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February 28, 2006
New Jersey Court upholds clean water standards
The New Jersey Supreme Court in Trenton Tuesday, let stand the clean water standards in the state for rehabilitated contaminated sites.
It had been argued by the state Chamber of Commerce and Federal Pacific Electric Co. that the Department of Environmental Protection water purity standards for the sites were too stringent.
"It's a clear victory for clean water over developers and pollution, because if they would have weakened the standards, it would have meant putting more families at risk of drinking contaminated water," said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, as reported by the Associated Press and published by Newsday.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 04:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 23, 2006
Plan to send Missouri River water to Canada creating worry.
North Dakota plans to divert water from the Missouri River into a system that would take it over the border to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, the world's 10th largest freshwater lake and home to a commercial fishery.
North Dakota say that it faces severe drought within 50 years and needs to tap water from the Missouri, which normally flows into the Mississippi River and then on to the Gulf of Mexico.
"Our concern would be that brings a risk of harm to Manitoba with the potential movement of harmful, invasive species," Dwight Williamson of Manitoba Water Stewardship told Reuters in a recent interview.
Merri Mooridian, of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District in North Dakota said, "We feel this alternative, with the proper treatment, will not harm the water", as reported by Reuters.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 07:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 21, 2006
Water wisdom in dry Australia.
Ken Mathews, chief executive officer of the National Water Commission, speaking in Melbourne at the Australian Water Summit, has suggested several notions concerning drinking water that should be considered.
He wonders if it is true that Australians will never come to accept recycling sewage for potable water. "Australia, more than any country, must surely be interest in providing science accepting of that process, Mr Matthews said.
He also suggested discussions of the fairness of the present water restrictions, whether all water users should be the water problem in Australia should be approached by both the government and private sector, as reported by ABC online.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 15, 2006
Drinking water's future tied to global warming
A major factor in what may become the biggest challenge to meeting tomorrow's water needs is global climate changes, as considered in Santa Clara County,California.
In that area, rising tidal elevations due to global warming along with the posibility of a major earthquake or heavy seasonal flooding which threaten a catastrophic failure of the delta levee system, which holds about half the annual water supply, in the Santa Clara region.
As the Earth's atmosphere continues to warm, snowfall in the Sierra decreases year after year. Early melts produce unseasonable runoff that becomes less and less available for suplying to other places in the state, like Santa Clara County. That throws into doubt the availability of additional delta water to meet the county's future needs, as written by, Larry Wilson chairman of the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors, and published by The Mercury News.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
Aussies suggest a water savings Valentines Day
In Queensland, Australia, where potable water is at a premium, the suggestion has been made on how to save some on Valentines Day.
The suggestion comes from Water Minister Henry Palaszczuk whose idea is to save water by not buying traditional roses, which need to be watered, but instead to give a gift of a water saving shower rose.
Palaszczuk went on to say that the savings in water and water energy costs would be significant. He said, "the new shower rose will pay for itself as well as buy a bunch of flowers, chocolates and possibly a romantic dinner for two on St Valentine's Day next year with the money saved," as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 09, 2006
Michigan to regulate water withdrawals.
The Michigan legislature, this Thursday, adopted oversight over manufacturers, utilities and water-bottling plants which use large amounts of water.
Michigan, up to now, has been the only state in the Great Lakes region that has not enacted laws to regulate large withdrawals.
"Our Great Lakes and all of our waterways are, for the first time, being provided protection from overuse by large water users," said James Clift, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council.
Governor Jennifer Granholm said "We are blessed by being surrounded by 20 per cent of the world's freshwater supply and we must implement the best possible protections that we can provide," as reported by the Canadian Press.
A related article,"U.S. and Canadian officials sign Great Lakes water pact," should be of interest.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 08, 2006
Lahore Pakistan has very contaminated drinking water
In Lahore, Pakistan, the country's second largest city, 80% of the samples of drinking water taken by the Punjab government's Epidemiology Laboratory Institute of Public Heath (ELIPH) from 222 various locations in the city have been found contaminated.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) officials claimed that they provided clean water which got contaminated in the distribution system because of old pipes. I thought that was why municipal water systems chlorinate their water.
ELIPH discovered that the contaminated water supply was not limited to the poor parts of the city as posh localities including the Punjab Civil Secretariat, where many Punjab ministers and secretaries operate from, was also found to be unfit for human consumption.
The WASA budget for the current year includes an exclusive project for installing water filtration plants in each union council to keep the city's water clean, as reported by the Daily Times.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack