The Art of Water Recovery

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/the-art-of-water-recovery

David Bornstein

The New York Times

10 July 2014

Text / 1500-3000 Words

While California is experiencing its worst drought in history, The World Bank estimates that water systems worldwide have real losses (leakages) of 8.6 trillion gallons per year, about half of that in developing countries. A new leak detection system aims to save 10 billion gallons of water, 7 million gallons of diesel, and 33 gigawatts of electricity over 10 years.

12 Strategies for Moving from Water Scarcity to Abundance

https://ensia.com/voices/water-abundance

Seth M. Siegel

Ensia

3 December 2015

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Israel has an abundance of water and independence from climate conditions through public ownership and government management of all water, a water-respecting culture, and innovative agriculture practices.

Clean Water at No Cost? Just Add Carbon Credits

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/clean-water-at-no-cost-just-add-carbon-credits

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

15 November 2010

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The company that manufactures Lifestraw, a water purification device, has found a way to distribute their product to impoverished Kenyan families for free, while still making a profit. In the global carbon credit market, businesses receive carbon credits for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These credits can then be sold to companies who need to offset their carbon emissions, allowing green companies to make a profit off of their small ecological footprint.

New sanitation system tested in Arctic village of Kivalina

http://www.adn.com/article/20150907/new-sanitation-system-tested-arctic-village-kivalina

Scott Jensen

Anchorage Daily News

7 September 2015

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Lack of access to sanitary bathrooms in the village of Kivalina, Alaska led to the implementation of a novel, home-based water sanitation system, currently being tested for effectiveness. The hope is that it proves to be a solution for areas all over the state with lack of access to clean water systems.

Green Roofs in Big Cities Bring Relief From Above

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/in-urban-jungles-green-roofs-bring-relief-from-above

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

23 May 2012

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New York City black tar roofs cause a number of environmental problems, including air pollution, heat absorption that raises energy consumption, and storm water runoff in the sewer system. Efforts to turn these old roofs into green spaces cool the buildings, enable the containment of more rainfall, reduce sewer discharge, generate energy, and absorb carbon emissions. New York City has a pilot program offering financial help for green roofs.

Keeping the Water Flowing in Rural Villages

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/keeping-the-water-flowing-in-rural-villages

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

8 December 2011

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In Tanzania, mapping of water points showed that nationally, less than half the existing rural water points were working—of water points that were less than two years old, a quarter had already stopped functioning. British charity WaterAid sets up workshops in poor countries like Tanzania and India to train mechanics in order to have a local fix for these problems. The mechanic position offers employment opportunities for women, fixes pumps for an average of 100 rupees (roughly $2.00), and repaired more than 1,100 pumps in the first 14 months.

In Aleppo, cell phones are helping some desperate Syrians find clean water

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-08-26/aleppo-cell-phones-are-helping-some-desperate-syrians-find-clean-water

Joyce Hackel

Public Radio International (PRI)

26 August 2015

Radio / 5-15 Minutes

In war zones, people have a difficult time finding clean water and safe areas to inhabit. Social media, smart phones, and technology applications are aiding in people’s survival. In Aleppo, Syria, the International Committee of the Red Cross posted a map on Facebook to show alternative sources of clean drinking water that reached approximately 140,000 people.

In India, Latrines Are Truly Lifesavers

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/in-india-latrines-are-truly-lifesavers

Vivekananda Nemana

Ankita Rao

The New York Times

13 November 2014

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India has had a problem in which 620 million people openly defecate outdoors, causing harm to hygiene, sanitation, food, and water resources. The president of India funded an initiative to build public toilets for the people in his country, but the people did not use them because of old traditions and behaviors. The Total Sanitation Campaign is slowly changing villagers’ minds by having local leadership persuade those who resist the toilets by holding community activities and creating special committees to maintain the sanitation.

Green Strategies for the Poorest

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/green-strategies-for-the-poorest

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

19 November 2010

Text / 800-1500 Words

The company that manufactures Lifestraw, a water purification device, has found a way to distribute their product to impoverished Kenyan families for free, while still making a profit. In the global carbon credit market, businesses receive carbon credits for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These credits can then be sold to companies who need to offset their carbon emissions, allowing green companies to make a profit off of their small ecological footprint.

Reinvent the toilet, save the world? Ecuador is betting on it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/11/02/reinvent-the-toilet-save-the-world-ecuador-is-betting-on-it

Vanessa Hua

The Washington Post

2 November 2015

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Billions of people around the world lack access to safe sanitation, causing disease and deaths. In Ecuador a foundation developed a cheap, dry, composting toilet for poor rural families.