NEWS

August 25 , 2008

The Age - Desal and water tank wars - DESALINATION and other big-ticket solutions to Melbourne's water woes threaten to sideline alternatives, as a proposal to drop rainwater tanks is the subject of a row at the highest levels of State Government. In a separate public study on a proposed estate, Armstrong Creek in Geelong, Professor Coombes found that use of tanks and local recycling of waste water could cut demand for mains water by 75% and waste water by 63%. Such a strategy, he found, could defer the need for the Government's proposed $142 million pipeline to Geelong within 20 years.>> more

Rainwater Harvesting in the UK – Current Practice and Future Trends Rainwater harvesting (RWH), where runoff from roofs and impervious areas is
collected and utilised, is receiving renewed attention as an alternative water
source. RWH requires less treatment than greywater recycling, if being used for non-potable demand such as toilet flushing. However, there are challenges to overcome in the promotion and implementation of RWH in the UK; it is a
relatively unproven technology and there are still many concerns to be assuaged. Nevertheless, the situation is beginning to change with welcome moves coming from the Government, the UKRHA and housing developers themselves, in response to an increasingly challenging water resources situation. This paper provides a brief introduction to RWH, along with an overview of the current and future prospects of the technology within the UK. >> more

August 22 , 2008

Guardian News and Media - Revealed: the massive scale of UK's water consumption - The UK has become the sixth largest net importer of water in the world, the environment group WWF will tell a meeting of international experts in Stockholm, with every consumer indirectly responsible for the use of thousands of litres a day. Only 38% of the UK's total water use comes from its own resources; the rest depends on the water systems of other countries, some of which are already facing serious shortages. The study makes the first attempt to measure the UK's total "water footprint" and highlights the extent to which our imports come from countries which are running out of fresh water.>> more

Liquid Assets - Penn State Public Broadcasting Documentary on Nation’s Deteriorating Water Infrastructure - It is out of sight and out of mind, but America’s aging water system is in dire need of an overhaul. Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU-TV) is set to premiere a public television event on the looming crisis underneath our feet and how communities are trying to meet this challenge. "Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure," tells of America’s distressed essential infrastructure systems: drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. These complex and aging systems—some in the ground for more than 150 years—are critical components for basic sanitation, health, public safety, economic development, and a host of other necessities of life. A four-minute trailer is available for viewing now at liquidassets.psu.eduThe documentary explores major water, sewage, and stormwater infrastructure issues facing communities across the country, including: Atlanta, Boston, Herminie, Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC. >> more

August 22 , 2008

The New Mexican - Water-rate hike called 'regressive' - The city is proposing a 6.99 percent increase per year for both the monthly service charge and water-usage fee. The increase would occur each of the next seven years if the City Council approves the plan. It includes a 3 percent inflation rate per year. With the rate hike, an average monthly residential bill of $31.51 would increase to $33.71 in 2009, $38.59 in 2011 and $50.57 per month by 2015 >> more

Austin American Statesman - LCRA raises water, wastewater rates - The Lower Colorado River Authority on Wednesday approved rate increases for wholesale water and wastewater that will affect residential and retail customers in Williamson, Travis and Hays counties.

In addition, Liberty Hill wastewater customers who purchase services directly from the LCRA will pay about 15 percent more each month. Wholesale wastewater customers in western Williamson County will also see higher costs.>> more

August 13 , 2008 The New Mexican - Watching the Water - Scientists predict that climate change will mean more rainfall and less snow in Yosemite in the next 50 years. If that happens, they say, one of the nation's premier outdoor destinations could experience problems — including severe floods in winter and spring, plus dry wells in the summer. With global warming, "the magnitude and frequency of floodings may increase because springtime flooding is usually caused by rain on snow," Fengjing Liu, a research scientist at UC Merced, said in an e-mail. Flooding could be of the magnitude of the crippling January 1997 deluge, which caused more than $178 million of damage in Yosemite, Roche said. Slowly-melting snow offers another environmental advantage, Roche said. It's able to infiltrate the soil and build up groundwater supplies that feed wells in the mountains year-round as well as creeks, streams and rivers in the late summer and fall. >> more

August 12 , 2008

Austin Water Wise Newsletter - Connection Between Water and Power - A recent article here highlighted the connection between Austin Water’s energy use and the city’s Climate Protection Plan, noting that AWU is responsible for about half of the City of Austin electric use. That’s about 200,000,000 kWh per year; an average of 550,000 kWh per day.One coal car carries about 100 tons of coal, which can produce over 300,000 kWh. So AWU uses the equivalent of almost two coal cars’ worth of energy each day. >> more

August 10 , 2008

Wise County Messenger Online - District will consider temporary fees for water wells - Fees could soon be applied to some water wells in the county capable of pumping large amounts of water. Revenue from the fees will pay for the district's routine business. Residents of Wise and the other three counties voted to create the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District last year. The district's purpose is to protect the quality of local water and make sure residents maintain control over the groundwater fairly. >> more

August 7 , 2008

Voice of San Diego - Report: Water the 'Challenge of the Century' - San Diego's water supply once looked more reliable than it does today. But a prolonged drought on the Colorado River and legal restrictions on exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta have forced the region's water wholesalers to tap storage reserves to meet demand. Unless the state experiences an unusually wet winter, water restrictions are possible next year. The widespread call for voluntary conservation has been ineffective. Those efforts alone are often not successful unless accompanied by tangible steps. >> more

August 2 , 2008

US Water News - Israel Not Alone in Water Troubles - Israel's water problems may look grave, with the Kinneret dropping to new lows and the price of water set to rise, but other countries - such as Australia and Jordan — are facing similar, if not worse, crises due to the scarcity of this resource. Australia's northeast tip, is now experiencing its worst drought in 100 years, with five consecutive low-rainfall years and water shortage, with supplies at just 38 percent of capacity. >> more

Environmental Network News - Spain's drought a glimpse of our future? - Barcelona, Spain is a dry city. It is dry in a way that two days of showers can do nothing to alleviate. The Catalan capital's weather can change from one day to the next, but its climate, like that of the whole Mediterranean region, is inexorably warming up and drying out. Its fountains and beach showers are dry, its ornamental lakes and private swimming pools drained and hosepipes banned. Children are now being taught how to save water as part of their school day. Spain needs to capture more rainwater, says Stephanie Blencker of the Stockholm International Water Institute, as climate change will produce alternating extremes of drought and heavy rain. "Rain is the biggest resource we have, and we can make it available all year round if we have sensible storage opportunities," she said.>> more

July 2008

U.S. Water News - San Antonio Water System announces 2008 WaterSaver Award winners - As San Antonio braces for another hot and dry summer, the city's water purveyor continues to work hard to promote water conservation in the city. San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has chosen 15 individuals and organizations in the city to receive 2008 Watersaver Awards for joining in the effort. Some of the winners include:

• Bexar County 4-H helped retrofit 364 toilets to conserve about 4.3 million gallons per year.The Valencia Homeowners Association helped retrofit 319 toilets for a savings of 3.8 million gallons per year.
• The 2008 WaterSaver Pioneer Award went to SeaWorld San Antonio. The 250-acre marine park has invested in numerous water-saving measures, including an extensive water-recovery system for all marine pools, ice-plant water reclamation for cooling, operating decorative fountains and watering hanging plants with captured air-conditioning condensate, planting and maintaining drought-tolerant landscaping, and retrofitting high-flow toilets at the park. Through these measures, SeaWorld saves more than 25 million gallons of water per year.

>> more

July 27, 2008

The Sun - City enacts strong water restrictions - Chino Hills has enacted the strongest water-conservation measures in its history. Pat Hagler, director of Chino Hills public facilities and operations, who is in charge of the city water agency, states the new ordinance to help encourage better water conservation does not have a time frame, . "I think it has to become a way of life for us, just like our gasoline," Hagler said. "We'll never go below $4 and we're probably never going to get more water. She added, "We're a very privileged society in America. In other parts of the world, water conservation is a way of life. We have to get in that same frame of mind." >> more

July 26, 2008

Tri-State Online - CAP officials look for future water solutions - The combined population of three of Arizona's most populous counties could double in 40 years and that has water experts dreaming up plans for the future. One scenario could have three desalination plants on line by 2048 to increase the supply of Central Arizona Project water flowing to Phoenix and Tucson. The prospect of desalination has in recent years gained more currency among water leaders in Arizona and the West as they try to deal with the twin pressures of population growth and drought that have kept flows in the river below normal for seven of the past 10 years.>> more

July 24, 2008

New York Times - Raindrops Keep Falling in My Tank - Mr. Librizzi, of New York, installed his tank on the northwest corner of his house, about 50 feet from the little 10-by-20-foot kitchen garden. The 32-inch-diameter tank holds 165 gallons, and he estimates that it collects about one quarter of the rain that pours off his 1,000-square-foot roof. It sits on a wooden platform, about 15 inches off the ground, to increase the water flow to the garden. To keep the tank stable in a storm, Mr. Librizzi wound metal strapping around it and the downspout; to soften its industrial look on the side facing the street, he erected a trellis for a native honeysuckle or autumn clematis. The construction is simple: rainwater flows down a spout from the roof until it reaches a T, where a filter catches leaves and particulate matter; water is then directed into the tank through a pipe set at a slightly downward angle. When the tank is full, the overflow runs through the other pipe in the T and into the ground. There is enough pressure to send water through 150 feet of soaker hose, which he has snaked through his modest vegetable and herb garden. “But it’s nowhere near the pressure you get from city water,” he said.>> more

July 23, 2008

Scientific American - Top 10 Water Wasters: From Washing Dishes to Watering the Desert - The many ways we squander water, from unintentional leaks to outright negligence. Many of us use water thoughtlessly; it seems as abundant as the air we breathe and a free swig is available almost anywhere. But fresh, potable water is already a precious commodity in many drier parts of the world, and as it grows rarer—and thus, dearer—in developed countries, the true value of H2O is beginning to seep in. Here's a list of some of the more egregious ways in which we squander it; some are easily avoidable, whereas others will require big changes in agricultural and industrial practices. >> more

Kitchen and Residential Design Blog - Raindrops keep falling on my head - (A fun article from someone just wondering if Rainwater Harvesting could actually help.) Tampa, Florida gets an average of 46 inches of rain a year. Nearly all of that rainwater floods the streets and washes garbage and silt into the Bay. I have been wondering if there can be some good use for those 46 inches.>> more

July 22, 2008

Kitchen and Residential Design Blog - Raindrops keep falling on my head - (A fun article from someone just wondering if Rainwater Harvesting could actually help.) Tampa, Florida gets an average of 46 inches of rain a year. Nearly all of that rainwater floods the streets and washes garbage and silt into the Bay. I have been wondering if there can be some good use for those 46 inches >> more

July 19, 2008

U.S. Water News Online - On the heels of a very wet 2007, about 95 percent of Texas is now in some stage of drought, with a sliver of two northwestern Panhandle counties garnering the worst status - exceptional - on the U.S. Drought Monitor map. The hot, dry conditions have diminished flows in many of Texas major rivers and are beginning to have a significant impact on the Hill Country and South Texas, according to a release from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “Conditions are such that the water tables are dropping,” commission spokeswoman Andrea Morrow said. All temporary-use water rights to state surface water in the Hill Country have been suspended until further notice.>> more

The Durango Herald - Collecting public rainwater is tricky Legislature considers ways to make it legal. Homeowners who capture rain from the roof to water plants or a garden are breaking Colorado state law. No kidding. The right to use water in Colorado - unlike Eastern states - is based on what is called the prior appropriation doctrine. A water right depends on when a user's claim is legally recognized. First come, first served. But judging from conversation Tuesday evening when about 30 La Plata County residents gathered at the Eco Home Center in Durango to hear a New Mexico rainwater harvest expert, the law may be observed more in the breach than the observance.>> more

Denver Post - Can you own the rain? Kris Holstrom lives with her husband and two children in a solar-powered home in rural San Miguel County. Committed to promoting sustainability, she grows organic produce year-round, most of which is sold to local restaurants and farmers markets. Kris did what thousands of farmers before her have done: She applied for a water right. Except instead of seeking to divert water from a stream, she sought to collect rain that fell upon the roof of her house and greenhouse. To her surprise, the state engineer opposed her application, arguing that other water users already had locked up the right to use the rain. The Colorado Water Court agreed, and Kris was denied the right to store a few barrels of rainwater. If she persisted with rain harvesting, she would be subject to fines of up to $500 per day. >> more

July 18, 2008

BBC News - Rain Friendly Building An innovative new building has been constructed in Leamington Spain which has been developed to cope with rainwater more efficiently.>> Watch video

July 14, 2008

New Hampshire Public Radio - Towns Brace for 311% Rate Increase Homeowners are dreading the onset of winter and unprecedented heating bills. But residents of four communities in New Hampshire may face another economic blow. The price they pay for water may rise dramatically. In some cases, they may see their water bills increase several times over.>> more

New way of managing water needed A new report, “The Next Market Crunch: Water,” takes on climate change and the impact to water supplies, with special consideration of how water managers are to adjust to changes in modeling current and future supplies. Surface water, groundwater and technologies to deliver potable water, such as reverse osmosis desalination, are discussed.>> more

July 10, 2008

State of California - Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Feinstein Propose Compromise Plan to Provide California Safe, Reliable and Clean Water "The goal of this plan is to break the long-standing stalemate over water," Senator Feinstein said. "California is facing an unprecedented water crisis. The combination of drought, court ordered water restrictions, global warming, and an increasing population has placed a major strain on the existing infrastructure. We need to prepare now for the future. The $9.3 billion bond proposal that the Governor and Senator Feinstein have proposed includes the following elements from all stakeholders and is a compromise approach that will move California toward a reliable water future:

• Increased water storage to ensure our water supply is more reliable year-to-year and we're able to capture excess water in wet years to use in dry years Improved water conveyance to reduce water shortagesRestored Delta ecosystem to allow California to take control of its own water systems
• Increased conservation and tools to use water more efficiently

>> more

July 4, 2008

Dallas/Fort Worth Channel 8 - Rainwater recycling plan costs in Richardson, TX Catching rainwater and using it to irrigate the lawn has become a bigger deal than a Richardson man ever expected. Bill Burke thinks a rainwater harvester can save 8,000 gallons of city water. But the City of Richardson is not making it easy to implement. The city admits this is a good idea but Burke can not install it without first applying for a special permit, paying $1,500 in fees, and having two public hearings.>> more

June 2008

New IMAX movie Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s obsession with rivers has its headwaters in the mid-1960s, when he and his famous dad paddled along the towering walls of the Grand Canyon. Now 54 and chief prosecuting attorney for the Riverkeeper environmental alliance, he goes after river polluters nationwide with a vengeance.>> more

June 19, 2008

Businessweek - There will be Water If water is the new oil, T. Boone Pickens is a modern-day John D. Rockefeller. Pickens owns more water than any other individual in the U.S. and is looking to control even more. He hopes to sell the water he already has, some 65 billion gallons a year, to Dallas, transporting it over 250 miles, 11 counties, and about 650 tracts of private property. The electricity generated by an enormous wind farm he is setting up in the Panhandle would also flow along that corridor. >> more

June 17, 2008

AllAfrica.com -Rwanda: Water Harvesting - Solution to Drought Harvesting water precisely means capturing rain where it falls or collecting the run off in one's village or town as a means of water storage to ensure constant supply in times of water scarcity. the Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) started water harvesting in the southern and eastern provinces in 2007. "As we harvest water, we target areas that are susceptible to drought. So far we have dug ponds or check dams in these areas from which we irrigate agricultural land. Some are located in south Bugesera, Ruhango and Nyanza. More are yet to be built in Rwamagana, Gisagara and Kirehe," said Patrice Hacyizimana, the Director of RADA.>> more

U.S. Water News Online - Southern water providers raise rates despite conservation Atlanta's utility, struggling to pay for a $4 billion update of its sewer and water infrastructure, heard from angry homeowners this week protesting a plan to raise customer rates by 27.5 percent this year and about 12.5 percent each of the next three years. Charlotte-Mecklenburg utilities boosted rates by about 15 percent this month — about $6 for an average customer. Suburban Atlanta's Gwinnett County warns it could raise rates if revenue — down 3 percent — keeps dropping. >> more

June 12, 2008

India Together - This bank deposits rain and draws water Cement cover, comes in the way of natural recharging of ground water. There is no exposed soil so that the runoff water can percolate into the sub-soil. In order to get rid of this ‘unwanted water’, a plan was devised. The cellar was made to slope down to an underground tank having an approximate capacity of 10,000 litres. As and when the tank would get filled, a sensor-operated motor would pump the water out and let it go to the gutters. The arrangement, a literal ‘dialysis’, was smoothly operating smoothly till B M Ramesh thought something more could be done. Ramesh’s second experiment of ‘cement breaking’ at his bank also proved beneficial. The borewell water has now turned sweeter and tastier. Earlier, all the steel vessels used for cooking developed thick, whitish scales inside. Cleaners had to scrape these scales three to four times in a year. Now the scaling has come down considerably. >> more

June 11, 2008

Daily Journal of Commerce - New rules will allow gray water in Oregon State building codes regulators will consider passing new rules to ensure Oregon homeowners don’t have to flush their drinking water down the toilet. Oregon building codes currently allow homeowners to collect and reuse rainwater for inside uses such as flushing toilets. But codes are murky when it comes to recycling gray water – water used in sinks, showers or clothes washers – for those same indoor uses. On June 20, however, the state Building Codes Division will take a proposal to the Oregon State Plumbing Board for new rules that would allow homeowners to install systems that reuse gray water in the same manner as rainwater for indoor use. The new rules would help ease concerns that have risen among conservationists and policy makers when it comes to using treated drinking water to flush toilets. >> more

June 10, 2008

Burlington Free Press - Vermont's Governor Douglas signs groundwater protection bill The legislation declares Vermont's groundwater a public trust and sets up a permitting process for those who want to make large water withdrawals. It is meant to protect Vermont from water-shortage problems other states are seeing, but also to prevent problems Vermont has seen with wells going dry, streams losing flow and neighbors having little control over projects that might affect them, said Jon Groveman of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, which supported the legislation. Advertisement "In the future, it's only going to become more of a problem," Groveman said.The law will require commercial enterprises that withdraw 20,0000 gallons a day or more to file a report with the state starting Sept. 1, 2009, and to obtain a permit for withdrawal of more than 57,000 gallons effective July 2010. Most farming operations will be exempt. That means the state should be able to better monitor how much water is being withdrawn and make sure it has no adverse impact on surrounding water supplies, Coleman said. >> more

June 7, 2008

New Age - Against the flow CANADIAN conservationist, activist and author Maude Barlow is to H2O what Al Gore is to CO2. It was the inclusion of water on the list of tradeable goods being negotiated between Canada and America in the late 1980s that put it on Barlow's radar. She began to read about the issues of water trade, water ownership, water rights, water security "I just became obsessed". The amount of water being shipped out [exported as crops] to make profit for a handful of corporations and agribusiness is not sustainable! >> more

New York Times - Water-Starved California Slows Development As California faces one of its worst droughts in two decades, building projects are being curtailed for the first time under state law by the inability of developers to find long-term water supplies. Water authorities and other government agencies scattered throughout the state, including here in sprawling Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, have begun denying, delaying or challenging authorization for dozens of housing tracts and other developments under a state law that requires a 20-year water supply as a condition for building. California officials suggested that the actions were only the beginning, and they worry about the impact on a state that has grown into an economic powerhouse over the last several decades. >> more

A Water Budgets, Not Rationing The 2007-2008 Grand Jury agrees that water budgeting is the solution for Orange County water woes. The Grand Jury calls on the water agencies to motivate consumers to conserve and to educate. > more

June 5, 2008

San Francisco Chronicle - Governor declares drought, orders water sent to worst areas Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today declared a statewide drought and ordered the state Department of Water Resources to quickly transfer water to areas with the most severe water shortages. "There is no more time to waste because nothing is more vital to protect our economy, our environment and our quality-of-life," Schwarzenegger said. But Schwarzenegger argued that California desperately needs to build more water storage and improve water delivery systems to allow the state to better manage its water resources during dry years. >> more

June 4, 2008

Water Industry Leaders Launch Water Policy Institute to Address Current Challenges - A consortium of water leaders today announced the formation of The Water Policy Institute. Chaired by former EPA Administrator and New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, the Institute will address water-related issues and provide information to the public through its website. Kathy Robb, a partner in the Resources, Regulatory and Environmental Law practice at the law firm Hunton & Williams LLP, is the founder of the Institute and will serve as its director. >> more

May 31, 2008

The Modesto Bee - Back to the future: Rainwater harvesting With California on the edge of drought and water restrictions already beginning in some areas, the state might soon be looking toward an ancient practice that is attracting renewed interest around the world: rainwater harvesting. In Australia, rainwater harvesting has been widespread for years, and in parts of the country it is the only source of fresh water. The government of Texas is an aggressive proponent of the idea. And in Washington's San Juan Islands, residents have overwhelmed a state agency that grants permits for the installation of harvesting systems. >> more

May 28, 2008

Deseret News - Eradicating contaminant may spur 25% rate hike Alta, Utah customers will have to pay 25 percent more for water if a proposal to increase water rates goes through. The extra $19,000 generated by the increase will be added to a grant of $450,000 from the state to pay for engineering studies focused on reducing antimony levels. The study to find the least expensive way to rid water of antimony will be complete in about a month, town officials said. Alta will then have to fund the solution, regardless of its cost. That figure could reach into the millions, said town clerk Kate Black. >> more

May 21, 2008

The Sacramento Bee - Home system collects rainwater for use in drier times The Sierra snowpack is below average. State officials said April and May were the driest spring on record. And Roseville has issued a drought alert – the first since 1994. People were already thinking water, so Robert Lenney tried to make them consider rainwater. "Several counties are in a water crisis, and several water agencies have ordered water conservation. It's very important," he said. Perusing Lenney's rain harvesting system, Scott Davis of West Sacramento said it makes sense, given the cost of water and conservation efforts. >> more

Orlando Sentinel - Orange County leaders adopted tougher conservation rules A key component requires businesses and residents in unincorporated Orange to honor state rules that bar irrigating lawns more than twice a week. Even-number addresses and lots, and common residential areas, can water Thursdays and Sundays. Odd-numbered addresses are allowed to irrigate Wednesdays and Saturdays. Violators could face a $100 to $250 code-enforcement fine, officials said. >> more

Wired Science - In America's Southwest, More People Plus Less Water Equals Trouble Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada - are smack in the middle of the desert. While there's plenty of land to build houses on out there, the same cannot be said of another commodity : water. With hundreds of thousands of new residents moving to those areas every year, scientists are warning that they may soon hit "peak water" - the point where there just isn't enough of the wet stuff to go around. To keep its taps flowing, Phoenix has come up with a 50-year water management plan. One part of the strategy is conservation. By enforcing strict plumbing codes and restrictions on watering large turf facilities, in addition to providing low-flow toilets to low income households, the city has cut the amount of water each resident uses daily from 267 gallons in the 1980s to 198 gallons today. But Phoenix isn't just cutting the amount of water it uses; they're also storing gigantic quantities of the stuff in an underground waterbank. Water from the Colorado Riveris pumped through canals and delivery channels into an interconnected set of aquifers lined with sand and gravel, creating a vast subterranean lake. Engineers control the flow in and out of this complex with a system of computer-controlled gates. >> more

Denver Post - New housing developments could collect own water the Senate backed a bill that would let up to 10 new developments apply for permission to install cisterns to collect rainwater that drains off rooftops. The water would have to be used on lawns and gardens or to fight potential wildfires. Democratic Sen. Chris Romer's proposal would let the developments try out the idea over the next three years. The aim is to measure whether the cisterns prevent a lot of water from flowing into rivers and streams or whether most of it would have been soaked up by the ground anyway. Rural residents who aren't connected to a water supply would also be able to collect rainwater but they would be allowed to do it permanently. >> more

May 15, 2008

Water Environment Research Foundation - Homes sought for graywater study research team is looking for homeowner-volunteers who would like to be part of a study looking at the impact of household “graywater,” as used in landscape irrigation, on plants, soils and human health. Volunteers are those with existing graywater systems that have been in place for at least five years, especially if they’re located in Florida, Arizona or New Mexico. The research team of professors Larry Roesner and Sybil Sharvelle also would consider participants from other states and those who would volunteer to install new graywater irrigation systems in the next year, particularly in Arizona, New Mexico and California. >> more

May 13, 2008

Fox News - Barcelona, Spain, starts to import water on ship The ships, scheduled to continue to arrive with water for at least the next three months, will provide the 5.5 million people of greater Barcelona with 6 percent of their usual monthly water consumption. The ship that arrived May 13 carried 5 million gallons of water. >> more

May 11, 2008

Virginia Water Resources Research Center - The intertwined tale of energy and water The conventional production of energy and power requires a huge amount of water. Without water, our energy and power generation systems will come to an abrupt stop. In the United States, for example, thermoelectric power plants consume 136 billion gallons/day of fresh water, a number that translates to an average of 25 gallons of water to produce one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. For example, A 60-Watt incandescent bulb can consume up to 6,000 gallons of water a year. >> more

CNN News - Is it time to talk about 'peak water'? Water is the new oil--a resource where demand continues to rise but supply is limited. Availability of fresh water has long been a concern for countries that are water stressed. But water is a tangible concern to more parties. A nuclear power plant in Tennessee was derated last year because of a drought in the region. In another case, a huge brewery was shut down because of a lack of available water. It takes 3,700 liters of water to make one liter of ethanol and 900 liters of water to make one liter of biodiesel. "If water had a price that was even a fraction (of its cost), those things wouldn't be done. They're done because oil has a price and water does not. >> more

April 30, 2008

The Christian Science Monitor - Hopes that the wells won't run dry in Vermont Vermonters so worried about unregulated water withdrawals that on Friday the state legislature passed a bill that establishes a water-permit requirement. Declaring groundwater to be a public trust, the bill aims to prevent corporations from taking more than their fair share. Enterprises withdrawing more than 57,600 gallons of water a day must now obtain a permit. (Most farms are exempt.) Gov. Jim Douglas (R) is expected to sign the measure. >> more

April 28, 2008

Wired - Peak Water: Aquifers and Rivers Are Running Dry - That the news is familiar makes it no less alarming: 1.1 billion people, about one-sixth of the world's population, lack access to safe drinking water. Aquifers under Beijing, Delhi, Bangkok, and dozens of other rapidly growing urban areas are drying up. The rivers Ganges, Jordan, Nile, and Yangtze — all dwindle to a trickle for much of the year. In the former Soviet Union, the Aral Sea has shrunk to a quarter of its former size, leaving behind a salt-crusted waste. >> more

April 25, 2008

USA Today - Water Rates Rise - Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, GA are seeing a 15% increase, and Palm Beach County, FL adds a $3.50 surcharge due to drought. “Nobody in the Southeast has been paying the true costs of water,” says Robin Craig, a law professor and water expert at Florida State University. >> more

Las Vegas Valley Water District rate increase- In Las Vegas the rise will increase bills by about 23 percent with a greater percentage increase for larger water users, and a smaller percentage increase for those customers who typically use less water. The rate increase will help promote water conservation and will help the Water District recover more closely the costs to deliver water. >>more

U.S. Water News Online - Vermont lawmakers told of coming water crises - “It's going to surpass energy as a national security issue for the United States,” said Maude Barlow, an Ottawa-based environmentalist and author of the books “Blue Gold” and “Blue Covenant.” “There are alternative forms of energy, but we haven't yet found an alternative to water,” Barlow told a joint hearing of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee and the House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources. The Senate has passed, and the House panel soon is to take up, legislation that would declare the groundwater under Vermont a “public trust.” That's a legal doctrine that the legislation's backers say could provide protections for the state's aquifers essentially by restricting individual users from sucking them dry. >>more

April 10, 2008 IPCC - Climate change and It's Impact on Water - IPCC used a conference in Budapest to launch a paper detailing the effects of climate change on the earth's water supply. Enough observations, made over decades, from which can be seen that the whole cycle of water is changing as result of climate change. The paper warned that there is an increased risk of extreme weather events, flooding and drought in many areas across the globe in the future. Changes to the earth's water supply could have serious consequences for the availability of food in the future. >>Executive Summary or >>IPCC website for full report

April 5, 2008

The Daily Sentinetl - Colorado Lawmaker wonders: Who’ll catch the rain? A Denver lawmaker wants to allow new housing developments in the state to get water the old-fashioned way — with cisterns. Under existing law, all rainwater is supposed to be allowed to flow into streams to be used by water-rights holders. Romer’s plan aims to measure whether there is a noticeable difference in runoff returning to streams if all of the homes in a particular development are gathering some of that water in cisterns. >>more

March 30, 2008

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) - Hotter and Drier: The West's Changed Climate In a report by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), drawn from 50 scientific studies, 125 other government and scientific sources, and our own new analyses, documents that the West is being affected more by a changed climate than any other part of the United States outside of Alaska. >>more

March 26, 2008

The Denver Post - 136 years later, mine law may get update Mineral prices are soaring, which is helping push up the number of claims, the groups said. The measure hasn't been overhauled since President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into law in 1872. >>more

The Daily Sentinel - Conservation district: There's less water than feds think for oil shale The federal government has projected that full production could reach 2 million barrels per day, which would require a lot of water. Estimates are that each barrel of oil would take one to three barrels of water to produce. >>more

Earth Policy Institute - BOTTLED WATER: Pouring Resources Down the Drain Global consumption of bottled water reached 154 billion liters (41 billion gallons) in 2004, up 57 percent from the 98 billion liters consumed five years earlier. Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing. Making bottles to meet Americans’ demand for bottled water requires more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel more than 1 million U.S. cars for a year. >>more

March 20, 2008

Ground Water Report to the Nation: A Call to Action Water demand, quality and quantity are matters of national urgency. If we don't act now, we rish degrading and jeopardizing the future health and well being of the country, our economy, and our ecological systems. >>more

March 10, 2008

AP - Pharmaceuticals Found in Drinking Water At least one pharmaceutical was detected in test of finished drinking water supplies fror 24 metropolitan areas according to a limited test of 62 major water providers. The long-term health effects of these contaminants is unknown. The EPA has no standards for these substances. >>more For more on what the EPA does require, read the article on - How safe is your water? The EPA regulates tap water, but how well do they do their job? >> more

February 13, 2008

Scripps News - Lake Mead Could Be Dry by 2021 There is a 50 percent chance Lake Mead, a key source of water for millions of people in the southwestern United States, will be dry by 2021. Research concluded that human demand, natural forces like evaporation, and human-induced climate change are creating a net deficit of nearly 1 million acre-feet of water per year. Today, we are at or beyond the sustainable limit of the Colorado system. The alternative to reasoned solutions to this coming water crisis is a major societal and economic disruption in the desert southwest; something that will affect each of us living in the region" the report concluded. >>more

Washington Post - Decline in Snowpack Is Blamed On Warming - Water Supplies In West Affected The persistent and dramatic decline in the snowpack of many mountains in the West is caused primarily by human-induced global warming and is not the result of natural variability in weather patterns, researchers reported yesterday. The study, published in the journal Science online, is part of what has become a drumbeat of dire assessments based on reports of quickening climate change caused by the buildup of carbon dioxide from vehicles, power plants, industry and deforestation. Last week, the American Geophysical Union, a leading scientific group in the field, issued a warning that "Earth's climate is now clearly out of balance and is warming." May require registration to access full article. Friday, February 1, 2008; Page A1. >>more

February 8, 2008

News 14 Carolina - Raleigh tightens taps even further. City of Raleigh will move to Stage 2 water restrictions on Feb. 15. The stricter measures are meant to save more water. Stage 2 restrictions effect car washes, bans pressure washing and handheld irrigation. >>more

February 3, 2008Water Shortage Highlighted at Davos 2008. Several panels sessions dedicated water, but not covered in the press. Time Is Running Out for Water, a panel including Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman and CEO, Nestlé, E. Neville Isdell, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, Fred Krupp, Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and CEO, Dow Chemical, and moderated by Ralph R. Peterson Death, Disease and Dirty Water a panel session including: Luke Alphey, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Oxitec, Michel Kazatchkine, Michel Kazatchkine Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Pardis Sabeti, Jasmine M. Whitbread, Chief Executive, International Save the Children Alliance, United Kingdom , and moderated by David E. Bloom Securing a Watertight Future a panel including: Jean-Paul Bouttes, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Steve Dobbs, Daniel C. Esty, Walter Fust, Fred Krupp, Simon Maxwell, Ralph R. Peterson, Mary Robinson, Jean-Pierre Rosso. Orville H. Schell, Peter Schwartz, Björn Stigson and facilitated by Margaret Catley-Carlson. Highlights from this session:

• Global artificial irrigation uses 70% of the world’s water, ten times as much as all private households combinedIrrigated cropland continues to triple in size and demand for waterTen times more water goes into growing meat rather than vegetablesAgricultural land conversion rises by 20% just to meet hunger-reduction goals by 2015
• One-third of existing irrigated lands succumb to ruin due to soil salinity

Who Is Managing Your Supply of Water? - A panel composed of Huguette Labelle, Jim Leape, Director-General, WWF International, Moon Kook-Hyun, N. K. Singh, Achim Steiner and moderated by Margaret Catley-CarlsonhwartzThe True Value of Water - A session moderated by Daniel C. Esty, Director, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, on a panel composed of Vilasrao Deshmukh, Orville H. Schell, John J. Wilkinson, and Fernando Zobel de Ayala

January 30, 2008

EPA, National and Environmental Groups Launch "Green Infrastructure". New comprehensive plan to reduce runoff and increase environmental and economic benefits for communities. >> more

January 27, 2008

Polymers are Forever - Alarming tales of a most prevalent and problematic substance. Great article in a recent edition of Orion magazine on the alarming increase of plastics everywhere. >> more Most of our plastic grocery bags have a life span of 450 years.

Get Wise on your Watershed - Good overview primer in a recent edition of Backhome magazine on watershed and why protecting local water sheds is critical in maintaining clean water. In the Jan/Feb edition, not available online, but at bookstores and local libraries. >> more

January 13, 2008

Nature Geoscience - Antarctica shrinking faster than previously forecasted - Western Antarctica ice sheets are more vulnerable to global warming than previously thought, according to scientist Eric Rignot, lead author of a paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience. >> more

December 13, 2007

South Florida Water Management District - South Florida Adopts One-Day-a-Week Watering - For the first time in the agency's history, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today declared an extreme District-wide water shortage, directly affecting more than five million South Florida residents and thousands of farms and businesses. >> more

November 30, 2007

Engineering News- German scientists develop water-recycling system - Device collects rainwater instead of channeling it away unused through the sewers. he resultant germ-free water meets German drinking-water standards. >> more

Saturday October 27, 2007

Associated Press - Spawl, rising temperatures expected to cause shortages in 36 states within 5 years - The government projects that at least 36 states will face water shortages within five years because of a combination of rising temperatures, drought, population growth, urban sprawl, waste and excess. "The need to reduce water waste and inefficiency is greater now than ever before," said Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the Environmental Protection Agency. "Water efficiency is the wave of the future.">> more

Mother Earth News - Wise Watering - Compared to your area’s native plants, most food-garden plants are amateurs at adapting to your local rainfall patterns, so they need help. Delivering water wisely means minimizing wasted water and wasted time. In more practical terms, it means anticipating your garden’s needs and setting priorities, having a conservation-based watering system in place, preserving water through mulching and finding innovative ways to work out the kinks in your garden’s water supply.>> more

Sunday October 21, 2007

New York Times - The Future is Drying Up - The steady decrease in mountain snowpack — the loss of the deep accumulation of high-altitude winter snow that melts each spring to provide the American West with most of its water — seems to be a more modest worry. But not all researchers agree with this ranking of dangers. Last May, for instance, Steven Chu, a Nobel laureate and the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, one of the United States government’s pre-eminent research facilities, remarked that diminished supplies of fresh water might prove a far more serious problem than slowly rising seas. >> more

Monday October 15, 2007

Brisbane Times - Australian Govt to close water carter loophole for rich - A loophole allowing wealthy householders to buy drinking water for use on their lawns and gardens will be closed by the NSW government. New water estrictions would not apply to supplies from water carters of recycled water, or water from sources outside of Sydney Water's area of operations. >> more

Friday October 12, 2007

Environment Texas Research and Policy Center - Analysis of 2005 Clean Water Act Compliance - More than 57 percent of major facilities nationwide, or 3,600, exceeded their Clean Water Act limits at least once during calendar 2005. The report noted that waterways contaminated from major facilities often flow into drinking water sources. >> more

Wednesday October 10, 2007

San Gabriel Tribune - Companies Asked to Conserve - Large customers including Miller, Azusa Pacific University and Northrop Grumman Corp., city officials and representatives from Azusa Light and Water stressed the importance of tightening the spigots. Weather experts said this so-called "wet" season has been the driest in recorded history, with the Los Angeles area receiving less than half its average rainfall. >> more

Wednesday October 3, 2007

Santa Fe Reporter - Hosed - Wasting water in Santa Fe is never in season. A listing and article of the top 10 priviate and public water users in Santa Fe. >> more

Thursday September 27, 2007

New York Times Asia Edition - Beneath Booming Cities, China’s Future Is Drying Up- Hundreds of feet below ground, the primary water source for this provincial capital of more than two million people is steadily running dry. The underground water table is sinking about four feet a year. Municipal wells have already drained two-thirds of the local groundwater. >> more

Tuesday September 18, 2007

Herald Tribune - Barrels conserve water and money - Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties are all encouraging the use of 55-gallon barrels to capture rainfall from gutters to be used for lawn and garden irrigation. Using rain barrels reduces storm-water runoff that can carry pollutants, pesticides and fertilizers into rivers, lakes, ground water and eventually drinking water supplies. >> more

Monday September 3, 2007

BBC News - Humans "Affect Global Rainfall" - Human-induced climate change has affected global rainfall patterns over the 20th Century, a recent study suggests. The findings will be published in the scientific journal Nature. >> more

The Star - Going green in Guelph subdivision - A "green" house that has caught the attention of environmentalists, especially water conservation experts. The 2,700-square-foot, three-bedroom house looks much like its neighbours in the subdivision except for the 38,000-litre cistern buried in the backyard that pumps rainwater into the house's toilets, dishwasher and washing machine. >> more

Sunday September 2, 2007

Hawaii Tribune Herald - 'An evening of rainwater catchment' a hit in Keaau" - The recent rainwater conference held in Hawaii focused on the benefits of rainwater catchment systems as integrated solutions to community problems, including stormwater run-off, sanitation and green waste, landscape/community design, as well as water quality issues.>> read more

Saturday September 1, 2007

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle - City saving 1 million gallons daily - Recycled water maintains more than 230 acres of city parks, cemeteries and athletic fields. The water recycling program saves an average of one million gallons of water each day. In a year, the water savings could fill Granite Reservoir. >> more

Thursday, August 9, 2007

The Tampa Tribune - Tampa Water Rates To Double - City Council today voted 6-0 to double residents' water bills by 2012. Mayor Pam Iorio pushed the measure, her second water rate increase since taking office in 2003. The council also voted 6-0 to lower reclaimed water rates in an attempt to encourage more people to sign up. >> more

Monday, August 6, 2007

News.com.au - Rainwater to fill public pool - Rainwater will be harvested from rooftops to fill an Olympic-sized public pool in Victoria in a groundbreaking project designed to save water. Water saving will be achieved by collecting rainwater from the roof of the centre and the roofs of a nearby basketball stadium and library. The water will then be diverted to a tank and used to top up pools, clean pool filters, flush toilets and for showers and landscape watering. >> more

Friday, August 3, 2007

American Water Works Association - Bill proposes National Infrastructure Bank - Cosponsored by Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007 (S 1926) establishes a new method that the federal government can use to finance infrastructure projects. In that summary, Dodd and Hagel quoted the USEPA estimating that repairs to obsolete drinking water and wastewater systems need as much as $151 billion and $390 billion respectively every year over the next 20 years. >> more

Thursday, August 2, 2007

EPA - EPA to test thousands of environmental chemicals - EPA's National Center for Computational Toxicology released a list of 340 chemicals that will be evaluated under Phase I of the ToxCastTM research program. This three-phased program sets priorities for toxicity testing of environmental chemicals in order to more efficiently obtain critical information necessary to protect people and the environment. >> more

Monday, July 30, 2007

ABC News - A Megadrought Could Cause Social Conflicts Over Water, Energy, Immigration - A recent heatwave in the Southwest is a reminder that global warning is well underway. Scientists at Columbia and Princeton universities have used computer models to predict a permanent drought that will persist for up to 90 years in one of the fastest growing regions in the country. >> more

Friday, July 20, 2007

San Francisco Sentinel - Know a Water Hero - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom today joined leaders from Bay Area water agencies to unveil an unprecedented regional public education campaign aimed at reminding residents and businesses to curb water use this summer and fall. >> more

Friday, July 20, 2007

US Environmental Protection Agency - Know A Water Efficiency Leader? - EPA is accepting nominations for the 2007 Water Efficiency Leader (WEL) Awards to recognize organizations and individuals that demonstrate leadership and innovation in water efficient- products and practices. Winners will be chosen by a panel of national water experts and based on three criteria: leadership, innovation, and water saved. >> more

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

North County Times - Rebate for Turf - Board members of the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District voted Tuesday to immediately offer homeowners a "modest" rebate to install synthetic turf, a conservation measure that could dramatically cut outdoor water use, which makes up 50 percent to 70 percent of residential water use. >> more

Frost & Sullivan Report - U.S. Water Recycling and Reuse Systems Markets Growing - Water recycling and reuse is gaining popularity in the United States due to the growing demand for water in industries and municipal applications like agricultural irrigation, lawn watering, and other non-potable applications. Increase in population and the growing economy are further putting enormous strain on the existing freshwater resources. >> more

Monday, July 2, 2007

TheStar.com - L.A.'s record-setting drought - History will show that from July 1 of 2006 to June 30 of this year, only 81 millimetres (3.21 inches) of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles – the lowest precipitation level since records started being kept in the 1880s. Other cities around the region also set all-time records. >> more

Friday, June 29, 2007

The Tampa Tribune - Cuts in Reclaimed Water Rates To Promote Use Proposed - The city wants to lower reclaimed water rates in an attempt to persuade people to hook up to the system. Propose rates would be $1.20 per 748 gallons of reclaimed water. The existing price is $1.34. New water rates would range would be $1.18 to $1.38 per 748 gallons. Those who use more water pay more. >> more

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

KIPLINGER FORECASTS - Water Scarcity Will Change How We Live and Work - Get used to living with less water -- at home and at work. And it's not just about being better stewards of the environment. It has more to do with limited supply. Learning to save water for a nonrainy day will be crucial; to help smooth out dips in supply. >> more

U.S. News & World Report - June 4, 2007 - Why You Should Worry About Water - Cover story on the current state of water in the US with side stories on how to easily conserve; the state of water around the globe; how disease has been transported by water in the past; Las Vegas, Nevada's grab for more water; waters power to work and create energy and several others. Very informative. >> more

Monday, June 25, 2007

WaterSaver Technologies LLC Introduces AQUS™ Water Saving Device - The AQUS™, enables you to save water by capturing graywater that would normally go down the drain. Captured water is cleaned, disinfected, and distributed into toilet bowls…users experience water savings each time they flush a toilet! Possible water savings of up to 5,000 gallons a year in an average household are possible with this new device. >> more

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Mainichi Daily News - Water Shortages Feared Across Japan - The level of water in the Sameura Dam in Kochi Prefecture had declined to 31.6 percent of its capacity by midnight on Wednesday, as compared with the normal level of 86.5 percent for this season. The water shortage is attributed to little rain in winter and spring. In particular, areas along the Sea of Japan coast had the least rain and snow since observations started in the 1961-62 winter. >> more

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Birmingham News - Jail Time Possible for Watering - Under the restrictions approved unanimously by the council, most outdoor water use - including washing cars by hand and using sprinklers - is prohibited. Fines of as much as $500 and jail sentences as long as six months for those who violate the city's water ban. >> more

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Las Vegas Review Journal - Lake Mead Could Go Dry in 10 Years - Bradley Udall, director of an environmental research institute connected to the University of Colorado, said Lake Mead's 14 million acre-feet of water, or about 4.5 trillion gallons, isn't being replaced as fast as it is being used. "At the current rate of use, Lake Mead has 10 years of water left in it," he said. >> more

Thursday, May 24, 2007

News12 Augusta, GA - Georgia Working on Water Conservation Plan - With each day passing and no rainfall in sight, drought conditions continue to worsen across Georgia. All but six counties in the state are now in an extreme or severe drought. The proposal is still in its early stages, but it's a long-term plan that Georgia's state environmental planners say will help conserve and manage the state's water supply during drought conditions. >> more

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

USA Today - Investors Profit in Search for Clean H2o - Three funds in search of profits from lack of clean water: The PowerShares Water Resources, Claymore Fund, and First Trust ISE Water Index Fund. The oldest of the funds has gained 28% since December 2005.

USGS - Pharmaceuticals Found in Soil - Many areas of the Nation are faced with water shortages due to significant demand for water. As a result, supplies are being augmented with treated wastewater. In a recent study it was found that pharmaceuticals in wastewater used for irrigation persist in soil for several months after the irrigation stopped. >> more

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

11 EyeWitness News - Mandatory Water Restrictions Go into Effect - Dry conditions have forced Chatham County, North Carolina officials to implement mandatory water restrictions. >> more

Friday, May 11, 2007

Palm Beach Post - Watering Down to One Day a Week - The strictest water limits in South Florida's history will take effect Wednesday, allowing just one day a week for sprinkler use in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The A drought could extend to the summer of 2008. >> more

Tuesday, May 8, 2007Check out EPA's WaterSense program and World Water Center added to the Resource section. >> more

Saturday, May 5, 2007

The News Tribune - Milton, WA May Adopt Year Round Restrictions - The city, which straddles Pierce and King counties, is the only water system in Washington to enact restrictions so far this year, a state water specialist said. >> more

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Reuters - CA water officials urge conservation - Water in the state's snowpack is at its lowest level in almost 20 years and officials called for conservation and more water storage "As we experience climate change and the resulting lower annual snow packs, it is critical that we increase the amount of runoff captured by building additional water storage facilities," Gov. Schwarzenegger said in a statement. >> more

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

CBS4Denver -7 States Submit Colorado River Water Sharing Plan - Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, New Mexico Utah and Wyoming filed a plan with the Interior Department on Monday aimed at divvying up scarce water resources during drought. Officials said the long-debated pact would protect 30 million people who depend on the river for drinking water. >> more

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Consumer Reports - WATER FILTERS Simple, effective options - A review of various water filters options. Included in the review are carafe, counter-top, and undersink models that could be used in conjunction with a rainwater harvesting system. The article lists typical minerals and chemicals that each system removes. >> more

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Macon.com - Entire state of Georgia faces tighter water restrictions Georgia "has been in a persistent and progressive drought condition since last June," said Carol Couch, director of the state Environmental Protection Division in a news release. The conservation restrictions focus on residential watering because as much as 60 percent of summer household water use is outside, according to the EPD. >> more

Friday, April 13, 2007

Miami Herald - Water Restrictions may go year round State emergency managers, monitoring a potentially catastophic drought, are moving to extend water restrictions year-round, but warn that it may not be enough to avert disaster. ''It's a bit of uncharted territory we're in,'' said Fugate, whose agency directs recovery efforts after natural catastrophes. ``You're going to start crossing a line. The decision, quite honestly, isn't going to be to reduce a little bit. It's going to be who is not going to get any water.'' >> more

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

insideBayArea.com - Conserve water now, or else More than 2 million Bay Area residents today will be told to cut their water use 10 percent by June or face the kind of mandatory water restrictions that the area hasn't seen in 15 years. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is 46 percent of normal — the lowest this time of year since 1990. Meanwhile, rainfall totals around the Bay Area are barely half of normal for this time of the year, and the rainy season is nearly over. >> more

Sunday, April 8, 2007

SearNet - Southern and Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (SearNet) is a regional body set up to promote rainwater harvesting especially in eastern and southern Africa. Its mission is to network among its member associations within the region for the promotion of rainwater harvesting and utilization. New resource link

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Miami Herald - Tighten the tap: Record cutbacks comingIn the coming days, canals and ponds in western suburbs will drop fast and shallow ones may dry up. In weeks, municipal wells near the coast -- particularly in Broward County -- could pump water too salty to drink. In months, wetlands may wither and Lake Okeechobee could recede to the lowest point since the dike was built around it more than 70 years ago"This is one of the worst droughts we have ever seen," water district Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle was quoted as saying. >> more

Sunday, April 2, 2007

Dallas, TX - The recent flooding rains have had little effect on water levels in North Texas, and consequently, water restrictions went into effect in Dallas.According to the city, lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or when there has been any form of precipitation. The city also asks that that residents keep their sprinkler systems from running into driveways, sidewalks or streets.The restrictions began April 1 and will remain in effect through the end of October. Violators could face a fine up to $2,000. >> See Dallas Water Conservation to learn more

World Water Day, March 22nd, 2007 - The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 will give a high profile to implementing water-related programmes and the participation of women. The UN hopes that the Decade will boost the chances of achieving international water-related goals and the United Nations Millennium Declaration.Get educated, get involved >> more

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

CanWest News Service VICTORIA — B.C. residents should pay more for keeping their drinking water clean and safe, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall said today.Drinking water rates should reflect the true, long-term costs of water treatment, distribution and water system monitoring, Kendall said at a press conference to release his report Progress on the Action Plan for Safe Drinking Water in B.C.>> more

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Climate Assessment for the Southwest Wednesday, the Climate Assessment for the Southwest predicted that the West will have a warmer than average spring and summer.As the climate continues to change, New Mexico could see more droughts - and more heavy rainfall and flash floods, says Charlie Liles, chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. "Most of the models suggest the extremes in weather will increase," Liles continues, and "the droughts will probably be more intense, but I don't know that we can say they'll be more frequent. Of course, those same models indicate extremes in wet weather may increase as well. But as the climate continues to change, the state could see more droughts - and more heavy rainfall and flash floods. Liles says, "People, will just have to adapt as the changes come". >> more

Tuesday, February 18, 2007

San Francisco Chronicle The real cost of bottled water More than 1 billion plastic water bottles end up in the California's trash each year, taking up valuable landfill space, leaking toxic additives, such as phthalates, into the groundwater and taking 1,000 years to biodegrade. That means bottled water may be harming our future water supply.Americans bottle water addiction consumes more than 47 million gallons of oil, enough to take 100,000 cars off the road and 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, according to the Container Recycling Institute. >> more

Tuesday, February 14, 2007

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)Two billion people will be without water ROME, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- In less than 20 years, close to two billion people will be without water and two thirds of the world will not have enough water, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned here on Wednesday. One way to deal with water scarcity is through farming-related techniques that harvest more rainfall, reduce waste in irrigation and increase productivity, and in changes in crop and dietary choices, Steduto added.“Water has a major impact on the capacity of people everywhere to improve their lives,” says Pasquale Steduto, Chief of FAO’s Water, Development and Management Unit. “In many regions, farmers trying to produce enough food and income face the added challenges of repeated droughts and competition for water.” >> more

Friday, February 9, 2007

The Albuquerque Tribune Albuquerque saves 100 billion gallons of water
The city has conserved 100 billion gallons of water since 1994 through water conservation efforts. The amount saved for the city was estimated to be about three years worth of water for all customers served by the authority.The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority offered rebates to customers who installed water-efficient toilets and to those who landscaped with native plants that required little water. The authority also enforced fines for customers who were caught watering sidewalks, forced all new construction projects to install low-flow fixtures, and made large water users develop conservation plans.New conservation measures are in the works including more rebates, a law requiring any home up for sale to have low-flow fixtures, and a program that will target water leaks. The amount saved for the city was estimated to be about three years worth of water for all customers served by the authority>> more

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