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: Africa, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Europe, France, Germany, India, Plastics, PublicWater, Right2Water, US, WaterCrisis
US: How Science Saved Houston From Sinking
Decades of overpumping groundwater around Houston caused the land to sink by as much as 15 feet, forcing neighborhoods to flood and entire communities to relocate.
This episode explores how land subsidence developed, and how science, regulation, and infrastructure are now stopping the ground from sinking.
Chrissy Butcher of Baytown Nature Center and Jason Ramage of the U.S. Geological Survey explain how groundwater extraction triggered massive subsidence and how the problem was first discovered through local surveys and monitoring data.
Read waterloop / Tags: US
Europe: 100+ academics urge MEPs to “Protect in-house provision in public procurement”
Over 100 professors and researchers called on MEPs in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) to protect local governments’ right to provide services in-house.
As the European Parliament debates changes to the EU’s public procurement rules, the experts warn against adding red tape for municipalities and argue that towns and regions should be free to bring services back in-house when it makes sense to do so.
In a joint statement, more than 100 professors and academics from 18 countries and over 50 different universities, institutes and research centers are calling on legislators to ensure that in-house provision is protected by the current parliament. Some MEPs with a far-right background have been promoting what is usually called ‘competitive compulsive tendering’, echoing old proposals by the British Thatcherite right.
Read and sign on EPSU / Tags: Europe – PublicWater
Ecuador: Reports claim that a mining company in Las Naves could leave around 7,000 people without water.
Half of the water flowing through the Guayas River basin, one of the largest in the country, originates in the province of Bolívar; however, a mining company is threatening the area’s water sources.
According to its inhabitants, the first impacts of the El Domo – Curipamba mining project in Las Naves are muddy tributaries and contaminated water intakes.
In 2023, the Ministry of the Environment published a report warning that the mining company could not be authorised to use water from the area because human consumption had to be prioritised.
Residents also complain that heavy mining vehicles have damaged the narrow dirt roads in their communities.
Read Mongabay (Spanish) / Tags: Ecuador
Transforming waste: Vishal Kumar on India’s path to sustainable plastic management
Waste is often treated as a nuisance, leading to a focus on collection and disposal rather than segregation and recycling. Vishal Kumar, CEO of Waste Warriors addresses India’s critical waste management challenges and the need to shift to circular practices.
India’s waste management landscape is at a critical juncture. While national policies and plastic bans signal progress, real change remains elusive, especially in tourist-heavy towns and rural areas where there are infrastructure gaps, behavioral inertia, and a lack of integration between policy and practice. At the heart of this challenge lies the need for a shift: from short-term waste disposal to circular, community-led systems that reduce waste at the source and regenerate local ecosystems.
Read India water portal / Tags: India – Plastics
Water shortage: Germany faces a summer like no other.
Experts are now predicting a summer like no other for Germany. This will be accompanied by a water shortage, causing major problems for humans, animals, and the environment.
While fans of the warm season may rejoice initially, their joy could soon turn to concern. According to experts, Germany is set to experience a summer unlike any other, posing significant challenges for the country.
Read KA Insider / Tags: Germany – WaterCrisis
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‘Nowhere else in France would such a situation be accepted’: several associations have denounced the difficulties of accessing drinking water in overseas territories.
‘Access to drinking water is the first requirement for all human life,’ the associations lament. They have published a report in which they highlight ‘a legal problem that calls into question the principle of equality’.
On Monday 23 June, several associations published a report denouncing discrimination in access to water in overseas territories, according to France Inter (new window), which was able to consult the text. Entitled Thirst for Justice: Taking Action Against Environmental Discrimination in Access to Water in Overseas Territories, the report is supported by Guyane Nature Environnement, Mayotte a Soif, Association pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine Martiniquais, and Notre Affaire à Tous, among others.
Read franceinfo (French) / Tags: France – Right2Water
Cuba: In the city of Matanzas, the water supply is only turned on for an hour or two a day.
Drinking water
With more than 15 hours of power cuts every day, the people of Matanzas not only have no light most of the time, but also no running water for days on end.
A few years ago, Ismael bought a large-capacity water tank to ensure his home never ran out of water. However, in recent months, he has gone up to 15 days without being able to store a single drop. Supply problems affect thousands of residents in Matanzas, compromising hygiene in homes and food services.
Read 14ymedio (Spanish) / Tags: Cuba – Right2Water
Colombia: Congress has approved a law that guarantees drinking water for 200 municipalities across the country.
The initiative promotes the efficient use of resources for drinking water and basic sanitation.
Approximately 200 Colombian municipalities will now have the opportunity to improve their drinking water and sanitation services. This follows the approval of Law 259 of 2023 by the Congress of the Republic in its fourth and final debate. The law aims to optimise the use of resources from the General Participation System (SGP) allocated to providing these services.
“Today, we have billions of pesos tied up that cannot be used due to a rule that no longer reflects reality. This law restores mayors’ autonomy to improve the quality and supply of drinking water and basic sanitation for citizens,” said Representative Wilmer Castellanos, author of the bill.
Read RCN Radio (Spanish) / Tags: Colombia – Right2Water
Advancing Africa’s water security through collaboration
The University of Zululand and Chang’an University had the privilege of hosting the 2025 International Conference on Water Security and Sustainable Development.
The three-day prestigious conference (23rd to 25th May 2025) brought together leading scientists, policymakers, industry experts, and stakeholders from around the world to address one of the most pressing challenges of water security. According to the United Nations, over two billion people live in water-stressed countries.
The effects of climate change have led to a reduction in freshwater availability and climate-induced variability, resulting in an increase in drought in some regions and floods in others.The diverse participant base underscores a global commitment to advancing scientific understanding to formulate practical solutions.
Read The African / Tags: Africa
