Tag

Water Security

All articles tagged with #water security

India rebuffs Hague ruling on Indus Water Treaty, asserting sovereignty over river projects
world3 days ago

India rebuffs Hague ruling on Indus Water Treaty, asserting sovereignty over river projects

A Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled the 1960 Indus Water Treaty remains binding and ordered India to limit construction on the Ratle hydroelectric project until a World Bank–appointed neutral expert delivers a final decision by July 2027. India rejected the ruling, saying the court has no jurisdiction over its sovereign decisions and that its project work will continue. Pakistan welcomed the decision, emphasizing the treaty’s importance for its water security amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Water-Utility Cyberattacks Surge Beyond Early Reports, 100+ Targets Confirmed
technology8 days ago

Water-Utility Cyberattacks Surge Beyond Early Reports, 100+ Targets Confirmed

A month after a cyberattack on U.S. water facilities began, federal authorities say the scope was far larger than first reported: more than 100 water providers across 12 states were targeted, many via PLCs connected to cellular modems. Experts say underfunded, smaller utilities struggle to detect incidents, and investigators attribute the operations to Iranian-state actors. The assault affected systems coast-to-coast, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, with Illinois not listed in the official tally.

Coordinated cyberattack disrupts U.S. water systems across several states
technology1 month ago

Coordinated cyberattack disrupts U.S. water systems across several states

Hackers coordinated an attack on water facilities in multiple states, forcing boil-water notices and switching to manual operation as systems go offline. No drinking-water contamination has been reported, but the incident is being treated as one of the most serious cyberattacks on U.S. water infrastructure in years. Minnesota first flagged attacks on about 30 systems, with Wisconsin and others reporting related incidents; federal agencies (CISA, FBI, EPA) are scrambling to secure vulnerable PLCs and facilities. Attribution remains uncertain, though Iran is among suspected actors. Experts warn the water sector’s cybersecurity remains underfunded and under-defended against such intrusions.

CISA warns of surge in cyberattacks on U.S. water systems after Minnesota breach
technology1 month ago

CISA warns of surge in cyberattacks on U.S. water systems after Minnesota breach

CISA warns of a rising trend of hackers targeting U.S. water and wastewater facilities by manipulating PLCs and changing passwords to lock operators, prompting boil-water notices and manual operation. Minnesota reported a coordinated attack affecting more than 30 community water systems earlier this week, with investigators briefly weighing a possible Iran link; the overall water infrastructure remains vulnerable as probes continue.

Water under fire: US strikes hit Iran’s reservoirs amid drought and escalation
world2 months ago

Water under fire: US strikes hit Iran’s reservoirs amid drought and escalation

The United States says its attacks on Iran were a response to Iranian escalation, but Iran reports civilian water infrastructure—two reservoirs near Sirik serving thousands of residents—was damaged, highlighting Iran’s severe drought and the civilian impact of the fighting; a prior strike on a desalination plant worsened water shortages, and Iran calls the action a potential war crime under international humanitarian law.

Most of Earth's freshwater is locked in Antarctic ice, leaving only a sliver readily accessible
environment3 months ago

Most of Earth's freshwater is locked in Antarctic ice, leaving only a sliver readily accessible

More than two-thirds of Earth's freshwater is frozen in ice caps and glaciers, with Antarctica alone holding about 70% of all fresh water (roughly 28–30 million cubic km). While the global stock is vast, the portion that is easily usable is tiny—about 1% of total freshwater—leaving the majority of water either locked in ice or buried too deep for practical extraction. Groundwater accounts for roughly 30% of freshwater, but much of it is not readily pumpable; the upshot is that water security depends on access and distribution, not total supply.

Argentina relaxes glacier protections to boost mining, sparking water fears
world4 months ago

Argentina relaxes glacier protections to boost mining, sparking water fears

Argentina's Milei government approved a reform to the 2010 glacier protection law, letting provinces decide which glaciers are protected based on whether they serve a 'relevant water function'. Supporters say the change will attract investment in minerals essential for the energy transition, but critics warn it erodes a national environmental standard and could threaten drinking water for about 7 million Argentines who rely on glacier-fed rivers. The reform has sparked protests and drawn warnings from scientists about glaciers’ broader ecological and hydrological roles.

Argentina approves glacier mining bill amid environmental protests
world4 months ago

Argentina approves glacier mining bill amid environmental protests

Argentina's lower house approved the glacier-law amendment 137-111 (with three abstentions), enabling mining in ecologically sensitive glacier and periglacial areas amid protests; environmentalists warn it threatens water supplies, while backers say it clarifies policy and could boost mining exports by giving provinces more authority to designate protected zones.

Trump's Threat to Iran's Desalination Plants Could Redraw Middle East Water Security
world5 months ago

Trump's Threat to Iran's Desalination Plants Could Redraw Middle East Water Security

Trump said on Truth Social that if a deal isn’t reached and the Hormuz Strait remains blocked, the U.S. could blow up Iran’s energy infrastructure and possibly its desalination plants, a move that could jeopardize Gulf water supplies that rely heavily on desalinated water. Desalination is vital for cities across the region, so such attacks would carry humanitarian and geopolitical consequences, with Gulf states scrambling to bolster backups while international law prohibits targeting civilian water infrastructure.

UN Warns Iran Could Hit Desalination Plants, Triggering Water Crisis and Market Fallout
world5 months ago

UN Warns Iran Could Hit Desalination Plants, Triggering Water Crisis and Market Fallout

A UN official warns Iran could target desalination plants across the Middle East within days, risking a regional water crisis with immediate and lasting knock-on effects on global markets, including oil prices. The report cites alleged strikes on facilities such as Bahrain and Iran’s Qeshm Island plant amid escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran threatening retaliation against energy and infrastructure targets if attacked.

SWOT unmasks a global tidal footprint of rivers
science5 months ago

SWOT unmasks a global tidal footprint of rivers

Using the SWOT satellite’s wide-swath altimetry, researchers mapped tidal elevations across 3,172 coastal rivers and identified over 165,000 km of tidal reach on 51,627 river branches, revealing that tides influence hundreds of millions of people and many waterways. Tidal amplitudes at river mouths, channel slope, width, and human-made obstacles shape how far tides propagate upstream, with dams notably limiting tidal extent in about 16% of rivers. The study, validated against 622 tide gauges and supported by the RiverSP dataset, provides a global atlas of tidal rivers, enabling improved flood/drought analysis, saltwater intrusion prediction, and hydrologic–ecologic modelling for coastal water security under climate change.

Desalination Under Fire: Gulf Water Security on the Brink
middle-east6 months ago

Desalination Under Fire: Gulf Water Security on the Brink

Bahrain says an Iranian drone damaged a Gulf desalination plant—the first reported attack in the region during the current conflict—while Iran accuses the US of hitting a plant on Qeshm Island, highlighting the Gulf’s heavy reliance on desalinated water. GCC states account for a large share of global desalination capacity, making outages potentially severe for drinking water and agriculture; experts urge regional coordination, diversified and distributed desalination, and shared water reserves to bolster resilience amid ongoing tensions.

Scientists Warn of Irreversible Climate Shift Threatening Water Security for 2 Billion
science1 year ago

Scientists Warn of Irreversible Climate Shift Threatening Water Security for 2 Billion

A new study warns that rising global temperatures could cause irreversible shifts in rainfall patterns, particularly affecting the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), which may lead to severe water disruptions for nearly 2 billion people and threaten ecosystems, agriculture, and water supplies worldwide. Immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to prevent these long-term impacts.