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<keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword> has been suffering from a pretty nasty streak of flooding every time the rains come rolling around, leaving residents struggling with power outages, flooded streets, and impassable roads. With this scenario in mind, let’s dive into how you can protect your vehicle during such conditions and how to care for it afterward. Driving through waterlogged roads can be intimidating, but with the right precautions, you can minimise damage to your vehicle. <h4>1. Assess the <keyword id="23569146" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-depth" source="keywords">Water Depth</keyword></h4>Before attempting to cross a flooded road, take a moment to gauge how deep the water is. This isn’t just about looking at how far the water reaches on your tires, but also how other cars are handling it. Water deeper than 6 inches (about ankle height) can pose significant risks. For moving water, the danger is even greater. In fact, as little as 4 inches of fast-flowing water can sweep away a vehicle, leading to potentially life-threatening situations. Be cautious — if you're uncertain about the depth, turn around and take a different route. <h4>2. Enter the Water Slowly and Steadily</h4>If there’s no way around the flooded street, approach it slowly. When you enter too fast, your car may aquaplane, which is when the tires lose contact with the road, making it easy to lose control. Aim for a slow and steady speed. as this allows your tires to maintain traction while reducing the chances of creating waves that could send water into the engine. Once in, keep your car moving at a steady pace without stopping. <h4>3. Keep Your Engine Revved Up</h4>One of the major risks when driving through water is <keyword id="22589183" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="engine-damage" source="keywords">engine damage</keyword>. If water enters the exhaust pipe, it can cause the engine to seize, potentially leading to a costly repair. To avoid this, keep your engine’s revs high as you navigate through the water. In manual cars, slipping the clutch slightly while staying in a low gear helps maintain higher revs without speeding up too much. For automatic cars, switching to the lowest possible gear before entering the water is a smart move. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114274586" title="Bengaluru rains bring life to a standstill; relief likely after October 18" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h4>4. Beware of Large Vehicles</h4>If you’re driving near trucks or buses, be mindful of the large waves they create as they plow through floodwaters. These waves can wash over your car, increasing the likelihood of water entering your engine bay or cabin. It’s best to wait for larger vehicles to clear the flooded area before attempting to drive through yourself. Keeping a safe distance ensures you’re not caught in their wake. <h4>5. Know What to Do if You Stall</h4>If your vehicle stalls while driving through water, the immediate response is crucial. Try to restart the car as quickly as possible because the longer the car remains stationary, the greater the chance of water entering critical parts like the exhaust system. However, if the water is too deep or you're unsure, it’s best to avoid restarting to prevent further damage. Instead, push the car to safety if possible, or call for help. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114136105" title="Heavy rains to lash across the country between Oct 12-16, here&amp;#39;s how you can insure your home from rain&amp;#39;s fury" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Flood-aftercare for your vehicle</h2>Once you've navigated through the floodwaters, your car still requires attention to minimise long-term damage. <h5>1. Dry Your Brakes</h5>Driving through water can leave your brakes wet and less effective, increasing your stopping distance. To dry them out, gently tap the brake pedal once you’re back on dry land. This friction helps evaporate any water that may have settled on the brake discs, allowing them to return to full function. Testing the brakes in a safe spot ensures they’re responsive when needed. <h5>2. Inspect the Air Filter</h5>After driving through a flood, one of the first things to check is the air filter. If water has entered the air intake system, it can damage the engine. A soggy or dirty air filter should be replaced immediately to avoid contaminants entering the engine and causing performance issues later on. <h5>3. Look for Signs of Water in the Engine</h5>If you suspect that water has entered the engine, especially if your vehicle stalled, resist the urge to restart the car. Instead, have the vehicle towed to a mechanic. Starting the engine with water inside can lead to hydrolock, where water in the cylinders causes the engine to seize, potentially requiring a costly engine replacement. <h5>4. Thoroughly Clean the Undercarriage</h5>Floodwater is often filled with debris, dirt, and contaminants that can settle on your car’s undercarriage, leading to rust or corrosion over time. Once the water recedes, give your car a thorough wash, paying special attention to the underside. This will help prevent rust and other issues that could develop due to prolonged exposure to dirty water. <h5>5. Monitor Electrical Components</h5>Flooding can wreak havoc on your car’s electrical systems. After driving through water, test all your vehicle's electronics — lights, indicators, power windows, and infotainment system. Water intrusion can cause malfunctions or short circuits, so if you notice any irregularities, have them inspected by a professional to prevent further issues. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114242444" title="Severe cyclone threat looms large near Chennai as IMD GFS predict landfall by Thursday!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>By staying cautious during floods and following these post-care steps, you can keep your vehicle in good shape and avoid the worst of water damage.

Rains forcing you to ride through waterlogged areas? Here’s how to safely traverse flooded roads and minimise damage to your vehicles

<ul class="summary-list"><li>RFK Jr. says under President Trump, he'll advise US water systems to remove fluoride.</li><li>The federal government is not in charge of the US water supply. It's a local thing.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/rfk-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, the man widely expected to become a health leader in President-elect Donald Trump's White House, has promised to lobby to remove fluoride from the American water supply.Nearly 63% of the US population has fluoridated water flowing through their taps, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/php/statistics/2022-water-fluoridation-statistics.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC).US health experts describe fluoridated water — a voluntary practice for local water districts — as one of modern medicine's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4850bx.htm">greatest public health achievements</a>, up there with the recognition that smoking is bad for you.Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-views-vaccines-autism-testing-debunked-2023-7">Kennedy</a>, a former environmental lawyer who was instrumental in the fight to clean up the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/blogs/honoring-our-foundation-in-science/">Hudson River in New York</a>, says there's no need to fluoridate drinking water anymore since most toothpaste contains fluoride. He's not alone. An important debate over fluoride is gaining fresh steam among scientists and legal experts. Some recent studies suggest more research is still needed on safe fluoride levels for kids. Plus, a federal ruling in California this year questioned the US government's recommended dose.While many medical professionals — chiefly dentists — support some level of fluoridation, there is growing agreement that we still aren't sure how much fluoride is too much.<h2 id="73e9cfea-f185-4392-8a29-deb966cdc1f8">120 years ago, fluoride was the mystery culprit behind brown teeth in Colorado</h2><div type="image" title="woman with brown teeth" height="2752" width="1912" msid="115231235" hostid="261" sizebytes="398436"></div>The reason most Americans have fluoride in their drinking water stretches back more than a century to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation">mysterious outbreak</a> scattered across the Midwest and western US.In the early 1900s, dentists started noticing that children in specific towns, including Colorado Springs, Colorado; Oakley, Idaho; and Bauxite, Arkansas, were developing hard, chocolate-colored teeth.It took more than 20 years, but eventually, researchers discovered that these unusual brown stains were caused by high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in the drinking water in certain areas of the country.They also found that the fluoride — a mineral compound found in rocks and dirt — was strengthening teeth. It was hardening tooth enamel and helping to repair some early-stage tooth decay.By 1945, scientists had learned enough about fluoride to harness the technique to prevent cavities for the masses. They proposed microdosing the mineral into the public water supply to give kids just enough fluoride to protect their teeth and help heal dental decay without giving them so much that their teeth would go brown.The experiment worked.In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city to purposefully fluoridate its water. In the first 10 years of the program, the rate of cavities in kids decreased by more than <a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1551218/?page=1">60%</a>. Thus, the idea of fluoridated water as a boon for public health was born.<h2 id="ffc42276-b971-4331-bd76-9f4c2877d29f">US water districts decide their own fluoride levels</h2><div type="image" title="tap water" height="4000" width="6000" msid="115231232" hostid="261" sizebytes="655952"></div>Kennedy has <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1852812012478398923">said</a> he'd aim to convince local authorities nationwide to remove any added fluoride from taps."I think fluoride is on its way out," Kennedy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/rfk-jr-talks-health-care-agenda-following-trump-win-223717957893">told NBC</a> News the day after the election, adding: "I'm not going to compel anybody to take it out, but I'm going to advise the water districts. I'm going to give them good information about the science, and I think fluoride will disappear."The federal government does not control water supplies in the US. That task is up to states and local water systems.The US Environmental Protection Agency does mandate a limit for fluoride in tap water: four milligrams per liter. That limit is meant to prevent crippling health issues caused by excess fluoride intake, like a bone-weakening disease called skeletal fluorosis.<h2 id="e730cbbb-f6d0-4962-9881-0475436e9095">The US lowered fluoride levels in drinking water in 2015</h2><div type="image" title="crest toothpaste vintage ad w nina simone and daughter" height="4416" width="3531" msid="115231221" hostid="261" sizebytes="896112"></div>The amount of fluoride added to a water supply varies not only by city and county but also by the individual water system supplying a given neighborhood.For many years, the federal recommendation fluctuated based on location. In warmer climates — where it was assumed that kids consumed more water to stay cool — officials recommended 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter. Colder areas were advised to add 1.2 milligrams per liter.After reviewing evidence in 2015, the US Public Health Service decided that the discrepancy wasn't needed. The recommendation for fluoridation is now set at 0.7 milligrams per liter nationwide.Most major cities in the US hover around the 0.7 figure. Some places naturally have elevated levels of fluoride in their water due to geological factors. In Lordsburg, New Mexico, for example, water samples collected earlier this year had concentrations of fluoride between <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://cityoflordsburg.com/fluoride-mcl-notice-2024/">5.2 and 6.4 milligrams</a> per liter. Authorities there advise that children under 9 years old shouldn't drink tap water.<h2 id="c03fabfb-6a1d-488a-8229-718ca0e2727d">Places with fluoride-free water generally have worse dental health</h2><div type="image" title="toothbrush with paste" height="3209" width="4813" msid="115231228" hostid="261" sizebytes="238252"></div>Proponents of ditching fluoride often point to the many European countries that do not fluoridate their water. Those countries are not 100% fluoride-free, though: unlike people in the US, many Europeans consume fluoridated salt.Hawaii is the only US state without any fluoride in municipal taps; fluoridated water is only available there on military bases. A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://health.hawaii.gov/about/files/2013/06/Hawaii-Smiles-Report.pdf">2015 report</a> from Hawaii's health department said the state also has the highest prevalence of tooth decay among 3rd graders in the US."It's obvious; you can see it in the quality of their enamel," Anthony Kim, dental director at the Waimanalo Health Clinic, told the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/02/why-hawaii-continues-to-keep-fluoride-out-of-its-drinking-water/">Honolulu Civil Beat in 2020</a>. "Sadly, especially among the kids."Researchers in Canada see the same phenomenon. The rate of cavities detected in Alberta spiked after the city went fluoride-free in 2011, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.17269/s41997-024-00858-w">February 2024 study</a>. Calgary did the same and saw <a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9542152/">similar tooth issues</a> in kids. The city now plans to re-fluoridate its water supply, but cost issues and global supply chain problems post-pandemic have <a target="_blank" href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-s-plan-to-reintroduce-fluoride-into-drinking-water-pushed-back-to-2025-1.6845098">created delays</a>.The military supports fluoridation. In 2016, the <a target="_blank" href="https://ilikemyteeth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DoD-Fluoridation-Memo-March-2013.pdf">US Department of Defense</a> said dental decay was a "significant" reason military personnel were classified as non-deployable. As such, fluoridated water is now mandated on any military base with more than 3,300 people.Rumors have circulated that drinking fluoridated water can lead to bone cancer (osteosarcoma), but long-term studies from both <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/43/1/224/736028">the UK</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877782111001822">US</a> haven't found any credible evidence of higher rates in areas where people drink fluoridated water.<h2 id="726f1d49-c5ff-447d-b2cc-6cf2412f9906">Is there any truth to claims of IQ issues?</h2><div type="image" title="anti fluoride protesters" height="2574" width="3594" msid="115231239" hostid="261" sizebytes="497810"></div>On November 2, Kennedy said on X that fluoride is an "industrial waste" that is linked to "IQ loss."He linked to a ruling from a federal judge in California in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17-cv-2162-Food-_-Water-Watch-Inc.-et-al.-v.-EPA-et-al-Opinion.pdf">October.</a> The judge, appointed by former President Obama, said that while he could not "conclude with certainty" that fluoridated water could reduce the IQ of children, there is evidence that it can be "hazardous at dosages that are far too close to fluoride levels in the drinking water of the United States."His ruling came weeks after a headline-grabbing paper in which a group of independent scientists reviewed existing evidence on fluoridation for the <a target="_blank" href="https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/fluoride_final_508.pdf">US National Toxicology Program</a>. Their review concluded that some studies of fluoride consumption have found links between higher fluoride water levels and lower IQs in kids.There are a couple of big caveats to keep in mind. First, those studies were conducted in other countries, including Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico, not the US.Second, the association with lower IQs was only apparent when children were drinking water loaded with fluoride, at more than 1.5 milligrams per liter. That's double what's recommended in the US and 50% more fluoride than what was first used in Grand Rapids in 1945."More studies are needed to fully understand the potential for lower fluoride exposure to affect children's IQ," the experts said.Those new studies are starting to trickle out. Fluoride and aluminum researcher Ashley Malin, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Florida, recently found <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38767917/">a potential link</a> between a woman's fluoride levels during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in her toddler three years later."At this point, I would advise that pregnant women reduce their fluoride intake," Malin told Business Insider.Malin brushes her teeth without fluoride, drinks filtered water (using a reverse osmosis water purifier or buying bottled water), and says that the most fluoride she consumes is probably from the black chai tea she occasionally drinks.<h2 id="5b5f129c-cdf6-4dba-a89c-6887474b296d">Settling on the right dose</h2><div type="image" title="retro photo of kid brushing teeth" height="3000" width="2487" msid="115231240" hostid="261" sizebytes="496682"></div>It's hard to tease out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD010856/ORAL_does-adding-fluoride-water-supplies-prevent-tooth-decay">exactly how beneficial fluoridated water is</a> for preventing cavities, in part because fluoridating water isn't the only way that tooth care has improved dramatically since the 1940s. (The level of fluoride in many toothpastes is much higher than what's in the water.)The California ruling last month didn't get prescriptive about what the EPA should do about all this uncertainty. It only recommended some kind of "regulatory action" on fluoride."It should be noted that this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health," the verdict read.A federal judge wants the EPA to better answer now whether 0.7 milligrams per liter of fluoride is safe enough.The EPA has said in the past that reviewing their fluoride numbers is a "low priority" item for the agency. Public health experts and dentists generally agree that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news-events/nidcr-news/2024/big-hopes-little-teeth">fluoridated tap water</a> is a safe, effortless, and equitable way to ensure people get enough fluoride to prevent most childhood cavities.However, scientists haven't quite settled on the optimal fluoride level in tap water to maintain healthy teeth yet.

A brief history of America's love affair with fluoridated water — and why it's now up for debate

<ul class="summary-list"><li>California approved a measure allowing it to convert wastewater into drinking water.</li><li>The measure comes as the region has battled<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-show-california-mega-drought-drying-up-lakes-forest-2021-7"> severe drought </a>over the past few years.</li></ul>Californians could soon have sewage waste coming out of their taps — purified, of course.California's State Water Resources Control Board recently approved regulations allowing water systems to convert wastewater, like sewage and toilet water, into purified water that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orange-county-purest-drinking-water-filtered-sewage-2019-10">Californians can drink</a>.According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/press_room/press_releases/2023/pr20231219-dpr-regulations-adoption.pdf">board's</a> December 19 press release, the measure would give California the "most advanced standards in the nation" to repurpose wastewater in a way that meets drinking standards. The process, known as direct potable reuse, would allow water systems to add millions of gallons of drinking water to their supplies while reducing the amount of waste that flows into oceans."This is an exciting development in the state's ongoing efforts to find innovative solutions to the challenges of extreme weather driven by climate change," E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the Water Resources Control Board, said in a statement."On top of helping us build drought-resilient water supplies, direct potable reuse offers energy savings and environmental benefits," he continued. "And most importantly, these regulations ensure that the water produced is not only safe, but purer than many drinking water sources we now rely on."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-drought-aerial-photos-dried-lakes-reservoirs-2021-7">California has experienced the driest period in its history</a> over the past few years. While heavy rainfall this year led the US Drought Monitor to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/21/us/california-drought-hilary.html">declare</a> most of the state drought-free in August, the ongoing climate crisis continues to exacerbate water scarcity concerns.And while California's latest regulations are new, drinking converted wastewater isn't. Texas, for example, started employing the method in 2013, a brewery in California's Half Moon Bay <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-moon-bay-brewery-california-recycled-wastewater-nasa-astronauts-2023-7">switched to recycled wastewater</a> to combat drought over the summer, and Colorado's water board approved the process last year.California's water board wrote in its press release that once the new regulations are finalized by the Office of Administrative Law next year, water systems in the state can start submitting plans to begin purifying wastewater."We want to just use it as much as we can," Rebecca Kimitch, press office manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, <a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4362918-california-toilet-to-tap-water-direct-potable-reuse-proposal-what-to-know/">told</a> The Hill. "Using it once and then sending it to the ocean — that's not being as efficient and as sustainable as we can be."

Purified toilet water could soon be flowing through Californians' taps as the state battles drought

Imagine driving across the mysterious <keyword id="20999261" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Martian-landscape" source="keywords">Martian landscape</keyword>, when a rock suddenly splits open to reveal a dazzling array of bright yellow crystals. What's more, these crystals appear to be made of a substance we didn’t even think or know existed on this alien planet! Spooked yet? The scientists were left astounded too, as <keyword id="19935155" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NASA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NASA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NASA">NASA</keyword>'s Curiosity <keyword id="718236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mars-rover" source="Orion">Mars rover</keyword> confirmed the discovery of yellow <keyword id="22491311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sulphur-crystals" source="keywords">sulphur crystals</keyword> on the Red Planet. <keyword id="22491312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="elemental-sulphur" source="keywords">Elemental sulphur</keyword> requires very specific conditions to form—conditions that haven’t been linked to this Martian location. Moreover, Curiosity found not just one, but a field of these bright sulphur rocks! Since October 2023, Curiosity has been exploring a sulphate-rich area of <keyword id="19901192" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mars" source="keywords">Mars</keyword>. Essentially salts containing sulphur, sulphates typically form as water evaporates. Previously, Mars has revealed sulphur combined with other elements in sulphur-based minerals. But this rock showed pure elemental sulphur, marking a stark contrast. The connection between this sulphur and other sulphur-based minerals in the region remains unknown. “Finding a field of stones made of pure sulphur is like finding an oasis in the desert. It shouldn't be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting,” said Curiosity's project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. <div type="image" title="snow lake" msid="111898995" hostid="261" sizebytes="193768" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;NASA’s Curiosity captured this close-up image of a rock nicknamed “Snow Lake” on June 8, 2024. Nine days earlier, the rover had crushed a similar-looking rock and revealed crystalline textures—and elemental sulphur—inside.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Curiosity's exploration of <keyword id="21152586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gediz-Vallis" source="keywords">Gediz Vallis</keyword> channel on Mount Sharp has revealed significant findings since 2014. Each mountain layer represents a different Martian era, and Curiosity's mission is to find where and when ancient Mars could have supported microbial life. Identified from space before Curiosity's launch, Gediz Vallis was marked as a key target. Scientists believe water and debris flows carved the channel, leaving a ridge of boulders and sediment extending 3 kilometres down. Studying this helps understand Mars' landscape evolution over billions of years. And recent observations suggest both floods and landslides formed the debris mounds on the channel floor. Water-carried stones are rounded, while angular rocks in some mounds indicate dry avalanches. Water exposure also created white "halo" shapes in some rocks, revealed by erosion, pointing to a complex history of <keyword id="21152585" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-on-Mars" source="keywords">water on Mars</keyword>. This led the team to collect rock samples for further analysis. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111810338" title="Noisy neighbour: The Earth randomly blasted Venus with a Missy Elliott hip-hop song last week, because why not?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> On June 18, Curiosity took the opportunity to sample a large rock dubbed “Mammoth Lakes”. The sulphur rocks encountered were too small and fragile for drilling, but this nearby rock provided a viable target. Engineers carefully selected a drill site and a stable parking position on the loose, sloping surface. Curiosity then drilled its 41st hole, using its 2-metre robotic arm. The rover's instruments analysed the powderised rock, revealing its composition. After completing this task, Curiosity moved on from Mammoth Lakes, continuing its journey to uncover more secrets within Gediz Vallis channel.

Freaky finding: NASA's Curiosity rover has found something on Mars that shouldn’t have existed there!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>September's jobs data wildly exceeded consensus expectations, making a soft landing more likely.</li><li>254,000 new jobs were added, and unemployment numbers dipped.</li></ul>After much anticipation, the September jobs data finally arrived.The US <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labor-market-indicators-jobs-pre-pandemic-levels-healthy-goldman-sachs-2024-10">job market</a> blew past economists' predictions, with total nonfarm payrolls increasing by 254,000 last month — over 100,000 more jobs than expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% from 4.2% in August.This optimistic data broke the streak of lackluster job growth that the US economy experienced in July and August.It is now looking more likely that the Federal Reserve pulled off a soft landing by raising interest rates to slow inflation without damaging the labor market to the point of a recession. With this in mind, how can investors allocate their money accordingly? Below, we've compiled four Wall Street expert opinions on the state of the labor market and the overall economy.<h2 id="094ff575-c21c-471f-b99a-81029f60f592">Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist, Charles Schwab</h2>The headline number may be eye-catching, but Sonders believes some of the other data points are more telling about the overall economy.Don't expect a uniform economic recovery, according to Sonders. Strength in services hiring is offsetting weakness in manufacturing. Sonders highlights healthcare and government in particular as areas with strong hiring trends in the last few months. According to her, the manufacturing sector is going through a recession, as indicated by continued contraction of the ISM manufacturing index.The sectors that added the most jobs included food services, healthcare, government, social assistance, and construction. On the other hand, manufacturing jobs fell by 7,000.Rate-sensitive parts of the market, such as utilities, financials, and real estate investment trusts (REITs) should perform well going forward, according to Sonders.Sonders believes there'll be a long road back to normal. Even though the Fed has begun its monetary easing campaign, it's too early to assume that a recession has been averted."You still want to stay up in quality," Sonders said. Investors should focus on company profitability and look for strong balance sheets, free cash flow, and return on equity. These characteristics will help quality companies weather continued economic choppiness.<h2 id="43456a77-78b6-4392-8988-d9de56be49b6">Jeffrey Roach, chief economist, LPL Financial</h2>With a stronger-than-expected jobs report, there's no need for the Fed to initiate another aggressive 50 basis point cut, according to Roach.The individual consumer is holding up well. Layoffs have remained low for the last three months, and wage growth has been robust, which means that households have been able to absorb some of the effects of higher inflation, Roach said. Average hourly earnings increased by 0.4% in September and are up 4% year-over-year, indicating a continued increase in real purchasing power.If you have cash on the sidelines, hold off investing in equities for now, Roach recommends. He expects volatility to remain heightened going into the election and believes there will be better entry points to the stock market later on.Now is the time to continue taking advantage of higher rates on money market funds and short-term bonds before they fall going into next year, Roach added. He expects 100 basis points of rate cuts within the next year. Roach highlights preferred securities in particular. Preferred securities can reduce portfolio volatility, provide income, and reduce interest rate risk.<h2 id="5712c1e1-74cb-4f8e-bece-77e716de5e93">Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management</h2>The labor market is receiving a bump from corporate America's strong earnings and balance sheets, according to Shalett."This has been a market where companies have been willing to hold on to employees and not panic," Shalett said.The decrease in the unemployment rate in September and the continued trend of muted layoffs are positive signs that companies are doing well. There's no need for the Fed to cut rates aggressively going forward, in Shalett's opinion.Shalett recommends investors continue looking for value across the whole market, focusing on quality companies as the market broadens. She doesn't think the economy has strengthened enough for small-caps to take off yet, but mid-caps are a good investment opportunity as a soft landing becomes more likely. Investing in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spy-voo-sp500-equal-weight-index-market-broadening-big-tech-2024-9">equal-weighted market index</a> will give investors more exposure to non-tech companies. And now that rates are slowly but steadily decreasing, Shalett recommends moving up the yield curve through investment-grade bonds with a duration of four to six years.<h2 id="6ba657a2-36b2-4b04-b903-711850ce3e8d">Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer, Independent Advisor Alliance</h2>The job market is showing signs of strengthening with the September data."This should put to rest — at least for the next month — the idea that the economy is about to fall off a cliff or that imminent doom is on the horizon," Zaccarelli wrote in an email.Investors have reason to be optimistic, but they shouldn't focus too much on a single data point, cautions Zaccarelli. One phenomenal report doesn't mean the economy is completely recovered, just like how one or two lower-than-expected reports don't signal recession.With that being said, the current environment presents many opportunities to invest in equities, according to Zaccarelli. He favors areas such as industrials and materials. If the economy doesn't fall into recession, which seems increasingly likely after this jobs report, Zaccarelli believes these cyclical areas of the market will outperform."Recession fears are elevated, and we think those are underpriced, underappreciated parts of the market," Zaccarelli said.

4 market experts share 10 places to invest your money after September's jobs data blew expectations out of the water

Scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory (<keyword id="20215884" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PRL" source="keywords">PRL</keyword>) in Ahmedabad have not only discovered a trio of craters on Mars, but have also received the honour of naming them. Several decades later, humanity might find itself roughing it out on Mars. Once we’re there, there’s no telling that we won’t get lost — it being a whole new planet and all that. But were one of us to lose our way somewhere around the <keyword id="22039720" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tharsis-volcanic-region" source="keywords">Tharsis volcanic region</keyword>, we might stumble upon a sign reading "Hilsa," followed by the faint strains of a familiar tune, the ever-popular Bhojpuri song Lollypop Lageli, drifting through the thin air. The team at PRL stumbled upon three craters in Mars’ Tharsis volcanic region, near the equator in the western hemisphere of the Red Planet. Among these, the largest, a behemoth spanning 65 kilometres, has been named "Lal Crater" after the esteemed Professor Devendra Lal, a former PRL director who left a lasting legacy in cosmic ray physics and space research. Adjacent to Lal Crater lie two smaller craters, each 10 kilometres wide. These bear the names "<keyword id="22039731" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mursan-crater" source="Orion">Mursan Crater</keyword>" and "<keyword id="22039732" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hilsa-crater" source="Orion">Hilsa Crater</keyword>," a heartening tribute to the <keyword id="22043228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-towns" source="keywords">Indian towns</keyword> of Mursan (Uttar Pradesh) and Hilsa (Bihar). Mursan Crater honours the town of Mursan in Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of Dr. Anil Bharadwaj, PRL's current director. Similarly, Hilsa Crater pays tribute to the town of Hilsa in Bihar, the hometown of Dr Rajeev Ranjan Bharti, a key PRL scientist involved in the discovery. This prestigious recognition by the <keyword id="20208943" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Astronomical-Union" source="keywords">International Astronomical Union</keyword> (IAU), the ultimate authority on celestial body names, marks a significant milestone for India's growing role in planetary exploration. The true scientific significance, however, lies beneath the surface. Using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) equipped with the powerful SHARAD radar, the team peered through the Martian crust. What they found beneath Lal Crater was a game-changer: a massive 45-metre thick layer of sediment! This discovery is a scientific Rosetta Stone, unlocking secrets about Mars' watery past. The presence of such a thick layer of sediment strongly suggests that water once flowed freely on the Red Planet, carrying and depositing vast quantities of material over time. "This discovery confirms that Mars was once wet and water has flown on the surface," said Dr Anil Bhardwaj, Director of PRL. "It is a significant step in unravelling the planet's geological history and potential for harbouring life." In other news, scientists have also detected water frost at Mars' equator for the first time ever despite the thin atmosphere. This frost appears on Martian volcanoes in the morning and disappears quickly due to sunlight. The frost is very thin but could be a water resource for future astronauts! Meanwhile, the PRL team's findings, published in the Astrophysical Journal, not only add valuable pieces to the Martian puzzle but also showcase India's growing prowess in space exploration.

UP, Bihar towns on Mars? Indian scientists name newly discovered Martian craters Mursan and Hilsa

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="21868010" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Victoria-Ou" source="keywords">Victoria Ou</keyword> and <keyword id="21868011" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justin-Huang" source="keywords">Justin Huang</keyword>, both 17, won $50,000 for their <keyword id="21868009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastic-filtration-device" source="Orion">microplastic filtration device</keyword>.</li><li>They tested a new technique using <keyword id="21403320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ultrasound" source="keywords">ultrasound</keyword> to filter <keyword id="19970180" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microplastics" source="keywords">microplastics</keyword> from water.</li></ul>Two teenagers from Woodlands, Texas invented a device that could help address one of the most pervasive and challenging forms of pollution on Earth: microplastics. These microscopic plastic particles show up in the deepest parts of the ocean, at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mount-everest-summit-microplastics-study-national-geographic-2020-11">top of Mount Everest</a>, and are in everything from the dust in your home to your food and water. By some estimates, we each inhale and ingest a credit card's worth of plastic per week. Thenit can end up in our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-living-human-lungs-for-the-first-time-2022-4">lungs</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-discovered-in-human-blood-for-the-first-time-2022-3">blood</a>, breastmilk, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">testicles</a>. Victoria Ou and Justin Huang, both 17, hope to prevent that one day with their award-winning device that removes microplastics from water using ultrasonic — or high-frequency — sound waves. Ou and Huang presented their work at last week's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-wins-isef-science-fair-grand-prize-discovery-biomedical-devices-2024-5">Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair</a> (ISEF) in Los Angeles, where top competitors from science fairs worldwide congregated to share their projects and compete for $9 million in prizes. The Texas duo received first place in their Google-sponsored category, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and they also snagged the $50,000 prize from the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations. <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand with their arms raised wearing giant gold medals around their necks" height="839" width="1259" msid="110377857" hostid="261"></div>Though the ultrasonic technique is in its very early stages, the high schoolers hope that one day it could filter the plastic out of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nanoplastics-water-bottle-micro-plastics-bloodsteam-tiny-pieces-plastic-2024-1">your drinking water</a> and from the industrial and wastewater that humans dump into the environment. "This is the first year we've done this," Huang told Business Insider backstage after receiving their award. "If we could refine this — maybe use more professional equipment, maybe go to a lab instead of testing from our home — we could really improve our device and get it ready for large-scale manufacturing." While it's unclear how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/you-are-consuming-microplastics-how-much-what-to-know-risks-2022-4">microplastics affect human health</a>, many common chemicals in plastic have been linked to increased risk of cancer, fertility and development issues, and hormone disruption. And we're still a long way from getting rid of microplastics. <h2>The challenge of filtering microplastics</h2> <div type="image" title="White microplastic beads inside a black container under a microscope" height="683" width="1024" msid="110377858" hostid="261"></div>Last fall, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/isef-science-fair-parents-mistake-pressure-2024-5">brainstorming ideas</a> for their ISEF project, Ou and Huang visited a water treatment plant. They wanted to find out whether this type of facility already had tools that could remove microplastics from wastewater. The answer, they discovered, was no. The EPA doesn't regulate microplastics, the employees told Huang and Ou, so they don't remove them from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-carry-stomach-viruses-in-fresh-water-for-days-study-2022-6">wastewater</a>. "We knew, from then, to focus on this issue," Huang told BI. Even if the EPA began regulating these pernicious plastic particles tomorrow, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-water-pollution-solution-from-google-2019-8">existing removal methods</a> have problems, Huang said. One solution is to use chemical coagulants, such as aluminum hydroxide, that — when added to water — clump microplastics together into larger, more easily filtered chunks. However, chemical coagulants can also pollute the environment and mess with the PH of purified water. Plus, they're expensive. There are also some physical filters available, but they clog easily. And biological solutions, like using enzymes to break down plastics, aren't efficient enough to tackle this problem at scale. "We wanted to find a solution to this because current solutions aren't really effective," Huang said. So, Ou and Huang — who have been friends since elementary school and connected over their shared interest in the environment — set out to invent their own environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and efficient solution. <h2>How it works</h2> <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand in front of their science fair poster holding a small device in their hands that they invented" height="667" width="1000" msid="110377861" hostid="261"></div>Huang and Ou's device is remarkably small, about the size of a pen. It's essentially a long tube with two stations of electric transducers that use ultrasound to act as a two-step filter. As water flows through the device, the ultrasound waves generate pressure, which pushes microplastics back while allowing the water to continue flowing forward, Ou explained. What comes out the other end is clean, microplastic-free water. The two teens tested their device on three common types of microplastics: polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyethylene. In a single pass, their device can remove between 84% and 94% of <keyword id="7791833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastics-in-water" source="Orion">microplastics in water</keyword>, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.societyforscience.org/press-release/high-schoolers-win-more-than-9-million-at-regeneron-isef-2024/">press release</a>. <h2>Future work</h2> <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand back to back wearing a black and blue suit" height="1667" width="2500" msid="110377862" hostid="261"></div> Ou and Huang believe their technology could be used in wastewater treatment plants, industrial textile plants, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-chicago-cleans-billion-gallons-wastewater-every-day-2024-4" target="_blank">sewage treatment plants</a>, and rural water sources. On a smaller scale, it could filter microplastics in laundry machines and even fish tanks. But first, there's more work to be done. "To reach that stage, I think we need a lot more processing," Ou said. "This is a pretty new approach. We only found one study that was trying to use ultrasound to predict the flow of particles in water, but it didn't completely filter them out yet." The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S138358662200209X" target="_blank">study</a> that inspired the two teens was by New Mexico Tech researchers and published in the peer-reviewed journal Separation and Purification Technology in 2022. In another 2023 <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383586623006056?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">study</a>, researchers at Shinshu University tested a similar ultrasound-filtering method to remove microplastics from water. But Ou and Huang say their device is simpler, more efficient, and the first to use ultrasound to block and filter microplastics directly. Their technique uses ultrasonic waves to create a pressure wall that blocks microplastics and allows water to flow through, whereas the Shinshu study focused the microplastics into a beam that must then be collected separately, which requires more steps, more infrastructure, and didn't filter as much water. "I hope we just are able to be able to scale this up, but first we have to refine it because this technology is still at its infancy," Huang said. Their $50,000 prize could help them get there. In the meantime, though, they're enjoying the moment. "We were just happy being able to go to ISEF. Originally, we weren't expecting too much, but getting first place and the top award is much more than we ever expected," Ou said. "This is something that I've been dreaming of my whole life, so I'm still pinching myself trying to figure out if this is real or not," Huang said. Correction — May 29, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated the novelty of Ou and Huang's invention. Ou and Huang are not the first to successfully use ultrasound to separate microplastics from water. Previous studies have tested similar methods.

2 teens won $50,000 for inventing a device that can filter toxic microplastics from water

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Over 3.7 million barrels of Russian diesel are sitting on ships idling in waters near Brazil, Bloomberg reports. </li><li>Though reasons are unclear, it marks the latest delay in Russian energy flows amid sanctions. </li></ul>Tankers loaded with millions of barrels of diesel are drifting along the coast of Brazil, Bloomberg reports, the latest delay in Russia's oil shipments amid the West's sanctions. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-27/tankers-haul-more-russian-diesel-to-brazil-where-there-s-a-glut?srnd=markets-vp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg said Wednesday</a> that vessels carrying over 3.2 million barrels of Russian diesel fuel are languishing in waters off the world's fifth-largest nation, according to data from Kpler. The reason and how many ships are waiting remain unknown, but the surplus underscores the growing bottlenecks in Russian energy deliveries, amidst escalating US and UK sanctions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Bloomberg said 3.2 million barrels covers roughly two weeks of imports for the Latin American nation, and at least two of the vessels off the country's coast are Sovcomflot PJSC tankers. As more sanctions are put into effect on Russia's economy, oil and other energy commodity exports exports being shunned by many buyers, including long-time customers like India, which has <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russian-oil-india-purchases-us-crude-wti-sanctions-ukraine-war-2024-3">ramped up US crude oil imports</a> in recent months. The delays and rejections of its energy shipments have caused Russia to admit that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-west-secondary-sanctions-hitting-oil-exports-payments-revenue-2024-3">secondary sanctions are choking its oil exports</a>, particularly the trade barriers targeting non-US or EU entities' dealings with Russia.Meanwhile, there's still at least 3.3 million barrels of diesel on its way toward Brazil, with much of it traversing the Atlantic, and Bloomberg said traders wouldn't ship them out if they couldn't offload the cargoes.More ships leaving Russian ports bound for Brazil, but their paths hint they're not heading there anytime soon, Bloomberg said. In March, Brazil also brought in diesel-type fuel from the UAE and Kuwait.

Ships carrying Russian diesel are idling off of Brazil in the latest hold-up for Moscow's energy flows

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Saltwater will soon rush into the Mississippi River, which hit its lowest flow rate since 1988.</li><li>That means the drinking water for thousands of Louisiana residents will be polluted.</li></ul>For the second year in a row, the Mississippi River water level is at an extreme low.The problem is thanks to an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/before-and-after-photos-mississippi-river-dramatic-drop-2022-10">ongoing drought event.</a> The river's current levels are comparable to last October when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-dry-mississippi-river-waters-ground-barges-reveal-old-shipwreck-2022-10">barges got stuck on sandbars</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flash-drought-on-mississippi-river-may-devastate-us-exports-2022-10">US agricultural exports suffered</a>.We're already seeing those crises repeat themselves: This summer brought 40 days of <a href="https://www.world-grain.com/articles/19075-falling-levels-on-mississippi-river-affecting-grain-shipments">river closures</a>, meaning the boats that travel along the Mississippi river carrying roughly 60% of the country's grain exports faced significant delays.If a receding water level sending shocks through the supply chain wasn't enough, the river is also facing its lowest flow rate since 1988, threatening the drinking water for southern Louisiana residents in and around New Orleans.That's because a low flow rate could allow saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to push into the river and pollute the source of drinking water for thousands.Mississippi River water flows may reach as low as 130,000 cubic feet per second this year, according to Matt Roe, a spokesperson for New Orleans' US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). That number should be at 300,000 cubic feet per second to keep ocean water out, he said.Officials built two sills — which are underwater concrete barriers — in the last two years to help raise the water levels. The USACE built the second sill in July after it became apparent saltwater was moving upriver, Roe told Insider. As the saltwater wedge approaches, USACE officials are working 24/7 to augment the second sill.While the augmentation won't stop the saltwater from invading, it will buy affected communities more time."The augmented sill is expected to provide an additional 10 to 15 days for communities upriver to continue their preparation efforts," Roe said.The augmentation process began September 24 and will take 24 days to complete, according to Roe. As of September 27, officials <a href="https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Engineering/Stage-and-Hydrologic-Data/SaltwaterWedge/SaltwaterWedgeNow/">reported</a> the wedge was at River Mile 69.4, less than 30 miles downstream from New Orleans' Algiers Water Purification Plant.Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards <a href="https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/BidenLetterSaltwater.pdf">requested</a> a federal emergency declaration from President Joe Biden last week, writing that 20% of the state could be impacted by the saltwater intrusion and experts predict the crisis could last until January 2024.Plaquemines Parish, just south of New Orleans, has already purchased 200,000 bottles of water in anticipation, Edwards wrote.USACE officials beyond Louisiana are also working to mitigate the effects of low water levels and low flow rates.Further upriver in Missouri, the USACE is working 24/7 with two dredgers — boats that suck up accumulated sediment — to move sediment from the river bank and into the channel with the goal of raising water levels, according to Lou Dell'Orco, chief of operations and readiness at the USACE St. Louis District.Ultimately, rain — and a lot of it — is what the Mississippi River will need to reach its average water level and flow rate again, Roe and Dell'Orco both agreed.

The Mississippi River's flow is the weakest it's been in 35 years. Seawater overtaking the river could make New Orleans' drinking water too salty for months.

If you step out into <keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword> traffic these days, there’s a good chance you’ll discover a bulky water tanker spearheading the all-too-familiar clog in traffic. Amidst the ongoing <keyword id="6355836" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-crisis" source="Orion">water crisis</keyword>, India’s Silicon City has mobilised thousands of tankers that zip, almost heroically, across the city, rescuing parched residences from the metro’s urban planning crisis. Bidding to reduce their reliance on the exorb<keyword id="6354185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="it" source="Orion">it</keyword>ant tankers — a necessary step after the exhaustion of half the city’s groundwater-fed borewells — many residential societies have begun innovating water-saving techniques, with varying degrees of success. However, for the several businesses and industries littering the metropolitan town, it seems like dark days are looming. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="IT in turmoil" comment="subhead" text="IT in turmoil">IT in turmoil</cmsannotation> Hosting over 1,400 tech companies that employ tens of lakhs of employees, Bengaluru has certainly earned its title as India’s ‘Silicon Valley’. Not only has this driven a rapid boom in economic, infrastructural and industrial development, the city has acted as a magnet for people looking for attractive employment opportunities. Unfortunately, this success has also resulted in <a href="https://bpac.in/bangalore-population-growth-consequences-and-possible-solutions/" data-type="tilCustomLink">population levels haphazardly spiking</a> from 2,900 people per square kilometre in 2001 to 4,300 within a single decade. Estimates suggest that this figure may have breached 8,000 by now! In addition to deterring water-cooler conversations, the lack of water in their workplaces have led to several companies already urging employees to work from home. Echoing a growing sentiment among the city’s techies, <a href="https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/it-companies-in-bengaluru-urged-to-give-15-lakh-employees-wfh-option-as-city-grapples-with-water-crisis/articleshow/108761390.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">ex-Chief Justice K Sreedhar Rao also pleaded</a> for temporary remote arrangements for migrant IT workers to depopulate Bengaluru till the water crisis is dealt with. However, many such multinational employees have already begun to preemptively take matters into their own hands by temporarily or permanently moving to other cities, such as the nearby Mysuru. Needless to say, this has disrupted operations for many companies, including some of the top IT firms in Bengaluru. In a surprising turn of tragic events, senior personnel at <keyword id="19969515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dell" source="keywords">Dell</keyword> have begun skipping meetings to prioritise their procurement of water, reported the Deccan Herald. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Real estate rates to fall; restaurants forced to adapt" comment="subhead" text="Real estate rates to fall; restaurants forced to adapt"><keyword id="6354553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate" source="Orion">Real estate</keyword> rates to fall; restaurants forced to adapt</cmsannotation> With pleasant weather the year round, Bengaluru has proven itself time and again as an excellent place to settle down and relax. The city’s diverse population is a testament to its uncanny ability to draw people from all over India, even before the city’s notable IT boom. Real estate has now hit an all-time high, with high demand and attractive financial options helping the sector grow exponentially in the past few decades, reportedly recording a staggering nine-year-high 54,000 housing units sold in 2023. However, the city’s recent water woes have left potential property investors second-guessing. According to a recent Deccan Herald poll, around 60% of the respondents noted that they have postponed their move to Bengaluru due to the ongoing shortage, while a similar number of people have also begun evaluating investment options in other cities. Homebuyers have also begun to diligently inquire into <keyword id="55273" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="groundwater" source="Orion">groundwater</keyword> borewell depths and water-saving technologies when consulting developers. While <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/bengaluru-water-crisis-alarms-property-investors-dh-poll-2930539" data-type="tilCustomLink">many contractors remain firm</a> that these reactions are not representative of a long-term trend, some experts have predicted that a fall in property prices may become inevitable. A <a href="https://www.republicworld.com/business/real-estate/bengaluru-water-crisis-property-prices-in-peenya-hsr-layout-marathahalli-to-fall-15-say-experts/" data-type="tilCustomLink">Republic report</a> explains that house rates could fall up to 10-15% in the most water-stressed regions of East and Central Bengaluru, including HSR Layout, Marathahalli, Rajaji Nagar and Peenya. Needless to say, the crisis has also taken a toll on Bengaluru’s various hotels and eateries, many of which are severely dependent on tanker water for cooking, cleaning and drinking purposes. Krishna Raj, owner of the popular <keyword id="21126683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nisarg-grand-hotel" source="keywords">Nisarg Grand Hotel</keyword>, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/bengaluru-water-crisis-news-hotels-disposable-utensils-shortage-lok-sabha-polls-karnataka-dk-shivakumar-congress-bjp-11710055127680.html" data-type="tilCustomLink">explained</a> that they might have to begin serving food in disposable utensils if the trend continues into the summer months. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Industrial district parched" comment="subhead" text="Industrial district parched">Industrial district parched</cmsannotation> Located in Northwest Bengaluru, Peenya is home to thousands of industries of varying sizes, producing a host of electronics, textiles, packaging, machines and other consumer items. However, being one of the largest industrial areas in Asia hasn’t protected its businesses from the ongoing crisis. In an <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/bengaluru-water-crisis-to-impact-local-industries-in-coming-weeks-experts-124030601026_1.html" data-type="tilCustomLink">interview with Business Standard</a>, <keyword id="21126682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="peenya-industries-association" source="keywords">Peenya Industries Association</keyword> President H. M. Arif explained that the area’s micro-industries are strained to the point that many could be forced to close soon if the water crisis continues unmitigated. Many such sectors have also become hopelessly reliant on tanker water, and the associated rising costs have begun to bottleneck the manufacturing process. Prices of several commercial products could go up soon if this trend continues. “Many from the hosiery or garment sector need water for processing,” Arif explains. “You need water for workers as well as other needs. The government is saying it will source recycled water for the industry. But for that, there is a tendering process and at this rate, we will not get water this season.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Solutions and cautious optimism" comment="subhead" text="Solutions and cautious optimism">Solutions and cautious optimism</cmsannotation> This is not to say that the government isn’t taking measures to tackle the crisis. After ordaining centralised control over water tankers and actively regulating prices to ensure the city’s water isn’t hoarded solely by the rich, officials also placed bans on recreational water use. In addition, initiatives are underway to “inject” 1,300 million litres of purified water into the city’s drying lakes per day, which the officials allege will help restore local groundwater levels. <keyword id="19927086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bwssb" source="keywords">BWSSB</keyword> has also announced plans to build an array of next-gen water treatment plants near restored lake beds to purify and deliver water wherever required. Addressing the harsh summers ahead, Karnataka government officials have expressed optimism that the completion of the Cauvery Five — a massive array of treatment plants that will treat sewage to produce 100 million litres of water a day — will help make up for any deficits by July. Meanwhile, many large corporations, including Microsoft, have begun utilising water-saving tap aerators to control water flow in the Bagmane Business Park offices. The city’s water board, the BWSSB, has also launched four mobile apps to help tackle the city’s water crisis. Attempting to bridge a gap between the water department and the citizens it serves, these apps will help residents book water online, apply for borewell permissions, report water misuse and more. At 24% of its total capacity, reservoirs across Karnataka are also drying up. Despite growing shortages, the state government has assured that the Cauvery River reservoir that supplies water to Bengaluru holds sufficient water levels to last at least until June. After that, the pre-monsoon and monsoon rains are expected to replenish the water resources. However, the supply remains much lower compared to the demand, and the only way to survive this summer could be to adopt drastic water-saving measures and a few good spells of pre-monsoon showers.

You Searched For "Water flow" and got 10 results

Rains forcing you to ride through waterlogged areas? Here’s how to safely traverse flooded roads and minimise damage to your vehicles

Ankush Banerjee

A brief history of America's love affair with fluoridated water — and why it's now up for debate

Hilary Brueck

Purified toilet water could soon be flowing through Californians' taps as the state battles drought

Ayelet Sheffey

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