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: Bangladesh, Canada, Desalination, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, PFAS, Plastics, Right2Water, Senegal, SouthAfrica, Sweden, Turkey, Türkiye, UK, WASH, WaterConflicts, WaterCrisis

Bangladesh: Falling WASH budget raises concerns over SDG progress and citizens’ rights

The Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and WaterAid Bangladesh have raised concern over the continued decline in budget allocations for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2025–26.
In a joint policy brief held at the PPRC office this morning (17 June), the two organisations warned that the trend threatens Bangladesh’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) and National Priority Targets (NPT 17–18), and undermines citizens’ rights to safe water and sanitation.
According to the analysis, WASH allocations have been steadily decreasing from a peak of Tk18,228 crore in FY2022–23 to a proposed Tk10,901 crore in FY2025–26.

Read The Business Standard – The Financial Express – The Daily Star / Tags: Bangladesh – WASH

Turkey: Inmates in Gaziantep prison struggle with restricted water supply

Families of inmates at Gaziantep L-Type Prison in southeastern Turkey said the supply of water has been restricted over the past three days, worsening conditions in an already overcrowded and hot facility, the TR724 news website reported.
According to the families, the prison initially cut off hot water three days ago, forcing inmates to fill plastic bottles with water and leave them in the sun to warm the water up for showers. Now, with cold water also cut off after midnight, it has become impossible for inmates who wake up for morning prayers to wash themselves and fulfill their religious obligations.
With summer temperatures in Gaziantep reaching up to 40°C (104°F), the lack of hot water makes it extremely difficult for inmates to shower and maintain basic hygiene.

Read Stockholm Center for Freedom / Tags: Turkey – Türkiye – Right2Water

Germany: Local authorities are calling for substantial investment to ensure a secure drinking water supply.

In view of the increasing frequency of hot and dry periods in Germany, the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) is warning of regional water shortages and calling for consistent measures to secure the supply of drinking water.
“According to expert estimates, up to eight billion euros must be invested annually in climate adaptation alone,” Bernd Düsterdiek of the DStGB told the Rheinische Post on Tuesday. These investments cannot be funded by local authorities alone. Drinking water is the most important foodstuff for humans, which is why the DStGB also welcomes the federal government’s National Water Strategy.

Read Nachrichten Heute (German) / Tags: Germany – WaterCrisis

Senegal reviews anti-plastic law five years on

The Reflection Days on the Plastic Law in Senegal were officially launched on Tuesday in Dakar by Alioune Ndao, Chair of the Delegations Commission of the National Assembly, representing the institution’s president, El Malick Ndiaye.
Organised by the National Assembly in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event aims to assess the implementation of Law No. 2020-04 of January 8, 2020, commonly known as the anti-plastic law.
Enacted to strengthen the fight against plastic pollution, the legislation bans single-use plastics, establishes a deposit-return system for plastic bottles, and enshrines the principle of extended producer responsibility.

Read APA News / Tags: Senegal – Plastics

South Africa: Eastern Cape floods relief team faces ‘water mafia’ threat

Gift of the Givers has confirmed that threats were made to their humanitarian workers delivering water to flood-hit residents in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
This is linked to the so-called Water Mafia, who earn money from supplying water tankers to municipalities.
At least 90 people died in the floods last week after homes were washed away and roads and bridges flooded.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a day of remembrance to be declared to mourn those who died in the recent natural disasters in the Eastern Cape.

Source msn / Tags: SouthAfrica

Germany: Groundwater at Risk. BUND presents study on water scarcity

Water is essential for life. In Germany, however, it is becoming increasingly scarce. A new study by BUND shows that water stress is already affecting half of all districts. Regions with intensive agriculture, heavy industry or high population density are particularly affected.
The consequences of water scarcity are already evident: groundwater levels are falling, soils are drying out, and rivers are carrying less water. This affects both nature and people. In some districts, restrictions on drinking water supplies have already been imposed. Falling groundwater levels are also affecting agriculture, resulting in failed harvests or lower yields. Biodiversity is declining as wetlands and moors dry up, resulting in the loss of vital habitats for animals and plants.

Read BUND (German) / Tags: Germany – WaterCrisis

Suspending the Indus Waters Treaty: What it Means and Why it Matters

On April 23, 2025, India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following an attack that killed more than 20 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. While the region’s history of political tensions and conflict has tested the treaty many times, the IWT has endured through wars, diplomatic freezes, and border conflicts. Although the two countries reached a ceasefire in May, the IWT remains suspended. But what does “suspending” the treaty actually mean?

Read NewSecurityBeat / Tags: India – Pakistan – WaterConflicts

Canada: “It’s up to you!” A Ktunaxa perspective on water, memory and responsibility

When he speaks, he draws from two worlds — ancient and immediate.
A member of the Ktunaxa Nation’s Akisqnuk Band, Faro Burgoyne stood before an audience interested in water conservation to share wisdom: this land remembers, and water listens.
Faro was the opening presenter at a Wildsight-hosted event this spring that focused on recreation and water health in the Columbia Valley. In front of an audience of about 60 people at the Radium Hot Springs Centre, he began not with data or policy recommendations, but with the Ktunaxa Creation story, where characters shaped the land and water through conflict and journey. That story, Faro explained, mirrors the way his people have lived following two lifelines: the Columbia and Kootenay rivers.
“Water sustains life,” he said. “That’s what created an environment where we could stay and thrive as a people.”

Read wildsight / Tags: Canada

Italy: Fighting the water crisis in Sicily. The first mobile desalination plants have been delivered in record time.

Thanks to effective systemic action, the fight against the water crisis in Sicily has achieved another important result. The Sicilian Region, the regional and national commissioner for water scarcity, Siciliacque and Acciona Agua (a world leader in water treatment) have announced the delivery of three mobile desalination plants to be installed in Porto Empedocle (Agrigento), Gela (Caltanissetta) and Trapani. Built in just 120 days, these plants exemplify the successful collaboration between the public and private sectors. The first 18 containers have already arrived in Porto Empedocle and Gela, and the modules for Trapani are scheduled for delivery tomorrow, 18 June.

Read Regione Sicilia (Italian) / Tags: Italy – Desalination – WaterCrisis

Mexico: School drinking fountains. Clean, safe water is a basic right!

Whether at the table, during recess, while running or studying, your child’s body needs water. Not just any water will do: they need clean, safe water that is accessible at all times. At IPC La Salle, we understand this, which is why drinking fountains are not a luxury or an accessory; they form part of our commitment to our students’ health and well-being.
Recent education and health legislation in Mexico leaves no room for doubt: drinking water must be the only beverage promoted in schools, and access to it must be guaranteed throughout the school day.
Read on to find out what the law requires, how we comply with it at IPC La Salle, and how this simple measure can have a significant impact on your child’s life and learning.

Read La Salle (Spanish) / Tags: Mexico – Right2Water

Sweden: Poison in the water. The town with the world’s worst case of forever chemicals contamination

When a small Swedish town discovered their drinking water contained extremely high levels of Pfas, they had no idea what it would mean for their health and their children’s future.
Aqueous film-forming foam (Afff) is a miracle of firefighting: it’s highly effective in putting out flammable liquid fires, such as those caused by jet fuel spills. Chemicals in the foam create a stable blanket over liquid fuel, trapping the flammable vapours and extinguishing the fire. At the air force base in Bruno’s home town of Kallinge in Sweden, firefighters were trained to douse flames using the foam. New recruits came every few weeks, so the training sessions were pretty constant. Afterwards, the foam would soak away into the sandy soil and disappear.

Read The Guardian / Tags: Sweden – PFAS

UK: Privatised water never worked. Now it might be over.

MPs are now calling for a different model of ownership.
The only thing more annoying than the British media’s obsession with wild swimming – or “swimming”, as it was once known – is the fact that when you do want to go swimming in open water, you can’t. The rivers are a toxic soup,the fish are addicted to methamphetamine, and no one in Westminster has an answer the country can afford. That may be about to change, however: for the first time, MPs are now formally raising the idea of new ownership structures, including renationalisation.

Read The New Statesman / Tags: UK

Read also: It really is time to nationalise water by Richard Murphy, in Funding The Future

Read also: Thames Water creditors demand protection from environmental laws. in: Financial Times

France: Where could there be water shortages?

The majority of groundwater sources are seeing levels fall as summer begins.
Close to half of all water tables in France are at below-average levels this June compared to previous years, according to a monthly overview..
It comes as around three-quarters of water tables see the amount of water they are holding reduce due to warm temperatures reaching several areas of France and a lack of rainfall.
This is notably more than at the beginning of May (when 61% of water tables saw levels dropping), and more than at the start of June in 2024.

Read The Connexion / Tags: France – WaterCrisis

France, City of Lyon: The Water Solidarity Payment is a new scheme that guarantees the right to water for all.

The terms of the Water Solidarity Payment have been voted on by Eau du Grand Lyon (Lyon’s public water utility) and the Lyon Metropolitan Area.
The Versement Solidaire Eau (VSE) will be paid automatically to households for whom the cost of drinking water represents more than 3% of their financial resources.
Everyone should have access to drinking water as a fundamental and universal right in order to meet their basic needs, such as drinking, cooking and washing. – regardless of their financial situation. In order to fulfil this obligation, the Lyon Metropolis and its public water service, Eau du Grand Lyon, have decided to provide financial assistance to households whose water bills exceed 3% of their income. This assistance is available to both direct subscribers to Eau du Grand Lyon and those who pay for water as part of their collective charges.

Read eau du Grand Lyon (French) / Tags: France – Right2Water