Features Contamination Water Issues
Scientists warn of global water shortages

June 18, 2013, Germany – At a conference in Bonn, Germany, water scientists warned that the majority of the world’s population will be dealing with water shortages within two generations, the Guardian reported.

The shortages will affect both developed and developing countries, driven by climate change, over-use and pollution.

Natural Disasters

The United States could see as many as 11 hurricanes develop in the Atlantic this season, according to a forecast released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Reuters reported. In an average season in the Atlantic, there are only six hurricanes.

Heavy rain across China has prompted the country’s National Committee for Disaster Reduction to begin emergency disaster relief responses, Xinhua reported. The Committee ordered building safety checks, among other measures, to guard against mudslides.

Hundreds of families in Bangladesh have lost their homes and land to erosion along the Jamuna River—an old problem being exacerbated by more extreme weather, according to AlertNet. Dredging, which could deepen the river channel and keep the banks from expanding, has been raised as a possible solution to the problem.

Fracking and Beer

The German beer industry is raising concerns about hydraulic fracturing as the country’s government considers its options for allowing the controversial drilling technique, Reuters reported. The beer industry said that any water contamination from fracking could hurt the traditional purity of the brews.