During normal times, and even more during the present pandemic, access to clean water and proper sanitation is essential.
Maine’s Penobscot River flows freely where the Veazie Dam once stood. Dam removals have reopened the river to 12 native fish species.
Gregory Rec/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
Thousands of dams across the US are aging and overdue for maintenance. Taking them down can revive rivers, restore fish runs and create new opportunities for tourism and outdoor activities.
They may look comfy to sit on but you’d plummet through and hit the ground.
Sam Schooler/Unsplash
With no place to wash hands and nowhere to physically isolate, many poor Indonesians are incredibly vulnerable as COVID-19 sweeps through the global south.
Carbonation and flavors are all that go into most seltzers.
stockcam/E+ via Getty Images
Bubbly waters are becoming increasingly popular. While these carbonated, sometimes flavored beverages might cause slight harm to teeth, they are far better than soda. They might even be good for you.
Discolored water can be caused by heavy metals, such as iron or copper. Iron can also act as a nutrient for organisms to grow in the pipes.
Kyungyeon Ra/Purdue University
Office buildings have been left mostly empty for weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic, leaving standing water in pipes where harmful organisms can grow. What happens when those buildings reopen?
A child in The Willows land-based program in the Humber Valley, Toronto, walks with his group alongside GabeKanang Ziibi (Humber River).
(Olga Rossovska)
Water is essential for health, economic well-being and social equity, but too many people around the world still don’t have access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
Progress has been slow in Ghana in expanding access to water.
Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock
Islamic law requires Muslims to ritually clean their body before praying. This guidance has particular relevance at a time when hand-washing is important to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Five capital city water storages fell over summer, and some appear to be facing dramatic long-term declines. Late drenching rains fell on southeastern Australia, but some unlucky centres missed out.
Tubeho Neza community distributions of household water filters and cookstoves in western Rwanda in 2014.
Evan Thomas
Although China’s tree-planting efforts have increased carbon sequestration for climate mitigation and protected the soil from erosion, they have also led to drastic water shortages.
High resolution satellite image of the Nile River’s delta.
Shutterstock/TommoT
NASA scientists have discovered a new planet orbiting around a nearby star that is in a habitable zone. But does this planet have liquid oceans that can support life?
Professor of Civil, Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Director of the Healthy Plumbing Consortium and Center for Plumbing Safety, Purdue University
Professor in Practice on Environmental Innovation, School of Social and Environmental Sustainability, University of Glasgow, UK, National University of Singapore
Associate Professor of Environmental Economics and Policy, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, and Fellow of the Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University