Friday, April 23, 2010

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

and this is where mad cows disease came from

N-Water report focuses on sanitation, drinking water
Friday, April 23, 2010

WASHINGTON — According to the latest UN-Water Global Annual Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS) report, aid commitments for sanitation and water fell from 8 percent of total development in 1997 to 5 percent in 2008, U.S. Politics Today reported.

Released yesterday by UN-Water and the World Health Organization (WHO), the report stated that many countries are still not allocating sufficient resources to water and sanitation despite evidence that achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would lower health care costs, increase school attendance and boost productivity, the article stated.

Improved access to sanitation and drinking water can increase a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by an estimated 2 to 7 percent, according to the story.

“Neglecting sanitation and drinking water is a strike against progress. Without it, communities and countries will lose the battle against poverty and ill-health,” said Dr. Maria Neira, WHO director of Public Health and Environment.

The complete findings from the report will be presented today at the first annual High Level Meeting of Sanitation and Water for All, hosted by UNICEF in Washington, D.C., the report stated.

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[More In Brief...]

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

water tect bad news for water

Proposed phosphorous restrictions could be costly to Wis. municipalities
Wednesday, April 21, 2010

MILWAUKEE, WIS. — According to Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Distict (MMSD) Executive Director Kevin Shafer, proposed restrictions on the amount of phosphorous discharged by wastewater treatment plants could cost the state billions, the Journal Sentinel reported.

State municipalities could spend up to $4.3 billion to build new filtration systems needed to comply with the new restrictions, the article stated.

Shafer said the municipal sewage plants account for only 20 percent or less of the phosphorous entering most of the state’s major water basin, according to the story.

MMSD estimates that property taxes would have to be increased by 28 percent or more to pay for the wastewater system upgrades, the story reported.

“We should not spend billions of dollars to solve 20 percent of the phosphorus problem in the least cost-effective manner,” said Paul Kent, a Madison attorney and spokesman for the Municipal Environmental Group.

MMSD will present its concerns to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at a public hearing today.

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Monday, April 12, 2010

all my article for the most part are by water tech news a very good place to get the up to date water news

Possible contamination from dairy plant worries New Zealanders

Possible contamination from dairy plant worries New Zealanders
Monday, April 12, 2010

DUNSANDEL, NEW ZEALAND — Residents of Dunsandel, a small country town on New Zealand’s South Island, are concerned that runoff from dairy farms has contaminated their drinking water, according to tvnz.co.nz.

The town’s well water tested positive for fecal bacteria and locals fear that the new Synlait dairy plant, which employs 200 people, is the source of the contamination, the article stated.

“I think we all know in our hearts that it’s dairy cows, because they’re the ones that put large amounts of poo on the paddock. The dairy farmers are allowed to spray effluent on as well,” said Peter Hills, a local resident.

The Synlait plant exports 45,000 tons of dairy products per year and is planning to expand soon, according to the story.

Mayor Kelvin Cow supports the expansion and claims that it’s impossible to determine if the dairy plant is the sole source of the contamination, the report stated.

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here is one then they all will come

WAUKESHA, WISC. — The city of Waukesha, Wisc. is seeking approval to use Lake Michigan for drinking water, the River Falls Journal reported.

The city, which lies outside Lake Michigan’s natural basin, is the first under the 2008 Great Lakes water protection agreement to attempt to use the lake for drinking water, according to the story.

Waukesha must get approval from all eight Great Lakes’ states before it can tap into the lake, the article stated.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will conduct an environmental impact study before approving the city’s request, according to the report.

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another tax

Wash. state House approves bill to raise taxes on bottled water
Monday, April 12, 2010

OLYMPIA, WASH. — The Washington state House of Representatives approved a bill that will increase taxes on bottled water and a number of other products, the Seattle Times reported.

The revenue from the tax hike, which will also affect the sale of beer, soda and candy, will be used to help close a $2.8 billion budget shortfall, according to the story.

The new taxes on bottled water, beer, soda and candy are expected to bring in more than $150 million combined, the article stated.

The bill also creates a business-and-occupation surcharge, which will raise $242 million in revenue for the state, according to the report.

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