July 02, 2009

Sacramento to Sue Over Industrial Water Contamination

Yesterday, Sacramento County,CA filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Boeing Company and the Aerojet-General Corp. concerning years of ground water contamination which encompasses much of eastern Sacramento County. McDonnel-Douglas, has since been purchased by Boeing.

Herb Niederberger, division chief of the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources, said that for the past nine years the county was in settlement agreements with the companies, but nothing had be done to replace the water supply or "make us whole."

"After nine years of discussion, Aerojet and Boeing have yet to take responsibility," Niederberger said. "We needed to do something."

With the lawsuit, the county is looking to cover all costs and alleges that "the contamination resulting from defendants' disposal and release of hazardous substances continues to expand, presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment, and threatens to contaminate additional county water supply wells."

Aerojet spokeswoman Linda Cutler said, "in 2003 we reached a landmark water agreement with them that they unilaterally terminated in 2008. "Despite this unilateral action, Aerojet and Boeing have continued to negotiate in good faith to resolve the county's demands."

Blythe Jameson, a Boeing spokeswoman, said the complaint was under review and declined to comment specifically about the lawsuit, but did say the company has been cleaning up the site, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jul 2, 2009 at 02:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 24, 2009

Walla Walla Water Management Program to be Implemented

Starting on July 26th, Washington state will implement a ten year program aimed at handling the issue of water, know as the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership.

"This is some really exciting stuff," Cathy Schaeffer, Walla Walla County watershed planning director, told a group yesterday, gathered at the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center.

"The three main areas that are top priorities now are creation of the governing board, development of the water bank and work on the "flow from flexibility" framework," Schaeffer said.

"This has changed state law in a significant way to allow local people to manage water," said Karen Terwilleger, staff member of the state House Agriculture Natural Resources Committee.

"The first choice is, are we going to collaborate or litigate? They are watching us to see how this works," she said, referring to the Indian tribes who are to be affected by the new program.

Note: The picture shown is part of the Bennington dam, part of the Walla Walla watershed, as reported by the Union-Bulletin.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 24, 2009 at 06:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 23, 2009

A Day with a San Diego Water Inspector

San Diego has had strict water conservation restrictions in place since the start of the month, in response to what many are calling the worst drought in the city's history.

Reporter Katie Orr, who took the picture you see here, spent a day with Seneca Page (pictured) who is a Field Representative for the San Diego Water Department's conservation program. Five of these representatives are charged with the task of enforcing the conservation restrictions.

"So we're going to go out here to a couple of complaints in the Carmel Valley area and check on it and see what's going on. Hopefully educate the public about the water restrictions," Seneca Page said.

"Sometimes you do kind of feel like you're banging your head against the wall, chasing your tail, you know, you’re kind of in the dark. So sometimes it does," he says. "But you know, you kind of shake it off. Because for every one where you don't see anything, there are six that you do, he said."

Page explained that his job is to educate people about what they can and can't do when it comes to watering, and that alone will keep him busy for the rest of the summer, as reported by KPBS.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 23, 2009 at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 22, 2009

Kansas is Getting Funding for Water Improvements

$54 million in Federal stimulus funds are making there way to Kansas for improvements in water.

Pottawatomie County putting $1.3 million into improvements at a treatment plant to remove iron from drinking water.

Holton,KS is using $164,000 for native plants and a rain garden to control erosion in a storm water drainage area.

Topeka (pictured)is starting a $55,000 study to determine if a wastewater treatment facility can use "green" technology to conserve energy.

The Center for Child Development at Kansas State University is getting $454,000 for installation of a porous pavement to harvest rainfall.

El Dorado,KS is using $200,000 to the install a hydroelectric generator on a city water pipe to generate about 100 kilowatts of energy for use at a water treatment plant.

"This funding will not only help create much-needed jobs but will have a major impact on communities in need of these important infrastructure projects," said Rod Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Kerry Wedel, chief of the state water bureau's watershed management section, said 20 percent of the federal financing was earmarked for green infrastructure, water and energy-efficiency improvements.

"It's basically practices that maintain or restore natural hydrology," Wedel said.

Ron Geisler, Kansas Department of Health and Environment water bureau's chief of municipal programs, said the largest project made possible by economic stimulus legislation was a $15.6 million endeavor in Johnson County, for construction of an improved facility to treat sludge at the current wastewater treatment plant, as reported by The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 22, 2009 at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 18, 2009

Indication of Pollution In Mekong River as Irrawaddy Dolphins Disappear

The conservation group the World Wildlife for Nature (WWF) has reported that toxic waste in the Mekong River (pictured) has endangered the Irrawaddy dolphins unique to this area, particularly on a stretch of water between Cambodia and Laos.

"Pollution in the Mekong River has pushed the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins to the brink of extinction," the conservation group said.

The WWF researchers also cautioned that pollutants found in the Mekong water could affect the health of millions of humans who rely river for potable water, as reported by the Reuters News Service, and published by ABC News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 18, 2009 at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 17, 2009

Idaho Contractor is Fined for Clean Water Act Violations

The G.F. Barnes Construction, Inc. has been ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pay $12,900 for not properly controlling runoff from their Granite Peaks condominium construction site near Sandpoint,Idaho, as observed by inspectors beginning in April, 2005.

The contractor discharged sediment from the construction site into a tributary of Schweitzer Creek and failed to obtain the proper permit as required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

"While many builders and developers are doing the right thing by preventing runoff from their sites, there are some who are ignoring these important storm water requirements," said Jim Werntz, EPA's director of Idaho operations. "We take protecting Idaho waters very seriously. Builders and developers need to get the right permits and implement runoff controls before they start work or, like Barnes Construction, they will face fines," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 17, 2009 at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 16, 2009

Rocky Mountain Region Dead Forests Could Harm Water Supply

Rick Cables, speaking for the U.S. Forest Service, and in charge of the Rocky Mountain region, told a U.S. House of Representatives panel today that the headwaters of the Colorado River, a source of drinking water for 33 million people, are in the middle of 2.5 million acres of dead or dying forests in Colorado and southern Wyoming, destroyed by bark
beetles (pictured).

Any fire in this region, fueled by these dead trees, could potentially damage reservoirs, pipes and other infrastructure that supply water.

Wildfires can "literally bake the soil," leaving behind a water-repellent surface that sheds rain and leads to severe erosion and debris, Cables said. The loss of so many trees also will reduce shade in the region, which in turn could reduce water supplies in the hot, dry summer months and accelerate snow melt in the spring, he said.

A Forest Service analysis shows that people in San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson, AZ who receive their tap water from the Colorado River get one quart of every gallon from national forests in the Rocky Mountain region.

"The arid West absolutely depends on national forests as the source for their water," Cables said. "The reach of this watershed is unparalleled in the West."

Barbara Bentz, a research entomologist with the Forest Service, said that the the current outbreak of bark beetles, which has destroyed nearly 8 million acres of trees, is the largest in history, as reported by the Associated Press, and published by the Mercury News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 16, 2009 at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 15, 2009

Murder for Water in India's Drought

In the central India state of Madhya Pradesh, (pictured), where a drought has persisted over a year, people are giving their lives to be the first to get at water.

It has been reported by the the Bhopal Superintendent of Police that in 17 of the state's districts, at least five people have been beaten to death over water disputes, and many more have been injured.

In the city of Bhopal on May 13, a father, mother and their son were killed while trying to get water from a leaking municipal pipe.

"The water problem is a huge crisis," said Babulala Gaur, Minister of Urban Administration and Development. Gaur said volunteers are helping to organize the water distribution.

"It's the nature of people fighting over water tank because they want the water first," he said.

"This year, everyone is struggling for water," said Maria Fernandez, regional director for WaterAid India. "This is the worst I have ever seen," she said.

"It's of an unimaginable magnitude. In fact, it's unprecedented," Bhopal Mayor's Sunil Sood said, speaking of the current drought.

"Police is not there to beat people and stop them from taking water. It only ensures that all people get water," he said. "When our water tankers reach a particular locality, people rush to collect as much water as possible. And this results in scuffle and fights. We are trying to ensure that all of them get equal or fair share," as reported by ABC News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 15, 2009 at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

June 09, 2009

Texas based Dairy told to Stop Discharging into Wetlands

The Environmental Protection Agency today, issued an administrative order to the Allrounder I (pictured) and II Dairies in Hopkins County, Texas to cease their discharge of of manure and contaminated water into nearby wetlands, which lead into Stouts Creek, in clear violation of the Clean Water Act.

At both of the dairies locations, EPA inspectors found solid manure build-up accumulating on the surface which indicates the manure lagoons lack adequate capacity for the number of animals currently allowed by the dairies' permits.

The dairies have been ordered to stop all discharges of pollutants, and within 30 days an relocate stockpiled manure to an area that will cause runoff to be captured in an approved lagoon.

They also have been ordered to excavate and relocate their mortality management areas to an approved location that is not in a wetland and does not discharge into a wetland or waterway, and provide certification that this has been accomplished, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 9, 2009 at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 04, 2009

Worcester, MA Contractor Violates Clean Water Act

I can hardly believe that so many firms in the U.S. keep ignoring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules concerning runoff, and those written in the Clean Water Act.

Once again, this time in Worcester, MA, Bailin & Associates, Inc., while building a 79-acre residential subdivision of townhouses (pictured), starting in 2003 neglected to get a water discharge permit or a NPDES General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities.

Then, both before and after Bailin received permit coverage on May 29, 2008, they formed a detention pond with a manually-activated submersible pump that discharged silt laden water to a wooded wetland, flowed through a channel into an unnamed tributary, through a series of ponds, then to Beaver Brook and ultimately to the Blackstone River.

Balin's fine for this example of stupidity, while yet to be finalized, can be up to up to $157,000, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 4, 2009 at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 03, 2009

West Virgina's Confusing Water Standards

West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (pictured) has issued the most confusing, and mind numbing edict concerning the mercury levels permitted in the state's residents drinking water.

They have stated that since West Virginians eat less fish then most other Americans, they are exposed to less mercury, and thus higher levels of mercury are permitted than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends.

An advisory tells residents statewide to limit fish consumption due to the high incident of mercury contamination in West Virginia waters. This is why fish consumption is down in the state.

Logic would follow that if you allow more mercury to be released, more fish will be contaminated.

What the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is not taking into consideration is that eating fish has many health benefits, so where is the logic in allowing more mercury?, as reported by the Center for Progressive Reform, and published by AlterNet.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 3, 2009 at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

June 02, 2009

South Dakota Developer Fined for Clean Water Act Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice, acting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has issued a consent decree against Zelmer, Inc. and Spencer Heights, LLC (Zelmer) for violations of the Clean Water Act, in Lincoln County, South Dakota.

Apparently, Zelmer neglected to implement a storm water management plan and filled up 3.29 acres of wetlands and the erosion resulted in additional sediment loading to a tributary of the Big Sioux River (pictured).

Under the terms of the consent decree, Zelmer must restore the impacted wetlands at the development site plus complete a wetlands creation project in nearby Turner County, at an estimated cost of $444,500. Additionally,the company must pay a fine of $25,000.

"These actions compromised water quality by failing to manage runoff and by filling important wetlands," said Diane Sipe, Director of EPA Region 8's Water Enforcement Program. "EPA is requiring Zelmer to prevent its construction operations from depositing sediment into nearby waters and to restore the impacted wetlands. We will continue to pursue actions against those who violate federal laws that protect South Dakota’s waters," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on Jun 2, 2009 at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 28, 2009

In Idaho, Hecla Mining Fined for Clean Water Water Act Violations

The Hecla Mining Company, owner and operator of the Lucky Friday Mine and Mill, (pictured), located near Mullen,ID,in Shoshone County, has been fined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency $177,500 for violations of the wastewater discharge provisions of the Clean Water Act.

The mining operation exceeded the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit it had covering lead, zinc, and cadmium, and discharged it into the the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, between September 2008 and February 2009.

"Unchecked industrial discharges have serious environmental consequences for our rivers, lakes and streams," said Ed Kowalski, Director of Compliance and Enforcement at EPA's Seattle office."Compliance with wastewater permits is critical to protecting Idaho's waterways. Bringing this facility into compliance and reducing the metals load is a significant step forward in protecting and restoring the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 28, 2009 at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 27, 2009

Tampa Bay, FL to Expand Reclaimed Water Distribution

As previously published here, the city of Tampa Bay,Fl, had started a reclaimed water distribution system last year, and, with the ongoing drought, would like to expand it.

The city wants to more than triple the number of people who use highly treated wastewater instead of drinking water to irrigate their lawns. The move could save more drinking water than the seawater desalination plant adds to the region's supply, as well as recharge the Hillsborough River,which is the city's primary fresh water source.

With half of the drinking water provided by the city being used to water lawns, the thought of expanding the program makes sense, and the City would want to provide incentives for more residents to embrace the use of treated wastewater for their lawns, as reported by the St.Petersburg Times.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 27, 2009 at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 26, 2009

No Water Today in parts of Johannesburg, South Africa

Parts of the capital city of Johannesburg, South Africa, (pictured), had to do without tap water today, and Johannesburg Water does not know when the water will be turned back on.

"Residents have been left without water from 8:00AM on Tuesday, until such time that technicians sort out the problem," spokesperson for Johannesburg Water, Tebatso Baldwin Matsimela said.

The shutdown is part of an overall upgrading of the primary water, sewer, and waste treatment infrastructure, designed to meet the needs of the growing city, as reported by SAPA, and published by News24.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 26, 2009 at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 21, 2009

Proof Mars Once Had Flowing Water

The "Opportunity", the NASA rover which has been traveling Mars for the past five years has provided proof that flowing water once helped shape the Victoria Crater, according to articles published in the journal Science, last week.

As the research indicates, even if the ambient temperature is below freezing, water with dissolved minerals will still flow.

Mission scientists chose Victoria as the next crater to explore because "it was the biggest crater we could possibly find," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University, and the lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Rover Project.

Opportunity also found "gorgeous, striking evidence" of dune structures preserved in the rocks, Squyres said. There had been some signs of dunes at Endurance Crater, but "Victoria really enabled us to nail that problem," he said.

Some geologists believe that the findings reflect a time when Mars was a much warmer planet so that water flowed, though there is no proof this climate ever existed on the frigid planet, as reported by Space.com, and published by MSNBC,

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 21, 2009 at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 20, 2009

San Jose to Try Voluntary Water Conservation

With the ongoing drought in California, the San Jose City Council yesterday passed new restrictions on lawn watering, but non-compliance will result in no fines levied.

"Working with the customers is more effective at this stage than being punitive," said Mansour Nasser, deputy director of San Jose's (pictured) environmental services department.

"If we have a higher level of drought next year and we feel there are repeat offenders, then we'll look at other enforcement options."

The reasons behind the voluntary nature of the restrictions include that San Jose cannot afford to hire water police, or process the paperwork of fines. Also, last year, when the residents were asked for voluntary water reductions of 10%, they reduction came close with a 9.5% actual reduction in water usage, as reported by The Mercury News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 20, 2009 at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 19, 2009

Rally Tomorrow at the California Capitol to get Action on Water

Hundreds of state water leaders and others concerned will gather tomorrow at the East side (pictured) of the California Capital building in Sacramento, to call for action on long-term solutions to the State's water supply issues.

The rally, dubbed "Action on Water Now!", is sponsored by the the Association of California Water Agencies, whose 450 members supply 90% of the water delivered in California.

The gathering is in support of investments in the state's water infrastructure, conservation, ecosystem restoration, water recycling and other strategies as dictated by this third year of drought, as reported by Reuters.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 19, 2009 at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 18, 2009

Magnetic Signature Belies Water Pollution

Joseph Boyce of McMaster University in Canada and a team of researchers discovered that a way to identify contaminated sediments is through their magnetic signature.

For thousands of years, mining and metalworking have produced toxic stews, much of which ran off into local rivers, lakes and harbors, where they mingled with sediment. But other than the resulting dead fish, there has been no way to properly map all the contaminated area.

With this new discovery however, by simply towing a magnetometer behind a boat, even entire coastlines can be checked for pollution at a relatively low cost, as reported by Discovery News.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 18, 2009 at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

May 14, 2009

U.S. Senate to Discuss $37 Billion for Potable Water

A $37 billion bill for drinking water and sewer repair, was sent from the Senate public works committee today, to the full Senate for a vote.

Once passed, the Senate must get a compromise with the House before it goes to the President for to be signed into law.

Spread over five years, $20 billion would go to the state clean water funds, which provide low cost loans and grants to water authorities for construction and repairs, while $15 billion would be provided for maintaining clean water supplies, both representing an increase over previous years allocations.

"In the mean-time the needs have changed," Oklahoma's James Inhofe, the highest ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said, adding the new bill would hike funding levels and change how money is distributed. "It provides more funds for smaller states. And, thanks to the authorization level provided by the bill, it will mean more dollars for every state," as reported by Reuters.

Posted by Stephen Betheil on May 14, 2009 at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)