BLUE DIGEST 20-06-2025

Every day the most important news on water and sanitation from around the world, compiled by the Blue Community Network, defending water as a common, public good and a human right.

Today: China, Colombia, Europe, France, Germany, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, PublicWater, Right2Water, Spain, UK, US, WaterConflicts, WaterCrisis, WaterJustice

Nigeria: Wike assures satellite towns of water supply

The Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that the promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide potable water to satellite towns across Abuja is fast becoming a reality.
Speaking during the commissioning of the completed loops of the Greater Abuja Water Project, Wike recalled how, during President Tinubu’s visit to China last year, a significant agreement was signed between the FCT Administration and China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) to extend water supply beyond the city centre.

Read Daily Trust / Tags: Nigeria – China – Right2Water

France, Brittany: Our Water Victories

From Eau & Rivières de Bretagne (Water & Rivers of Brittany) @eauetrivieres.bsky.social‬ :
Because it is important to remember past victories in order to continue mobilising with energy and joy, this 32-page magazine tells the story of the many battles for water that have been won in Brittany.

Order here (French) / Tags: France – WaterJustice

Nigeria: Climate change driving conflict, displacement

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution has sounded a warning that climate change is now a direct driver of armed conflict and mass displacement in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
It, therefore, called for urgent and coordinated action to combat it.
At a high-level seminar held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, described the environmental crisis as a destabilising force, worsening insecurity and fuelling humanitarian emergencies in fragile areas.
The seminar, titled “Climate Change, Armed Conflicts, and Internal Displacements in the Sahel Region,” was part of events marking IPCR’s 25th anniversary and drew participation from regional experts, government officials, and civil society organisations.

Read Punch Nigeria / Tags: Nigeria – WaterConflicts – WaterCrisis

Spain: How Almería’s greenhouses are draining its water

Greenhouses transformed Almería into an agri-export giant. But this success story hides a growing crisis: water loss, pollution, and social injustice.
The southern Spanish province of Almería tells a striking tale of transformation. Known for its arid climate and scarce rainfall — just 200 mm a year — it is the driest region in continental Europe. Yet over the past 80 years, Almería has turned into one of the continent’s agricultural powerhouses.
More than 320 square kilometres of plastic-covered greenhouses now sprawl across its dry terrain, exporting around 3.5 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually. Tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, and cucumbers leave Almería for supermarkets across Europe. But the region’s success masks a deeper crisis.

Read Joep Janssen / Tags: Spain – WaterCrisis

India bleeds Pakistan dry: Water at ‘dead’ levels in Pakistan’s dams

Pakistan is finding it difficult to get through its kharif season with consistently lower levels of water in dams – a situation brought about by India’s suspension of the Indus Waters treaty. And, it’s going to get progressively worse in the coming years as India executes several projects on the Indus river system.
India is implementing a comprehensive plan to optimise the usage of the Indus river system through inter-basin water transfers. The strategy includes constructing a 113-km canal to redirect excess water from Jammu & Kashmir towards Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Read The Times of India / Tags: India – Pakistan – WaterConflicts

US: Greg Abbott Launches $20 Billion Texas Water Plan

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed two major bills into law on June 18, launching a landmark $20 billion investment aimed at tackling Texas’ growing water shortages. Final funding approval for part of the plan will require voter consent in a November statewide ballot.
Texas faces mounting water challenges driven by rapid population growth, frequent droughts and rising demands from agriculture and industry. Leaking infrastructure and dwindling supplies threaten quality of life and economic growth. Abbott’s plan aims to secure the state’s water future while addressing ongoing environmental concerns.

Read Newsweek / Tags: US

France: Water, water, please!

An epic tale of a thirsty man searching for a drink of water in Parisian public establishments during a heatwave.
Water: an essential and threatened resource.
According to a survey by UFC-Que Choisir, published on Thursday 19 June, only half of public places in France have a water fountain, despite this having been a legal requirement since January 2022.
To conduct the survey, 80 UFC-Que Choisir volunteers, in partnership with the No Plastic in My Sea association, visited 247 establishments across the country between March and May 2025. They checked for the presence of a water source, signage, and whether it was actually possible to fill a water bottle. Following in their footsteps, Libération did the same in Paris.

Read Libération – radiofrance – franceinfo – Reporterre / Tags: France – PublicWater

Climate change: Europe is struggling with drought and water shortages.

The situation is worsening, but solutions exist: rainwater harvesting, leak detection and recycling can help save water. Experts are calling for urgent action to address the mounting water crisis.
Spring was particularly dry in many parts of Europe. It’s not just farmers who are concerned; there was hardly any rain in April and May, following an excessively dry winter. The transport industry has also been affected by the lack of water in the rivers. On the Rhine, an important trade route, ships could only sail to a limited extent with reduced cargo.

Read DW Deutsche Welle (German) / Tags: Europe – Germany – WaterCrisis

South Africa: Crisis management to address water and sanitation issues in Free State towns

While the Free State Premier has identified nine municipalities as water and sanitation hotspots, it is clear that local government is busy with crisis management.
In response to a question from the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Free State Legislature, the Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, indicated that the Local Municipalities of Maluti-a-Phofung (Harrismith and QwaQwa), Masilonyana (Brandfort and Winburg), Nketoana (Reitz, Petrus Steyn and Arlington), Setsoto (Clocolan, Senekal and Ficksburg), Kopanong (Trompsburg, Jagersfontein and Fauresmith), all towns in the Welkom-based Matjhabeng, Ngwathe (Parys and Vredefort), Mafube (Frankfort, Cornelia and Tweeling), and the Mangaung Metro (Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba ’Nchu) are considered hotspots.
Water and sanitation problems have plagued these municipalities for years. And every year, residents are told that national funding and even interventions are in the pipeline; but they are empty promises and residents’ quality of life keeps deteriorating.

Read Freedom Front Plus / Tags: SouthAfrica – Right2Water

Colombia: The Constitutional Court rules that authorities are obliged to guarantee the supply of drinking water, even in rural areas that are difficult to access.

The State is obliged to provide a minimum vital amount of water in terms of quality, affordability, availability and quantity, regardless of the location of the plaintiff’s residence. Specifically, the assertion that enjoyment of the fundamental right to water is conditional upon land meeting legal requirements for water and sewerage network installation does not stand up to constitutional scrutiny.

Read Diario Constitucional (Spanish) / Tags: Colombia – Right2Water