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| Batteries Can Now Be Powered by Water Recently a Japanese company announced its invention of water-powered batteries. The company, Total System Conductors (TSC), says the batteries are as powerful as everyday batteries currently in use and will offer a cheaper alternative to what's on the market. Plus, they have an unlimited shelf life, unlike common batteries which lose up to 25 percent of their charge per year when stored unused. New Rule Boosts Protection of Underground Drinking Water More than 100 million Americans will enjoy greater protection of their drinking water under a new rule issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The rule targets utilities that provide water from underground sources and requires greater vigilance for potential contamination by disease-causing microorganisms. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ Twin Cities Metro Children's Water Festival Receives Top Award The Children's Water festival was recently chosen to receive the prestigious Public Education Award from the Water Environment Federation (WEF). This award recognizes significant accomplishments in promoting awareness and understanding of water environment issues. The Children's Water Festival, held annually since 1998, is designed to provide 5th grade students with hands-on opportunities to learn about water and its importance to people and our natural environment. http://www.co.carver.mn.us/Divisions/LandWaterServices/EnviroServices/CWF/ EPA to Examine Conditions of Nation's Lakes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is embarking on a three-year study to determine the state of America's lakes. The "Survey of the Nation's Lakes" is the first-ever attempt to assess real-world conditions by studying 909 lakes, ponds and reservoirs whose profiles are representative of all lakes in the United States. http://www.epa.gov/water/waternews/waternews.html#1 __________________________________________ World's Water 2006-2007 The fifth volume in the highly regarded series, The World's Water 2006-2007, is now available. Pacific Institute President and editor Peter Gleick convened Pacific Institute staff in covering some of the most significant current worldwide water issues: · water and terrorism, · preserving and restoring instream water allocations, · an update of seawater desalination, · the growing risks of floods and droughts, · environmental justice for water, · water risks facing industry, and · updated information on bottled water, international disputes over water, and the discovery of water on Mars. Produced biennially, The World's Water identifies and explains pertinent trends and offers the best data available on a variety of water-related topics. For more information: http://www.pacinst.org Contaminants in Lake Mead Linked to Gender Changes in Fish Something fishy has been confounding scientists for years. Male fish are developing female sexual characteristics in Lake Mead and other freshwater sources around the country. The U.S. Geological Survey recently released a four-page summary of more than a decade of studies linking wastewater chemicals to those changes. In Lake Mead and other freshwater sites, scientists have found traces of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, chemicals used in plastic manufacturing, artificial fragrances and other substances linked to changes in fish and animals. For more information: http://www.uswaternews.com/homepage.html Fish Enlisted in Terror Fight San Francisco, New York, Washington and other big cities are using bluegills -- also known as sunfish or bream -- as a sort of canary in a coal mine to safeguard their drinking water.These fish are highly attuned to chemical disturbances in their environment, and when exposed to toxins, they experience the fish version of coughing, flexing their gills to expel unwanted particles. For more information: http://www.waterionizer.org Water Shortage And Pollution Triggers Demand For Commercial Water Treatment Equipment In North America Depleting water resources and rising concerns about the quality of water are driving the North American markets for commercial water treatment equipment. The recent outbreak of water-borne diseases and prospects of bio terrorism are further accelerating this growth, especially with institutional end users such as factories and businesses providing safe water to employees. For more information: www.wateronline.com __________________________________________ Dick Gray Day in the State of Minnesota  It was standing-room-only in the Governor's Reception Room at the Minnesota State Capitol when numerous friends, family, admirers, Governor Tim Pawlenty, and the State of Minnesota recognized the life-long efforts of Richard (Dick) G. Gray, Sr., DSc, to the environment and society. "His enduring devotion will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the quality of freshwater resources," stated Pawlenty. In appreciation for his undying efforts, Dick Gray was awarded a proclamation from the state of Minnesota and April 24, 2006 was declared Dick Gray Day. 2006 Freshwater Society Art Contest  The 2006 Water is Life Art Contest encouraged more than 150 senior high school students from the state of Minnesota to express their views of water with art. The Freshwater Society sponsored the contest as part of an ongoing effort to educate youth of the importance of protecting and sustaining freshwater resources. The artwork, along with the accompanying artists' statements describing the Water is Life theme, were outstanding and very indicative of the impact freshwater education has had on youth. Research Examines the Bottom of the Ballast Tank A three-year study examined ships that enter the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The study was led by David Reid, a scientist at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, MI. Reid says most ships enter the Great Lakes are fully loaded so they don't need ballast. But the study indicates there is always some water sloshing around at the bottom, and it's full of potentially dangerous plants and animals. For more information: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/2001/nsreid10-1.html Contaminated Water Had To Be Poured into Lake, EPA Chief Says The decision to pour heavily contaminated floodwaters from New Orleans streets into Lake Pontchartrain was a difficult one and could pose new environmental problems in the years ahead, according to the chief of the Environmental Protection Agency. "We were all faced with a difficult choice," EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said in an interview with The Associated Press. "The choice was, we have to get the water out of New Orleans for the health and safety of the people and we need to put it someplace." The other option was to pour it into the Mississippi River, where it eventually would move into the Gulf of Mexico, said Johnson. "Our collective judgment was to put it into Lake Pontchartrain." He said he could not speculate on the possible environmental fallout for the massive freshwater tidal estuary, but the EPA was prepared to "take whatever steps we need to take" to deal with future environmental problems. For more information: http://www.enn.com/water.html?id=245 Road Salt Blamed for Rising Salinity in Northeast Streams The amount of salt dissolved in streams in the Northeast is rising and chemicals used to clear snow and ice from the roads are being blamed. "We're basically hardening the watersheds and feeding them a high-salt diet. There is a direct connection between the number of driveways and parking lots we have and the quality of our water," said Sujay Kaushal of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in Frostburg, Md. "We think that the salt has built up in the ground water, so even if we quit applying it, it would still be slightly salty for decades," There are alternatives methods of deicing, he added, but they have side effects too. "The problem is the number of roadways," he said, saying the number being built should be limited. For more information: http://www.enn.com/water.html?id=243 Diversion Debate Focuses on Bottled Water As some consider shipping bottled water to areas outside the Great Lakes basin a form of water diversion, Governors throughout the region are talking to their constituents about proposed Great Lakes water rules. They hope to have the so-called Annex 2001 rules ready to go by the end of the year. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Rick Pluta reports that bottled water has entered into the diversion debate: http://www.glrc.org __________________________________________ Preservation and Usage of Great Lakes is a Hot Issue for 2005 This coming year will likely see some major policy decisions regarding the Great Lakes. Because the lakes stretch out along eight states in the U.S. and two provinces in Canada, getting all the governments to agree on issues is a long and sometimes trying process. http://www.glrc.org/ Targeting a Nuisance Fish They root around, fat and seemingly happy, stirring up muck on the bottom of Minnesota lakes and damaging plants that provide food for ducks. Reports of increasing schools of carp in some of the state's smaller lakes prompted a state commission to recommend spending $550,000 to look for ways to limit the population. http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5181587.html Study Urges Water Conservation on Farms A growing population coupled with diminishing freshwater supplies should force major changes in the way the world's farmers water their crops in the coming decades, a recent study recommends. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=6894 Sprawl Endangers Hundreds of Nation's Imperiled Species The rapid consumption of land in the nation's fastest-growing large metropolitan areas could threaten the survival of nearly one out of every three imperiled species, according to the report Endangered By Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America's Wildlife, produced by the National Wildlife Federation, Smart Growth America, and NatureServe. http://www.nwf.org/ __________________________________________ Great Lakes May be Protected from Large Diversions The Council of Great Lakes Governors released two draft agreements outlining the powers the states and Canadian provinces would have to limit smaller withdrawals and establishing a procedure to veto large-scale diversions. http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/ Asian Carp are Here The Asian carp, a species hitherto unknown in the Great Lakes, has found its way from fish farms in the southern state of Arkansas and is threatening to enter Lake Michigan. Local conservationists and politicians fear disaster. They say that the fish, which can grow to four feet and can weigh 100 pounds, could seriously deplete native stocks of salmon and whitefish and become the dominant species in all five Great Lakes. http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/ The Dual-flush Toilet Fixture is Coming! Just over five years ago, Americans were first introduced to the dual-flush toilet fixture - something that the Australians and Europeans have seen in their bathrooms for quite some time. A real water saver for the home - and easy to use as well. These toilets generally use 25% less water than the other conventional toilets you will find at your local plumbing supply store. http://www.h2ouse.net/news/index.cfm A New Tool Tracks the Country's Drought The Drought Tracker blends science and art to predict which areas are susceptible to periods of low moisture. For timely information on the drought situation in the U.S., log on to: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/about.html Sewage Dumping Plagues U.S. Cities According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), out of date sewer systems in many large U.S. cities are discharging billions of gallons of sewage into rivers and lakes across the country. Last year alone, the EPA estimates that as much as 860.5 billions of gallons of sewage were pumped into freshwater ecosystems across the U.S. closing beaches and rendering water unsafe. http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-lake19.html __________________________________________ Climate Change Indicates Dry Times Ahead Studies show freshwater will be in ever-decreasing supply as climate change gathers pace. Increasing temperatures will dramatically affect the world's great rivers. While flows will increase overall, with some rivers becoming more swollen, many that provide water for the majority of the world's people will begin to dry up. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99995011 Lakes Task Force: Great Lakes Need Action President Bush's order to develop a Great Lakes Task Force evolved from a General Accounting Office study last year that found lakes programs were unfocused and uncoordinated. http://www.freep.com/voices/editorials/pmx19884_20040519.htm Introduced Fish Threatens to Turn Great Lakes into Carp Pond At a congressional hearing, Michigan congressman Vernon J. Ehlers said that his "head would be on a platter" if the food chain-destroying bighead carp make their way up the canal and into the Great Lakes. The fish are believed to have escaped southern fish farms more than a decade ago and have since been migrating steadily up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers toward the Great Lakes. http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/051904_great_lakes.htm Water Tension Rising Between Canada and U.S. "Water issues between the U.S. and Canada are becoming increasingly central to our relations -- and tensions are increasing," said Peter Gleick, co-founder and president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security in Oakland, Calif. A water specialist who has written widely on resource issues, Mr. Gleick said population growth on both sides of the border is putting more pressure on shared rivers and lakes. And water controversies, including deaths from E. coli-tainted water in Walkerton, Ont., and proposals in both countries to divert or store water, have raised public awareness. http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/on/051804_great_lakes.htm Statewide Phosphorus-free Lawn Fertilizer Ban Passes The Minnesota Senate voted unanimously to pass a bill aimed at keeping Minnesota lakes from turning green with algae. The legislation, which would restrict homeowners statewide from applying lawn fertilizers with phosphorus on their residential lawns, would take effect January 1, 2005. The bill is an extension of the seven-county metropolitan phosphorus lawn fertilizer restriction, which went into effect at the beginning of this year. http://www.mepartnership.org/mep_pressroom.asp?new_id=649 __________________________________________ Minnesota Introduces "Protect Our Water" Agenda A bipartisan group of Minnesota legislators has collaborated to support the clean-up and protection of the state's lakes, rivers, and streams. Minnesota's new clean water legislative agenda, called Protect Our Water, is sponsored by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, the statewide coalition of 91 conservation and environmental organizations. http://www.mepartnership.org/mep_pressroom.asp?new_id=537 New Mercury Warning May Affect 1 in 7 Newborns Several recent studies led the Environmental Protection Agency to conclude that up to 630,000 of the 4 million babies born annually in the U.S. could have mercury blood levels at or above the agency's safety limit, almost double the EPA's previous estimate. http://www.epa.gov Shocking Way to Transform Waste For the first time, a microbial fuel cell has generated electricity while cleaning wastewater, a development that could make sewage treatment more affordable for both industrialized and developing nations. The prototype fuel cell, developed at Pennsylvania State University is described in the next issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Every year in the United States, $25 billion is spent to treat about 33 billion gallons of wastewater, according to the NSF. If microbial fuel cells can be applied on a large scale, treatment-plant operating costs could be significantly reduced." Vegas Area Searching for Water Drought has Southern Nevada's regional water authority looking for new water supplies and considering a $1 billion-plus pipeline that would be the area's largest public works project since the Hoover Dam. http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcsupply/4vegaarea3.html State of the World 2004: Richer, Fatter, and Not Much Happier The world is consuming goods and services at an unsustainable pace, with serious consequences for the well-being of people and the planet, reports the Worldwatch Institute in its annual report, State of the World 2004. Around 1.7 billion people worldwide - more than a quarter of humanity - have entered the "consumer class," adopting the diets, transportation systems, and lifestyles that were limited to the rich nations of Europe, North America, and Japan during most of the last century. http://www.worldwatch.org/press/news/2004/01/08/ __________________________________________ Study Links Lakes to Ecosystem Researchers from Wisconsin, New York, and Sweden have shown that lakes are not isolated communities. Instead, they require input - in the form of carbon - from the grasses, trees and plants surrounding them, according to a new study appearing in the journal Nature. What this means, say the researchers, is that lakes do not function in a vacuum. They rely on the forests around them to support the growth of animal life within. And a healthy watershed makes for a healthy lake. The idea that lakes work like isolated microcosms has been in common since 1887, when Stephen Forbes, an Illinois state entomologist, wrote a paper titled "The Lake as a Microcosm." http://www.jsonline.com/alive/news/jan04/200016.asp Meetings Across the Country Promote Water Efficient Products The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water is exploring activities and programs the Agency can undertake to promote water-efficient products to consumers. More widespread use of water-efficient products would conserve water supplies, reduce energy use, and help maintain aquatic ecosystems. Meetings are being held across the country over the next few months to gain a broad perspective on EPA's proposed program. This is the second in a series of meetings to determine the best and most cost effective way of saving water nationwide. For more information on this initiative or future meetings, please see EPA's Water Efficiency Web Page at: www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.htm Government Hopes to Help Dead Zone A government task force is trying to find ways to reduce fertilizer pollution from Midwest farms because it's causing environmental damage to the Gulf of Mexico. Listen or read the report at The Great Lakes Radio Consortium by the following links: Read more about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action plan for "Reducing, Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico." An Integrated Assessment of Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Report Warns of Mining in Vulnerable Ecosystems A new report released by the World Resources Institute warns of increased risks from mining in critical but unprotected ecosystems throughout the world. Mining and Critical Ecosystems: Mapping the Risks reports that three-fourths of the world's active mines and exploratory areas are located in vulnerable watersheds and biologically-rich ecosystems. To learn more, please visit: http://www.wri.org/ Current Rates of World Consumption Unsustainable The independent environment advocacy group, Worldwatch Institute, has released the 20th issue of its annual report, State of the World 2004, which this year focuses on the serious consequences resulting from growing rates of consumption of goods and services around the world. The study says current rates of consumption harm the environment and are unsustainable. The report points to increases in the use of freshwater resources and fossil fuel as evidence that consumption is on the rise. "Indicators of the impacts of that consumption at the global level can be seen in the fact that consumption of fresh water has grown three-fold in the last 50 years, while fossil fuel use has risen five-fold." To learn more or to order the report, please visit: http://www.worldwatch.org/ __________________________________________ EPA's Approves More Than 9,000 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) U.S. Environmental Protection announced that the Agency has approved more than 9,000 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), which provide information about what pollution reductions are needed to meet water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters not meeting water quality standards and to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) which describe reductions in loadings necessary to meet these water quality goals. TMDLs identify sources of the pollution and the reductions needed to achieve state water quality standards. In essence, TMDLs establish "pollution budgets" which allocate the load among the sources of the pollutant. These pollution budgets are translated into permit requirements for point sources. For other pollution sources, the program relies on local, state and federal watershed plans and programs to determine priorities for implementation. http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ Zebra Mussels Found In Another Minnesota Lake The zebra mussel, a fingernail-size pest that proliferates by the millions and has been a major nuisance for boaters, anglers and swimmers, has established itself in the heart of Minnesota's lake country, according to state officials. The mussels were found two weeks ago on a boat lift that was being removed in Lake Ossawinnamakee, about 22 miles north of Brainerd. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials have confirmed since then that the mussels are located throughout much of the 644-acre lake and part of nearby Pelican Brook, and that they have been growing and reproducing in the waters for at least a year. http://www.mepartnership.org/mep_whatsnew.asp?new_id=426 Environmental Scorecard Ranks State Legislators Voters who want to know if state legislators are protecting Minnesota's air and water have a great resource in the 2003 Environmental Scorecard published by the Minnesota League of Conservation Voters (MNLCV). In addition to the scorecard, MNLCV provides voters with other high quality information on the issues and candidates. For more information, visit http://www.mnlcv.org/ Cholera and the Age of the Water Barons The explosive growth of three private water utility companies in the last 10 years raises fears that the world may be losing control of its most vital resource to a handful of monopolistic corporations. In Europe and North America, analysts predict that within the next 15 years these companies will control 65 percent to 75 percent of what are now public waterworks. http://www.icij.org/water/default.aspx?sid=ch&aid=44 __________________________________________ November and December Focus on Drinking Water Security As part of the celebration of the Year of Clean Water during November and December, the Environmental Protection Agency will focus on activities that promote the security of drinking water resources as well as drinking water and wastewater facilities and equipment. Water utilities today find themselves facing new responsibilities. EPA and its partners have made considerable progress toward developing tools, training, and technical assistance to address potential threats to the safety of drinking water and wastewater facilities. For more information on some of the major accomplishments and for downloadable information and flyers, please visit: www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater The Dual-flush Toilet Fixture is Coming Just over five years ago, Americans were first introduced to the dual-flush toilet fixture - something that the Australians and Europeans have seen in their bathrooms for quite some time. A real water saver for the home, these toilets generally use 25% less water than the other conventional toilets. http://www.h2ouse.net/news/index.cfm Scientists Study Lake Michigan for New Class of Pollutants Scientists are testing water from Lake Michigan in hope of determining how a new class of chemical pollutants managed to spread through the environment and how dangerous the toxins are. The emerging contaminants are used in flame-retardants, stain-repellent coatings for textiles, and countless household products originally presumed safe. The long-term health effects of the contaminants are not known. http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcquality/3scistu10 Research Finds Ridding Water of Drugs Could Be Easy Fix According to researchers at the University of Missouri-Rolla, water treatment plant operators might not have to worry about needing new, expensive technology to rid water of drugs if levels of such substances are regulated in the future. Researchers and a group of students have been testing equipment at a UMR laboratory to find ways of removing sulfa antibiotics and endocrine disruptors from drinking water by using traditional water treatment methods. http://www.waterandhealth.org/news_center/in_news092603.html Critics Say Carp Barrier Proposal is All Wet An underwater electric barrier across the Mississippi River to stop the northward spread of Asian carp would cost $15 million to $25 million, according to a preliminary report, and some experts doubt it would even work. Some raised concerns about the feasibility of any electric barrier in a river as large as the Mississippi. Sediment and debris could cover the electric cables or damage them and high water might interrupt the curtain of electricity. Other officials said that a barrier would prevent native migratory fish from moving upstream to spawn. http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/102403_great_lakes.htm Green Building Investments Yield High Returns Investments in green buildings pay for themselves 10 times over, according to a new study for 40 California government agencies. With this study, the California Department of Finance has recognized for the first time the existence of financial benefits associated with improved health productivity and lowered operations and maintenance costs in green buildings. http://www.enn.com/news/2003-10-28/s_9654.asp EPA Publishes New Guidelines for the National Nonpoint Source Program EPA has published new guidelines for the National Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program implemented under the Clean Water Act. The guidelines focus on the remediation of impaired waters through the development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and the development and implementation of watershed-based plans. These guidelines are posted on EPA's NPS web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ __________________________________________ Census of Minnesota Water Clarity Employing state of the art technology, the Remote Sensing Laboratory and Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota have used satellite remote sensing to determine clarity transparency for 10,500 Minnesota Lakes By using satellite images taken from space and clarity information collected from the lakes, a statewide census of water clarity - a key indicator of lake water quality - has been created for the first time. This satellite-based method lets resource managers observe how lake water clarity statewide varies over time. Resource managers are using this information to better target monitoring and management efforts. http://www.smm.org/mml/wlc/ UN Calls for New Initiatives to Slow Desertification The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was recently held in Havana, Cuba, with 170 countries participating in the event. The conference comes at a time when deforestation and changes in land use and climate are having severe environmental and human effects. While 24,000 tons of land disappears every year through desertification, salinization affects around 80 million hectares of irrigated land worldwide, and deforestation accounts for the disappearance of nearly 94 million hectares of forest over the last decade. http://www.unesco.org/water/ Threats to Lakes Grow Faster Than Cures At a binational conference of Great Lakes experts in Ann Arbor, the region's foremost invasive species experts admitted the threats are moving faster than science can keep up with them. The influx of foreign species -- often dumped from the ballast water of ocean-going tankers -- is turning the Great Lakes into an ecological carnival ride where biologists can only guess what will happen next. http://www.great-lakes.net/news/ Tourism to Earth’s Most Threatened Areas Tourism has increased by more than 100 percent between 1990 and 2000 in the world’s biodiversity hotspots, regions richest in species and facing extreme threats, according to a report released today by Conservation International (CI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). While tourism has the potential to provide opportunities for conserving nature, tourism development, when done improperly, can be a major threat to biodiversity conservation efforts. http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=283 Water - Just the Facts Over the past century water consumption increased tenfold. According to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion people have no access to clean drinking water, while some 2.4 billion lack proper sanitary provision. http://www.newint.org/issue354/facts.htm EPA Establishes a New Water Security Division EPA Assistant Administrator for Water G. Tracy Mehan III announced that the Agency has taken strong steps to further protect and safeguard the nation's drinking water and wastewater systems from terrorist acts by forming a new Water Security Division. This Division will continue the important work undertaken by the Water Protection Task Force that EPA established in October 2001. http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/headline_091003.htm __________________________________________ Help Save Energy and Protect the Environment The recent power outage in the northeastern and midwestern U.S. states reminds us how dependent we are on energy to power our homes, businesses, industries, and communities. Many things can be done to reduce energy use, protect the environment and save you money. http://www.epa.gov/ Effective Governance: The Key to Sustainable Water Management and Poverty Eradication Water plays a pivotal role for sustainable development, including poverty reduction. The use and abuse of and competition for increasingly precious water resources have intensified dramatically over the past decades, reaching a point where water shortages, water quality degradation and aquatic ecosystem destruction are seriously affecting prospects for economic and social development, political stability, as well as ecosystem integrity. http://www.undp.org/water/ African Lake's Fish Yields Plummet as Global Temperatures Rise A lake in East Africa that contains 18 percent of the world's freshwater is suffering as the world gets warmer, scientists say. The productivity of Lake Tanganyika, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi, has dropped 20 percent since the 1950s, resulting in a 30 percent decrease in fish yields. http://www.polizeros.com/categories/thePoliticsofWater/index.html Water Shortages Predicted in the Next 10 Years Depletion of groundwater and the lack of surface water storage space are two of the reasons why state water managers nationwide predict water shortages in the next decade. View "Freshwater Supply: States' Views of How Federal Agencies Could Help Them Meet the Challenges of Expected Shortages," at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03514.pdf Experts Warn Global Changes Threaten World's Protected Areas Experts predict global changes such as climate change, growing population, and invasive alien species are threatening the unprecedented gains made in establishing parks and protected areas worldwide, which today cover nearly 13 percent of the world's land area. http://newsroom.wri.org/newsrelease_text.cfm?NewsReleaseID=258 __________________________________________ August is Water Conservation Month This is Water Conservation Month! For water conservation outreach materials, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater/month.html#aug Mandatory Ballast Water Management Rule Proposed To address the unintentional introduction of nonindigenous species (NIS) into U.S. waters via discharges of vessel ballast water, the U.S. Coast Guard published, for public comment, a proposed rule for a Mandatory Ballast Water Management Program on July 30, 2003 (68 FR 44691). This program will require ballast water management practices for all vessels equipped with ballast tanks bound for ports or places within the U.S. You can view the regulation at: http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf87/250004_web.pdf Global Water Quality Monitoring Effort Begins To ensure that Americans and citizens around the globe have clean water for domestic, agricultural, commercial and recreational uses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with America's Clean Water Foundation and the International Water Association to urge people around the world to test the quality of their streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters. The first World Water Monitoring Day will be held Oct. 18, 2003. http://www.epa.gov/ U.S. to Study How Growth Affects Lake New homes, a shopping plaza and a parking lot are among local projects that have hurt the health of Lake Erie's fish, two researchers say. Multiply development across Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan, along with the province of Ontario, and the impact becomes incalculable. Johns Hopkins University has begun a three-year, $748,000 federal study that looks at the many human activities putting stress on Lake Erie and how those activities affect fish populations. http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1060335700303230.xml Report Details Water Privatization's Benefits and Pitfalls "The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water" is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatization to date. The report looks at the dangers and benefits of water privatization, offers case studies from around the world, and sets forth principles designed to help guide privatization deals. http://pacinst.org/reports/new_economy.htm __________________________________________ Eurasian Watermilfoil Spreads in Minnesota's Lakes The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed the discovery of Eurasian watermilfoil in four additional lakes in 2003. This aquatic nuisance species is able to spread very quickly, taking habitat from native species and forming large mats in waterways. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us World Needs Water Education The leader of the top United Nations educational and scientific body is calling for a radical review and reform of water education programs and for a rapid doubling in the number of water professionals around the world. Between two and seven billion people will face water scarcity by 2050, depending on factors like population and policy choices. http://www.unesco.org/ Scientists Launch Efforts to Control Invasive Species To better understand and control the invaders, the government is opening a new center to study these species, and U.S. and foreign researchers are working together to share data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it is establishing a new National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species in Ann Arbor, Mich. The new NOAA center will coordinate research efforts on invasive species and will work with other agencies. "Each year, aquatic invasive species wreak billions of dollars in damages on the U.S. economy, much of which is passed on to the consumer," said NOAA Administrator Conrad C. Lautenbacher. http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/071703_great_lakes.htm EPA Reports: Great Lakes Improving The Draft Report on the Environment, commissioned in 2001, is a first-time report card issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the nation's environmental health, providing information on water, air, land, human health and ecology. The report finds deposition levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the lakes have drastically decreased between 1992 and 1998 and PCB levels of Lake Michigan fish tissue have similarly decreased between 1972 and 2000. http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/page.html?article=120791 Water Words: Bringing Water Information to the People A recently developed website sets a goal to bring 1000 libraries of water information to people in developing countries. The free libraries of reference material are key to understanding critical water-related issues. These water libraries will be distributed to areas where traditional libraries, schools, and institutions are either missing or lack information on the importance of water management, protection, and use. http://www.waterwords.org/ Vital Water Graphics Provides Resources for Water Managers The United Nations Environment Program has compiled a report that provides an easily accessible resource on the state of the world's waters. The goal of this publication is to produce a clear overview, through a set of graphics, maps and other illustrations, of the state of the world's fresh and marine waters. It also illustrates the causes, effects, trends and threats facing our water sources, with examples of areas of major concern and future scenarios for the use and management of fresh, coastal and marine waters. http://www.unep.org/vitalwater/ EPA Releases Environmental Report Card In an effort by the EPA to present a national picture of U.S. environmental quality and human health a report was compiled using scientific data gathered from more than 30 federal agencies, departments, states, tribes and non-governmental organizations. Findings in the report include: Drinking water: "Our drinking water is purer. In 2002, 94 percent of Americans were served by drinking water systems that meet [EPA] health-based standards - an increase of 15 percent in the last decade." Public health: The health of the American public is generally good and improving. People are living longer than ever before. Infant mortality has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded in the United States. The report also highlights existing problems and recommends needed improvements. To read the report in its entirety, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/indicators/ __________________________________________ Changes in Global Nitrogen Cycle Affect Human Health The growing use of nitrogen as a nutrient is affecting people's health far beyond just the benefits of growing more crops, according to a new University of Colorado at Boulder-led study. Changes in the global nitrogen cycle appear to pose a growing health risk. Roughly half of the inorganic nitrogen ever used on the planet has occurred in the past 15 years. http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2003/253 Aquatic Invaders Winning War in U.S. Waters Invasive species are estimated to cost the United States some $138 billion annually and are forever changing a variety of the nation's ecosystems, a panel of witnesses recently testified to the Senate. Although the government can - and must - install new measures to try and limit the influx of new species, the witnesses said, there is virtually no chance of closing off the nation's waters to foreign invaders. http://www.ens-new.com Global Warming May Destroy Wild Flowers One in every five species of wild flower could die out over the next century if levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere double in line with predictions, reports a study from Stanford University. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=416247 Drinking Water Supplies Given Good and Bad Marks Aging pipes and outdated treatment plants threaten the nation's drinking water systems, states a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council. In some cities, pipes carrying water were found to date back more than a century. The report finds good news as well. Drinking water purity has improved slightly in most cities in the past 15 years. Source: Associated Press Climate Changes Make Earth Green According to a Science magazine report, the earth has become significantly greener over the past two decades. This effect is the result of climate changes that have provided more heat, light, water and carbon dioxide to the earth's vegetation. http://sciencemag.org Human Well-Being Coupled with Nature Initial results of a recently released study warns that unless there is enough water in the world's rivers to maintain freshwater ecosystems, many local economies and communities could collapse, potentially affecting the lives of over 1.4 billion people who live in river basins where high water stress levels threaten the environment. The study, published by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is the most extensive study ever in the connection between the world's ecosystems and human well-being. Results will be released over two years, starting this September. http://www.millenniumassessment.org __________________________________________ EPA Celebrates National Drinking Water Week Make a special effort to "Protect Water for Life" during the 15th National Drinking Water Week, May 4 -10, 2003, celebrated by EPA along with nonprofit educational, professional, and public interest organizations. http://www.epa.gov/ Water Plan 2025 Is Unveiled Interior Secretary Gail Norton announced her proposal to help communities predicted to experience conflicts over water during the next 25 years. The Proposal - Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the West - calls for concentrating existing federal financial and technical resources in key western watersheds and in critical research and development, such as water conservation and desalinization, that will help to predict, prevent, and alleviate water supply conflicts. http://www.waternet.com/ Water Resources During Armed Conflicts Because it is indispensable to life, water is often a military weapon and target during armed conflicts. Taking stock of tools protecting water resources and facilities during wartime appears more urgent than ever. http://www.wateryear2003.org/ Fight Over Bottling Water in Court A court will determine whether the nation's No. 1 bottled water company's desire to withdraw more from an area aquifer is reasonable or a violation of Michigan law. http://www.freep.com/news/mich/water5_20030505.htm The Right to Sprawl Legislators and planners are considering various approaches to manage the growth of cities. Others object to government's effort to stop the market forces that are driving the rapid growth. http://www.glrc.org/story.php3?story_id=1888 Testing the Waters: Using Satellites to Monitor Lake Water Quality NASA is working with the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center to monitor Midwest lake water quality. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/WaterQuality/ |
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