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International Water Weekly

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World Will Run Out of Freshwater Unless Current Trends Reversed: UN

new yorK, ny, united states — The world is facing the very real possibility of running out of freshwater unless more is done to reverse current trends, the United Nations warned on May 22, the International Day for Biological

Water Being Stolen From Jalisco Prison: Official

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — In spite of the high levels of security in the area, water is being stolen from the Puente Grande prison complex in Mexico’s Jalisco state, according to State Prisons Director Marisela Gómez.

World Bank Launches Second Phase of Water Partnership Program

washington, dc, united states — The World Bank announced on May 21 that it is launching the second phase of its joint Water Partnership Program, which involves the bank and the governments of the Netherlands, Denmark and the Un

Kyiv Faces Opposition to Planned Cemetery, Sewage Treatment Plant

Ukraine, KYIV — The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has allocated 200 hectares of land for the dual construction of a large cemetery and an adjacent sewage treatment plant, both of which are much needed.

Leningrad Politicians Slam Choice of Dutch Company to Build Sewage Treatment Plant

Russia, ST. PETERSBURG — A minor scandal has broken out in the Regional Assembly for Russia’s Leningrad Region around St.

Water Shortage Among Tops Threats to India’s Security, Survey Finds

NEW DELHI, India — A majority of Indians polled see water shortage as the second biggest threat to the country's security, according to a survey released on May 20.

Israel Increases Water Supply to Jordan

Israel, JERUSALEM — Israel has increased its water supply to Jordan, even though the lower house of the Jordanian Parliament recently called for ending the 19-year peace treaty between the two countries.

Panama to Invest $700 Million USD in Water, Sanitation

PANAMA CITY, Panama — The government of Panama will invest $700 million USD to improve drinking water supply and sanitation under the National Integrated Plan of President Ricardo Martinelli.

Mining Resettlements in Mozambique Face Disrupted Water, Food Services

MAPUTO (Human Rights Watch) — Many of the 1,429 households resettled to make way for Vale and Rio Tinto’s international coal mining operations in Tete province, Mozambique have faced serious disruptions in their access to foo

Costa Rican Council to Hold Regional Water Conference

GUAPILES (Peace & Conflict Monitor) — The Local Water Council (COLAGUA), of the Tortuguero Conservation Area in Costa Rica, has decided to hold a Regional Water Congress, in order to discuss key issues for water resources in the regi

Pakistan's Wapda Currently Working on 20 Projects

ISLAMABAD (PakTribune) — The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is working on more than 20 projects in water sector with cumulative water storage capacity of about 13 million acre feet (MAF) and power generati

Philippines Relocates Families Along Pasig River

MANILA (Dredging Today) — At least 1,200 families living along the Pasig River have been relocated to safer areas as part of government efforts to keep them out of harm’s way during typhoons, according to Interior and Loc

World Bank Approves $30 Million Loan to Armenia for Irrigation Enhancement

WASHINGTON DC (World Bank (press release)) — The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a $30 million USD loan for the Irrigation System Enhancement Project (ISEP) in Armenia.

EBRD, Switzerland Support Water Services in Kyrgyzstan

KANT (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) — Kant, an industrial city of officially 22’000 inhabitants, can upgrade the pipes and reduce water losses, thanks to a loan and grant funding of €1.95 million from the EBRD and a grant fund of

Rwandan Government to Prioritize Water, Sanitation in Budget

KIGALI (The New Times) — The Ministry of Infrastructure (Mininfra) plans to give water and sanitation priority if its Budget is approved, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba has said. Prof.

Conversations With Water Leaders: Jan Eliasson on Millennium Development Goals and Sectoral Cooperation

sinGapore — Third in a series “Conversations With Water Leaders” conducted by OOSKAnews in association with Singapore International Water Week.

Uruguay Initiates Santa Lucia Basin Recovery Plan

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguayan authorities last week announced an integrated protection and recovery plan for the Santa Lucia River Basin.

Salvadoran President Says Proposed PPP Law Will Not Lead to Water Privatization

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes last week denied that the country’s draft public-private partnership law contained elements that would allow privatization of services like water, education, or

Kazakh Official Critical of Country's Water Supply System

ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Water companies in Kazakhstan are bloated and inefficient, and do not prioritize water conservation, according to Kayrat Shayzhanov, head of the Public Services Department at Kazakhstan’s Center of

Kuwaiti Firm Seeks Partners for Umm Al-Hayman Wastewater Treatment Plant

KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT — Kuwait’s Privatization Holding Company (PHC) is negotiating with a number of international firms to form a consortium to build Umm al Hayman Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kuwait’s biggest.

ADB Lends Kashmir $110 Million for Urban Services

India, SRINAGAR — The government of Indian-administered Kashmir and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $110 million loan agreement to finance improvements to urban services, including water supply, in th

Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company Announces $13.3 Billion Investment

Saudi Arabia, DAMMAM — Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) will invest some $13.3 billion USD in water and wastewater projects between 2013 and 2017, NWC’s Head of Privatization Abdulrahman Almutari said this wee

Malaysia’s New Water Minister to Focus on Selangor Supply Issue

Malaysia, PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia’s newly appointed Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Ongkili said this week that he would focus on the ongoing water supply issue in Selangor.

South Africa to Roll Out $458 Million Interim Water Supply Program

PRETORIA (Creamer Media's Engineering News) — The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) will start rolling out its new interim water supply programme (IWSP), aimed at addressing the backlogs in municipal water-related service delivery, in July,

ADB Lends RusHydro $25 Million for Armenia Hydropower Rehabilitation

TEREVAN (Hydro World) — JSC RusHydro has secured a $25 million USD loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that will be used for the modernization of hydropower projects in Armenia's Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade. The S

Bahraini Minister Inspects Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project

MANAMA (Bahrain News Agency) — HE the Minister of Works Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf visited Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project, where he met the team responsible for the implementation of the project and was briefed b

EBRD Joins With Kazakhstan to Improve Waste, Water Management

ASTANA (4-Traders) — The government of Kazakhstan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are joining forces to improve standards of solid waste management and water management in the country which h

Puerto Rico's Water Agency Plans 67 Percent Rate Hike

SAN JUAN (Bloomberg ) — Bonds of the Puerto Rico agency that is the commonwealth’s sole water provider are the most expensive this year as the authority plans to boost rates by 67 percent and wean itself from government

Jamaica's NWC Announces Further Supply Disruptions

KINGSTON (Go-Jamaica) — The National Water Commission (NWC) is advising that the Bogue system in St. Elizabeth is currently out of operation due to mechanical problems.

China Strengthening River Banks to Protect Historic Site Against Floods

BEIJING (Global Times ) — China is investing millions of dollars in a flood control project to prevent Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China's Gansu Province, from seasonal flooding, the caves' adm

India's Mysore, Banglore Water Crises Expected to Get Worse

MYSORE (Times of India) — Water crisis is expected to escalate in another week's time both in Mysore and Bangalore. Water received from Hemavathy is fast running dry.

Maynilad Cuts Supplies to Manila Police Department Over Unpaid Bills

MANILA (Inquirer News) — Tipid. Walang tubig (Conserve.

Stratfor Foresees Potential US-Mexico Conflict Over Colorado River Water

united states, TX, AUSTIN — Competition for increasingly scarce water from the Colorado River Basin could be a source of conflict between the United States and Mexico, especially if the 1944 treaty between the countries is no

Angola, Namibia to Invest $1.35 Billion for Controversial Dam

ANGOLA, LUANDA — Angola and Namibia will invest $1.35 billion USD to build the controversial Baynes Dam on the trans-boundary Cunene River.

Asian Leaders Warn Competition Over Water Could Lead to Conflict

thailand, CHIANG MAI — Asian and Pacific leaders, who gathered in Thailand this weekend for the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit, warned that fierce competition in the region for water resources has the potential to cause c

Qatar Prepares Draft Law to Curb Water, Energy Use

DOHA, Qatar — The Qatari General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) is currently drafting a bill to rationalize the use of electricity and water, according to official sources.

South Africa Could Be “in Trouble” Unless It Conserves Water: Minister

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South African Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa warned this week warned that the nation could face water shortages if citizens do not take steps to conserve water.

Taipei Officials Worry That Landfill Could Pollute Keelung River

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taipei authorites have raised concerns that a landfill in Neihu district will cause pollution of the Keelung River.

India, China Sign Pacts on Water and Irrigation; No New Deal on Brahmaputra

NEW DELHI, India — As part of overall efforts to improve bilateral relations, India and China this week signed agreements on information-sharing on the trans-boundary Brahmaputra River and on water-efficient irrigati

Ukrainian, Russian Water Companies Adopt Novel Strategies to Collect Debts

Ukraine, DONETSK — Ukraine’s State Bailiffs' Service has started confiscating cars of those who default on water bills, authorities said on May 16.