A referendum to ensure the water system is kept in public ownership could be held in the first half of 2020, according to Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.

A new policy brief from Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) examines population growth in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) and southeast Asia and posits some “myths” that will have to be de-bunked in order to cope with urban WASH access.

Research into Hepatitis E (HEV) disease indicates that population density and lack of clean water are factors that contribute to outbreaks.

A strike by farmers in Peru’s Islay Province continued into a second day July 16, as protests continue against Southern Copper’s $1.4 Billion USD Tia Maria mining project. Hundreds of farmers have blocked the Panamerican Highway, and local transport service has been suspended.

Monsoon rainfall has caused and mudslides across parts of Nepal, northern India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar in recent days causing more than 100 deaths, and mass evacuations. UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed sadness at the loss of life, displacement of people and destruction of property due to the heavy monsoon rains and said the world body stands by to provide support if required. 

California's Department of Conservation ordered oil giant Chevron July 13 to immediately "take all measures" to the stop the flow and "prevent any new surface expressions" near a well site that has spilled about 800,000 gallons of oil-water mixture in the last two months.

Variable climate conditions and persistent conflicts contine to cause high levels of food insecurity in 41 countries, with 31 of these in Africa, UNFAO has reported.

Historically, terrestrial, freshwater and marine specialists have worked more or less independently from one another and, so far, the linkages between source-to-sea have not been fully explored, according to a newly published "Guide".

A total of 100,000 listening devices are to be installed underground by United Utilities to detect leaks.