The recent building collapse in Bangladesh that left more than 700 dead shows that the "construction industry in Bangladesh is broken," Bridgette Meinhold writes. Reports say that the garment factory was supposed to be built as a six-story building, but two more floors were added, and prior to the day of the collapse, cracks were found in the structure. "Hopefully, in the wake of this accident, t ... read more >>

IT manufacturing relies on a number of toxic metals and solvents and has a huge environmental impact that is quite apparent across China. NRDC and a Chinese NGO named the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) have actively worked with Apple over the past year to recommend an improved ... read more >>

A nanoparticle sponge developed by an ABSMaterials chemist soaks up 90% to 100% of the pollutants in stormwater runoff, then releases them slowly enough into the soil that plants and microbes can biodegrade the chemicals safely. "We can't build a pipe to every parking lot and agricultural field, but if we can take a small amount of space and turn it into green infrastructure, we can treat the wat ... read more >>

Feedback is being sought for a major new reservoir planned for Somerset through a series of public exhibitions. Bristol Water has said the reservoir at Cheddar would hold nine million litres of water and would be built near the existing facility. A spokesman for the firm said: "We want to hear people's views so we can develop the best possible scheme." ... read more >>

The water quality of Taihu Lake, the country's third-largest freshwater lake, has been greatly improved due to the introduction of sewage disposal facilities in rural areas, environmental protection authorities said.

Since 2007, the Jiangsu provincial government has installed more than 3,580 facilities, many using technology from countries such as Germany and the United States, in villages aro ... read more >>

It has already taken off in Australia, now a water-propelled jetpack - called a flyboard - has arrived in the UK. The BBC's Mike Bushell joined a group of beginners in Bristol to give it a go. ... read more >>

It's probably been about 15 years since they have opened the spillway, it was quite the sight! ... read more >>

Water hammer is a specific plumbing noise, not a generic name for pipe clatter. It occurs when you shut off the water suddenly and the fast-moving water rushing through the pipe is brought to a quick halt, creating a sort of shock wave and a hammering noise. Plumbing that's properly installed has air chambers, or cushions, that compress when the shock wave hits, softening the blow and preventing ... read more >>

An interesting look into water hammer. And a an irrelevant application of it. ... read more >>

A short video on environmental degradation ... read more >>