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How a $1.42 billion project failed to bring water to this Tanzanian village

Tom Murphy Jacob Kushner

November 25, 2014 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Tanzania

Years after a World Bank pilot program built a system to bring clean water to villages in Tanzania, these communities are finding it difficult to fix and operate these projects. While some villages were able to raise funds to maintain these costly water systems, not every community has been able to repair them.

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Protecting the Rio Grande Basin's dwindling water

Marty Schladen

November 16, 2014 |

El Paso Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Elephant Butte, New Mexico

The El Paso Times reports from the heart of the Rio Grande Basin - where drought has led to dramatic decreases in water supply, and serious changes in management of river resources are called for - on how the region plans to tackle the effects of climate change. Citizens work to increase water regulations and frugality in order to find a solution to the dwindling water problem.

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In India, Latrines Are Truly Lifesavers

Vivekananda Nemana Ankita Rao

November 13, 2014 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Odisha

In India, 620 million people openly defecate outdoors, causing harm to hygiene, sanitation, food, and water resources. The president of India funded an initiative to build public toilets for the people in his country, but the people did not use them because of traditions and behaviors. The Total Sanitation Campaign is starting to change villagers’ minds by having local leadership persuade those who resist the toilets by holding community activities and creating special committees to maintain the sanitation.

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The City That Turned Its Water Into Cash

John Tierney

September 22, 2014 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania uses a creative financing strategy - leasing the city's water and sewage utilities - to pay for expensive public pension programs. To keep from raising rates for Allentown residents, the lease agreement has a strict rate cap that rises with inflation.

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Minnesota starts to think about re-using wastewater

Elizabeth Dunbar

August 04, 2014 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Mankato, Minnesota

Mankato, where treated wastewater is used for everything from irrigation to industrial cooling, is one of the few places around this water-rich state where water is being recycled in this way. But as concerns about the availability of groundwater rise in certain parts of the state, interest in reusing wastewater is growing.

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State officials promise tougher approach on nitrates contaminating groundwater

Mark Steil

July 07, 2014 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Worthington, Minnesota

Minnesota farmers are closely following the debate over how best to manage nitrates. Many farmers—no one knows the number exactly–are already taking action to lower their use of nitrates, which can contaminate water.

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Desert city uses water, then uses it again

Dan Kraker

May 27, 2014 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

Tucson has slashed its per capita water consumption by more than a third, and one of the more startling ways it's done that is by reusing water after it's flushed down the toilet or run through a washing machine.

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A first in Minnesota, cities launch system to treat, stash water underground

Jennifer Vogel

April 16, 2014 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, St. Michael, Minnesota

Capturing water during times of plenty, storing it underground, and pulling it out later when it's needed—it's a strategy used in the western and southeastern parts of the country, and now, for the first time, in Minnesota.

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Turning Rural Indians Into Water Entrepreneurs

Whitney Pastorek

November 01, 2012 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India

In rural communities throughout India, having access to clean water does not always come easy. Sarvajal, originally a non-profit experiment, believes that water insecurity is a solvable issue, however. By helping those living in the rural communities take ownership through entrepreneurship, common sense, and the patience to reinvent old systems with more efficient technology, the group has achieved the ability to distribute small reverse-osmosis filtration plants and Water ATMs throughout the northwestern Indian states.

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Green Roofs in Big Cities Bring Relief From Above

Tina Rosenberg

May 23, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City black tar roofs cause a number of environmental problems, including air pollution, heat absorption that raises energy consumption, and storm water runoff in the sewer system. Efforts to turn these old roofs into green spaces cool the buildings, enable the containment of more rainfall, reduce sewer discharge, generate energy, and absorb carbon emissions. New York City has a pilot program offering financial help for green roofs.

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