Water restrictions, desal warning for Melbourne after blaze near dam

Melburnians could be drinking water from Victoria's desalination plant – or even be put on water restrictions – if a fire on the banks of a major water catchment east of the city is not quickly brought under control, the Water Minister has warned.

Victoria's desalination plant in Wonthaggi could
 be used to make up for lost water supply.CREDIT:

Lightning sparked a bushfire about a week ago in thick forest in the Baw Baw National Park, about three hours’ drive east of Melbourne.

Tough terrain has made fighting the fire almost impossible, and the blaze has slowly spread to the edge of the Thomson Reservoir, the largest of Melbourne's water catchments. 

The Thomson makes up about 60 per cent of Melbourne's total storage capacity.

Ash and runoff from the fire was placing that water supply at risk, Water Minister Lisa Neville told media on Friday, soon after taking a flight over the blaze.

Read the story from The Age by Liam Mannix and Simone fox Koob - “Water restrictions, desal warning for Melbourne after blaze near dam.”

Solar powered clean drinking water maker trialled.

A solar-powered device that creates clean drinking water from the air is being trialled in Australia.

The solar-powered water makers are being trialled
 at homes and farms in remote communities.

The portable Source Hydropanels, created by Zero Mass Water, are designed to suck moisture from the air, dehumidifying it to drain the water out before it purifies and add minerals to the water. It is powered solely by attached solar arrays.

Read the story by Cole Latimer from The Age - “Solar powered clean drinking water maker trialled.”

India awaits life-giving drencing monsoon downpours

Workers connect hoses to empty the train's
wagons of water in Latur, Maharashtra, India.

The drenching monsoon downpours are essential to life in India, bringing with them an end to the dry heat and much-needed rainfall for farmers.

This year's rainy season onset has brought a mixture of chaos and joy, with central India in particular rejoicing after a brutal heatwave and crippling drought — so bad that one city resorted to daily deliveries of drinking water, by train.

Forecasting the monsoon's arrival is a serious business, and as Correspondent's Report found out, India's mechanism for predicting the annual downpour is well overdue for an upgrade.

Read the ABC story - “Monsoon season: India eagerly awaiting much-needed rain to bring end to long-lasting drought.”

Californian drought 'scaring' many people

One of the realities of climate change is being felt in California.

The "worst drought" in 500 years
scaring many Californians.

In a story headed: “California’s drought could be the worst in 500 years” Mother Jones reports Californians are becoming scared.

And it argues that such nervousness is with good reason as the state’s fire danger is alarmingly high and its drinking water is dangerously low.

The story point out that the drought will have repercussions outside the state’s borders for it produces a good chunk of the nation’s food; half of it fruit and vegetables and a significant amount of U.S. dairy products and wine.