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Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo moves birds inside amid avian flu concerns

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Bird enthusiasts heading to the Franklin Park Zoo won’t be able to see every bird there, as zoo workers have moved many of the bird species inside amid avian flu concerns.

Staff at Stoneham’s Stone Zoo have also relocated birds to indoor spaces to protect them from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) — which, for birds, is highly contagious and poses a serious health risk.

The avian flu has been confirmed in states within the eastern flyway, including Massachusetts. Wild waterbirds, such as shorebirds and waterfowl, are most likely to carry the virus.

“While it may be disappointing to some guests not to see all of the birds, this is an important preventative safety measure for the health of the birds within our care,” said Eric Baitchman, vice president of Animal Health and Conservation at Zoo New England.

The staff at Franklin Park Zoo has moved the cranes, kori bustards, ostriches, emus and free-roaming peacocks to covered spaces, so they are not at risk of coming into contact with wild birds.

Aussie Aviary, the enclosed free-flight aviary home to hundreds of colorful budgies, is currently closed to the public, as is the enclosed walk-through aviary within the Children’s Zoo.

At Stone Zoo, the whooping crane and black-necked crane were both moved to indoor spaces, and the duck pond was drained to prevent fly-in of wild waterfowl. At both zoos, the birds are being closely monitored by their care teams, and all are currently healthy and well.

“We have well-established plans and protocols for this type of situation and are working closely with our state veterinarians and ornithologist at the USDA, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife,” Baitchman said.

“We appreciate our guests’ understanding of these temporary protective measures,” he added.

In addition to moving birds to indoor spaces, the staff is taking additional preventative measures — including disinfecting foot baths and enhanced cleaning.

The virus is easily tracked on shoes and clothing, so these measures are in place to further protect the birds while they are off exhibit.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently confirmed the virus in a non-commercial, mixed-species backyard flock in Berkshire County. State officials quarantined the site, and birds from the flock of 240 — including ducks, chicken, geese, quail and turkeys — were safely removed and properly disposed, according to officials. Birds from infected flocks do not enter the food system.

The CDC said the recent detections are not an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the U.S.

As a general food safety precaution, officials are reminding people that they should cook poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

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23 Places Where Industrial Air Pollution is So Bad It Causes Cancer – 24/7 Wall St.

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Thousands of industrial facilities in the United States pump toxic carcinogens into the air. While the Environmental Protection Agency dictates the amount of these chemicals that individual facilities can legally emit, they have done little to address the compounding risk for residents living in concentrated industrial zones.

To identify the American counties with the most toxic air, 24/7 Wall St. looked at the number of facilities contributing to toxic air within all counties, using data provided by the independent newsroom ProPublica’s Toxic Air Pollution Hot Spots report. Average PM2.5 – the concentration of micro-particulate matter at 2.5 micrometers – comes from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Population and population density are for the 2020 U.S. Decennial Census and calculated as people per square mile.

What happens when multiple facilities in the same neighborhood all release the maximum amount of authorized chemical pollution? As a part of their “Sacrifice Zones” series, ProPublica used an EPA modeling tool to create a map that shows how dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals can spread into certain neighborhoods from nearby clusters of industrial facilities, including chemical plants, oil refineries, foundries, plastics manufacturers, and more. (Pollution is not just a U.S. Problem. These countries are the worst polluters in the world.)

Residents of these communities breathe in significantly higher amounts of airborne chemicals like benzene, which may cause leukemia, and ethylene oxide, which can lead to lymphoma and breast cancer. ProPublica’s map displays the proximity of scores of polluting facilities to schools, daycares, and in many cases predominantly low-income and minority neighborhoods. Their study found that in predominantly Black census tracts, the estimated risk of cancer from toxic air is more than double that of predominantly white districts.

The map identifies over 1,000 “hot spots” of cancer-causing air. Hot spots are places where a resident’s estimated excess cancer risk due to a lifetime of exposure to their neighborhood’s air is greater than 1 in 10,000, which is the EPA’s policy limit. Over 250,000 people live in these hot spots, and an estimated 43,000 people are living in areas with three times that risk level.

Texas, which is home to five of the counties with the highest number of polluting facilities, has notoriously lax regulations. Some of the largest hotspots in terms of square mileage are in that state, including the greater Houston area and Port Arthur. Nearby, Louisiana’s “cancer alley,” between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, is the largest hotspot in the nation, and includes two of the counties with the highest number of toxic-air-producing facilities. Other states with multiple counties on the list are Ohio with two counties and Pennsylvania with three.

Click here to see which U.S. counties have the most toxic air

According to ProPublica, the emissions from five corporations cover more square miles of hot spots than any other companies. These are the Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corp., Eastman Chemical Co., BASF, and LyondellBasell Industries. In addition to emitting regulated amounts of toxic chemicals, some factories are notorious for their leaks, explosions, and repeat violations of the Clean Air Act. (Chemicals are just one type of air pollution. Here are cities emitting the most carbon dioxide in the world.)

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Regardless Of Operation Size, Biosecurity Important for Bird Owners | News

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(KMAland) — Bird owners across the country are being told to use extreme caution as a new strain of highly pathogenetic Avian Influenza continues to spread.

Dr. Scott Leibsle with the Idaho state Department of Agriculture says biosecurity is vital, from large poultry and egg operations down to those who have a few backyard chickens.

What is biosecurity? He said many of the steps are very similar to the advice we’ve heard over the past year years regarding coronavirus. That starts with keeping things clean.

“You don’t want to introduce a disease into a livestock enclosure as best you can. So, maintaining biosecurity, washing your hands, and keeping your boots and clothes clean and using dedicated equipment that isn’t used elsewhere on your farm or your ranch is the best way to do that. And then disinfect the equipment and your clothes are you’re done using it.”

Leibsle says this strain of bird flu cannot be taken lightly.

“You know, a diagnosis of high path AI is most likely going to have to result in the depopulation of the entire flock, it’s that lethal, and the likelihood of spreading the virus from one facility to the next is so high, that the land or the area that these animals are kept in will need to be kept barren or fallow for a period of time before you can repopulated it, and the soil may even need to be replaced.”

Leibsle added it’s important to keep wild birds out of your domestic flock. And it’s important hunters of wild fowl think of biosecurity when you return home.

Thank you for reading kmaland.com

At KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing [email protected].

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Midwest Radio – Councillor welcomes clean, safe drinking water in Murrisk & Lecanvey as Invoices for those who signed up have now been issued

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Details

Published: Saturday, 09 April 2022 13:27

Invoices for the Local Contributions for Murrisk Community Water Connection have now being posted to all persons who have signed up for a domestic water connection.

A total of 522 invoices were sent out yesterday and the amount on the invoice is €1,540 per connection.

Local Independent Councillor Christy Hyland says it is great news that residents in Murrisk and Lecanvey now have proper safe water.

Cllr. Hyland says this campaign started a number of years ago when a planning application was refused in the area due to the lack of proper a water supply.

He has been giving more details to Midwest Radio’s Michael D McAndrew.

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Shipshape Solutions Inc. a check engine light for your home

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By Hannah Curran, Sponsored Content

Shipshape Solutions Inc. makes homes smart enough to take care of themselves so that we can live in a world where every home is safe, reliable, and efficient – and every community is sustainable.

Alexander Linn, CEO and Founder of Shipshape, said Shipshape exists to help homeowners save time, money, and energy when it comes to maintaining and operating their house. “We looked around and saw a world where many people are struggling to take care of their homes, and the experience people have is painfully reactive. Something breaks down, and then you fix it. By helping the homeowner proactively address these upcoming issues, we can prevent damage, wasted energy, and unexpected interruptions from their life. We call this Predictive Maintenance.”

Shipshape offers a proprietary predictive maintenance platform that integrates smart home devices throughout the home – from crawl space to attic – so that homeowners can harness data from their appliances and systems in their homes to get an alert if something is going wrong.

“We wanted to give homeowners something like a check engine light for their house, so they would know before it’s too late that something’s not working right,” Linn said.

“An appliance might break down, or say it’s performing poorly, so the check engine light goes off and then with the tap of a button we help them connect to a local pro, for example, an air conditioning contractor, and maybe we help them take advantage of a utility incentive to replace their AC unit.”

Shipshape takes the install burden off of the homeowner. They offer pro installations and partner with local dealers to offer pro installations when they are already there to do work at the home. “Most customers get Shipshape because they bought an expensive system from their contractor, and they want to protect their investment. For example, they got their crawl space weatherized, and that came with a sump pump and a dehumidifier, and to give them peace of mind that their investment is working, the contractor offers performance monitoring and maintenance management through Shipshape,” said Linn.

Shipshape works with the local businesses that homeowners rely on, ranging from big companies like Alabama Power to small family-owned businesses like Mold and Mildew Solutions Specialists. Shipshape also works with plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, and many other types of service providers. Shipshape worked closely with

Alabama Power’s Smart Neighborhoods R&D team as they developed the Shipshape platform. Ultimately, Alabama Power invested in Shipshape to help them grow.

Recently, Shipshape announced that it’s building a Network Operations Center in Birmingham. “We are building an office and restoring a beautiful building that will have the Shipshape sign on top of it and house our “Home Assistants” who help homeowners all over the country,” said Linn. “We’re rolling out right now in Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee. We’ve got a few more Midwestern and Northeastern states to launch, and, before long, we will be coast to coast. Customers nationwide will talk to a friendly customer support agent in Birmingham, Alabama.”

“Most Shipshape customers don’t think of Shipshape as a technology or smart home product, in fact, most don’t have any smart home devices or even a home security system. The homeowners we serve are not a typical smart home or home security customer. These are folks trying to take care of their homes and stay in their homes who don’t want to be overburdened by them. It’s a surprise to a lot of our customers when they realize how easy it is to make their home a Shipshape home,” said Linn.

“Our customers look at Shipshape as a simple service – people have a system they’re worried about, for example, an AC unit, water heater, dishwasher… they are worried about water leaks, high humidity, wasting energy, and we offer a service to monitor the performance and help them with the maintenance. They don’t want to crawl up into the attic or run financial risks of big expenses if something is overlooked. In many cases, their homes have become financial burdens and maintenance hassles. We run into way too many indoor air quality issues that have led to health disasters. Shipshape is helping people stay in control of their home, to be able to maintain their home without having to ask for help from their neighbors or get surprised by expensive bills,” said Linn.

Shipshape is on a mission to help homeowners and communities by using the power of technology to promote sustainable economic development. They even donated 2% of the founding equity in Shipshape to a foundation that makes grants to help homeowners gain access to the improvements they need to make their homes safe, reliable, and efficient. Linn said, “When our customers buy Shipshape and help make Shipshape into a successful company, that helps grow a foundation that is setup to benefit low-income and need-based homeowners by making grants to help them make their homes safer, more efficient, and more reliable.”

The Shipshape Foundation came out of Shipshape’s philanthropic model they call the 2-2-2 model. They also set aside two percent of their product and two percent of their time. In other words, they offer their product on a subsidized basis to one out of 50 homeowners. And they set up a policy for their employees to volunteer for five days out of the year, that doesn’t count towards a normal vacation, so they get volunteer time off. 

Linn explained, “as Shipshape grows, we will have more employees to contribute their volunteer hours, our foundation can make more grants to help make homes safer, more reliable, and more efficient, and more homeowners will get access to our product at subsidized rates. This is designed to create a win-win-win scenario with our platform, that was the idea behind our 2-2-2 model, it’s a way to create hyper alignment with the homeowners and communities we serve.”

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N.J. plastic bag ban: 23 answers to your urgent questions

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Maybe you’ve seen the signs at your local grocery store. New Jersey’s plastic bag ban — about to be the strictest in the nation — is starting May 4 and shoppers need to be prepared.

While the law may sound confusing, especially with many exemptions and rules that other states don’t have, it’s pretty straightforward. To help New Jersey shoppers get prepared, we’re answering some of the most common questions you’ve been sending us, either by email or on our social media pages.

If you still have more questions, let us know on this form, or check out nj.com/plasticbagban to find all of coverage on the topic so far.

1. What happens when the law goes into effect?

Starting May 4, stores throughout the state will no longer be able to give you a single-use plastic bag when you check out at the cash register. They can’t sell it to you either. The reason New Jersey’s law is the strictest in the nation is that it goes one step further and also bans grocery stores from giving or selling paper bags too. Instead, they can sell you reusable bags — or if they want, they can give them for free.

2. Can I keep using my stash of plastic bags or paper bags at the grocery store?

Yes. If you are like most people and have stockpiled a bunch of those single-use bags or paper bags, you can still bring those to be used at the checkout if you want. The idea here is to get us all to reduce our plastic consumption.

3. Do I have to bring a reusable bag to the grocery store?

No. You can bring whatever type of container you want — cardboard box, big purse, laundry basket, whatever — or carry your purchase out in your arms.

4. What if I forget my bags?

Most stores will likely have reusable bags available for purchase but there’s nothing in the law requiring that. So you might want to start stocking up on reusable bags you can store in your car or stash in your pocket.

5. I shop for my groceries online and get them delivered or do curbside pickup. How is that going to work?

For the most part, stores seem to still be figuring that out since they can’t use paper bags, either. Some have said they’ll require customers to purchase reusable bags each time they complete an order and will have a program to donate those bags to food pantries. Others have said a bag exchange, where you purchase the reusable bags once and then exchange them on your next order, is a possibility. But in some cases, there are concerns about this not being hygienic. Once we know more, we’ll share that with our readers.

6. Can I still buy plastic bags online or in stores?

Yes. You’ll still be able to buy and use plastic trash bags, sandwich bags, freezer bags, and dog waste bags. Even the single-use plastic bags that stores have been using can still be bought online and delivered to New Jersey. But, environmental advocates are hoping you won’t.

7. Can I still use plastic bags in my house like in my trash can?

Sure. You can use up that stash of plastic bags for your bathroom trash can, or to scoop your pet waste. Reusing (over and over, not just once) is actually better than recycling, experts say. But once they’re gone, you might need to find an alternative.

Stop & Shop in Union. Beginning May 4, 2022, grocery stores, food service businesses and other retail stores in New Jersey are prohibited from providing or selling customers with single-use plastic carryout bags.Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

8. Are those plastic produce bags still going to be available?

Yes. You can still pack up your peppers in those produce bags you find at the store. But maybe now’s a good time to invest in something else like a mesh bag or go bagless.

9. What about plastic bags they wrap seafood or meat in, or bags for my bagels?

Those are allowed. There are a bunch of other exceptions, including dry cleaning bags, plastic pharmacy bags, newspaper bags, bags for loose bulk food (like baked goods, nuts, coffee, etc), bags at the pet store for live animals like crickets or goldfish, bags for small hardware items.

10. I used those bags for dog waste and cat litter, so what am I going to do now?

Now’s the time to get creative and do a bit of research. There are biodegradable bags available for pet waste, as well as other options like using paper bags, newspaper, composting or sometimes flushing waste, depending on your wastewater system.

11. Will the stores be bagging our groceries with the bags we bring?

Some shoppers have said their stores stopped bagging into reusable bags when COVID started, for sanitary reasons, so there are concerns that will continue. But, it depends on the store, so check with the ones you shop at most. Stop & Shop said they will bag your groceries into your reusable bags. Aldi, on the other hand, has always had customers do their own bagging.

Plastic bag ban begins May 4th

Stop & Shop in Union. Beginning May 4, 2022, grocery stores, food service businesses and other retail stores in New Jersey are prohibited from providing or selling customers with single-use plastic carryout bags.Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

12. What’s the best way to clean my reusable bags?

It depends on the bag. Some, like canvas, you might be able to throw in the washing machine and dryer. Others like polypropylene bags or insulated bags you’re better off wiping out by hand with soapy water or disinfecting wipes, according to GoodHousekeeping.com.

13. Why are paper bags banned from grocery stores? Aren’t they OK for the environment?

Sure, you can recycle them, but they’re actually worse for the environment to make. They’re also more expensive. “Single-use paper carryout bags use as much or more energy and resources to manufacture and transport than single-use plastic carryout bags and contribute to harmful air emissions,” according to the legislation. A 2014 study from the Progressive Bag Alliance found that making plastic bags uses more fossil fuels than plastic, produce more solid waste than plastic, and create more greenhouse gas emissions than plastic. It also takes more water to make them.

14. Can I still buy paper bags, like lunch bags and lawn clippings bags?

Yes. Those bags will still be sold in grocery stores or stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s.

15. Is this really going to help the environment if so much plastic is still being used elsewhere in our lives?

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 380 billion plastic bags and wraps are used each year in the U.S alone and most end up as litter. While the plastic bag ban is just one step, environmental advocates hope it will get consumers thinking about other ways to reduce their plastic consumption.

16. Will there be any assistance for people who can’t buy reusable bags?

Keep an eye out for chances to get free reusable bags. Some towns — like Cherry Hill, Sparta and Flemington — will be giving them away to residents. In some cases, the towns will be using Clean Communities grants to purchase the bags.

17. Will grocery stores still have bins for us to recycle single-use bags?

It depends on the store, so check with the ones you shop at most. Stop & Shop said it will continue to have the bins available.

18. Do we have to bring reusable bags to stores like Home Depot, Kohl’s, or Macy’s?

The plastic bag ban applies to retail stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks, movie theaters and cafeterias. These stores will be allowed to use paper bags and they might also opt to sell reusable bags, but be prepared to BYOB.

19. Does the law apply to food pantries?

Yes, but they’ve been given a six-month extension to make the switch. The state is also distributing 500,000 reusable bags to food pantries to help get them started.

Stockton University Stores Phase Out Plastic Bags Ahead of NJ Statewide Ban

Food vendors at Stockton University provide only paper bags for takeaway food orders on April 5, 2022 at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ as New Jersey moves to ban single-use plastic bags.Jim Lowney For NJ Advance Media

20. Will restaurants be allowed to deliver food in plastic or paper bags?

Only paper bags or reusable bags are allowed. Not plastic. In addition, restaurants can’t use styrofoam-type containers for take-out food.

21. Are plastic straws also banned?

No. Restaurants can only give them to you if you ask for one, though. That law went into effect in November.

22. Can I still buy styrofoam plates and cups at the grocery store?

No, those items won’t be allowed to be purchased in stores starting May 4. Plastic utensils, plates and cups are allowed, as are paper plates and cups, but nothing made of polystyrene, according to the state.

23. I’m a business owner with more questions. Where can I find help?

Go to business.nj.gov. There is a live chat option to talk to business experts and more information available.

Reporters Steven Rodas, Katie Kausch and Jackie Roman contributed to this report.

Still have questions? Let us know here. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

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Despite gulping billions, water scarcity worsens in states

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Acute water shortage has hit many states across the country. Apart from subjecting residents of the affected states to hardship, many now drink from any available source, including streams and boreholes, findings by Daily Trust Saturday have shown.

Stakeholders in the water sector are blaming state governments, which they claim are responsible for providing potable water in their respective states for the present situation.

 Some of the stakeholders specifically blamed state governments for failing to invest in the water sector despite the billions of naira budgeted for various ministries of water resources annually.

But the general manager of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board, Dame Patience Okoro said maintaining and expanding water plants required a lot of money.

She agreed that the capacity of most of the water plants could no longer meet the requirement of the growing population, but said that because of the much funds needed for the expansion of the plants, all hands must be on deck by the relevant stakeholders.

Between 2021 and 2022, for instance, the Kano State Government budgeted over N12billion for the water ministry.

In this year’s budget, Anambra State budgeted N2.1b for the water ministry while between 2020 and 2021, the Borno State Government budgeted about N18b for the sector.

The Plateau State Government, in 2022, budgeted about N3b for water, sanitation and energy, while the Kaduna State Government also budgeted N4.7b for the water sector this year.

Between 2019 and 2021, the Ondo State Government budgeted over N2b for the water sector. In 2017, the Katsina State Government reportedly spent about N17b on the water sector.

Even though it was difficult to get records of the actual amounts released by various state governments,  many experts in the sector, including the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman H. Adamu, said many water treatment and distribution plants in the states had either not been properly maintained or expanded to meet the growing population.

Mathew Ijaya, an engineer, said the present water situation in the country would continue as long as governments, especially at the states level, fail to expand existing water treatment plants to meet the growing population.  

Residents struggle to get water in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital

 

Situation in states 

Our correspondents across the states report that despite repeated claims of giving priority to the water sector by the powers that be in states, the perennial water shortage often experienced during the dry season has persisted.  

In the FCT, the situation is getting out of hand in area councils as residents in villages now compete with animals to drink from ponds and streams. The situation is compounded in the satellite towns by power outage.

Findings by Daily Trust Saturday show that epileptic power supply in the metropolis has made it difficult for some households that have private boreholes to pump water for domestic use.

In Abaji Area Council, for instance, the worst hit are residents of Abattoir (old and new extension), Anguwar Manko, Anguwar Kekeshi, Sabon Tasha, Anguwar Wadataa and Abaji low-cost housing.

Our reporter who went round some of the areas where water pipes are reticulated within the metropolis observed that the taps are dry.

The general manager of the FCT Water Board, Dame Okoro, had announced that the board generated N2.4 billion last year, yet many communities, not even the hosts of its treatment plant have access to potable water.

Reports from Minna, the Niger State capital indicate that water scarcity is biting hard as residents now struggle to get water from any available source.

Areas worst hit are Ijaye, Kuto, Dutsen-Kura Hausa, London Street, Bosso, and Maitumbi, all in Minna, the state capital, as residents trek many kilometres to get water for domestic use.

Muhammed Al-Amin of Dutsen-Kura Gwari said he spends between N600 and  N700 on a daily basis to buy 10 jerry cans of water.

In Kano State, residents of the Kano metropolis have been lamenting over the scarcity of water in the city as hot weather sets in.

Recently, the price of a 25-litre jerry-can of water in the city increased by over 100 per cent.

Daily Trust Saturday observed that the majority of Kano residents now rely on vendors to get drinking water and for other domestic use as there is no adequate supply of pipe-borne water in the city.

This is coming even as the state government had been budgeting billions of naira for the Ministry of Water Resources. Our correspondent in the state reports that in 2021, the ministry got over N3.8b to boost water production.

Similarly, in 2022, the ministry was allocated the sum of N9.3b. This allocation, residents said, had no impact on water supply in the state, as areas like Kano Municipal, Yakasai, Fagge, Kurna, Brigade, Hotoro and some other parts mostly rely on water vendors.

A resident of Hotoro, Abdullahi Adamu, said that for more than 20 years, he had not seen tap water running in the area; and recently, the price of water from vendors doubled.

“The 25 litres we used to buy at N20 is now N40, and it is difficult to get. Last week, I bought it at N70,” he said.

In Benue State, residents are worried over the lack of water for domestic use as the dry season continues.

Maria Adeka, a resident of Makurdi, said her borehole dried up in January after the dry season fully set in.

“Since then, we rely on vendors for our water needs. I buy a cart of 10 jerry-cans of 20 litres each at N400 or N500.

Our correspondent reports that this is happening despite the fact that the state government budgets billions of naira for the water sector.

The state water board recently raised the alarm that residents were not paying for the water they get. It said a lot of money was required to treat, maintain and expand the water plant in the state.

In the Kaduna metropolis, residents are also battling water shortage, which makes life difficult for them, especially within the city despite having boreholes around.

Residents in areas like Karshen Kwalta, Rigasa community of Igabi Local Government Area are lamenting over the lack of tap water in the community for years.

Our correspondent reports that many areas do not have potable water and residents have to drink from any available source. And this is despite the huge amount of money being allocated to the water sector on an annual basis.

Halima Mu’azu, a resident of Hayin Malam Bello New Estate, said the lack of stable electricity was responsible for the problem of water in the community.

A water expert and state coordinator of the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Kaduna State branch, The Reverend Kuzasuwat Ishaya Peter, said 65 per cent of communities in the city were dry zones.

He said dry zones were communities that used to have water years back but are now suffering its lack. He listed some of these areas to include Kawo, Rigasa,

Unguwar Rimi, Unguwar Romi and Sabon Tasha.

Furthermore, the water situation in Awka, Anambra State capital, is nothing to write home about.

Our correspondent in the state reports that every water supply in the state as at today is by private individuals who constructed boreholes in their compounds.

There is no public water supply in the state and no trace of public water corporation.  

A resident, Okey Paul, said public water stopped functioning in the state during the time of Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2000.

He said the most terrifying thing is that the state capital does not have public water; so people can only make use of private water in their compounds.

Our correspondent also reports that the state kept on budgeting billions of naira for the ministry of water resources. This year alone, the state budgeted N2.1b for the water sector, yet there is no water for public consumption.

In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, residents are facing serious water challenges as they depend on boreholes and vendors for water. 

Residents said the public water supply was functional until during the administration of the former Governor Seriake Dickson when major road construction damaged the pipes and was not repaired to date. 

Daily Trust Saturday learns that even water from boreholes is not good for drinking as it contains iron and rust due to oil exploration activities, while the stream sources are also contaminated, a situation that made most residents drink bottled water. 

A resident of Yenagoa, Mr Effiong Oscar, told our correspondent that they were suffering due to a lack of potable water. 

At the state secretariat and other government offices, vendors were seen with their trucks supplying water to some offices. 

It was gathered that most of the offices in the secretariat are not connected to central boreholes; hence the idea of buying water from vendors. 

In Ogun State, residents are groaning under biting water scarcity. Our correspondent reports that the perennial water scarcity usually experienced by residents of Abeokuta metropolis and other parts of the state during the dry season has been compounded by fuel scarcity and power crisis.

The majority of those living in the state capital are currently faced with a lack of access to potable water.

Due to the rocky nature of the metropolis, digging wells or boreholes is almost impossible, thereby subjecting the people to untoward hardship, especially during dry seasons.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that 2,000 litres of water, which usually cost between N2, 500 and N3, 000, now goes for N4,000 in the state capital.

Also, a 25-litre keg, which was sold at N50, now costs between N70 and N80 in Abeokuta.

In Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria with an estimated population of over 20million people, water scarcity has continued to bite hard on residents.

As early as 5:30 am, residents of some communities would come out with buckets and jerry-cans looking for water. This trend was observed by our correspondent in parts of Ikeja, the state capital.

For many house owners and tenants, the option has always been the borehole they built personally while those who cannot afford to build one have to contend with buying water from vendors.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that the move to ensure that a greater population of the state enjoys pipe-borne water has been elusive over the years amidst the delay in the completion of the popular Adiyan waterworks, which the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu inherited in 2019. He had vowed to complete the project.

As many Lagosians await the completion of the waterworks, getting a potable water supply has been hectic for many residents.

It was also learnt that the cost of buying six 25-litre jerry cans of water has been increased in recent times from N200 to N300 following the high cost of diesel.

The Lagos State Government, through its water corporation, attributed the present disruption of water supply to some parts of the state to the current national power systems collapse.

Kogi State is blessed with the confluence of two great rivers – Niger and Benue – at Lokoja, the capital of the state, yet residents groan over the scarcity of potable water.

It was learnt that the scarcity of potable water in Lokoja is a recurring decimal, and there seems to be no end in sight.

The state capital has been without potable water for about two months due to a lack of maintenance at the major water supply plant in the city, the Greater Lokoja Waterworks.

Majority of residents now depend on water vendors, popularly called ‘mai ruwa’, nearby boreholes and raw, hard river Niger water for their daily needs.

The Lokoja experience is a reflection of the situation in most parts of the state.

The state government said it was working hard to address the situation on a permanent basis.

Water vendors queue for water in Kano

 

Hold your governors responsible – FG

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, an engineer, has blamed the perennial scarcity of water on the refusal of states to plan for their growing population.

Adamu, who disclosed this in response to the present acute water scarcity across states, said it was worrisome that many states expected the federal government to take over the operation and maintenance of their water schemes.

According to him, it is not the duty of the federal government to take over these schemes, but to incentivise the states by making bulk water available in dams nationwide.

“The reason we have been having this challenge of poor water supply is that there has not been proper planning by state governments. Their water schemes and interventions should always be ahead of the population growth.

“That is the only way they can have an adequate water supply. Even the issue of wear and tear, lack of proper operation and maintenance will see minimum operational capacity.

“Even if they are operating at proper capacity, that capacity is even half of the current population, that is why we keep advocating that states put all the incentives to use,’’ he said.

Adamu said the ministry was not mandated to run water supply schemes, treat water and reticulate them.

Expert suggests the way out

 Kadir Imam, an engineer, told one of our correspondents on the phone that the state government must invest heavily in the water sector, especially in treatment plants.

He said most of the plants in the states were built several years ago with a certain storage capacity, which can no longer meet the needs of the growing population.

In Lagos for instance, he cited the Iju waterworks, which was built in 1908 when the population of the state was less than 100,000. He said it was quite impossible for the same waterworks to cater for the present needs of the over 20million Lagosians.

He also called on the federal government to continue to provide assistance and monitor the state government in water provision.

He advised state governments to set a target of 10 years and start investing heavily in the water sector during the period.

“The state government can also invite the private sector in this regard because all our water plants need to be expanded and new ones built,” he said.

A medical practitioner, Dr Ismail Yusuf said poor water supply has a negative impact on health because it causes acute infections like diarrhoea and nondiarrhoeal disease.

“Governments at all levels should invest heavily in the water sector because it would have a multiplier effect on other sectors. A healthy population is a productive population.

“I want to assure you that if people consume clean water, the chances of them falling sick is slim,” he said. 

 

Additional reports by Abubakar Sadiq Isah, Dalhatu Liman (Abuja), Abubakar Akote (Minna), Zahraddeen Yakubu Shuaibu (Kano), Mumini AbdulKareem (Ilorin), Peter Moses (Abeokuta), Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos), Mohammed I. Yaba (Kaduna), Bassey Willie (Yenagoa), Titus Eleweke (Awka), Hope Abah Emmanuel, (Makurdi) & Tijani Labaran (Lokoja)

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World’s largest cooling stations installed at Grand Mosque

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Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has installed the world’s two largest cooling stations at the Grand Mosque to ensure that worshipers perform their rituals in a cool and fresh atmosphere, local media reported.

Ramzan is the peak Umrah season and the cooling stations are instrumental in purifying the air in the Grand Mosque.

The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque strives to ensure fresh air inside the mosque using ultraviolet light air purification technology.

Photo: ReasahAlharmain

The air conditioning is purified nine times a day, before being released into the mosque, through special air-conditioning devices that supply the system of the Grand Mosque with cool air. The air is also purified from germs by 100 percent.

The presidency provides backup cooling stations next to the main stations, to control temperatures in the event of a station failure and to ensure the purity of the air distributed inside the Grand Mosque.

Photo: ReasahAlharmain

The world’s two largest cooling stations are —the Ajyad station, which produces 35,300 refrigeration tons, of which about 24,500 refrigeration tons are used and the new central plant, which has a capacity of 120,000 refrigeration tons.

The second—is the new central station, which has a capacity of 120,000 refrigeration tons, which feeds the third Saudi expansion of the Haram in addition to half of the endeavor, and it is scheduled to feed all sides of the Grand Mosque and its facilities in the future.

Photo: ReasahAlharmain Photo: ReasahAlharmain

Director of the General Administration of Operation and Maintenance, Engineer Amer Al Luqmani, said, “We are currently in the process of cooling the terminal and supplying it with 5,500 refrigeration tonnes from the Ajyad station, and the air purification filters inside the air conditioning rooms are cleaned on a daily basis throughout the year.”

“They are subject to meticulous maintenance and cleaning operations by highly qualified engineering and technical cadres, who supervise these works to ensure implementation according to technical principles and using the latest technologies,” he added.

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Highly poisonous “death cap” mushroom found in Idaho | Straight From The Source

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From the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare:

The first confirmation of death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) in Idaho was recently reported to the Idaho Division of Public Health. An amateur mycologist spotted the mushroom under an oak tree in an established neighborhood in Boise. DNA testing by a laboratory pathologist confirmed the identification. It may be present and undetected in other areas.

Death cap mushrooms are highly poisonous and cause most deadly mushroom poisonings worldwide. They can look like edible mushrooms (such as paddy-straw mushrooms or puffballs), but eating as little as half a mushroom cap can kill an adult. A small portion can kill a dog. Cooking does not make the death cap mushroom safe to eat.

Early symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning are persistent and violent vomiting, abdominal pain, and profuse, watery diarrhea 6 to 24 hours after eating the mushroom. These symptoms generally last a few hours, after which there is an apparent recovery with no symptoms for a few days. Then jaundice, loss of strength, coma, and death can occur from liver failure and kidney failure.

Early treatment is critical to decrease the chance of dying or needing a liver transplant.

When in doubt, throw it out!

Death cap mushrooms are not the only poisonous mushroom in Idaho. Generally, do not eat any wild mushroom that has not been identified by an expert. See wild mushroom identification and buying guide at https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=21978&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS

When in doubt, throw it out!

What to do for potential mushroom poisonings

If you or your child has eaten an unidentified wild mushroom, call the poison center at 800-222-1222 right away, call your healthcare provider, or to go the emergency room.

If your pet has eaten a wild mushroom, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at 888-426-4435 or your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic.

What to do if you find them in your yard

Death cap mushrooms are found near imported trees in gardens, parks, and urban areas but can spread to wild areas over time. In other regions, death cap mushrooms appear in late summer through December, or year-round. Seasonal risk in Idaho is unknown.

To help avoid spreading death cap mushrooms to other areas, remove the mushrooms from your lawn before mowing. Grasp the mushroom low on the stalk and pluck it from the soil.

There is no evidence that hand contact with death cap mushrooms is dangerous, but wearing gloves will protect your skin from germs in the soil. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching the mushrooms or surrounding soil.

Dispose of the mushrooms in the garbage. Do not compost at home or put in the city compost cart. Do not put death cap mushrooms in wood chip containers or trucks. Clean and disinfect garden tools after using them around affected trees. Spraying will not eradicate death cap mushrooms.

Submit photos of death cap mushrooms to iNaturalist.org to help track the spread of this mushroom in Idaho.

For more information about wild mushrooms, see the Southern Idaho Mycological Association, https://idahomushroomclub.org or the North Idaho Mycological Association at https://www.facebook.com/IdahoWildMushrooms/.

Death cap 1

Image above used with permission from Paul Kroeger, courtesy of the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

Death cap 2

Death cap 2

Image above used with permission from Adolf Ceska and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.



Death cap 1

Death cap 1

Image above used with permission from Paul Kroeger, courtesy of the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.



Death cap 2

Death cap 2

Image above used with permission from Adolf Ceska and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

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Originally Appeared Here

Brown water leaks from pipes

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The government should provide millionaire compensation, establishing a historic sentence after two years of judicial conflict

In a better world, there should be no problem with the supply of drinking water in some parts of Canada: we are talking about an area characterized by more than 31,000 lakes with an area of ​​more than 3 km. The largest water reserve in the world, according to the citizens.

Despite the promises of various governments that have followed each other since the 1980s, there is a problem, especially with the tribes of the first countries. Some of the restrictions were imposed prior to 2003 and have affected areas of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec, especially remote areas, according to data reported on the government website. Adequate infrastructure. The whole tribe was forced for many years Boil water before use, Due to high traces of uranium. This does not stop the chance of controlling intestinal infections, skin infections, pneumonia.

In 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned this problem during his election campaign and promised to resolve the situation by March 2021. A document released by the Office of Public Verification of Canada in February 2021 confirmed the bankruptcy of these forecasts: “Safe drinking water is essential for the health of all, including about 330,000 people living in communities in more than 600 first countries.“But despite the recorded economic efforts, the communities of the first countries have not been given the support and assistance they need. The water hazard warning has been in place for more than 10 years.

The report then underscores two fundamental points: there is no clear legal framework for managing and regulating the situation; Indigenous Services Only cooperation between Canada and the people concerned will facilitate the adoption of sustainable solutions. The administrator openly admitted that it was impossible to achieve the set goals.

However, the affected communities have decided to take action: In 2019, two class activities were launched that reached both the Federal Court of Canada and the Queen’s Bench Court of Manitoba. In December 2021, a common agreement was reached for both actions: compensation of more than 5 million euros from the government in favor of the people concerned, a guarantee for the construction of the necessary infrastructure, and modernization of departmental law.

The stability of the situation led to the appearance of young enthusiasts, who, thanks to the network, will condemn the depression and fatigue of those who want to drink a glass of water at home. Shared video Water enthusiast Autumn Peltier, also addressing the Canadian Prime Minister, made the situation understandable in over a thousand words: brown water flows from the kitchen faucet so it is impossible to even cook or wash.

One of the commercial consequences of this situation is the growing proliferation of bottled water. If this choice is almost an obligation to communities like Neskandaka who have been “living” like this since 1995, the same cannot be said for other people. According to the Independent Water Groping Monitoring Report, water in the Ontario region should be used by first countries, rather than by individuals working in the field, such as Nestle. A phenomenon that is gradually increasing.

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proof’s: Government of Canada; Office of the Public Verification Office of Canada; Catching water

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Originally Appeared Here