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Millions of people across the US are being served drinking water polluted by chromium-6, arsenic, and nitrate – contaminants known to cause cancer and other health problems. A new report and interactive map from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveal the contamination hot spots.   The report claims that many regulations are outdated and focus…

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shares a warning that the global water cycle has become increasingly erratic, swinging violently between deluge and drought. A new WMO report, called the State of Global Water Resources, highlights the cascading impacts of this instability on economies and communities across the globe.   In 2024, only about one-third of…

Xcel Energy plans to sell water it once held for power production to farmers in the water-strapped Lower Arkansas River Valley. This deal, valued at over $44 million, will help the struggling region access vital water supplies and protect its agricultural economy. Advocates hope this sale will become a model for preserving farm water security…

Parties involved in the more than decade-long legal dispute over the Rio Grande water compact have filed settlement documents, potentially ending a costly lawsuit mired before the US Supreme Court. This four-part agreement addresses federal, state, and irrigation district concerns, aiming to establish stability in a drought-stricken region.   The new settlement follows the Supreme…

Rice University researchers have collaborated with international partners to develop the first eco-friendly technology that can capture and destroy PFAS. This finding marks a major step toward addressing one of the world’s most persistent environmental threats: toxic “forever chemicals.”   PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in products from waterproof clothing to…

According to a recent comprehensive study by UC Riverside and the Utah Rivers Council, the most cost-effective way to conserve the dwindling waters of the Colorado River is by changing how farms use water. Agriculture consumes about 80% of water in the Colorado River basin and this research indicates that agricultural water conservation offers the…

A recent study reveals that when a specialized AI is combined with the National Water Model (a dataset produced by NOAA), the hybrid system becomes four to six times more accurate in forecasting streamflow. The tool significantly boosts AI flood prediction accuracy, offering more reliable forecasts of where floods will occur.    The AI is…

The Pacific Institute has a new report offering over 130 strategies to help rural communities build water resilience. Persistent challenges such as aging infrastructure, limited funding, and capacity issues are increasingly common and climate change impacts further intensify these hurdles. This report provides a playbook for rural water resilience, offering tangible solutions to bolster systems…

The rising development of data centers – being used to power AI tools and cloud services – are increasing energy and water demands across the Western US.    If current trends continue, new data centers in states such as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah could collectively use billions of gallons of water annually.…