This week's NEWS

AwwaRF Board selects 27 diverse research projects for 2007 funding. Epi study shows there was a "perfect storm" of GWUDI, shallow wells, and storm event in Ohio island outbreak. Perfluorochemicals get lots of attention in Minnesota, but Bangkok's drinking water gets no respect.

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Federal Updates

• Webcast on Implementing UCMR 2 will be repeated on February 21

State Updates

• Idaho DEQ summary of listening sessions on regional approaches to drinking water and wastewater issues (PDF file, 65 pages)
  Commentary: In this interesting legislatively mandated report, two key themes emerged from the sessions: "...the pattern and nature of development in unincorporated areas is often ... incompatible with regionalized drinking water and sanitary sewer provision; and the desire to maintain jurisdictional autonomy regularly outweighs the potential benefits of participating in regional approaches involving shared capacity and governance."  But there was a lot more.
• Minnesota Rural Water Association's "award-winning" newsletter features financial assistance programs in the March 2007 issue of TATimes (PDF files, 21.9 K and 192 K)

Microbiological

• 2004 waterborne outbreak at Ohio "tourist island" linked to "massive microbiological ground water contamination" (Environmental Health Perspectives, February 6)
  Commentary: Investigators used a combination of old methods and new technology to evaluate this gastrointestinal disease outbreak and determine likely causes.
• Wisconsin task force concludes that state actions are needed along with individual well-owner action to address shallow well contamination (WBAY TV Green Bay, February 9)

Nitrates/Pesticides

• USGS study makes interesting comparison of ground water contamination in Nebraska and Texas agricultural areas (McCook Daily Gazette, February 9); USGS: Ground Water Quality Beneath Irrigated Cropland of the Northern and Southern High Plains Aquifer, Nebraska and Texas, 2003-04
• California foothill towns facing significant ground water contamination (San Jose Mercury News, February 11)
• Slightly elevated nitrates at a New York school lead to temporary bottled water and permanent hookup to public system (Poughkeepsie Journal, February 8)

Perfluorochemicals

• Minnesota:
  • PFBA findings in two Minnesota counties' ground water raises public concerns: What is a safe level? (St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 11)
  • Politicians don't think cleanup actions are moving fast enough (Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 12) 
  • POU device sales pitch follows news reports (FOX 9 News, February 9)
• West Virginia:
  • Editorial: DuPont concedes that PFOA may be a concern and takes the right steps (News Journal, February 11)

Perchlorate

• Very low perchlorate test results lower angst, but Massachusetts town's residents want someone else to pay for the testing (Acton Beacon, February 8)
• Opinion: State board involvement in Southern California ground water contamination is welcomed (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, February 12)

RDX

• RDX found in test well outside Massachusetts military reservation (Cape Cod Times, February 10)

Arsenic

• Alaska city considers whether to treat or switch (Kenai Peninsula Clarion, February 8)
• Report: Reduction in Urinary Arsenic Levels in Response to Arsenic Mitigation Effects in Araihazar, Bangladesh (Environmental Health Perspectives, February 5)
• Small Indiana trailer park system addresses well-water arsenic by hooking up to neighboring town's system (WFIE 14, February 12)

Corrosion Control

• Oregon city chooses sodium hydroxide to raise pH to address prior elevated lead levels (Albany Democrat Herald, February 8)

Fluoridation

• Washington state appellate court upholds Port Angeles fluoridation; says it is not subject to environmental law (KONP, February 8)
• Dentist group puts up $1.2M for Watsonville, CA, water fluoridation (Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 9)
• Fluoridation coming to Southern California county via regional supplier (Ventura County Star, February 10)
• Irish expert dental group endorses fluoridation (Irish Medical News, February 12)
• Welsh water utility required to do fluoridation feasibility study (Hereford Times, February 9)
• Consultation on fluoride in UK borough water is sought, but opponents want referendum (This is Lancashire, February 13)

Desalination

• National Academies WSTB will discuss Advancing Desalination Technology at February 28-March 2 meeting in Florida
• Opinion: Reopening of Yuma desalination plant could be boon for all interests! (Tucson Citizen, February 12)
• Australian Premier says desalination plant for Sydney will go ahead; rules out recycled wastewater option despite public acceptance (Sydney Morning News, February 12)

NEWS CONTINUES BELOW

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Radiological

• Georgia city's 14-year, $5 million wager is frustrated by uranium and radium in ground water (Atlanta Journal Constitution, February 9)
• Waukesha, WI, citizens told that conservation alone will not result in radium-safe water solution (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 13)

MTBE and Benzene

• New York water utility's planned water treatment plant to remove VOCs faces stringent planning requirements to avoid adverse impacts to neighborhood (News Journal, February 9)
• Benzene in shallow aquifer not a threat to Tucson, AZ's water supply; city will investigate and remediate (Tucson Citizen, February 13)

Water Infrastructure

• Underground infrastructure: Out of sight, out of mind? AWWA tries to change that (New York Times, February 8; free registration required)
• USEPA testifies to Congressional committee on wastewater infrastructure needs (PDF file, 49.7 K)

Miscellaneous

• Pennsylvania DEP orders water and air testing at 60 day care centers as precaution (Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8)
• Two-year-old report by activist group still source of discussion for Michigan water systems (Bay City Times, February 11)

Water Research

• AwwaRF Board of Trustees selects 27 projects for 2007 funding
• USEPA's Science Advisory Board will meet to discuss research priorities for the next five years (Federal Register, February 9)

Obituary: George Clifford White

• George Clifford White (San Francisco Chronicle, January 19) was a well-known figure in the field of drinking water disinfection; he published four editions of the  "Handbook on Chlorination"

International

• Bangkok, Thailand's public water supply may be getting a bum rap! One perspective! (Bangkok Post, February 4)
• Well closures in Israel due to contamination puts pressure on National Water Carrier (Haaretz News, February 8)
• Dumping of chemical waste in Welsh quarry 30 years ago may be threat to water supply (London Daily Telegraph, February 12)
• The 8th China International Water Supply and Drainage and Water Treatment Exhibition will be held April 27-29 in Shanghai

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