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The clock is ticking on dealing with western Kansas' drying Ogallala Aquifer

Karen Dillon

August 10, 2018 |

The Kansas Leadership Center Journal (KLC Journal) |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Topeka, Kansas

Western Kansas' finite Ogallala aquifer is the bedrock of an agricultural region that accounts for 10 percent of Kansas' economy. But thanks to decades of over-drafting for irrigation, the aquifer is on track to run dry in the not-so-distant future. Now some are calling for regional conservation, and some smaller programs have shown promise; however, the challenges of scalability and political wrangling remain vast.

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Electric Rain

Amina Nazarli

June 16, 2018 |

AzerNews |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Azerbaijan, Baku

Turning rainwater into electric power may sound farfetched, but it has become a reality thanks to 15-year-old Reyhan Jamalova in Azerbaijan. Appropriately dubbed Rainergy, this new source of renewable energy has the potential to bring power to underprivileged communities as well as be marketed internationally.

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A Brazilian unimpressed by 'ecological toilets' invents an alternative to flushing

Gabriel Alves

June 14, 2018 |

Haaretz |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Brazil

Flushing a toilet is not only wasteful in terms of water usage, but it is also costly. "Few people know how many liters of water are used, or how much they pay for each liter of water used at home," explains Ezequiel Vedana, the inventor of Piipee - a devise that eliminates the need to flush altogether and has been called a global climate innovation. In fact, when one business tested this devise that emits a deodorizing and decolorizing solution, they saw their water bill cut in half within four months.

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Adaptation to Global Water Shortages

Raisa Scriabine

May 16, 2018 |

KCET-TV |

Video |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Morocco, Id Soussane

Two very different part of the world – California’s Central Valley and Western Morocco – are learning to adapt to water shortages. In the Central Valley, finding and treating water in a notoriously drought-ridden state has been challenging, but a series of connected water districts experimenting with processes like reverse osmosis has showed promise. Halfway across the world, they’ve been using fog collection as a non-traditional method of capturing water so that the rural villages in Morocco can have access to water after decades of water shortages.

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A revolution in hydropower makes waves in rural Colorado

Carl Segerstrom

May 11, 2018 |

High Country News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Montrose, Colorado

Thanks in part to the advancement of technology and federal reforms that now streamline a previously lengthy process, rural Colorado is proving to be a prime candidate for small hydropower projects.

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Newark DIG: Doing Infrastructure Green

Scott Morris

December 19, 2017 |

CivicStory |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

Due in part to an outdated infrastructure, Newark's storm sewers get overwhelmed with litter, oil and other materials that end up impacting the cleanliness of the community's drinking water. To combat this issue, a group of passionate community members formed Doing Infrastructure Green (DIG) to help bring education to residents about sustainable solutions around the water supply.

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How To Make Hydropower More Environmentally Friendly

Matt Weiser

December 20, 2016 |

Ensia |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dover, Delaware

Dams make for complex and often controversial infrastructure. While hydropower generated from large dam projects is currently providing the bulk of the planet's renewable energy, dams can also cause major environmental and social damage by interrupting animal migrations, displacing indigenous communities, and collecting toxins. A number of solutions are being implemented, however, to address the various issues caused by dams, to help make them a more eco-friendly and viable source of clean energy.

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How Congress made micro-hydro easier for mountain towns

Allen Best

July 25, 2016 |

Mountain Town News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Grand Lake, Colorado

Micro-hydro projects in the United States have become much more accessible and more financially viable since Congress passed a law in 2013 making it easier for small hydroelectric projects to get federal approval. Specifically, water treatment plants that can retrofit their systems to generate electricity are an excellent energy opportunity. The plant in Grand Lake now produces more electricity than it consumes.

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How a new source of water is helping reduce conflict in the Middle East

Rowan Jacobson

July 19, 2016 |

Ensia |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Israel, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel experienced extreme drought a few years ago and its water supply was very low. National campaigns to install desalination plants have helped Israel turnaround its inadequate water supply into a surplus. The water scientists who have helped make this surplus see an opportunity for water diplomacy and the de-politicization of water in the Middle East so that more of it can be shared with other geographies.

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The Surprising Success of Micro Hydro

Peter Bosshard

June 01, 2016 |

International Rivers |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Myanmar, Yangon, Yangon Region

The Hydropower Empowerment Network takes a country-by-country approach to helping establish micro hydro and other technologies in rural places where electricity is difficult to come by. Micro hydro has even proven to be more durable and sustainable than solar, though solar is cheaper and quicker to install - the reason is the depth of community involvement required. When villagers participate on longer-term, complex projects, they develop pride in their work, learn invaluable new skills, and are empowered to engage with the solution.

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