Tuesday, June 15, 2010

THIS IS JUST WRONG AND SHOULD BE FINED IS IT ENOUGH ?

WATER INDUSTRY NEWS

Battery manufacturer fined $53,547 for Clean Water Act violations
Friday, June 11, 2010

KANSAS CITY, KAN. — East Penn LLC, which operates a lead acid battery manufacturing facility in Corydon, Iowa, has reached a settlement with EPA Region 7 over issues related to the company’s failure to properly monitor and report discharges of its industrial process wastewater into the city’s public wastewater treatment system, according to a press release.

The company has agreed to pay a $53,547 civil penalty to the United States in settlement of alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, the release stated.

In July 2009, during a compliance inspection of Corydon’s public wastewater treatment system, EPA staff discovered that East Penn LLC’s facility was discharging industrial process wastewater to the city’s system.

At that time, the company had never applied for a water pretreatment permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the city confirmed that the company was not conducting proper monitoring or reporting of wastewater discharges to ensure that the battery plant was in compliance with the Clean Water Act, according to the release.

As a result of the settlement, East Penn LLC has filed an application for a pretreatment permit with IDNR and has begun to conduct the required monitoring.

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waste water over flow into rivers what up with that

WATER INDUSTRY NEWS

EPA recognizes Manistique River Area of Concern’s Public Advisory Council
Friday, June 11, 2010

CHICAGO — In a ceremony last night in Manistique, Mich., the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Manistique River Area of Concern’s Public Advisory Council for its dedication to improving local water quality, according to a press release.

Corey Barr, superintendent of the city’s drinking and wastewater department and chair of the council, accepted a certificate from EPA on behalf of the group, the release stated.

The council’s work, along with that of the local wastewater treatment plant, has improved the sewer overflow systems and water quality so that the beneficial use impairment for beach closings has been removed for the Manistique River Area of Concern, according to the release.

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[More Environment]

water tech news

WATER INDUSTRY NEWS

CDC reports increase in cases of cryptosporidiosis
Friday, June 11, 2010

WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the number of cases of cryptosporidiosis in the United States increased 80 percent from 2006 to 2007 and then decreased 10 percent in 2008, according to awwa.org.

CDC largely attributes incidence of cases to exposure among children in swimming pools and other recreational waters on a seasonal basis, the article stated.

Particularly, CDC partially attributes the increase in cases reported for 2007 and 2008 to “multiple large recreational water-associated outbreaks.”

Noting that the increase during 2006–2008 “is a continuation of the fourfold increase in cryptosporidiosis since 2005,” CDC reported that from 1988 through 2006, “Cryptosporidium was identified as the causal agent of 41.8 percent (100 of 239) of reported recreational water-associated outbreaks and of 5.7 percent (13 of 229) of reported drinking water-associated outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States.”

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this is a great thing to be doing

WATER INDUSTRY NEWS

Nonprofit group helps provide clean water to world's poor
Monday, June 14, 2010

BIRMINGHAM — Since Jan. 2009, the nonprofit organization Neverthirst Inc. has helped provide clean water to thousands of people in Sudan, India and the Central African Republic, The Birmingham News reported.

Spencer Sutton founded the group after a 2008 trip to Sudan opened his eyes to the daily struggles many face in developing nations, according to the article.

“I saw kids dying because they didn't have clean water,” Sutton said.

With funds raised from individuals and churches in the Birmingham, Ala., area, the group works to bring safe water sources to impoverished people throughout the world.

The group is currently working to bring clean water sources to 100 villages in India and also plans to launch a website in August that will allow people to adopt a Sudanese village, the article stated.

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what about the chloramines that eat your copper and puts it in the water

Proposed legislation takes aim at copper
Monday, June 14, 2010

SAN DIEGO — In an effort to reduce the amount copper entering the state’s waterways, California Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) has proposed legislation that would replace most of the copper in vehicle brake pads, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

When drivers apply their brakes, copper becomes airborne and eventually settles on streets and sidewalks where it is later picked up by rainwater and carried into creeks and bays, the article stated.

Copper can harm fish, shell fish and other species in the food chain.

“Copper is toxic. It destroys marine life — plants and animals,” said Kehoe. “We must take steps to clean it up.”

Automakers and brake manufacturers oppose the measure as cost-effective alternatives to copper are not yet readily available, according to the story.

An Assembly committee is expected to discuss the measure on Tuesday.

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here comes another TAX

NACWA supports stormwater legislation
Monday, June 14, 2010

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is urging the U.S. Senate to enact legislation designed to clarify the federal government’s responsibility to pay reasonable fees for stormwater services provided by local utilities, according to a press release.

S. 3481, which Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced last week, clarifies that fees charged for the control and abatement of water pollution, including stormwater management fees, shall not be considered a tax and therefore are required to be paid by federal agencies pursuant to their obligations under Section 313 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the release stated.

The issue gained attention in April when the General Services Administration (GSA) delivered a preliminary announcement that federal facilities located in Washington, D.C. are not required to pay impervious area charges levied by the local municipal sewer authority claiming that these fees amounted to a tax on the federal government and are unconstitutional, according to the release.

NACWA opposed this decision and applauds Senator Cardin for his leadership to see it overturned.

“We believe the refusal of the federal government to pay for a critically important local environmental service is not only legally unjustified but also significantly undercuts the Administration’s commitment to improve water quality throughout the nation,” said NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk.

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it is time we stand up for clean water ways icluding waste water

New RES facility protects waterways from natural gas drilling
Monday, June 14, 2010

NEW STANTON, PA. — According to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary John Hanger, the new Reserve Environmental Services (RES) wastewater treatment in Westmoreland County, Pa., showcases the technology needed to meet stronger water quality standards now being considered to better protect the state’s waterways from the effects of natural gas drilling, according to a press release.

Hanger, who toured the facility last week, said the proposed standards will prevent rivers from being polluted with total dissolved solids (TDS), which can kill aquatic life, threaten drinking water and create higher costs for industrial users.

He specifically mentioned incidents over the past two years involving the Monongahela River, where polluted water created foul-smelling drinking water and damaged industrial equipment; and Dunkard Creek, where a toxic algae bloom killed fish and aquatic life over a 30-mile stretch.

“DEP has created and proposed new regulations that will ensure that drilling wastewater does not pollute drinking water supplies, damage industrial equipment or endanger delicate aquatic life,” Hanger said. “The technology and resources to recycle, treat and dispose of gas well wastewater are available here at this RES facility, making it an essential tool for the oil and gas industry to minimize its impact on the state’s waterways.”

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