World Water Awareness

Call to remove industrial pollution : Saidabad plant unable to ...

2007-03-15T03:16:00.000-07:00

The Saidabad water treatment plant is unable to treat the River Sitalakhya water due to a very heavy pollution from surrounding industries. The presence of higher level of ammonia at the Sarulia water point has badly affected the treatment plant. Anwarul Iqbal, Adviser of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, said this as chief guest at the inauguration of a consultation workshop on 'Industrial Pollution and Environmental Compliance in the Greater Dhaka watershed' jointly organised by World Bank (WB) and LGRD Ministry at a city hotel yesterday. He said, "Industrial growth and the discharge of untreated waste water within and outside Dhaka has further inflamed the problem, since all the major surface water bodies including the main rivers Buriganga, Sitalakhya, Turag and Balu are virtually biologically dead, posing a serious threat to the source of water supply for the residents of Dhaka." The speakers at the workshop urged industrialists and business community to ensure compliance with national standards to discharge treated waste water into the surface drains, canals and rivers to save Dhaka from the adverse impacts of industrial pollution.

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Town of Mansfield, Mass. Water Pollution Control Facility Recognized

2007-02-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

The Town of Mansfield, Mass. Water Pollution Control Facility was recently selected by EPA for a Regional "Operations and Maintenance Wastewater Excellence Award". The staff of the Mansfield facility was recognized by EPA's New England Office for exceptional work in operating and maintaining the plant, as well as its overall commitment to improving water quality. The plant was among four facilities in New England acknowledged for exemplary performance during 2006. The Southeast Regional Office of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was instrumental in nominating this facility. The staff was recognized for their outstanding work in operating and maintaining the facility, as well as their overall commitment to improving water quality. In particular, the following individuals were recognized for their work: Ken Hackett, Operations Manager, and William Handy, Chief Operator.

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Groe: Will rural areas balance water, growth?

2007-01-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX - If local governments in rural areas were empowered to halt developments that lack assured water, would they do so? During a legislative briefing Thursday on water challenges facing rural areas, one lawmaker said she doubted that officials in Mohave County, where she said thousands of homes are going up without assured water supplies, would take such a stand.&#8220As much as I like local control, I haven't seen the political strength to be supporters and protectors of the water supply," Rep. Trish Groe, R-Lake Havasu City, said during a meeting of the House Committee on Water and Agriculture. .

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Movado Women's Classic Museum Watch #0690299

2007-01-23T03:25:00.000-08:00

This classic Museum dial watch showcases Movado's celebrated minimalist design. The round black dial is punctuated with gold-toned Dauphine hands and a single concave dot marker at the 12 o'clock position. This signature dial, famously introduced for Movado by American designer Nathan George Horwitt in 1947, is intended to evoke images of a sun dial, with the dot representing the sun at high noon. The black dial is set off beautifully by a gold-toned stainless steel case and bezel. A black leather strap with a buckle closure completes the sleek and sophisticated look. Other notable features of this watch include a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, precise Swiss quartz movement, and water resistance to 30 meters. About Movado Movado, one of the most celebrated watch brands in the world, traces its origins to the small village of La Chaux-de-faunds, Switzerland where, in 1881, a young watchmaker named Achille Ditesheim hired six assistants and opened a small workshop. He called his company Movado, a word which means, roughly, "always in motion." The company grew and prospered, evolving from a small pocketwatch manufacturer into a leading innovator and designer of precision wristwatches. Throughout its history, Movado has maintained its place at the pinnacle of innovation and excellence in design, craftsmanship and technology. Movado watches are crafted by highly-skilled watchmakers to meet the exacting standards of Swiss time technology. They are accurate to within seconds a year. All Movado watches are sealed and protected against water, moisture and dust, and individually tested to meet strict international standards of quality. A long-time dedicated supporter of the arts, Movado has, itself, been the recipient of over 200 international awards. Movado watches can now be found in the permanent collections of over 20 museums worldwide.

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Water pollution suit aims to make dams' cost prohibitive

2007-01-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

GRANTS PASS, Ore. - Conservationists are increasing pressure on PacifiCorp to remove hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River to help struggling salmon runs, warning they will sue to stop pollution from a fish hatchery the utility owns. Klamath Riverkeeper, an affiliate of the Waterkeeper Alliance headed by Robert Kennedy Jr., has sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue under the Clean Water Act to PacifiCorp and the California Department of Fish and Game. The utility owns the hatchery at Iron Gate Dam in Holbrook, Calif., and the department operates it. Both would be defendants. The aim of a suit would be to make PacifiCorp pay to upgrade the hatchery. PacifiCorp would then take on the environmental and social costs of the pollution, rather than imposing them on the salmon and people downstream, said attorney Daniel Cooper, who represents Klamath Riverkeeper.

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Water woes close Smithsonian buildings

2007-01-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Smithsonian Institution was forced to close two museums Saturday on the National Mall because they lacked running water, museum and city officials said. The shutdown affected the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian, but both were expected to reopen today, Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas said. "When we don't have water pressure, you obviously don't have running water and you don't have toilets," she said. Crews were replacing a 36-inch valve on Independence Avenue, but they found additional problems and had to drain the water main, reducing water pressure to the surrounding area, said Michele Quander-Collins, of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. .

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Ovens River water unusable after pollution from fires

2007-01-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

Dirty water caused by the north-east Victorian fires has made the main water supply for Bright and Wandiligong residents unusable. North East Water's Terry Weisener says large amounts of ash and sediment has entered the Ovens River. He says water will be temporarily supplied by a limited reserve system, which is why stage four restrictions have been introduced. He says residents are urged to cut back their water use until they are returned to the main supply, hopefully by early next week. "The rain earlier in the week has caused some dirty water to be heading down the Ovens towards Bright," he said. "So we need to shut down the current off-take and run on the reserves until the dirty water passes." Meanwhile notices to boil water before use put in place before Christmas have been lifted for Mount Beauty, Harrietville, Tawonga and Whitfield residents.

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Frostburg preparing for change in water rates

2006-12-31T10:36:00.000-08:00

The City of Frostburg remains without a final decision from the Maryland Public Service Commission regarding the setting of water rates for Allegany County customers. The city filed a "compliance filing" with the PSC on Sept. 27, 2006, that detailed a plan to reduce the county customers' rate from $4.52 to $3.08 with a 3 percent annual escalator and an effective date of Oct. 1, 2006. No response was received from the PSC until the PSC staff requested an additional delay for their own internal assessments due to the hiring of new staff members not familiar with the case.On Dec. 1, 2006, Allegany County filed a response that rejected the city's proposed rates and effective date. The county proposed a rate reduction from $4.52 to $2.43 and an effective date of July 1, 2006.On Dec. 5, 2006, the PSC directed the city to respond to the county's response and it further directed its own staff to respond to the city's Sept.

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Water pollution suit filed against local farmer

2006-12-24T10:28:00.000-08:00

The Iowa Attorney General's office released a report Monday saying it has filed a lawsuit against Ken Moellers, 11687 Yankee Ave., Cresco, for water pollution and manure handling violations at two open lot swine and cattle operations. The suit alleges that Moellers &#8220illegally released manure" from one of his sites into Chihak Creek on or about Sept. 11 and Sept. 26, 2005. Another manure release was done Aug. 10 into an unnamed tributary of the Turkey River, the lawsuit alleges.Moellers said to protect his operation from any type of potential run off issues, he is in the process of completing a $400,000 containment structure at one of his sites and has slotted another to be built next year.&#8220We are an outside-housed livestock operation," Moellers said. &#8220Therefore, we have open lots.

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Fitch Rates $829MM Massachusetts Water Pollution Trust Pool ...

2006-12-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AAA' rating to approximately $421 million Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust (MWPAT) pool program bonds, series 12 and approximately $408 million pool program refunding bonds, series 2006. The bonds are scheduled to price on Nov. 21 through a syndicate led by Bear Stearns & Co. Fitch also affirms the 'AAA' rating on approximately $1.3 billion in outstanding pool program bonds and on approximately $812 million subordinate lien pool program refunding bonds. Bond proceeds will be used to finance or refinance costs of certain water pollution control projects and drinking water projects for borrowers. The Rating Outlook is Stable. The 'AAA' ratings for MWPAT's federally capitalized state revolving fund (SRF) programs are due primarily to the large amount of senior lien reserves, which total over $788 million or approximately 38% of outstanding pool bonds.

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Canberrans should pay more for water, economic expert says

2006-11-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

An economics expert says water restrictions are not working and consumers should face the prospect of paying more for their water. The Australian National University's (ANU) Quentin Grafton has suggested a new structure of charges based on supply and demand. He says as dam levels recede, the price of water should increase. "Why not get people to pay a higher price for their water, rather than build water tanks and address the issues associated with high water prices for the low income households in creative and innovative ways," he said. But Professor Grafton also says changes to water pricing is only part of the only solution. "There is a potential for Canberra to be able to purchase water for example from irrigators and then use it for water in Canberra," he said.

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Fitch Rates Rhode Island's $57.2MM Water Pollution Control SRF ' ...

2006-11-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO -- Fitch assigns an 'AAA' rating to the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency's (the agency) $57.2 million water pollution control revolving fund revenue bonds, series 2006 A (pooled loan issue). The bonds are expected to price on Dec. 4 via a syndicate led by UBS Investment Bank. Bond proceeds will be loaned to 9 borrowers for certain water pollution abatement projects through the clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF). In addition, Fitch affirms the 'AAA' rating on the agency's $366.6 million outstanding senior bonds, on parity with the new issue. The Rating Outlook is Stable. The 'AAA' rating reflects the program's highly rated clean water loan pool and strong default tolerance due to substantial reserves. CWSRF capitalization grants are typically deposited into a reserve fund, which is available to cure loan defaults from the statewide pool of municipal borrowers.

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Africa: Lack of Clean Water Kills More People Than War

2006-11-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

Lack of access to clean water is likely to have a much bigger impact on sustainable economic development for countries in sub-Saharan Africa than previously envisaged, says UNDP's newly launched Human Development Report, 2006. This is because scarcity of water and sanitation is a crisis that is not appreciated nationally and globally, and attracts less political leadership as well as less attention from donors. According to Kevin Watkins, the director of the Human Development Report Unit at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), access to clean water is the most effective way of ensuring economic growth because it keeps away disease and avoids undue loss of manpower for devoted to the search for water instead of being channelled to production. Mr Watkins, the author of the report, was in Nairobi last week on his way to Cape Town where he launched the report, which is entitled, Beyond scarcity: Power politics and the global water crisis.

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Water pollution threatens China's oldest hydropower station

2006-11-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

KUNMING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Water pollution is threatening China's oldest hydropower station -- built nearly a century ago -- and has forced it to halt operation several times. The Shilongba Power Plant, located in the western suburbs of Kunming, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, was built in 1908 using German technology and equipment, said deputy director Tian Jinghua. It draws freshwater from Dianchi Lake to generate power, Tian said. But it has had to suspend operation several times in recent years because of water pollution, he said. Chemical plants on the upper reaches of the Tanglangchuan River have been discharging acidic effluents into the lake. In November 2003, acidic water "attacked" the power plant, triggering direct economic losses of up to 19 million yuan (2.4 million U.S.

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Sound Transit fined over water pollution

2006-10-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Sound Transit was fined $66,000 for water-quality violations along a 4 1/2-mile section of its light rail construction project in Tukwila, the state Ecology Department said Friday. In levying the fine, the state also directed the transit agency to make changes with its contractor, PCL Construction Co., to prevent stormwater problems from recurring. The penalty cited 14 discharges between August 2005 and June 2006, amounting to 26 violations of the project's storm-water permit. Each of the discharges, reported by Sound Transit as required, contained more silt than the permit allows. The silt-laden water flowed from a work area to Gilliam Creek and the Duwamish River, or the ditches and streams that drain to them. Silted water is a hazard to salmon. Five of the violations took place at 42nd Avenue South, between state Route 518 and South 154th Street, affecting Gilliam Creek.

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Senator still backing Bendigo water supply plan

2006-10-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Central Victorian Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson has reaffirmed his support for a pipe from the Goulburn system to Lake Eppalock to boost water supplies for Bendigo. Tenders were let last week for the supply of pipes for the $100 million project. Senator Ronaldson says he supports the pipeline, but is against extending it to Ballarat. He says he believes the Bendigo project meets the National Water Commission guidelines for federal funding. "The Bendigo pipeline, I have supported that proposal from day one - my support continues always of course subject to the National Water Commission and meeting guidelines but, no, I'm still very supportive of the Bendigo pipeline," he said. .

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Assembly nod for Neyyar water pact

2006-10-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly on Wednesday passed a statutory resolution authorising the Government to enter into an agreement regarding supply of water to Tamil Nadu from the Neyyar irrigation project. The resolution, moved under Section 30 of the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act, specifies that the water could be supplied for agriculture purposes in Vilavankodu village of Kanyakumari district at a price to be fixed from time to time. The Congress-led Opposition, which objected to giving a blanket permission to the Government to negotiate an agreement, abstained from voting on the resolution. The Opposition members argued that the Act mandated that the actual terms of the agreement be placed before the House for approval. Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, who moved the resolution, said the Government was only carrying forward a policy decision taken by the previous Government.

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$133M in loans fund water projects

2006-10-19T05:51:00.000-07:00

MIDDLESEX COUNTY — Five area municipalities and two county agencies will combine to receive loans of more than $133 million from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to finance clean water projects following the sale of $170 million in bonds. Trust Chairman Robert A. Briant Sr. announced yesterday that the sale of the bonds combined with capitalization grants from the Department of Environmental Protection totaling more than $438 million to finance more than 53 environmental protection projects statewide. The Middlesex County Utilities Authority will receive a $68,813,716 loan the largest amount of any local agency or municipality and the second largest in the state to fund an upgrade of force mains and a pump station in Edison. The force main along with the Edison Pump Station funnel 28 million gallons of wastewater per day from Perth Amboy, Carteret, Woodbridge and Edison through a 60-inch diameter pipe that runs underneath the Raritan River to a connection point along the south side of the river adjacent to the Utility Authority's Treatment Facility in Sayreville, according to Tony Cicatiello of the Middlesex County Sewer Authority.

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Bisleri to invest Rs 100 cr in natural water biz

2006-10-19T05:50:00.001-07:00

Bisleri International Pvt Ltd on Wednesday announced that it had earmarked an investment of Rs 100 crore for its foray into the packaged natural water category. The company is also going in for a brand makeover and would be changing its brand colour to aqua green from the present blue that Bisleri is associated with. "We will make an initial investment of Rs 100 crore that will include Rs 30 crore in two new natural water plants in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal and Rs 60 crore for advertising the new identity and product. The rest will go for other infrastructure developments," said Mr Ramesh Chauhan, Chairman, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd. He said that while the plant in Himachal Pradesh was already operational, the one in Uttaranchal would start operations by end of this year.

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Politics trumps bid for clean water

2006-10-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

One by one, the Liberal members of the Ontario Legislature rose to vote for a bill that they believe will put the ghosts of Walkerton to rest. And, one by one, the opposition members on the other side of the aisle endured taunts of "shame" and stood to vote against it. The Liberal majority ruled and the Clean Water Act passed third and final reading yesterday afternoon by a vote of 53-28. But, if nothing else, the vote showed that nothing trumps politics in Ontario, not even the pursuit of untainted drinking water. The passage of the act closes a chapter in the province's history that began six years ago when seven people in Walkerton died and another 2,300 were made ill after drinking water contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The tragedy and the comprehensive judicial inquiry that followed served as a wakeup call.

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PV Water board has two open seats, four candidates

2006-10-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

There are two open seats on the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency in the November election, and it's shaping up to be an interesting race in a special district that has been both commended and criticized for its vision. The agency, formed in 1984, has come under attack for its handling of saltwater intrusion, the result of farmers pumping too much water from aquifers. In the 1990s, the agency started raising user fees to pay for a series of projects it hopes will rescue coastal farmers from the encroaching seawater and stabilize a water supply whose quality is threatened. But the projected price tag — more than $200 million — is beginning to wear thin on some inland farmers, who are paying as much as $160 an acre foot annually yet aren't benefitting from the projects.

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Hydra Spyder flies on water

2006-10-19T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ridgeland, South Carolina - Parallel parking a car on a lake isn't easy; John Giljam knows that because he's done it - and on rivers, ponds even the Intracoastal Waterway. In fact Giljam has not only practised parking on water; he has also become adept at turning sharply on it. (He no longer gets drenched in a curtain of spume when cornering, he will have you know.) And he has mastered the art of steering clear of critters - geese, mostly, though 'gators have a habit of surfacing at inopportune moments. Of course it helps to learn these aquatic feats behind the wheel of his latest creation, an amphibious car that cruises on water as easily as it does on tar .

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Water Resources ministry to regulate sector activity

2006-10-19T05:47:00.001-07:00

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources had been empowered by the federal government to make laws that would regulate activities in the nation's water sector. Water Resources Minister, Mukhtari Shagari said that by the development, every state government and organisation wishing to construct a dam must receive approval from the ministry before doing so. He stated that government had shifted its emphasis from construction to rehabilitation of existing dams in the country to ensure safety of those living close to such facility. Shagari said that the ministry had the mandate to ensure that dams were constructed within exiting rules and guidelines on such activity in the country. He said that the development would help to check the abuse of maintenance standards by states and private organisation involved in the construction of such facility in the country.

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Govt urged to abolish catchment levy for water buyers

2006-10-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

A group of Murray River irrigators is calling on the South Australian Government to abolish the water catchment levy for those who have to buy in water this season. Irrigators have had their allocations cut to 70 per cent, but still have to pay the full levy amount, and those that trade for extra water are being forced to pay further levies. The chairman of the South Australian Murray Irrigators group, Ian Zadow, says the State Government is double dipping. "It's unfair, there should not be any argument as to whether that should be charged or not ... people are paying the catchment levy on the water they can't use and of course to run their business they have to bring water in, they're asked to pay it again, so I am disappointed that it hasn't been addressed sooner, but we're really hoping that something can come out of this discussion," he said.

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Bisleri enters the spring water segment with big plans

2006-10-19T05:46:00.001-07:00

The Rs 1000 crore bottled water industry is set for more action as Bisleri now enters the spring water segment, reports CNBC-TV18. Bisleri's entry into the bottled spring water category with 'Bisleri Natural Mountain water' is sure to make players like Himalaya and Catch sweat. The bottled water industry is growing at 40% and is expected to touch Rs 5000 crore by 2010. Natural spring water is 5% of the total bottled water business. Currently Himalaya leads the segment with 50% market share. Bisleri, had considered buying out Himalaya, but today has set ambitious sales targets to overtake the market leader. Ramesh Chauhan, Chairman, Bisleri International says, We are targeting 10 million cases in two years time, and that is going to be worth Rs 200 crore.

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Business chamber claims grape growers wasting water

2006-10-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

There are claims that as South Australia braces for possibly the worst drought on record, grape growers are each wasting five gigalitres of water. The head of Port Lincoln's Chamber of Commerce, Steve Prout, says growers have told him because of the grape glut, Barossa wine growers only need 15 of the 20 gigalitres they are allocated. He says they are wasting the extra allotments so they can be assured they get the same allotment next year. "Five gigalitres of water down the drain if you like because they cannot afford to get it next year as circumstances change," he said. "These guys over there are having to waste it because of the idiocy of our Government." But Barossa Wine Grape Growers Council secretary Bob Taplin says no farmers are wasting water and Mr Prout must be confused because there is no water to waste.

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Range of uses possible for treated water

2006-10-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

Gippsland Water says treated water from Melbourne's sewage treatment plant at Carrum Downs should be of good enough quality for environmental flows. The Victorian Government has announced money to pipe waste water from Melbourne's sewage treatment plant to the Latrobe Valley for use by power stations. The chief executive officer of Gippsland Water, John Mitchell, says the water quality should be good enough for a range of uses. "For the community to decide how much Gippsland's going to benefit by now we should benefit by better and more reliable environmental flows, we will benefit by more water available for industrial expansion and residential use and Melbourne should also benefit with some additional water capacity," he said. But the National party is opposing the water recycling project.

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