Wetlands serve as Earth's kidneys. They filter and clean people's water supplies while serving as important habitat for many species, including iconic species like cattails, cranes and alligators. Conventional ecosystem health assessments have focused on populations of these larger species. However, the tiny, unseen creatures in the wetlands provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems' health i ... read more >>

A short article discussing some of the legislative and regulatory activities currently taking place in Florida regarding statewide numeric nutrient criteria. ... read more >>

The toxic red tide algae is responsible for killing 241 manatees of the roughly 50000 manatees off the coast of Florida. This is a record killing number of the endangered manatees. ... read more >>

The Obama administration is inching ahead with a plan that would allow wastewater from fracking to be shipped on barges, fueling a debate whether it is safer than other transportation modes or risks polluting drinking water. The Coast Guard last month quietly sent to the White House's Office of Management and Budget a proposal to allow the barging of fracking wastewater. If the plan is pushed for ... read more >>

Tens of thousands of gallons of radioactive water leaked from a large underground storage pool at Japan’s crippled nuclear plant, and thousands more gallons could seep out before the faulty pool can be emptied, the plant’s operator said Saturday. ... read more >>

With warm summer days at the beach on the minds of millions of winter-weary people, scientists are reporting that use of a new water quality test this year could prevent unnecessary beach closures while better protecting the health of swimmers. A study analyzing the accuracy of the test appears in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology. Meredith B. Nevers and colleagues point out that de ... read more >>

Scientists show a nomad (in reflection) how to assemble a "waterpod" near the village of M'Hamid El Ghizlane in Zagora on March 16, 2013. The "waterpod" allows desert-dwellers to turn water extracted from wells into clean drinking water through evaporation and condensation. Omar Razzouki gazes intently at the wooden box, marvelling at what might be the solution to the perennial water woes that he ... read more >>

Cholera is perhaps the most widespread and serious water-related disease, directly associated with the failure to provide safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Billions of people lack this basic human right and suffer from illness as a result. Millions die unnecessary deaths. The World Health Organization has reported that in 2011 (the last year for which comprehensive data are available) ... read more >>

The largest harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie's recorded history was likely caused by the confluence of changing farming practices and weather conditions that are expected to become more common in the future due to climate change. ... read more >>

Pharmaceuticals commonly found in the environment are disrupting streams, with unknown impacts on aquatic life and water quality. So reports a new Ecological Applications paper, which highlights the ecological cost of pharmaceutical waste and the need for more research into environmental impacts. ... read more >>