Another consequence of the Northwest heat dome? Lake gunk If you’ve been to a lake or pond lately, you might have noticed a rust colored, oily layer on the water. It could be a toxic algae bloom. The state’s department of ecology says it’s testing samples from at least 20 lakes across Washington right now for the algae. Noel Gasca
Chlorine shortage hits Northwest drinking water suppliers Water utilities in Washington and Oregon are scrambling to keep customers supplied with safe drinking water following an equipment failure at the Northwest’s main supplier of chlorine. John Ryan
A Tale Of The Taps: Which Hand-Washing Station Is Best In Emergencies? In areas with limited access to clean running water, hand-washing stations can help limit the spread of disease. But experts say not all taps are created equal. Rosemary Misdary
Water On The Moon: NASA Confirms Water Molecules On Our Neighbor's Sunny Surface The breakthrough suggests that water, vital to life on Earth, could be distributed across more parts of the lunar surface than the ice that has previously been found in cold and dark places. Bill Chappell
Smoke in the water: wildfire soot doesn’t just disappear once it rains Rain has knocked down the smoke plaguing the Northwest, but smoky hazards linger. John Ryan Play AudioListen 2 mins
Water, Water, Every Where—And Now Scientists Know Where It Came From Some unusual meteorites suggest that Earth got its water at its start, rather than forming dry and being watered by comets later on. Nell Greenfieldboyce
Beer Waste Saves Montana Town $1 Million On Water Treatment Brewery waste can throw off the microbes that wastewater plants rely on to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. At least two communities in Montana are using it strategically to treat their water. Rachel Cramer Play AudioListen 4 mins
Reporters Pick Their Favorite Global Stories Of The Decade The topics range from a ticking time bomb in the Arctic to the art of taking selfies in an ethical way. Here are the stories selected by our contributors. Marc Silver
Rising Northwest waters bring tough choice: fight or flight The climate’s already changing. People north of Seattle have been facing the muddy consequences head-on. John Ryan Play AudioListen 5 mins
Why does the water level of Lake Washington change through the year? Lake Washington water levels go up and down by 2 feet every year. You may be surprised to find out why. Katherine Banwell Play AudioListen 4 mins
