This week's NEWS

Second edition RAM-W is available from AwwaRF, VSAT is up and running, CAFO is released by EPA, and Colorado keeps its DIMP.  Radium in Wisconsin: Fond Du Lac says "Oshkosh, by gosh!"   "Historical" bacti problems in small water systems.  Sounds like Southern Californians are a little anxious about perchlorate clean-up in Nevada.  Amoeba's link to drinking water noted.  Cruise ships: Water, water everywhere but is any fit to drink? But, then who says it's the water?

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• The National Toxicology Program releases its latest list of carcinogens. The full report can be read here.
  Commentary: Not specifically related to drinking water, this report is the 10th in a series of updates issued every two years. The 15 added compounds brings the total list to 228. UV radiation, nickel and beryllium join ......wood dust.......on the list this time.
  

• North Carolina contamination problems illustrate difficulty of small-system oversight for state primacy agencies (Ashville Citizen-Times, December 15)
  
• Colorado state panel keeps its strict DIMP standard for groundwater cleanup near arsenal (Rocky Mountain News, December 11)
  
• California DHS provides guidance on bromate analytical technique (PDF file, 1 page)
  

Naegleria fowleri & Drinking Water

• Australian health news magazine identifies Naegleria fowleri drinking water connection in 1960-70s
  Commentary: The subject amoeba has not generally been associated with drinking water in the US, but this article discusses findings in unchlorinated drinking water from a surface water source delivered through long pipelines in Australia and other countries.
  

• Florida town officials ecstatic about huge TTHM decrease with use of chlorine dioxide
  (Belle Glade News, December 12)
  Commentary: The town of Pahokee figures it can start working on those T&O problems now that they have one quarter of TTHM results meeting standards. Previous results were reported to be in the 400-800 ppb range.
  

• State leans on Lancaster, PA to improve its two filtration plants now; City plans microfiltration facilities in a couple of years (Lancaster New Era, December 16)
  

• Awwa offers on-line security training FREE until December 31
  
• Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT) software is available for public and private water systems
  
• AwwaRF has released the second edition of its vulnerability assessment methodology (RAM-W) (PDF file, 2 pages)
  
• Real-time monitoring is the focus of EPA Region 2's water security pilot program in New Jersey
  
• In a twist on the expected, San Diego will assess "loosening dam security" under VA grant
  (San Diego Union-Tribune, December 14)
  

• CDC report summarizes cruise ship disease outbreaks
  Commentary: Of 21 ships hit by illness, 9 outbreaks are related to noroviruses (Norwalk-like viruses). No direct link to drinking water is reported.
  
• Leaky roof on small Massachusetts system's circa-1911 water tank cited as source of coliform problems (Cape Cod Times, December 14)
  
• Jim Thorpe would be proud... Pennsylvania borough increases chlorine, and tests clean for coliform (Morning Call, December 17)
  
• Boca Raton, FL ends 4-day boil water advisory; positive coliform samples baffle officials
  (Sun-Sentinel, December 17)
  

• Wisconsin officials seek radium solution (Fond Du Lac Reporter, December 12)
  
• Oregon officials say water supply safe from gas truck spill near water supply
  (Oregonian, December 15)
  
• Inland Southern California groundwaters besieged by contaminants, many leftover from military/space industrial activity (San Bernardino County Sun, December 14)
  
• Lockheed and TCE: An overview (San Bernardino County Sun, December 14)
  

• California risk-assessment agency follows up its proposed perchlorate PHG with a fact sheet
  
• Another Southern California water agency official pushes for USEPA involvement in Nevada perchlorate cleanup (Press-Enterprise, December 12 - free site registration required)
  
• State officials urge caution on activists' report naming source of perchlorate in non-drinking water wells (LA Daily News, December 12)
  
• Community cancer assessment looks at perchlorate and TCE impacts
  (Journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 2002, 44:7, p. 616-621)
  
• The Wall Street Journal ran an excellent article on perchlorate but it is available to subscribers only or by purchasing a copy; free two-week trial available. A more localized overview on perchlorate (Daily Bulletin, December 15) is available.
  

• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) final rule is published by USEPA
  

• UK outlines research plans on fluoride and health
  
• Watsonville, CA council backs out of fluoridation after confusing ballot measure passes
  (Santa Cruz Sentinel, December 14)
  
• Scotland children's dental health will not improve without fluoridation, says Scottish Executive
  (Sunday Herald, December 13)
  

• Superintendent of school with tainted water resigns; parents threaten lawsuit over MTBE in elementary school's water
  (Evansville Courier & Press, December 12)
  
• New Jersey community outraged about slow notice about MTBE finding in nearby wells
  (Bergen Record, December 12)
  Commentary: These two stories touch on the problems that officials have in deciding when to notify who of what, and the consequences of less than total information-sharing whether it is the right thing to do or not.
  

• Health Streams from Australia's Cooperative Research Centre covers significant issues
  (December, 2002)
  
• The Groundwater Resources Association of California's Hydro Visions Winter newsletter is available (PDF file, 28 pages)
  

• Truck accident dumps arsenic in South China river prompting public warnings (China Daily, December 14) Officials increase downstream monitoring (China Daily, December 16)
  
• Shanghai plans to meet US drinking water standards by 2010 for World Expo
  (Shanghai Daily, December 14)
  
• New cholera outbreak hits Uganda: Fecal-oral route via drinking water cited
  (All Africa, December 16)