water

Flint Residents Tired Of Talk And Tests, Eager For Solution

8:48am March 18, 2016

by Mark Brush

A group of Virginia Tech researchers exposed the drinking water contamination in Flint, Mich., last summer. Now, they are back to retest the waters — and determine if the water is still dangerous.

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Third-graders Ezekiel White (right) and Emanuel Black push a jug of water to the cafeteria at Southwest Baltimore Charter School.

Before Flint, Lead-Contaminated Water Plagued Schools Across U.S.

2:35pm March 16, 2016

by Jennifer Ludden

Schools all over the country, not just Michigan, have struggled to eliminate lead from water fountains and cafeterias — some for more than a decade.

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This is one of several canals that will be filled to slow the movement of water through the Everglades, restoring an ecosystem environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas called the "river of grass."

Once Parched, Florida's Everglades Finds Its Flow Again

9:52am February 19, 2016

by Greg Allen

The Everglades lost half its ecosystem after Tamiami Trail was built through the heart of the national park in the 1920s, cutting off water flow. Now, restoration efforts are finally taking effect.

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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder delivers his State of the State address Tuesday, with the water crisis in Flint overshadowing most other issues.

National

Michigan Governor On Water Crisis: 'We Will Fix This'

8:22pm January 19, 2016

by Laura Wagner

Gov. Rick Snyder is facing calls for his resignation over tap water contamination in Flint. In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Snyder said he would release his emails from 2014 and 2015.

Michigan Steps Up Efforts To Tackle Lead Crisis After Outcry

5:11pm January 11, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Flint residents are suffering from irreversible health effects of elevated lead levels, amid criticism that the government has been too slow to act.

Saudi Hay Farm In Arizona Tests State's Supply Of Groundwater

5:59pm November 02, 2015

by NPR Staff

A Saudi Arabian dairy company owns 15 square miles in Arizona — and 15 water wells — to make hay to send home to cows. Local farmers are just realizing their water is being exported overseas as hay.

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The city of Fort Bragg, Calif., has ordered restaurants to drastically reduce the amount of dishwashing by serving customers with disposable plates, cups and flatware.

California City Orders Restaurants To Use Disposable Plates, Cups

4:55pm October 07, 2015

by Brakkton Booker

Officials in Fort Bragg also ordered restaurants to serve water to customers only upon request. As part of a stage 3 water emergency, things like washing cars using city water are prohibited, too.

Children of fishermen in Pakistan's Sindh Province travel across the desert for two hours to fetch water.

World News

Getting A Glass Of Water Can Be An Ordeal In Some Parts Of The World

4:39pm August 31, 2015

by Rae Ellen Bichell

In developing countries, folks may trek hours to fetch water — or turn on the spigot and wait endlessly for drops to flow. A new app offers a promising solution for the latter problem.

National

Vegas Water Manager Reassigned For Poisoning Children's Drinks 15 Years Ago

7:59pm August 20, 2015

by Laura Wagner

Jerome Breland was overseeing water safety for North Las Vegas when a complaint regarding his past conviction spurred an investigation and his job reassignment.

In this photo, obtained from ABC7 News in Los Angeles, the shade balls are released into the reservoir.

LA Rolls Out Water-Saving 'Shade Balls'

6:13pm August 20, 2015

by Laura Wagner

In an effort to meet EPA regulations, conserve water and prevent algae growth in the Los Angeles Reservoir, officials are using 96 million plastic balls to cover the water's surface.