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Water News Water News (Archive 2007)
Water News Water News (Archive 2007)
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Here are all the WaterPortal news items from 2007:
ALBERTA (2007): New Petrobank Oilsands Project Saves on Water Use Bloomberg - Dec. 21 Petrobank holds patents on a process that lowers construction costs and reduces environmental impacts such greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. The method injects air into a controlled underground fire to enable more of the molasses-like oil to be produced. The first commercial phase of the Whitesands project will be designed to produce 15,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta's tar-like deposits. New Alberta Environment and EUB agreement to strengthen groundwater protection Government Alberta News Release - Dec. 20 The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and Alberta Environment have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further coordinate efforts to protect groundwater resources in Alberta. The new Memorandum of Understanding formalizes the coordination of groundwater protection efforts in a number of areas, such as oilsands thermal and mining operations, coalbed methane, regional cumulative effects management, water well complaint responses, and working with industry to find new technologies to improve water conservation and re-use. Both agencies will also continue to support the ongoing work of the Alberta Geological Survey to map Alberta’s groundwater. Premier announces program to help save water and combat global warming Edmonton Journal - Dec. 18 Faced with a new era of tougher greenhouse-gas cuts after the environmental summit in Indonesia, Premier Ed Stelmach hinted at incentives "with respect to simple things like washing machines that wash clothes with cold water, use less electricity, less water as well," and efficient furnaces and construction materials. Act of flushing going down drain (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Edmonton Sun - Dec. 18 The future of flush toilets is circling the drain, says a world expert on water conservation. For proof, look no further than the waterless urinals at the Servus Credit Union Place leisure centre in St. Albert. The odd-looking urinals, which reportedly each save up to 151,416 litres of water per year. Balzac water appeal dismissed Calgary Herald - Dec. 21 Developers of a billion-dollar megamall, horse racetrack and casino complex at Balzac are confident they've secured water at last, after an appeal of a supply agreement was dismissed Thursday. The Environmental Appeals Board has ruled that Westridge Utilities is "not being directly affected" by the $15-million transfer of water rights between the Municipal District of Rocky View and the Western Irrigation District. Alberta government unveils masterplan for industrial heartland and Edmonton area Alberta Index - Dec. 12 The “Water Management Framework for the Industrial Heartland and Capital Region Report” aims to promote water conservation, increase the use of reclaimed or recycled water, and minimize the impact on the North Saskatchewan River. The plan will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase in place by January 1, 2009. The framework, the result of consultation and collaboration among industry, municipalities, representatives from water and wastewater treatment facilities and the Alberta government, addresses water quantity and quality issues in the North Saskatchewan River, focusing on the area from Devon to Pakan. Low-flying planes pinpoint water, not speeders Strathmore Standard - Dec. 5 Part of a groundwater survey commissioned by Alberta Environment and the Alberta Geological Survey, the low-flying aircraft use electromagnetic waves to examine the underground geology of the area, which will help locate undetected underground water supplies. Calgary water meter law pushed back to 2014 Calgary Herald - Nov. 20 The City of Calgary won't mandate water meters in every home until 2014, after council reversed a decision to speed up the program by three years. New water legislation: Bills 54 and 55 Alberta Government News Release - Dec. 7 Bill 54, the County of Westlock Water Authorization Act, authorizes an interbasin transfer from the Town of Westlock to the Hamlet of Vimy and Village of Clyde. Bill 55, the East Central Regional Water Authorization Act, allows an interbasin transfer between the Town of Stettler and east central Alberta communities. The transfers enable these areas to have access to treated municipal water for household, stock watering and light commercial use. Bill 54 authorizes the licences and amendments within the County of Westlock to move 208.78 cubic decameters of treated municipal water per year from the Town of Westlock to the Village of Clyde and Hamlet of Vimy. Rural residents living near the pipeline may also access the water. Bill 55 also authorizes licences and amendments within the East Central Region to move up to 10,800 cubic decameters of treated municipal water per year from Stettler to communities and residents in east-central Alberta. “I’m pleased we were able to get this transfer approved,” said Jack Hayden, MLA for Drumheller - Stettler. It lifts the community's burden of having to face the possibility of not enough water and lets them get on with their plans for the future. These interbasin transfers required Special Acts of the Legislature. The communities were also required to conduct public consultation and study the effects of the transfer, including environmental risks. New energy regulator to put greater emphasis on conservation The Canadian Press - Dec. 7 Bill Tilleman said the Energy and Utilities Board - poised to be split into two separate entities next month - needs to look more closely at how the province handles conservation issues. Tilleman said the new agency to manage energy development in Alberta, called the Energy Resources Conservation Board, will take its conservation duties seriously."And 2008 will be an opportunity to look at the interplay between the environment and sustainable resource development, to see how we can do a little bit better with land and water and so on," he said. New legislation pushed through the legislature this week also sets plans in motion to create a separate Alberta Utilities Commission to deal with the increasingly contentious issue of power development and distribution. Water Reports Offer Insight into Alberta's Water Resources Alberta Environment: News Release - Nov. 30/07 As part of Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability, Alberta Environment sought to determine how much water is needed and used in the province. The resulting report, Current and Future Water Use in Alberta, provides estimates of water used in the province during 2005, summarized by sector and by river basin. The report found that because Alberta Environment issues water licences to a maximum allocation, actual water use is lower than what has been allocated. The report also includes projections of future water use to 2025. The second report, Information synthesis and initial assessment of the status and health of aquatic ecosystems in Alberta; surface water quality, sediment quality and non-fish biota, and its accompanying summary report provide an initial assessment of the status of aquatic ecosystems in the province. The report also provides an overview of current knowledge surrounding the province’s major basins and water bodies, including an assessment of water quality. The majority of sites assessed showed ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ water quality and none was rated as being of ‘poor’ quality. In addition to providing scientific information, the reports provide a province-wide evaluation of the state of aquatic health and indicate where data gaps need to be addressed. Calgary Herald: Special Series on Alberta Water Calgary Herald - Dec. 1 In the first of a three-part report, the Calgary Herald examines how Alberta's water supply is under pressure like nowhere else in Canada. Funding available for youth environmental projects in Alberta CNW and Alberta Ecotrust Foundation - Nov. 19 If you know someone between the ages of 16 and 25 who wants to do something positive for Alberta's environment, the Alberta Youth Environmental Stewardship Program will now fund projects by creative young people with a desire to help address environmental issues in Alberta. Perhaps it is reducing pesticides or water use in your neighbourhood. The Alberta Youth Environmental Stewardship Program has up to $5,000 to help make it happen. Successful applicants will receive project management training and support, as well as mentoring and guidance by experienced project managers and environmental professionals. This is valuable training for aspiring teachers, business people, and community leaders. The application deadline for the Alberta Youth Environmental Stewardship Program is December 10, 2007. Visitwww.albertaecotrust.com today to get more information and download an application. New Water Bills to be introduced in the fall 2007 Legislative session Alberta Government News Release Stettler Regional Water Authorization Amendment Act, 2007 and County of Westlock Water Authorization Act These bills will allow an inter-basin transfer of treated municipal water between the South Saskatchewan River basin to the North Saskatchewan River basin, as well as from the Athabasca River basin to the North Saskatchewan River basin. The transfers will allow these areas to have access to treated municipal water for household, stock watering and light commercial use. Water research to be strengthened at University of Lethbridge Alberta Environment news release - Oct. 31 Government of Alberta announced an additional $10 million contribution to help complete the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building. More than 100 new graduate students will study at the facility, which will support research on watersheds, water ecology and commercial water use .... Fluoride shortage forces Epcor to cut use in water Edmonton Journal - Nov. 1 An ongoing North American shortage of fluoride is forcing Epcor to reduce levels in the Edmonton region's treated drinking water. The shortage in the U.S. has been attributed to damage sustained by Gulf Coast manufacturing facilities during hurricane Katrina two years ago and to a downturn in the phosphate mining industry.The Edmonton region started treating its water in 1967, following a plebiscite on the issue. Epcor normally adds 0.8 parts of fluoride per one million parts of water, but plans to reduce that level to between 0.5 and 0.6. Application to amend water licence in South Saskatchewan River Basin on hold Alberta Environment news release - Oct 26 The Alberta government is deferring its review of the Eastern Irrigation District’s application to amend its water licences while examining the current policy on water licence amendments related to the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB). The district has applied to amend its licences to deliver water for purposes in addition to irrigation. Boyle hit with water restrictions for over-consumption CBC - Oct 19 The Alberta government has ordered the village of Boyle, northeast of Edmonton, to immediately cut down on its water consumption. The village has exceeded its allocated limit on how much water it can divert from nearby Skeleton Lake, which has been steadily dropping since 1997 and is now at its lowest ever recorded level. Boyle is allowed to draw 185,100 cubic metres of water from the lake for 2007, but had already taken 194,789 cubic metres as of Sept. 27... Environmentalist makes case for privatization of water treatment Edmonton Journal - Oct 19 A leading water environmentalist is urging Alberta to privatize publicly run water utilities, ending a "cozy relationship" between the government and municipal utility operators. There are at least three problems that commonly plague publicly financed and publicly operated water utilities: inadequate infrastructure, insufficient operating expertise and a lack of accountability. Greater private-sector involvement, and a more competitive market for water services, could help address each of these problems. Sod turned on Calgary's East Village stormwater plant Calgary Herald - Oct 3 Dirt was officially moved Wednesday in a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the prep work needed to start redevelopment in Calgary's East Village. Calgary Municipal Land Corp., which is overseeing the development of the rundown area east of City Hall, started the work on a stormwater treatment facility earlier this fall.The corporation is based in the Simmons Building, which was built in 1912 as a mattress factory and is being restored at a cost of about $1.2 million. The infrastructure work, which will cost about $135 million, will set the stage for redevelopment of the neighbourhood in about 18 to 24 months. New Executive Director to Alberta Water Council Reuters - Oct 3 The Alberta Water Council announced the appointment of Gord Edwards, the former Executive Vice-President of Ducks Unlimited Canada, as its Executive Director effective November 15, 2007. Edwards will be the first Council's Executive Director as it moves to be an independent organization in November 2007. Pigeon Lake secures wastewater system (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser - Oct. 10 The Pigeon Lake Regional Wastewater Planning Committee, (comprised of the municipalities Wetaskiwin and Leduc county and the summer villages of Sundance Beach, Ma-Me-O Beach, Norris Beach, Crystal Springs, Grandview Beach and Poplar Bay as well a Alberta Parks who have responsibility for the provincial campground at Pigeon Lake)...announced a new wastewater system slated for development at south Pigeon Lake... Wetaskiwin and EPCOR sign agreement to upgrade and operate water treatment plant CNW - Oct. 10 Under the agreement, EPCOR will design, build and finance $11.5 million in upgrades to Wetaskiwin's water treatment plant and operate and maintain the facility. The City of Wetaskiwin will maintain ownership of the water treatment plant and continue to set rates and bill customers. The upgrade project will allow Wetaskiwin to meet new Alberta Environment water regulations so that the City is eligible to renew its water license in 2008. The new design includes advanced water quality technology such as Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and Dissolved Air Flotation. GE and Alberta Government team up to develop technology Edmonton Journal - Oct. 10 The Government of Alberta and General Electric have formed a partnership to find solutions to issues such as water management and pipeline corrosion. The collaboration will work to protect Alberta's natural resources through sound water and wastewater management in oil and gas, health care and other industries. Bragg Creek Water Treatment Facility (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Cochrane Times - Oct. 10 Approximately $3.2 million of recent AMIP funding will go toward helping the Municipal District of Rocky View meet its long-term priority of providing safe drinking water to Bragg Creek residents. With the confirmation of funding, the municipality can begin the project design and approvals process to establish a water treatment facility in the Bragg Creek area. Alberta Water Research Institute Alberta Innovates - Oct. 10 The Alberta Water Research Institute is pleased to announce its first Call for Proposals for Innovative Strategic Research Programs in Water Research and Management. Research funding is available for a variety of environmental issues -- including habitat decline, biodiversity loss, water flow and water quality – that encourages the public, private industry, government and university-based researchers to work together to address water resources issues. Deadline for the initial proposals is Thursday, November 15, 2007. Alberta's new environmental strategy to protect air, land and water Alberta Government - Oct. 3 The Government of Alberta is proposing a new and significantly reformed environmental management system that would more effectively address the cumulative effects of all human activities on the province's air, land and water resources. This new framework moves us away from looking at impacts of development on a project-by-project basis, to a system which considers all the potential impacts within a region. This is not, however, about shutting down development. Rather, it is about anticipating future pressures and, as a society, choosing the balance we want. It is also about driving innovation and continuous improvement in all sectors. The new approach is neither a replacement of existing project regulatory requirements, nor is it another layer of requirements for industry. The new approach is also neither a move to “deregulation” nor a voluntary approach to management. There is an opportunity for the public to feedback into the proposed process. Your answers will be considered in the development of the legislative proposal. Deadline for submissions is November 30, 2007... Edmonton Area Water Use Could Double Edmonton Journal - Oct. 2 Upgraders in the industrial heartland northeast of Edmonton could use as much as 104 billion litres of water a year, almost as much as all the people and industries in the greater Edmonton area combined.The eight current and proposed upgraders have applied to the government for 92.2 billion litres, while licences for another 11.9 billion litres have already been granted, according to data released by Alberta Environment to The Journal.... Balzac Water Transfer Approved Calgary Herald - Sept. 29 After several failed attempts and more than a year of searching (and with a window for appeals of the decision open for another 30 days)....the Municipal District of Rocky View has now secured water for a horse racetrack and megamall in Balzac -- dubbed the largest Alberta construction project outside of the oilsands. The licence transfer is the largest and priciest in the young history of Alberta's market to buy and sell water... Upgrader agrees to use waste water Edmonton Journal- Sept 25 A proposed bitumen mega-upgrader will run on civic waste water under an agreement announced today as "an environmental home run" for the project 40 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. The Fort Hills oilsands partnership of Petro-Canada, Teck Cominco and UTS Energy made the supply deal for the 140,000-barrels-daily Sturgeon Upgrader with Sturgeon County and the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission. The deal developed as an alternative to drawing fresh water for the plant from the North Saskatchewan River. Used waste water from the upgrader will be returned to the commission's plant for further treatment and distribution. No Timeline on Megamall Water Transfer Decision (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) 770chqr.com - Sept. 22/07 The plan to transfer water to the new Balzac development north ofCalgary is now in the hands of Alberta Environment. The deadline tocomment on the transfer of water from the Western Irrigation Districtto the M.D. of Rockyview has passed with only 7 submissions to AlbertaEnvironment. A spokesperson for Alberta Environment says the proposal is now under review, but there's no timeline for a final decision... Bordeaux Developments and GE Canada partner on first ecomagination Homebuilder Program CNW - Sept. 18/07 The proposed 1,750 acre Harmony project located west of Calgary, will incorporate sustainable development practices including leading edge environmental initiatives designed to promote healthy life styles and smart water and land use... Cochrane water woes solved in the short term (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Cochrane Times - Sept. 12/07 After months of a polarizing debate over whether the Town of Cochrane should build a new water treatment plant or look to a pipeline from Calgary for future water needs, council on Monday found a third way that will satisfy the town’s water needs until 2019.The new plan will see elements of an old, discarded plan reinvigorated thanks to new technology and new political realities... Input sought on improving conservation of Alberta's wetlands CNW- Sept. 12/07 The Alberta Water Council is inviting input from all Albertans to help shape a new Wetland Policy.The Council has been reviewing the importance of wetland conservation in achieving the goals of the Water for Life strategy, and is now seeking input to develop a comprehensive Wetland Policy and Implementation Plan for Alberta. Additional information on the consultation and a copy of the workbook on Alberta's wetlands is available at the Council's website athttp://www.waterforlife.gov.ab.ca/awc/wetland_policy/index.html The deadline for on-line submissions is October 15, 2007, and the Council hopes to have recommendations to present back to the provincial government in early 2008... Vilna Water Treatment Plant Smoky Lake Signal - Sept. 11/07 Alberta Environment has notified the Village of Vilna, to advise the village of the investigation undertaken on the Village of Vilna Water Treatment Plant. The investigation relates to the operation of the Water Treatment Plant without a certified operator, and the failure to conduct daily monitoring for total chlorine in the distribution system... Waskatenau Joint Regional Water Project Smoky Lake Signal - Sept. 11/07 Waskatenau has a number of options. To extend the regional water line from Edmonton through Radway, to connect to a regional water line coming westward from St. Paul, to upgrade the existing water treatment facility or even build a regional system from the Waskatenau intake line from the North Saskatchewan River... WID water transfer concerns may still be registered Airdrie Echo - Sept. 11/07 While the deal has been approved by the Western Irrigation District’s(WID) members and must still be approved by Alberta Environment, anyonestill opposing the WID plan to provide the M.D. of Rocky View withwater have until Sept. 20 to register their concern with the province... The Eastern Irrigation District wants restrictions on its licence to be lifted Calgary Herald - Sept. 5/07 The Eastern Irrigation District is asking Alberta Environment to lift restrictions on its licence to allow it to more easily sell water to nearby municipalities and businesses, such as feedlots and energy companies. With rights to slightly more than a third of the Bow River basin's allocated water, the irrigation district is the largest player in the basin. Irrigation general manager Earl Wilson said the change would give the district more flexibility to supply a variety of users in the water-strapped region, which has been closed to new water use requests... No testing at Marie Lake Canadian Press - Sept. 5/07 The Alberta government has halted a plan to allow controversial seismic testing on Marie Lake. Premier Ed Stelmach announced Tuesday night that there were too many safety questions about the technology involved in drilling for oilsands under water... Waste-water plan marginally better Edmonton Journal Editorial Opinion - Sept. 4/07 Edmonton council is on the right track endorsing a plan to sell waste water to the half-dozen or more oilsands upgraders planned for northeast of the city. It will be far better to recycle so-called grey water (used and treated by the city) for this industrial use than to draw down millions more litres of fresh river water that would be better suited for domestic use... Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission (SMRWSC) expansion Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission - Aug. 31/07 The SMRWSC is moving ahead with plans to build a regional water line from Stettler to Consort, given recent approval of the design criteria by Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. However, the Water Act requires a bill be passed before water can be transferred from one basin to another... New plan to promote protection of Bow River basin water quality Rocky Mountain Outlook - Aug 30/07 Regulators and municipalities will have a new tool to use this fall in the quest to preserve and enhance water quality in the Bow River basin. The Bow River Basin Council, a multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to protecting and improving water in the region, is preparing to release a draft Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan this fall... Banff to improve water quality (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Rocky Mountain Outlook - Aug 30/07 At Parks Canada's request, and to meet Alberta guidelines, a stormwater treatment unit was installed at Buffalo Street by the stormwater outlet... Water deal for mall to get public airing Edmonton Journal - Aug 30/07 The latest proposal to deliver water to a horse- racing track and megamall under construction near Balzac is before the public. Albertans have until Sept. 20 to comment on the plan to transfer 6,700 cubic metres of water per day to the Municipal District of Rocky View from the Western Irrigation District. If approved by Alberta Environment, the water transfer will be one of the largest -- and priciest -- in provincial history... An open house on the water transfer is set for Sept. 6, from 3 to 8 p.m., in Langdon. Epcor set to sell wastewater to upgraders Edmonton Journal - Aug 30/07 The City of Edmonton is getting ready to sell as much as 160 million litres a day of recycled water to the oilsands upgraders being built northeast of the city. The city hopes the provincial government will convince the upgrader companies to use recycled water, also called greywater, for some of their needs, rather than relying only on fresh water from the North Saskatchewan River... Upgraders threaten river, water supply -- reportGov't urged to direct plants to use wastewater Edmonton Journal - Aug 28/07 The Alberta government should order the oilsands upgraders being built near Edmonton to use recycled wastewater, instead of taking water out of the North Saskatchewan River, says a new city report... Site selected for Alberta nuclear plant Canada.com - Aug 28/07 Nuclear power could reduce the province's carbon dioxide levels...it isn't clear how the nuclear waste will be handled, and how much water will be needed to cool the reactor... Fairview to Hines Creek water pipeline closer to reality Fairview Post - Aug 23/07 The Town of Fairview and Village of Hines Creek have a dream of a waterline from Fairview to Hines Creek to supply Hines Creek with water... Regional co-operation focus of new city job Calgary Herald - Aug 23/07 Alex Broda is two weeks into his new job as director of regional servicing, in which he will negotiate all agreements with surrounding municipalities, including the Tsuu T'ina Nation. That includes requests for water, sewer, and access to... Alberta harvest two weeks early Calgary Herald - Aug 22/07 Some farmers in southeastern Alberta could have harvest wrapped up by the end of this week -- a good 10 days ahead of normal -- as intense heat and zippo rainfall walloped crops this summer... Rolling Hills water quality still a problem (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Brooks Bulletin - Aug 17/07 Division one county councillor Wayne Daniels says he doesn’t expect the boil water advisory for Rolling Hills residents to be lifted any time soon... Demand grows for water from Red Deer River Edmonton Journal - Aug 16/07 Two water commissions in east-central Alberta want the provincial government to allow an interbasin water transfer from the Red Deer River. The request for up to 7.8 billion litres of water annually - almost a third of the amount allocated to the city of Red Deer - is another example of mounting demands faced by the river....See our Water Events Calander for details on Open House Meetings on the proposed Interbasin Transfer (Aug 16-23). Gov't seeks formula to avoid another Marie Lake fiasco Edmonton Journal - Aug 16/07 The Alberta government is seeking a new peace formula to prevent more conflicts such as the battle raging over oilsands under Marie Lake 300 kilometres east of Edmonton.... Alberta ground zero for green battle: Lougheed Calgary Herald - Aug 15/07 Canada is facing a bitter constitutional clash over the environment...calling for a slowdown as the industry seeks sustainable solutions to cap pollution and the strain on the water supply... Fort Chip rally draws attention to water quality CBC Edmonton First Nations leaders and elders, experts on water and public health, and environmentalists from Canada and... down the pace of development in the Alberta oilsands that is polluting water with contaminants... Fluoride shortage has cities scrambling Canada.com The city has treated its water with fluoride since 1967…... Water shortages feared before 2030 Calgary Herald Several communities in the Calgary area could face water shortages as they try to keep up with population growth, says a reional planning group... Marie Lake oilsands survey gets go-ahead -- within strict limits The Edmonton Journal Firm accepts conditions, pledges $80,000 environmental security deposit... Swan Hills on flood watch (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Edmonton Sun Alberta Environment has issued a flood watch for rivers in the Swan Hills region after 140 mm of rain fell in just 36 hours. The affected bodies of water . Balzac track gets its water STRATHMORE -- One of the largest commercial projects outside of the oilsands passed a major hurdle Thursday when several hundred farmers voted to give up some of their water rights for the mega development... Water deal is OK'd by WID members Airdrie Echo - Airdrie,Alberta,Canada ... what was happening," Webber said, adding that especially with the closure of the Bow River basin, water in Alberta is now becoming an important issue... Engineer wants Alberta to become water smart Linda Olsen, The Calgary Herald Mishaps start woman on road to fulfilling dream... Hot Weather Is Killing Fish In Alberta Lakes And Rivers The government says increased water temperatures are putting fish under stress. In some cases, the heat is killing fish in shallow parts of rivers... Alberta Rivers: Report (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) The Measuring Up component of the government’s Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 2007 was prepared under my direction on behalf of the government in accordance with the Government Accountability Act and the government’s accounting policies... People near northern Alberta lake being told not to drink (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) CADOTTE LAKE, Alta. (CP) _ People living near Cadotte Lake are being warned not to drink their water... Study looks at water quality Drayton Valley Western Review This water is found deeper in the ground and is more expensive to retrieve, but the additional cost is moderate and economical, he said. In 2006, Alberta... Taste the difference Camrose Canadian - Alberta, Canada ... to remove additional organic molecules from the water. According to the city, the current facility meets all standards given by Alberta Environment... Environmental group hopes to re-assert itself The Lakeside Leader - Slave Lake, "We had a good relationship with the (Alberta Energy and Utilities Board). We had real sustainable planning for gas extraction, and consolidation of ... Alberta takes giant steps with new private and public partnerships... CNW Telbec (Communiqués de presse), Canada - Jun 11, 2007 The launch of the Alberta WaterPortal to help preserve a critical resource CALGARY, June 11 /CNW/ - The Alberta Society for Sustainable Water Management... Putting Price on City water, worth every drop Calgary Herald Putting a price on scarce resources is a sure way to make people respect them, and ensure they find their highest use... Alberta Water Council seeking input Canada NewsWire EDMONTON, June 27 /CNW/ - The Alberta Water Council, the multi-stakeholder partnership organization established in 2004 to oversee the implementation... Alberta Environment to Survey major water users Edmonton Journal Environment will spend $150,000 and six months asking water users such as industry and agriculture if its water-management strategy is still relevant and headed in the right direction... Regional wastewater plan moves forward The Lacombe Globe, Projected continued rapid growth throughout the region prompted environmental concerns over effluent discharges into the Red Deer River and Central Alberta... State of the River Basin Report Launched (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Saskatoon,Saskatchewan Alberta and Manitoba, as well as the state of Montana. It will include information on the physical setting of the basin, human settlement and water use... Inventory of water, too slow, says report Calgary Herald - Alberta, Canada The Alberta government doesn't expect to complete a provincewide inventory of groundwater until 2012... Water rates surge Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser “Alberta Environment has come up with new regulations which we currently don't meet. We also want to deal with the taste and odour of water and make... Groundwater data vital says environmental expert Pincher Creek Echo - Pincher Creek In Alberta it is found in deep basins east of the foothills. While they don't produce much water, they need to be fractured to release the gas... Pigeon Lake forms watershed association Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser Citizens, as well as municipal governments, have put aside their differences and come together in their concern for Pigeon Lake. Government urged to meter rural well-water use Edmonton Journal Farmers and other rural landowners should have meters installed on their water wells... Northern Alberta headed for water crisis (starts on page 20) Edmonton Sun Don't let the streak of wet weather fool you - northern Alberta is staring down the barrel of a future water crisis... More questions on regional waterline Vulcan Advocate On a different front, the County has recently applied for the funding, on behalf of all the parties involved, for the project... Infrastructure commitments kick-start massive Crowsnest Lake... Canada NewsWire The Province of Alberta has committed to a $1.25 million grant for the construction of water systems for the resort. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and Bones of prehistoric water monster found in Alberta CBC North - Canada Miners near Lethbridge have dug up what scientists hope will be the largest prehistoric marine reptile ever found in Alberta. Dr. Don Henderson, a curator... CANADA (2007): New report reveals toxic algae blooms a nationwide scourge (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen - Dec. 4 Urban sewage and runoff from farm fields are driving down the quality of water in lakes and rivers across southern Canada, according to a new report by Environment Canada. And while federal Environment Minister John Baird is promising tough new rules and an $8 billion plan to build sewage treatment facilities, the draft regulations don't tackle the biggest problem identified in the report: an excess of phosphates that has led to blooms of toxic blue-green algae in lakes from Quebec to Alberta. Who Pulled the Plug on Lake Superior? Minnesota Monthly - Oct 12 Lake Superior is the greatest of the Great Lakes, and lately has become the subject of great concern. Superior’s water level has been dropping at an alarming rate in recent years, and is now at an all-time low. Only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh water, and 10% of that fresh water is held in Lake Superior. The total water in the four other Great Lakes match Superior’s volume, and together they equal the volume of water contained in Russia’s Lake Baikal... Ottawa offers billions to improve sewage treatment CNW- Sept 24 Through an unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is taking action now to cut water pollution by setting hard and tough new national standards for sewage treatment. The proposed regulations are to be published next year. These newregulations will also have a positive impact on filtering out substances likephosphates, which can lead to excessive blue-green algae production, as wellas mercury and pharmaceutical products in sewage outflow. The rules willenforce national standards to the more than 4,600 wastewater collection andtreatment systems in towns, cities, and communities across Canada.... Quebec Ground Water Royalties: Agric. Next The Gazette- Sept 8 Water royalties were introduced in Quebec with the 2006 provincial budget as a way to generate revenue for the new Generations Funds to help pay down provincial debt.It wasn't until Jan. 1, 2007 that Hydro-Québec and private hydro producers had to start paying royalties, and so far they are the only ones doing so. But the government made it clear that bottled water and water used for industrial purposes would eventually become subject to royalty levy. Now, hearings into the future of Quebec agriculture learned that theprovincial government has discreetly advised the associationrepresenting Quebec's seasonal agricultural growers to start preparing for an eventual water royalty on groundwater wells... Greak Lakes leaking from 'drain hole' CTV.ca - Aug. 16/07 There's a "drain hole'' in the Great Lakes basin that's hemorrhaging almost 9.5 billion litres of water a day and must be patched up... Ontario’s New Water Charge For Commercial And Industrial Users Ontario Ministry of the Environment - Aug. 15/07 The McGuinty government is charging highly consumptive commercial and industrial users for the water they use to help conserve, protect and sustain Ontario’s water resources.... Great Lakes cities vow to cut water use by 2015 National Post The 20 Canadian and nine US communities, members of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, have agreed to cut water consumption by 15 percent below... UNITED STATES (2007): Chicago passes bottled water tax Tax Foundation - Nov. 14 Chicago is set to impose a 5-cent tax on bottled water Jan. 1, becoming the first major U.S. city to demand such a surcharge. The move -- which officials predict will secure an extra $10.5 million annually -- will help the city plug a budget hole by building on the growing disdain for environmentally suspect plastic bottles. Huge hikes in water, sewer rates on tap across USA USA Today - Dec. 28 The USA has about 54,000 community water systems and 16,000 sewer systems, according to the EPA. Local government supplies 88% of water and 80% of sewer service. The problem: Many municipal owned systems have treated rate hikes like tax increases and avoided them for years. The Government Accountability Office estimates that 29% of water systems and 41% of sewer systems charge customers less than the cost of the service. Huge increases in water and sewer bills are on the way in many places as cities and towns try to repair aging pipes and correct artificially low prices. Utah lawmakers mull water rights municipalities, farmers and ranchers
(This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Salt Lake City Tribune - Dec. 26 The stage is set for lawmakers to wage war next month over the most basic of needs - water. HB51 would give municipalities and public water suppliers the ability to keep unused water rights for up to three decades. Doing so would raise the ire of farmers and ranchers, who have to fight to keep their unused water rights every five years. Why, they ask, shouldn't cities and water districts be held to the same standard? Under current law, if any water right has not been tapped for five years, it must be forfeited and put to good use. Those holding those rights, whether they be cities, districts or individuals, generally can keep them - if they periodically apply to the state water engineer. City officials and water suppliers want to hold on to those rights for at least 30 years. That way, they can plan for future growth without taking a chance that their five-year applications could be denied - particularly if water supplies decline. Economist proposes new market for water
AG Weekly Online - Dec. 16 WestWater Research, a firm that specializes in water-rights acquisition, reported that prices for water rights have doubled in Nevada and Arizona over the past 18 months and predicted that Idaho would move from a mainly lease market to a sales market... Los Angeles to Drain Two Reservoirs Due to Cancer Risk FOX News - Dec. 16 The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power intend to drain 600 million gallons of water from Elysian and Silver Lake reservoirs early next year, a process that will leave them out of action for three to four months amid drought conditions. According to the department, high levels of the carcinogen bromate were discovered by a commercial water customer during tests in early October. Bromate formed unexpectedly when the water in the reservoir, combined with groundwater, was treated with chlorine and exposed to sunlight, with officials adding it was the first time an occurrence like this has ever been observed. Western States Agree to Water-Sharing Pact New York Times - Dec. 9 Facing the worst drought in a century and the prospect that climate change could yield long-term changes on the Colorado River, the lifeline for several Western states, federal officials have reached a new pact with the states on how to allocate water if the river runs short. State and federal officials praised the agreement as a landmark akin to the Colorado River Compact of 1922, which first outlined how much water the seven states served by the river — California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming — would receive annually... Divorce Found to Harm The Environment With Higher Energy, Water Use Washington Post - Dec. 4 According to a study by two Michigan State University researchers, divorced American households used between 42 and 61 percent more resources per person than before they separated, spending 46 percent more per person on electricity and 56 percent more on water... Electricity demand guzzling Atlanta's water Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA This year's drought is making clear the inextricable relationship between water usage and energy consumption, and why it's so important. In Georgia, electric utilities use 68% of all surface water, the single largest user in the state. Yet, neither of the region's principal blueprints for water use — the state water plan and the North Georgia metro water plan — include strategies for managing water demand by the power industry.
House votes to override Bush veto of $23 billion water bill CNN - Nov. 6 The House of Representatives voted to override President Bush's veto of a bill authorizing $23 billion in water projects Tuesday, with the Senate expected to follow suit later this week. The 361-54 vote was far beyond the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto, with 138 Republicans joining 223 Democrats in support of the bill. The White House said it was resigned to seeing the bill pass over the president's objections in what would be the first override of his presidency. The Future Is Drying Up New York Times - Oct 21 If the Colorado River is failing to carry a certain guaranteed volume of water, the river’s lower-basin states (Nevada, Arizona and California) can legally force the upper-basin states (Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah) to reduce or stop their water withdrawals. This contingency, known as a “compact call,” sets the lower-basin states against the upper, but it has never occurred; it is deeply feared by many water managers, because it would ravage the fragile relationship among states and almost certainly lead to a scrum of lawsuits. ... No Backup Plan in Atlanta Drought Fox News - Oct 19 With the South in the grip of an epic drought and its largest city holding less than a 90-day supply of water, officials are scrambling to deal with the worst-case scenario: What if Atlanta's faucets really do go dry? So far, no real backup exists. And there are no quick fixes among suggested solutions, which include piping water in from rivers in neighboring states, building more regional reservoirs, setting up a statewide recycling system or even desalinating water from the Atlantic Ocean... Drought-Stricken South Facing Tough Choices New York Times - Oct 16 For the first time in more than 100 years, much of the Southeast has reached the most severe category of drought, climatologists said Monday, creating an emergency so serious that some cities are just months away from running out of water. In North Carolina, Gov. Michael F. Easley asked residents Monday to stop using water for any purpose “not essential to public health and safety.” He warned that he would soon have to declare a state of emergency if voluntary efforts fell short.“Now I don’t want to have to use these powers,” Mr. Easley told a meeting of mayors and other city officials. “As leaders of your communities, you know what works best at the local level. I am asking for your help.”Officials in the central North Carolina town of Siler City estimate that without rain, they are 80 days from draining the Lower Rocky River Reservoir, which supplies water for the town’s 8,200 people. In the Atlanta metropolitan area, which has more than four million people, worst-case analyses show that the city’s main source of water Lake Lanier could be drained dry in 90 to 121 days. The hard numbers have shocked the Southeast into action, even as many people wonder why things seem to have gotten so bad so quickly.Anything is possible, but there may not be enough water for more than 3 million metro Atlantans to take showers, flush their toilets and cook. Three months before there's not enough water in parts of the Chattahoochee River for power plants to make the steam necessary to generate electricity. Three months before part of the river may run dry... Pollution pouring into nation's waters far beyond legal limits San Francisco Chronicle - Oct. 12 More than half of all industrial and municipal facilities across the country dumped more sewage and other pollutants into the nation's waterways than allowed under the Clean Water Act... Ethanol boom could mean water bust MSNBC - Oct. 10 The National Research Council warned that a 28% increase in the production of ethanol this year (nearly 7 billion gallons) could lead to water shortages in some parts of the United States. Ethanol is a cleaner fuel than those based upon oil and coal and would greatly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions, but there's a downside: one of its main components is corn (maize), a crop that requires large amounts of water. The boom could drain already stressed aquifers. Inadequate water supplies in some parts of the midwest have already stopped a few ethanol refineries from being built. The report recommended that ethanol producers should conserve water supplies by recycling production water and develop biofuels that use less thirsty crops, such as switchgrass. It takes 2,000 gallons of water for every bushel of corn, and that's in addition to the secondary issue of how much water is needed by the biorefineries that produce the ethanol... Southern California warns of water cuts, higher rates Los Angeles Times - Oct. 9 Metropolitan Water District officials announced they are cutting deliveries to Southern California farmers by 30% and raising residential rates by 10%. And they warn that mandatory rationing could go into effect by January 2008... Water woes loom as thirsty generators face climate change EarthNews - Oct. 4 U.S. power plants are facing water shortages as climate changesintensify droughts and heatwaves in already arid regions of thecountry. At the same time that the demand for electricity to keep airconditioners running is growing, shortages of water to cool generatorsare threatening shutdowns. Nuclear power plants require even more waterthan conventional power stations to keep from overheating. Thissummer's record-breaking heatwaves in the western and southern statesclosed the partial shutdown of several reactors, and Illinois,Michigan, and Minnesota have scaled back their nuclear operations dueto drought in the past two years... EPA issues new rules on lead in drinking water Houston Chronicle - Sept 28 The US Environmental Protection Agency issued new national water regulations Wednesday that it said will help reduce lead... Making sewage water good to drink (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Mercury News - Sept 25 The Santa Clara Valley Water District and the city of San Jose are beginning talks on a bold new strategy to boost water supplies: making sewage water clean enough to drink. If the public backs the plan, one day millions of gallons of the purified water could be pumped into streams and groundwater aquifers across Santa Clara County and mixed with existing drinking water supplies... Big Water-Project Measure Is Approved by the Senate New York Times - Sept 24 The Senate on Monday overwhelmingly approved a bill authorizing $23billion in water resource projects, including $3.5 billion in work for hurricane-ravaged Louisiana, despite warnings from some lawmakers and watchdog groups that the bill did not provide crucially needed changes to the Army Corps of Engineers, which would do most of the work. While the bill authorizes projects, it does not actually provide the money for them, which must be done in a future spending bill, meaning that there is no guarantee that a given project will go forward... Schwarzenegger to propose $9 billion water package American City Business Journals - Sept. 19/07 In a special session of the Legislature, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing to unveil a $9 billion water package that includes plenty for new dams and other forms of storage. The package includes $5.6 billion for water storage and identifies three proposed dam projects: Sites Reservoir, Temperance Flat Dam Reservoir and an expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County... Water Supply Shortage Hits Long Beach Environment News Service - Sept 14/07 As of last Thursday, Long Beach CA residents and businesses can no longer irrigate any landscape with potable drinking quality water during daylight hours or more than three days a week. Neither can they wash driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, patios or other outdoor cemented or paved areas with a garden hose, unless it is attached to pressurized water broom.In addition to eliminating landscape over-watering and all water run-off, residents are instructed to immediately reduce time in the shower, install low-flow shower heads, and check water meters for potential leaks....... 60% of Montana's water permits are outdated Associated Press - Sept 10/07 The Environmental Protection Agency says no more than 10% of permits should be past their expiration date. But 30 states fall short of the EPA goal. In Montana, 60% of the permits are outdated.... Judge to set CA water rules (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) San Jose Mercury News - August 24/07 The federal judge presiding over hearings this week that could have dramatic implications for California's water supply... Western US heat wave spreads drought Earth Times - August 22/07 Three western states -- Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho -- registered their warmest July temperatures on record, and drier-than-average conditions sparked early wildfire seasons. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also reported that 46% of the continental United States was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, with the southeast hit the worst: 80% of those states were suffering from drought. Idaho Water supply evaporating A dry summer with record-breaking temperatures has parched southern Idaho. Water managers, who started the summer delivering 80%-100% of promised irrigation water, are warning that unless August is wetter and cooler, they may have to cut water supplies for a week in September to permit late-season irrigation by sugar-beet and potato growers. First half of year in Texas is wettest on record According to National Weather Service statistics, the first seven months of 2007 were the wettest ever recorded in Texas. Average rainfall through July is 16.21 inches, but this year it reached 27.11 inches, officially breaking a prolonged drought.. House Passes $20B Water Bill USA Today - Washington The House overwhelmingly passed a $20 billion water projects bill late Wednesday night despite a promised veto by... After Lobbying, USA Wetland Rules Are Narrowed John M. Broder - NY TImes New federal guidelines will leave sensitive wetlands unprotected, according to environmental advocates... Water mass in North Atlantic changing Bedford Institute of Oceanography - USA US researchers say they are seeing a reversal of water mass trends in the North Atlantic. The American Geophysical Union said... Water dimer absorption researched (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Science Daily (press release) - USA Water vapor -- especially the water dimer -- is the most important radiatively active gas in the Earth's atmosphere, absorbing across visible and infrared... Take a sip! America's best tap water MSNBC By Mike Celizic Its namesake lake may be saltier than the ocean, but, according to two wine-tasting experts, Salt Lake City's tap water is, in a word... Swimming pool stolen, thieves even took water Long Island,NY,USA It's how the thief managed to walk away with the 1000 gallons of water inside it without a splash, drip or trace. Daisy Valdivia awoke to find her family's... Aquafina labels to spell out source - tap water Reuters - USA By Martinne Geller NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. will spell out that its Aquafina bottled water is made with tap water, a concession to the growing... Act soon to avoid California water crisis Global Forest Science - Dec. 12 Currently southern California is experiencing its worst drought since the inception of record keeping in 1877. The 2007 snowpack along the eastern Sierra Nevada's, which supplies up to 90 percent of LA's drinking water, was the second lowest recorded. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District is currently buying billions of gallons of water from farmers to secure water for the cities 16 million denizens. Nev. Farmers Fighting Water Plan Washington Post - United States They are fighting a plan to pump billions of gallons of water south across the desert for use in the fast-growing Las Vegas area, saying it would eat up... Powerful farmers negotiate water deal Houston Chronicle - United States The US government appears poised to turn over the rights to billions of gallons of water to a politically connected group of farmers in California... Florida drought, 18 months and counting, highlights need to manage San Diego Union Tribune, United States Lake Okeechobee, the heart of the Everglades and a backup drinking water source for millions of South Florida residents, has been hitting a record low... Idaho Supreme Court rejects strict application of First-in-Time, First-in-Right Principle Bow Riverkeeper While Alberta has experienced high stream flow advisories and flood warnings over the past few months, a bitter legal dispute continues to brew as a result of drought conditions in the US state of Idaho... U.S. wants to cut power plant water usage WASHINGTON, (UPI) Two U.S. Department of Energy laboratories are joining forces in an effort to reduce electric producers' demands for fresh water. Ethanol No Water Hog, Neb. Expert Says Forbes - NY,USA The growing thirst for ethanol takes a lot of water to quench, but less than many people believe and not enough to... Seawater could help solve water woes, but at what price? Florida - Florida's biggest seawater desalination complex is located in the Keys. Plants on Stock Island and Marathon Island have a capacity of 3 million gallons per day, but that's only 30% of the seawater pumped through them; the other 70% is briny residue that's pumped into a disposal well. It costs about $5 per 1,000 gallons to produce desalinated water, compared with less than $1 per 1,000 gallons to tap into aquifers and surface sources... AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND (2007): NZ water quality testing lab 'best in the world' New Zealand Herald - Dec. 17 A New Zealand laboratory has come first of 70 laboratories around the world in water dating. The GNS Science tritium and water dating laboratory in Lower Hutt was four times more accurate than the second-placed laboratory in the international comparison run by International Atomic Energy Agency. Tritium is a rare isotope of hydrogen, which can be used to find out when water falls to earth as either rain or snow. GNS's tritium measurements have been adopted by the New Zealand government as a benchmark for the security of drinking water from aquifers, as water age indicates if groundwater is free of pathogens. Measuring water age also helps with the management of nitrification of lakes. Sydney on permanent water restrictions ABC News - Sept. 16/07 The New South Wales Government says Sydney's water restrictions will become permanent because of the threat of climate change. The rules include restrictions on watering between 10am and 4pm, the fitting of trigger nozzles on hoses and no hosing of hard surfaces. NSW Premier Morris Iemma says the Government is bringing in permanent water restrictions for Sydney because of scientific advice that rainfall patterns have changed irrevocably. Since water restrictions became mandatory in 2003, total consumption has fallen by 322 billion litres or 13.6 per cent less than what's called the seasonalised 10-year average... Sydney water bills to rise by a third Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia- Sept. 16/077 Sydney Water is seeking to increase water bills by a third over the next four years, largely to cover the cost of the desalination plant... Qld govt details water assets takeover The Sydney Morning Herald - Sept 5/07 The Queensland government has announced the details of its takeover of council water assets. There are now 23 bulk water supply and treatment entities, and 17 retail bodies owned by 25 separate entities in the state... Brisbane residents best water savers in world ABC Online Australia - Aug 27/07 New figures show the city has become a world leader in lowering its per person water consumption to only 30 gallons/day... Water prices set to rise The Age - Melbourne Melbourne's water prices will rise by almost 15 per cent from next July, under a recommendation by the Victorian Government... Thirsty cities 'will need new water sources ABC Online - Australia Every capital city except Hobart will be forced to find new sources of water, a new report says.... NSW water embargoes commence ABC Online - Australia Under the regulations, new applications for irrigation and other commercial surface water licences will no longer be accepted. But the NSW Water Minister... Private sector gear for water The Australian - Sydney The development of water grids in Queensland and Victoria has been the first step in a move to greater privatisation of water supply and the eventual... Water audit finds less than thought The Australian - Sydney Australia may be an even drier continent than thought, the most comprehensive study of the nation's water resources to date has found... Qld, NSW irrigators to trade water ABC Online - Australia Queensland and New South Wales will be allowed to trade water for the first time after changes to border river laws. Queensland irrigators south... Water body wants water pricing harmony Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney The National Water Commission (NWC) has urged the states to overhaul water pricing to attract private-sector investment in water infrastructure... Builders back water-saving push ABC Online - Australia Builders' groups say the ACT Government's plan to make water-reduction devices mandatory in new homes is a smart move. All new homes in Canberra... Sydney Water to become carbon neutral The Age - Melbourne Mr Iemma said Sydney Water was one of the largest energy users in NSW, using almost one per cent of the total energy... Water Abuse Australia - While most residents of Adelaide, South Australia endure the toughest drought restrictions on record, 177 homeowners were publically named by SA Water as extravagant water wasters. The worst offender used an average of 17,315 liters a day last year. Average households use around 641 liters a day. Of the top ten water wasters, four have swimming pools, four own multimillion-dollar mansions, and two suffered from major leaks which have since been fixed. While the main deterrent for water-guzzling households is huge bills -- SA Water charges double for consumption over 125,000 liters -- wealthy offenders can afford to pay more. INTERNATIONAL (2007): More Rice with Less Water TreeHugger - Oct 10 Research has confirmed that rice can be grown using a method that uses less water and less seed,yet has increased yields. Known as SRI (System of Rice Intensification) the method has “helped increase yields by over 30% — four to five tonnes per hectare instead of three tonnes per hectare, while using 40% less water than conventional methods. The conventional method of rice cultivation uses 60-70 kilos of seeds per hectare, SRI requires just five kilos per hectare. This could great news for the 50% of the world’s population that rely on rice for their main source of directly consumed calories. Bottled Deep Sea Water ScienceBlogs - Oct. 10 Korea is joining an exclusive club of countries now bottling deep-sea water, along with U.S., Japan, Norway and Taiwan. The deep-sea water industry claims health benefits to the deep-sea water because it's clean and bacteria free. The drinking water is processed from sea water that is pumped from a depth of 650 m below the surface. Korea is only the fifth nation in the world, after the U.S., Japan, Norway and Taiwan, to begin bottling deep sea water, since the process requires advanced technology. Beneath Booming Cities, China’s Future Is Drying Up New York Times - Sept. 28 China is scouring the world for oil, natural gas and minerals to keep its economic machine humming. But trade deals cannot solve water problems. Water usage in China has quintupled since 1949. Industry in China uses 3 to 10 times more water, depending on the product, than industries in developed nations. Water pollution is so widespread that regulators say a major incident occurs every other day. Municipal and industrial dumping has left sections of many rivers “unfit for human contact.” China’s disadvantage, compared with the United States, is that it has a smaller water supply, yet almost five times as many people. China has about 7% of the world’s water resources, but roughly 20% of its population. It also has a severe regional water imbalance, with about four-fifths of the water supply in the south. A century or so ago, the North China Plain was a healthy ecosystem. Farmers digging wells could strike water within eight feet (nationally, groundwater usage has almost doubled since 1970 and now accounts for one-fifth of the country’s total water usage). Today, the region, comparable in size to New Mexico, is parched. Roughly five-sixths of the wetlands have dried up. Scientists say that most natural streams or creeks have disappeared. Several rivers that once were navigable are now mostly dust and brush. In the past, the Communist Party has reflexively turned to engineering projects to address water problems, and now it is reaching back to one of Mao’s unrealized plans: the $62 billion South-to-North Water Transfer Project to funnel more than 12 trillion gallons northward every year along three routes from the Yangtze River basin. China, U.S. and India Driving Water Infrastructure Spending Yahoo Finance - August 22/07 In a recent ChangeWave Water Industry survey, we went digging to identify global trends and opportunities. A total of 156 members who work for companies involved in the water industry participat... 2007 World Water Week Begins! The aim of the World Water Week in Stockholm is to serve, on an annual basis, as the main arena for an exchange of views and experiences between members of the scienti?c, business, policy and civil society communities in order to advance efforts related to water, the environment, livelihoods and poverty reduction... Biofuels can be a menace for water resources Autoblog Green - Aug 17/07 The Stockholm International Water Institute claims that in 2050, crops used to yield biofuels will double agriculture water usage. Since 74 percent of water is used for agriculture already, this can add a serious stress to... UK leaking billions of litres of water a day Hippy Shopper, UK Britain’s water companies are leaking 3.4 billion litres a day, according to the latest report by OFWAT, the industry’s regulator... EU Urges Pay-As-You-Use Water Pricing (This article has expired. We apologize for the inconvenience) Belgium - The European Union urged its member nations to implement a pay-as-you-go pricing scale for water to encourage conservation and extend Europe's water supplies in the face of more frequent droughts and growing populations. Although "efficiency pricing" won't become mandatory until 2010, the European Commission pointed out that making water meters compulsory and promoting the installation of water-saving household appliances immediately would reduce water wastage from the current rate of 20-40%. Water conservation is especially urgent in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal, where climate change is making droughts more prevalent. China adopts new drinking water standard to protect... Malaysia Star, Malaysia BEIJING (AP): China adopted a tougher national standard for drinking water Sunday that health officials said will be a step toward providing safe drinking... Irrigation counteracts global warming MSNBC - Aug 17/07 Irrigation can counteract global warming on a local scale, a new study shows, but increasing demand for water is likely to curb that influence in the future, scientists predict. Scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California showed that there was an irrigation-induced cooling in agricultural areas, based on observations of temperature and irrigation trends throughout California. Humans 'affect global rainfall' International - An international team of scientists from Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States used a new method to find out how human-induced climate change affected global rainfall patterns over the 20th century. Dr. Nathan Gillett of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, Norfolk, England explained that they fed the patterns of rainfall changes in different latitude bands into computer models. This enabled them to trace more localized changes than researchers who used global rainfall averages. The results: while Canada, Russia, and northern Europe (40-70 degrees north) became wetter, India and parts of Africa (0-30 degrees south and north) became drier. Although natural factors, such as volcanic eruptions, contributed somewhat to shifts in rainfall patterns, the increase of greenhouse gases and aerosols in the atmosphere was a much more significant factor, concluded the study. Signs of water beyond solar system ABC Science Online - Australia Astronomers say they have discovered the best evidence yet of water outside our solar system, in the atmosphere of a giant planet 60 light-years from Earth... Disclaimer of Accuracy of Data - Although the information found on the WaterPortal has been produced and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty, expressed or implied, can be made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information.
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