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Drinking More Vodka: A Green Solution to Melting Icy Roads?

Lorraine Chow

December 05, 2014 |

NationSwell |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Pullman, Washington

Salt has become a costly and environmental problem in the twenty first century, with consumers overusing it in cooking and melting city roads during the winter. Salt has risen in price and has infiltrated the waterways, affecting the life in the water and contaminating drinking water. As a greener alternative to salt, Washington State University scientists have learned that the biproducts of vodka can help melt ice and snow.

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Tanzania's ambitious water project undercut by dueling economics

Tom Murphy Jacob Kushner

November 26, 2014 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Tanzania

A water program funded by the World Bank has run into some obstacles as it tries to bring clean water to rural villages in Tanzania. The use of private contractors for projects and allowing communities to decide what water system they should build has led to delays in bringing access to water for residents.

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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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Can biomimicry tackle our toughest water problems?

Benjamin Goldfarb

November 24, 2014 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Shepherd, Montana

Clean water and healthy ecosystems are becoming increasingly difficult to come by. With floating islands and other inventions, eco-entrepreneur Bruce Kania thinks that biomimicry - such as reconstructing wetlands and growing biofilms - can tackle the toughest of water problems.

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In India, Latrines Are Truly Lifesavers

Vivekananda Nemana Ankita Rao

November 13, 2014 |

The New York Times |

Text |

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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When Low-Tech Solutions Win

Ankita Rao

September 11, 2014 |

Slate |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, New Delhi, Delhi

A hygiene intervention in a wooden branch, recycled plastic jug, and a bit of soap tied to some rope—a cheap solution that allows access to sanitation in poor communities without incurring major expenses.

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The Art of Water Recovery

David Bornstein

July 10, 2014 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Philippines, Manila, Metro Manila

While California is experiencing its worst drought in history, The World Bank estimates that water systems worldwide have real losses (leakages) of 8.6 trillion gallons per year, about half of that in developing countries. A new leak detection system aims to save 10 billion gallons of water, 7 million gallons of diesel, and 33 gigawatts of electricity over 10 years.

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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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How Portland Lives With, Not Against, Its Rats

Merilee Karr

May 30, 2014 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Whether or not rats have free access to garbage matters to a city because the more rats eat, the more babies they make. Portland has continued to enforce old laws that require trash be kept in sturdy rat-resistant containers, keeping their rat population much smaller than other cities.

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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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