The world needs more toilets, but Western solutions aren't the answer

Today, 35.8% of the world’s population still lacks access to any proper sanitation facilities.

That’s why in 2015, the world’s leaders agreed to strive for access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030 as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. That means more than three billion extra people will need access to a toilet.

But if we solve this problem with the flush toilets we’re used to in the West, we will have a whole new water access and sanitation problem on our hands. <...more...>

Graphene Sieve Turns Seawater into Drinking Water

A graphene membrane. Photo: The University of Manchester

Graphene-oxide membranes have attracted considerable attention as promising candidates for new filtration technologies. Now the much sought-after development of making membranes capable of sieving common salts has been achieved.

New research demonstrates the real-world potential (...more...)

Shrinking glaciers cause state-of-emergency drought in Bolivia

The government of Bolivia, a landlocked country in the heart of South America, has been forced to declare a state of emergency as it faces its worst drought for at least 25 years.

Much of the water supply to La Paz, the highest capital city in the world, and the neighbouring El Alto, Bolivia’s second largest city, comes from the glaciers in the surrounding Andean mountains.
(more...)

Humanity's Most Problematic Attempts to Get All the Water

Survival shows are running amok. The contestants are naked; they’re two out-of-shape guys in the woods; they’re stuck on an island. Despite differences in attire or setting, one thing remains constant: For every survivor, finding potable water is the first order of business.…  Read More

World is using too much water, warns U.N

A very interesting post from Humanosphere about the worlds fresh water supplies.

"Nations. At current pace, only 60 percent of the water needed globally will be available. Major steps must be taken to reduce water usage to minimize the growing problem, according to the U.N.’s water body in a new report.

“Over the past century, the development of water resources has been largely driven by the demands of expanding populations for food, fibre and energy,” according to the report, Water for a Sustainable World. “Strong income growth and rising living standards of a growing middle class have led to sharp increases in water use, which can be unsustainable, especially where supplies are vulnerable or scarce.”

Damming rivers doesn't always lead to more water resorces

Please see the attached link and article.

Report: Damming of Lake Turkana Could Leave Thousands Without Water, Provoke Tribal Conflict

GLOBAL: WEF Global Risks report places water crises at top of list of threats (19/01/15)

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2015 report has for the first time placed water crises at the top of the list of biggest global threats in terms of their potential impact.

Water crises have also been re-categorised as a societal rather than an environmental risk in this year’s report. Carl Ganter, from WEF’s global agenda council on water, pointed out that around a third of the world’s population now live in water-stressed areas.

Water crises beat the spread of infectious diseases, weapons of mass destruction and [more]

From Poop to Potable Water

This Ingenious Machine Turns Feces Into Drinking Water

By Bill Gates 

on January 5, 2015

I watched the piles of feces go up the conveyer belt and drop into a large bin. They made their way through the machine, getting boiled and treated. A few minutes later I took a long taste of the end result: a glass of delicious drinking water. (more)

Today, November 19th, is World Toilet Day!!

World Toilet Day is a UN recognized event, observed annually on 19 November. This international day of action aims to break the taboo around toilets and draw attention to the global sanitation challenge.(more)

Recent Interview with water.org Founders

Here is a recent Charlie Rose interview with Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of water.org about the global water crisis.  It runs about 30 minutes.

                    http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12577