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51% Show #1255

Sean Toyer

In the midst of a summer of crazy weather – do you ever worry about water? Water – what threatens it, a scare when its scarce, and a mystery when it disappears. I'm Susan Barnett and this is 51% the women's perspective.

At this point, you have undoubtedly heard of hydraulic fracturing – a process that uses chemical laced water under pressure to access natural gas in shale deposits that were once inaccessible. Proponents argue it helps ensure American energy independence and creates jobs. Opponents argue it pollutes drinking water – and depletes fresh water supplies. But Peter Neill of the World Ocean Observatory in Maine argues we also have to consider what fracking does to the ocean. 

Peter Neill is director of the World Ocean Observatory and host of World Ocean Radio,  You can find World Ocean Radio on ITunes , Audioport.org, and Stitcher.com.

Credit M Tellin

From the ocean, let's turn to the Great Lakes. WTIPNorth Shore Community Radio's Lake Superior Project takes a closer look at what has been done to protect water quantity in the Great Lakes, and why the next century may be the "century of water."  producer Kelly Schoenfelder has the story.

Find out more about The Lake Superior Project at wtip.org.

Up next, what happens when a rumor runs amok...and are aliens stealing water in Maine?  

We take having water to drink for granted... and we shouldn't.  A few years ago, the people of one African country went into a panic at a rumor that their water would turn to blood.  In the middle of the night, Liberians woke each other up to fetch water from a well. Grant Fuller is a freelance reporter and radio trainer based in Monrovia, Liberia who was there when it happened.

Credit Dana Moos
Stonington

  That story comes to us courtesy of the World Vision Report.

Finally a mystery from Deer Isle, Maine that is back in the headlines.  Thousands of gallons were disappearing from the town of Stonington’s water supply every week… but only on Wednesday.  It started a couple of years ago. Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over. But now it's happening again.  Jennifer Forumziewicz filed this report the first time the water was disappearing.

The water rate was hiked... and just last month, 30 thousand gallons suddenly went missing again. And the hunt continues.

That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Katie Britton for production assistance.  Our theme  music is by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio.  Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock.

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