. That's especially problematic in rural …
Capturing and then burying carbon dioxide deep underground in a bid to reduce emissions may lead to a contamination of water aquifers
… and storage could contaminate drinking water Tom Levitt | 12th November 2010 News CCS … emissions may lead to a contamination of water aquifers Government-supported plans to … gas emissions - could contaminate our water supplies, suggests a study. With fossil …
The dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon clean-up appears to be more toxic to corals than crude oil, writes Danielle M DeLeo. It also increases the concentration of oil in seawater, leading to higher, more toxic exposures of oil components when they come into contact with corals and other marine organisms.
… Dispersants sprayed after Deepwater Horizon oil spill more toxic than oil … The dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon clean-up appears to be more … also increases the concentration of oil in seawater, leading to higher, more toxic exposures …
Your bladder's loss could be your vegetable garden's gain, since urine makes for a surprisingly good fertiliser - so why are we wasting our wee?
… Dilute one part urine to 10-15 parts water for application on plants in the growth stage. Dilute in 30-50 parts water for use on pot plants, which are much … to be negligible, especially when diluted in water. What is wee? Urine is 95 per cent …
With vast areas decimated by industrial farming, the salad days are over for mass-produced olive oil. Laura Sevier looks at the effect its rise in popularity has had on the European landscape, and at some more sustainable brands.
… hazard (with negative impacts on the soil, water supply and wildlife), and when it comes … groves with few or no agrochemicals, less water and less machinery. Olives are picked … run-off of soils and agrochemicals into water bodies.’ ‘Anywhere in the main …
The World Bank’s 2008 World Development Report makes a grim prediction of what is to come:
… energy converters, require a lot of water and feed, and add to global methane … CO 2 . So much for modern efficiency. Without water, agriculture grinds to a halt. In developed countries with clean tap water widely available, it’s easy to forget …
The fracking boom has caused massive vegetation loss over North America's rangelands, writes Tim Radford, as 3 million hectares have been occupied by oil and gas infrastructure and 34 billion cubic metres of water have been pumped from semi-arid ecosystems.
… Fracking ravages Great Plains land and water Tim Radford | 4th May 2015 News Fossil Fuels Fracking Oil USA Water Ecology bakken-oil-cut.jpg The fracking … infrastructure and 34 billion cubic metres of water have been pumped from semi-arid …
A deal to give up 500,000 acres of public lands in Utah to the tar sands industry in return for 1.5 million acres of industry is a sacrifice too far, writes Alexander Reid Ross, as it disclaims the wider costs of massive water use and contamination in the headwaters of the Colorado River, already seriously stressed by drought.
… as it disclaims the wider costs of massive water use and contamination in the headwaters of the Colorado River, already … the region. The region is located at the headwaters of the Colorado River. Lying 8,000 feet …
At least a third of the food the world grows each year goes to waste, writes John Mandyck, most of it in fields, transport and storage. The result is poor farmers, hungry people, and a massive 3.3 billion tonnes of needless CO2 emissions. It should be a key topic for action at COP21 in Paris - but so far it's not even on the agenda.
… unlocking solutions for hunger, nutrition, water scarcity, economic expansion and … on the planet) and 70% of all our fresh water is used to grow food. We already produce … hunger, poverty, political instability, water shortages and carbon emissions. Food …
Biodegradeable Waste (BDW), ‘plants and animals’, comprises an amazing 59 per cent of your household waste. Do you simply throw yours in the bin? If so you...
… damage to the environment, plants, soil life, water life and many other organisms… AND IF … diverts your BDW ‘problem’ from landfill to a water treatment works. What’s more, it will … operate it, and uses one invaluable resource; water, to flush another invaluable resource, …
For 16 years the Thai government has ignored the plight of a community where toxic lead mine waste is causing severe chronic poisoning - defying both a 2013 court order, and its international obligations. It's just one of many toxic sites across Thailand that need to be cleaned up - but the government's main concern is to encourage further industrialisation.
… while villagers remain exposed to lead in water, soil, vegetables, and fish. The report, ' Toxic Water, Tainted Justice ' by Human Rights … lead in the creek until test results from the water, soil, vegetables, and aquatic animals …
For 25 years, a group of eco-aware surfers have been campaigning for cleaner waves, writes Summer Brooks. SAS was founded in 1990 to tackle sewage discharges into UK coastal waters, and now, bigger and stronger than ever, they are turning their focus to the global problem of ocean plastic - both picking it up on our beaches, and pushing for long term, global solutions.
… to tackle sewage discharges into UK coastal waters, and now, bigger and stronger than … volumes. In the early days, SAS battled with water companies to fight for new legislation for UK bathing waters, and today it is still a problem. "In …
Brazil has suffered its biggest ever industrial disaster, write Ana Luisa Naghettini & Geraldo Lopes. Breached and overflowing dams have released a massive slug of toxic muds and tailings from iron mining into the country's fifth largest river system that provides drinking water for downstream cities, destroying ecosystems in rivers and vast areas of biologically fragile ocean.
… Geraldo Lopes | 19th November 2015 News Water Waste Pollution Brazil Ecocide Law … largest river system that provides drinking water for downstream cities, destroying … and Civil Defense (Sedec) announced that water treatment and distribuition is already …
A month-long blockade of the Rio Tigre deep in the Peruvian Amazon has secured promises of compensation and cleanup for Peru's Kichwa communities who have suffered 40 years of contaminated waters from oil drilling operations in their remote Amazon region. But until the funds materialize, they are holding firm in their resolve.
… who have suffered 40 years of contaminated waters from oil drilling operations in their … in the river Tigre basin in late 2013. Water samples from the Tigre and its … and aluminium - leaving local communities no water fit for human consumption. The Kichwas …
A unique and pristine coral reef in the mouth of the Amazon is threatened by oil drilling planned by oil giants Total and BP, say the scientists who recently explored it. But the oil companies are determined to press ahead despite the risks, writes Lawrence Carter, and Brazil's environment ministry is set to give its approval.
… year. Together the oil majors own five deepwater exploration licences in the Foz do … State - lies beneath the thick plume of muddy water where the Amazon pours into the Atlantic … discovery amazed scientists because the murky waters shield the ocean floor from sunlight …
British firms lie deep at the heart of the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy, writes Amy Hall. Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland have lent $800m to Energy Transfer Partners and its subsidaries, London-based Commercial Bank of China has loaned $120m, and RBS $250m, while HSBC and Barclays own over $110m worth of shares in project partner Phillips 66.
… Missouri River, fails it will pollute a vital water source for the Standing Rock Sioux … a mostly white community, partly because of water pollution fears. Not just a protest, but … peak, an estimated 10,000 people joined the water protectors at spiritual camps: Sacred …
Montana legislators have brushed off the attempts of farmers, ranchers and landowners to effect 'zoning' regulations to protect them, their land, their water and their livestock from the toxic impacts of fracking. Now they say: 'See you in Court!'.
… to protect them, their land, their water and their livestock from the toxic … establish solid protections for land, air and water quality, giving landowners an essential … are few requirements for protecting our water or how far drilling must be set back …
Could the latest type of tidal-power generator be environmentally benign and deliver cheap, dependable and sustainable energy?
… France Currents Nova Scotia Tidal Energy Water Wheels Companies Carbon Dioxide Hydrogen … barrages can alter the tidal cycle and change water levels – local wildlife is forced to … 10 feet an hour – the rate at which the water level in the Bay of Fundy rises; • as …
Fracking for oil and gas uses a wide range of chemicals that disrupt reproductive function in both sexes, writes Tamsin Paternoster. Now an academic study has found a powerful correlation between stillbirth, miscarriage, low sperm count, and exposure to fracking chemicals.
… Fracking: releasing chemicals in air and water near operations Hundreds of chemicals … layer. The traditional treatment of this wastewater does not remove these chemicals that … from their natural location. This wastewater is then disposed of in landfills, …