The US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (ARS) is currently examining the use of remediated water for use in agriculture. Scientists hope to determine whether reclaimed waste water (sewage and runoff which is treated) would be safe to irrigate crops with. This is a potential approach to addressing water scarcity - agricultural uses account for more than 70% of water usage.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
World Bank Urges China to Raise Water Prices
The World Bank has urged China to raise water prices to encourage its citizens to conserve water.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_325191.html:
'To provide appropriate incentives for the adoption of water saving technologies and behaviours, water prices need to be allowed to rise to reflect its full scarcity value,' the bank said in a report published on Monday.
It said that water shortages, pollution and flooding had for years constrained growth and affected public health and welfare in many parts of China, which it claimed would soon join the group of 'water stressed' nations.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
House passes legislation on promoting water efficiency
On 11 February 2009, the House of Representatives passed two bills to encourage water efficiency as the country continues to dry out. H.R. 361, introduced by Rep. Matheson (D-UT) is designed to "increase research, development, education, and technology transfer activities related to water use efficiency and conservation technologies and practices at the Environmental Protection Agency."
The Bill recognizes that betwen 1950 and 2000, the US population grew by 90% and public demand for water increased by 209% and anticipates that 36 states will face local, regional or state-wide water shortages by 2013. The bill calls for the EPA to establish a research and development program to promote water use efficiency and conservation, including
- (1) technologies and processes that enable the collection, storage, treatment, and reuse of rainwater, stormwater, and greywater;
- (2) water storage and distribution systems;
- (3) behavioral, social, and economic barriers to achieving greater water use efficiency; and
- (4) use of watershed planning directed toward water quality, conservation, and supply.
"H.R. 469, The Produced Water Utilization Act was introduced by Committee Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX). This bill creates a research, development, and demonstration program to promote the beneficial reuse of water produced in connection with oil and gas extraction. In the United States, up to 2.3 billion gallons per day of produced water is generated. Unfortunately, this water is not of sufficient quality to be used. This legislation will provide innovative treatment technologies that will enable the reuse of this water in an environmentally responsible way."
Thursday, February 5, 2009
NYT : A Company Prospers by Saving Poor People’s Lives
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/health/research/03prof.html?pagewanted=1&em
The New York Times reports on prosperity by companies making goods for the aid industry - one company described makes the "life straw" a 10-inch plastic cylinder that filters out or kills bacteria, parasites and some viruses and can be made for less than $3.
"Early versions used iodine beads and a charcoal filter to lessen the iodine taste. New ones use hollow-fiber technology. To promote the straws, Torben has let television crews film him drinking out of Copenhagen’s canals and even a toilet. “That was awful,” he admitted. “It was a ladies’ toilet, and they put in some odor chemical to make it smell better, and LifeStraw doesn’t take out chemicals. And the canals have salt from the seawater. It can’t filter that, so I drank a lot of salt.” Aid agencies have bought tens of thousands for use after the Myanmar cyclone and earthquakes in Asia. The company now makes a bigger version that filters five gallons an hour with no iodine aftertaste and will last a typical family three years."
The New York Times reports on prosperity by companies making goods for the aid industry - one company described makes the "life straw" a 10-inch plastic cylinder that filters out or kills bacteria, parasites and some viruses and can be made for less than $3.
"Early versions used iodine beads and a charcoal filter to lessen the iodine taste. New ones use hollow-fiber technology. To promote the straws, Torben has let television crews film him drinking out of Copenhagen’s canals and even a toilet. “That was awful,” he admitted. “It was a ladies’ toilet, and they put in some odor chemical to make it smell better, and LifeStraw doesn’t take out chemicals. And the canals have salt from the seawater. It can’t filter that, so I drank a lot of salt.” Aid agencies have bought tens of thousands for use after the Myanmar cyclone and earthquakes in Asia. The company now makes a bigger version that filters five gallons an hour with no iodine aftertaste and will last a typical family three years."
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Equitable water distribution nightmare in Dar es Salaam
We recently discussed the ICSID decision concerning the dispute between Tanzania and Biwater. Here now comes a direct account of what it is like to actually lilve in Dar es Salaam and the struggle to obtain water - not due to actual water scarcity, but inadequate water delivery. According to this article, a great majority of residents depend on informal water suppliers. Of the approximately 300 million litres pumped into the urban water system daily, much of it is lost to leakage (from poor infrastructure) or illegal connetions:
"Of the 300 million litres that are pumped as little as 16 per cent is delivered to paying customers, the rest is lost to illegal connections and leakages. Imagine the problem to a city of around four million people. However, there is a lack of adequate water sources and resources to develop water points in the country according to UN Habitat.
Overall metering by the utilities is below 30 per cent, thus giving more customers room to waste or misuse water. Reports by this UN settlement agency show that there are high water losses which have a substantial effect on revenue collection and economies of water supply. The agency says with a proper water-demand management programme, aimed at reducing leakage, wastage and illegal connections, coverage could be increased without large capital investments."
Overall metering by the utilities is below 30 per cent, thus giving more customers room to waste or misuse water. Reports by this UN settlement agency show that there are high water losses which have a substantial effect on revenue collection and economies of water supply. The agency says with a proper water-demand management programme, aimed at reducing leakage, wastage and illegal connections, coverage could be increased without large capital investments."
Water infrastructure in US rated "D"eplorable by American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives US infrastructure a "D" rating. Water infrastructure, including dams and drinking water are in serious trouble. See also, Bob Herbert's oped piece in today's New York Times which cites the report card.
DAMS D
As dams age and downstream development increases, the number of deficient dams has risen to more than 4,000, including 1,819 high hazard potential dams. Over the past six years, for every deficient, high hazard potential dam repaired, nearly two more were declared deficient. There are more than 85,000 dams in the U.S., and the average age is just over 51 years old.
DRINKING WATER D-
America's drinking water systems face an annual shortfall of at least $11 billion to replace aging facilities that are near the end of their useful life and to comply with existing and future federal water regulations. This does not account for growth in the demand for drinking water over the next 20 years. Leaking pipes lose an estimated seven billion gallons of clean drinking water a day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
