Vice President Kamala Harris outlined the federal government’s new Action Plan on Global Water Security on Wednesday, an intergovernmental effort to increase international access to clean, safe drinking water, as well as sanitation and hygiene services. 

What You Need To Know

• Vice President Kamala Harris outlined the federal government’s new Action Plan on Global Water Security on Wednesday
• The new intergovernmental effort aims to increase international access to clean, safe drinking water, as well as sanitation and hygiene services
• According to an estimate from the United Nations, around 30% of the world’s population lack access to safe drinking water, while 60% lack safely managed sanitation services
• Harris on Wednesday stressed that lack of access to clean water around the globe can have far-reaching consequences

“Water scarcity is a global problem. And it must be met with a global solution. So today, we make clear: The United States will be a leader in the solution,” Harris said. “I know we will create a future in which every person in every community has access to our world’s most precious resource.”

The new effort aims to address numerous aspects of global water insecurity, ranging from the impacts of climate change to poor management to historical conflict over access. 

The action plan will focus on three specific pillars, per a White House release: 

• Make the United States a global leader in the effort to attain universal access to clean water with a focus on climate-resilient, locally led solutions 

• Support water-related projects that promote economic growth and mitigate environmental impacts 

• Integrate water policy in national security, development and infrastructure initiatives at all levels of government 

The Biden administration has taken a number of domestic actions to either ease access to water or to strengthen and improve the infrastructure providing water services to communities across the country. 

One issue the White House has tackled within the U.S. is that of water contaminated with lead. As part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Environmental Protection Agency is sending $2.9 billion to states, territories and tribes to replace lead pipes.

Lead pipes pose a problem for nearly every state across the country, according to a report from environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council, which found somewhere between 9.7 million to 12.8 million lead pipes are scattered across all 50 states, even in some where none have been reported. Much of the lead pipe infrastructure is concentrated on the eastern side of the United States. 

The EPA has encouraged communities to use the bipartisan infrastructure law funds allocated specifically for water resilience in three specific ways: Targeting resources towards historically disadvantaged communities, removing lead from all drinking water across the country and tackling so-called “forever” chemicals, man-made compounds that do not naturally decompose in the environment. 

Wednesday’s action expands the administration’s efforts to focus on the global community, with a White House release noting water security is “essential to the United States’ international efforts to increase equity and economic growth, advance gender equity and equality, build inclusive and resilient societies, bolster health and food security, decrease the risk of conflict or instability, and tackle climate change.”

According to a United Nations’ estimate, around 30% of the world’s population lack access to safe drinking water, while 60% lack safely managed sanitation services – numbers that are only expected to rise over the next several decades as factors like climate change continue to take their toll. 

By 2030, up to 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by water scarcity, per U.N. projections. 

Harris on Wednesday stressed that lack of access to clean water around the globe can have far-reaching consequences, including food insecurity, mass migrations, spread of disease and heightened regional tensions. 

“Since we took office, our administration has made important progress in protecting water security here at home,” the vice president said, adding: “We also recognize how important it is to extend that work beyond our nation’s borders. Today, billions of people around the world do not have access to clean, safe water. And in the coming years, climate change, population growth, urbanization and environmental degradation will only drive that number higher.”

In order to broaden global access to clean drinking water, the U.S. government will work with a number of entities – ranging from foreign governments to international nonprofits – to identify projects that support water security, and will in turn provide loans and other forms of aid to spur their creation. The U.S. will also provide technical experts to implement physical infrastructure for water sanitation, hygiene, waste water and other related efforts.

“The United States will encourage and support the development of water use agreements among stakeholders who share water resources; such agreements have historically led to increased cooperation and mitigated the risk of conflict,” a release notes in part. 

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Originally Appeared Here

Irish Water will send two containerised water treatment plants (WTPs) to Ukraine in response to urgent calls for support to provide clean water in the war-torn country.

he organisation said two mobile WTPs will be transported to Lviv immediately, to provide fresh drinking water for those most in need.

An estimated 1.4 million people have no access to safe running water across eastern Ukraine, according to a recent report from UNICEF. There are also fears that burials in parks, gardens and public areas could lead to contaminated drinking water.

The self-contained units are capable of treating up to 40,000 litres an hour each, which will supply 6,200 people with the equivalent of 1.6 million one litre bottles of clean water per day.

Both units contain filters, backwash pumps, ultraviolet (UV) reactors and all necessary pipework and equipment to enable the self-contained water solutions to be operational very quickly once they arrive. 

Irish Water chief executive officer Niall Gleeson said access to safe water is a “fundamental human need” that can be taken for granted in Ireland.

“We know that the situation in Ukraine has resulted in water supply being disrupted entirely or severely polluted, meaning it is unsafe for drinking. We hope our donation of these two units will play a role to help some of the people suffering in Ukraine access safe water,” he said.

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Niall Gleeson of Irish Water, Ukraine’s ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko and Minister Darragh O’Brien with one of the mobile water treatment plants heading to Lviv, Ukraine

Niall Gleeson of Irish Water, Ukraine’s ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko and Minister Darragh O’Brien with one of the mobile water treatment plants heading to Lviv, Ukraine

To aid the set-up on arrival, contact details are included in the units in English and Ukrainian to enable online support for any commissioning and operating queries which will be provided at no cost by Coffey Engineers, Galway. Videos detailing how to operate the WTPs have also been recorded in Ukrainian and made available online.

Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien praised Irish Water for the donation.

“This exemplifies the many ways Ireland, through its people and its state agencies, is showing its solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their time of need. This donation demonstrates collaborative approaches to providing practical and important solutions to support the Ukrainian people. These water units will benefit thousands who are struggling to source fresh, safe drinking water,” he said.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko said: “From across Ireland there has been so much support shown to our people and country. A basic right to clean water has been destroyed by Russia in a lot of regions and this donation will be essential to sustain those who are currently in absolute need. We thank everyone involved for their work and effort to get these vital water units to my homeland.”

While donating two units to Ukrainian authorities, Irish Water has also retained a third WTP on standby in case of an emergency water quality incident in Ireland.

The containerised water treatment units, which were built by Coffey on behalf of Irish Water, will be shipped to Ukraine on Thursday.

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A boy stores water from a tap at Nidamanuru near Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

(Mahesh G/ TOI,BCCL,VIJAYAWADA)

After drinking contaminated water in Raichur, Karnataka, one person died and 62 others were hospitalised, which includes 23 children.

Superintendent of the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Dr Bhaskar on Tuesday said that 62 people were admitted due to dehydration, following vomiting and diarrhoea.

On May 29, 40-year-old Mallamma, a resident of Indiranagar, had succumbed to severe illness and 31 persons were hospitalised. On Tuesday, the number of persons admitted to the hospital rose to 62.

Residents of Raichur have expressed their dissatisfaction with the city’s administration for failing to provide safe drinking water. Locals also report that people are becoming ill in the wards that receive water from the Rampuru Reservoir.

Despite the fact that the state government has developed numerous initiatives to secure the supply of clean drinking water, they claim that the corporation has provided contaminated water.

Residents also claimed that the district administration had failed to reply to their appeals.

T​he Raichur administration was also under fire in the past when surveys conducted on the water quality revealed dangerous levels of arsenic in around 30 villages in the area. Arsenic is a cancer-causing element and was discovered in the ground water as well as in borewells in these villages.

**

The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.

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Poor water quality in South Africa is becoming a major crisis across many municipalities in our country, putting at risk our health and economy.

In April this year, the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed that 34% of South Africa’s water systems are of high or critical risk. The department plans to further issue ‘boil water’ notices in several areas with sustained microbiological failures or high levels of E. coli or faecal coliform bacteria.

In May, reports emerged about rapidly deteriorating tap water quality in parts of Tshwane, which the city has since deemed unsafe to drink in areas such as Rethabiseng and Riamarpark.

Enlit Africa (the unifying brand for African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa) invites you to join the conversation 7-9 June 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Rapid urbanisation and growing levels of pollution in our river systems are among the key reasons why South Africa is facing major challenges with its water quality. But some municipalities and districts are also running out of money to pay for basic chemicals to clean wastewater, while others lack sound management and expertise.

Compounding this problem is the fact that South Africa is a water-scarce country, and more prone to shock climate change events such as extreme droughts or floods. To start turning things around, several key measures should be adopted, and five of these are outlined below.

1. Making engineers great again

Over the years, many municipalities have started to rely more on administrators and finance managers than engineers when it comes to critical water waste management and maintenance issues. The reasons for this are varied, with some municipalities seeking structural or cost savings.

To manage water effectively, we do need to start creating an organisational culture of putting engineers more at the centre of decision making. These engineers must be of the highest calibre and should lead administrations on key decisions that will lead to the best quality water and sewage management for an area’s residents. Good engineers are like the doctors of our water systems.

Have you read?
Wastewater treatment in S.Africa shows Green Drop strain

2. Reporting and consequence management

Having the right engineers in place is only one part of the solution. Another critical component is reporting and consequence management within our municipalities and districts. With the Department of Water and Sanitation moving to republish the Blue Drop report this year, this marks a step in the right direction when it comes to reporting and transparency. 

It’s important to know that the Blue Drop report is not focused solely on water quality but rather on the overall management of water and waste systems. This means that some areas deemed high risk can be just a few steps away from having unsafe drinking water, while others actually already need to issue red notices or warnings to residents. This provides a gauge of where underperformance is occurring. More importantly, it informs the government of where it must act swiftly. 

In instances of neglect, municipal managers should face the consequences, whether it be fines or even criminal charges. The provincial or national government also then needs to step in and immediately fix problems where local government has failed.

3. Smarter use of wetlands

Research has shown that wetlands can act as additional, natural water filters for our man-made water systems. This is because the plants, soils and even microbes in our wetlands can effectively absorb and uptake many harmful pollutants. However, this involves a delicate balance as our wetlands also need to be protected in order for them to protect us.

In this regard, South Africa should take a closer look at ensuring that industry should be more responsible when emitting discharge into rivers. This might require implementing stricter rules regarding the quality of water that is pumped from industrial processes into the environment.

From our archives:
WISA calls for green, blue and no drop certification reinstatement

4. Greater attention to funding, supply chains

Local and provincial governments need to realise that it’s a long-term investment when it comes to funding water projects. 

It’s also important to pay greater attention to the supply chains of water maintenance. Purchasing higher quality components or investing more in repairs will go a longer way in ensuring longer-term sustainability. We cannot afford to cut corners in this regard, and there must be zero tolerance for maladministration when it comes to the procurement of quality services and products.

5. Better long-term planning

Finally, bringing all of this together is better for long-term planning. Our engineers, working together with our municipal managers, need to ensure that there are long-term plans that seek to improve or maintain high-quality water standards for the benefit of citizens. 

These plans, such as the building out of new wastewater facilities, need to be sound enough that they can stretch over several years and potential changes in administrations. In this regard, we need to become more technocratic as a country when it comes to precious resources such as water.

As the saying goes, water is life, and we need to do everything we can to ensure that we protect this precious resource so that it doesn’t become the next biggest crisis in our lifetime. ESI

About the author

Andi Rweqane is the Director of Water at Royal HaskoningDHV.

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Originally Appeared Here

The troubled East Dunkard Water Authority in Greene County is receiving nearly $2 million funding for infrastructure upgrades to hopefully avoid water quality issues that have plagued the service this year.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday the water authority in Dilliner will receive a $1.94 million in Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act money to overhaul the treatment facility and waterlines.

The upgrades will include replacement of the iron main waterline, pumps, gate valves and blow-off valves, along with the inspection and rehabilitation of eight storage tanks. Most importantly, the funding will help the East Dunkard update its system and run a connector line with Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority to eventually purchase water from that agency.

Crystal Simmons, who is the CDBG program administrator for Greene County, said they have been working closely with East Dunkard “identifying problematic areas so they can be addressed and flush the system” as upgrades are made possible through grant funding.

“We’ve been assisting the authority, aggressively grant-writing for the past two years and have other applications that are in and we hope to be able see those ones be funded,” Simmons said. “We want to review the scope of work.”

With the announcement of the grant Tuesday, Simmons said they will soon begin the bidding process for construction with work beginning later this year, weather permitting. The work will include technological enhancements and identifying areas that need to be retrofitted so they can be flushed when needed. But there is also funding for an extension line that would allow for East Dunkard to connect with SWPA in Jefferson, which has been discussed for several years.

“The ultimate plan is to be connected and be able to purchase water from Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority,” Simmons said.

East Dunkard has been besieged with issues in recent years, including when the authority announced separate and lengthy boil water advisories in January and again in March due to filtration problems and treatment breakdowns. The most recent boil advisory lasted nearly two months until it was rectified May 5. But Simmons said there are several new members who recently joined the board that oversees the authority, and she believes it is heading in the right direction as they work to upgrade the system.

State Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, and state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, issued a joint press release Tuesday praising the grant and planned upgrades.

“I’m relieved that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for customers of the East Dunkard Water Authority,” Snyder said. “After countless meetings with engineers, board members, and state and local officials over the years to address this egregious issue, I’m overjoyed that these folks will finally have reliable access to clean drinking water.”

“We take it for granted when we turn on a faucet there will be clean, safe water coming out and that the wastewater will be taken away to be processed, but the fact is there are a lot of people who work really hard to make it all happen,” Bartolotta added.

The water authority, which has about 1,600 customers in its system, provides water to 4,200 residents living in Dunkard and Greene townships, and parts of Cumberland, Monongahela, Perry and Whiteley townships.

The grant to East Dunkard was among $8.4 million in CDBG-CARES Act money doled out to five projects across the state.

One of those projects is for the North Fayette County Municipal Authority to replace several main distribution waterlines in Fairchance and install additional fire hydrants in the borough. That water authority will receive $987,000 from the grant to make improvements. Neither borough officials nor Fayette County Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Andrew French returned phone messages Tuesday seeking comment on the project.

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by: Sara Maloney

Posted: May 31, 2022 / 04:56 PM CDT

Updated: May 31, 2022 / 04:56 PM CDT

ROSSVILLE (KSNT) – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment implemented a boil water advisory for the public water system in the city of Rossville on Tuesday.

The KDHE is asking people to take the following precautions:

• If water appears dirty, flush out the lines until the water is clear
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or cooking, or use bottled water
• Dispose of existing ice cubes and do not use ice from automatic dispensers
• Disinfect dishes and surfaces with clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water for at least one minute
• Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled but supervision of children while bathing is necessary as to not ingest the water. People with cuts or severe rashes may consult their doctors

People in this area should take precautions until they are further notified that the issue is resolved according to the KDHE. Officials with the KDHE placed this advisory due to a loss of pressure in the distribution system caused by system maintenance. A loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination can result from the failure to maintain water pressure.

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The boil advisory will remain in place until the conditions that caused the bacterial contamination are solved. The KDHE is the only department that can rescind the order after testing in the lab.

Questions should be directed to the water system or KDHE at 785-298-5514. More information is available on KDHE’s consumer information page.

People who own restaurants or other establishments and have questions about the impact of the boil advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.

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The Defense Department is reporting high levels of toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water near several of its bases, according to new data released by the department.

Drinking water testing near bases in Washington state, Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan found levels of the chemicals well above a health threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

PFAS is the name for a group of thousands of chemicals, some of which have been linked to health issues such as kidney and testicular cancer and liver damage. 

The substances have been used in products such as firefighting foam, which is used by the military. For this reason, PFAS can be found near military bases and can contaminate nearby water.

They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they build up in the human body and environment instead of breaking down over time. 

While it has long been known that PFAS have leached into groundwater near military installations, the new data provides an official glimpse into how it is impacting nearby drinking water.

While the EPA has said that levels of two types of PFAS called PFOA and PFOS should not exceed 70 parts per trillion (ppt) — and states have called for even lower levels — findings at some of the bases far exceed that. 

One assessment from October found a sample of drinking water near the Naval Air Station at Washington State’s Whidbey Island contained  4,720 ppt of PFOS. In September, a sample containing 208 ppt of PFOA was detected. 

Meanwhile, a drinking water sample near Washington state’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center was found to have 800 ppt of PFOS in January. A separate sample from January at the base was found to have 130 ppt of PFOA. 

A sample from near Pennsylvania’s Willow Grove base was found to have 864 ppt of PFOS in October. 

Meanwhile an August sample from around Florida’s Naval Air Station Whiting Field was found to have 206 ppt of PFOA in August. A sample from December was found to have 130 ppt of PFOS. 

A November sample from Michigan’s Camp Grayling Army Airfield was found to have 119 ppt of PFOA.

“These levels are extremely high,” Jared Hayes, policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group, said in a statement.

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“For too long, service members and people living in communities near military installations have been the victims of the Pentagon’s failure to act,” Hayes added. 

A Department of Defense (DOD) spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment. but the findings note that where PFOA or PFOS levels exceeded the EPA’s advisory as a result of department activities, the DOD “immediately took actions to address the drinking water exposure.”

The department was required to disclose the drinking water testing under fiscal 2022’s National Defense Authorization Act.

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Originally Appeared Here

Water is crucial to our survival.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve pondered the process for bottled water from manufacturing to the time it reaches us. How can they charge so much for something that is essentially free? Why do we choose to pay for it instead of just drinking it straight from the faucet in our kitchen? What is the difference between purified water and distilled? Spoiler alert: they are basically the same, except distilled water lacks minerals that remain in pure water.

And where do they get spring water? Are there people that physically go to springs to get the water? How does that work? Here are the answers to all the bottled water questions you were too afraid to ask.

Sourcing

The FDA regulates bottled water and makes sure it’s safe for us to drink. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) has standards specifically for bottled water. These include “standard of identity,” “standard of quality,” and “current good manufacturing practice.” These ensure that all types of bottled water are defined, contaminants are contained, and they are safe to consume.

Purified vs. Spring Water

The two most common types of bottled water are purified and spring water. Purified and distilled water can come from anywhere and be made into bottled water locally, while spring water comes from an actual spring. Purified water accounts for about 44% of sales in the United States. Spring water sales rank much higher with 56%.

Spring water is naturally flowing water from a protected underground formation. Water can be collected through a borehole that taps the spring’s formation. If it’s not taken directly from the spring itself, the water is tested to ensure it has the same quality and composition as the water at its surface. Purified water is just tap water that has been filtered and reprocessed.

There’s also purified recycled water that is possibly making its way into bottled water soon. While recycled water may sound off-putting to some, it’s a great tool to utilize in potential drought situations and regions suffering from general water insecurity. Laws ensure the water is cleaned, disinfected, and analyzed under UV filters before it ever makes its way to our lips. Some of us indirectly drink recycled water already.

Re-using water is a great way to help communities with a more challenging time getting access to clean water. Using contaminated water because you don’t have the choice is something we don’t have to face here in the U.S. Imagine not being able to practice basic hygiene or having something clean to drink. We are fortunate enough not to worry about diseases spreading from a lack of clean water.

FIJI Water

FIJI, the bottled water brand, is an example of artesian water or, in other words, “boujee” water. It could be considered upscale. Artesian water comes from an aquifer. An aquifer is a chamber underground that is formed naturally. Layers of permeable volcanic rock bear water. The rock surrounding it doesn’t allow many contaminants to get in there.

The water is accessed in the same way it is from a spring. FIJI water’s high price tag reflects the fact that it’s sourced in the Fiji islands and is then transported to the United States.

Plastic Problems

If you keep up with environmental news, you’re no stranger to the plastic pollution issue. Bottled water is no exception. While water scarcity is a very real and scary thing, so is plastic pollution.

It’s no secret that bottled water comes in plastic. Most water bottles are made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is recyclable, but most people who drink bottles of water don’t recycle them, so the point of using PET is null and void. Bottled water is being consumed in mass quantities. This is great for bottled water companies but not so great for the environment.

You can be an advocate for clean water and against the sale of bottled water. Such is the case for local governments of the U.S. and Canada right now, who are considering placing a ban on bottled water sales. Did you know only one out of five water bottles is recycled? Landfills are literally overflowing with discarded water bottles.

Plastics are made from petroleum products, which are a non-renewable resource. The plastics industry releases toxins into the environment and can affect our health. Not to mention the packaging used to ship bottled water, which is also a waste and ends up in landfills as well.

Transportation

The transportation of bottled water is energy-intensive. Instead of traveling through pipes underground to faucets as tap water does, bottled water is mass-produced and delivered to consumers.

The vehicles used to transport water from springs or wherever the water is collected to the plants that bottle the water contributes to climate change. The fossil fuels the vehicles burn in transit contribute to the pollution problem we’re also facing.

Consumers are being encouraged to diminish their carbon footprint by drinking tap water instead of out of bottles. The amount of energy used in producing water bottles for us to drink out of is insane. It is 2,000 times more than what tap water takes. Not to mention the millions of barrels of oil it takes to produce the bottled water and distribute it.

Carbon Fingerprint

If the effects of bottled water on the environment have you thinking twice about that case of water you buy once a week, join the club. It’s sad enough to consider the consequences of our carbon fingerprint in general and how it affects our environment globally, let alone how drinking bottled water contributes to it.

The process of bottling water is much more complex than it’s given credit for. The manufacturing process alone takes more energy than most people think. Collecting water from its source and filling bottles with it at a plant is another factor in the energy drain. Distributing those bottles of water to the masses comes at a cost. All of these variables have an impact directly on our surroundings. Hello, global warming.

Making a Change

So, what can we do to help the water crisis? We can start by recycling our water bottles so people can reuse them and making sure PET has a better chance of fulfilling its purpose. By identifying and educating ourselves about our actions’ effects on the world around us, we are one step closer to a cleaner and healthier environment.

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“We are thrilled to welcome Pure Water Solutions of America’s customers to the Quench family. This is our largest dealer acquisition in Quench history and substantially increases our density in important markets like Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Boise.”

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (PRWEB)
May 31, 2022

Quench, a leading provider of filtered water solutions for businesses and dealer partners across North America, announced today that it has acquired Pure Water Solutions of America, one of the largest providers of point-of-use drinking water systems and ice dispensers in the United States. Founded in 2012, Pure Water Solutions of America is a leading Wellsys dealer, with operations spanning five states, including Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, and Washington.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pure Water Solutions of America’s customers to the Quench family,” said Ryan Hartley, Vice President of Corporate Development for Quench. “This is our largest dealer acquisition in Quench history and substantially increases our density in important markets like Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Boise. It also exemplifies our enduring commitment to our dealers from inception to exit.”

“This is a tremendous day for our customers,” said Ryan Bowen, owner of Pure Water Solutions of America. “As our long-time partner, I have been constantly impressed by Quench’s concern for its customers. That commitment, combined with their industry-leading products, made them the obvious choice for our customers.”

More on Quench’s acquisition process can be found at https://quenchwater.com/acquisitions/ or by contacting our acquisition team directly at acquisitions (at) quenchonline (dot) com.

About Quench

Quench USA, Inc. offers bottle-free filtered drinking water solutions for healthy and environmentally conscious consumers outside the home, through direct sales and independent dealers across North America. Our bottle-free water coolers, ice machines, sparkling water dispensers and coffee brewers purify a user’s existing water supply to provide reliable and convenient filtered water across a broad mix of businesses, such as government, education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and other industries, including more than half of the Fortune 500. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Quench has sales and service operations across North America to serve our 70,000+ customers, and a network of more than 300 independent dealers selling products under the brand names Pure Water Technology and Wellsys. Quench is a Culligan Company. For more information, please visit https://quenchwater.com.

About Culligan

Founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan, Culligan is a world leader in delivering water solutions that will improve the lives of its customers. The company offers some of the most technologically advanced, state-of-the-art water filtration and treatment products. Culligan’s products include water softeners, drinking water systems, whole-house systems and solutions for businesses. Culligan’s network of franchise dealers is the largest in the world, with over 900 dealers in 90 countries. For more information visit: http://www.culligan.com.

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The High Court on Tuesday suggested banning the Hatirjheel water taxi service, stating that plying of all types of motorised vessels in a lake is ‘harmful’ for its water.

The bench of Justice Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the suggestion in the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project protection case verdict, the full text of which was posted on the Supreme Court website on Tuesday.          

The nine suggestions the court made in the full verdict include renaming the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project after Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, a biologist, physicist, botanist and the father of Bengali science fiction.

The High Court on June 30, 2021 in its short verdict in the case asked the government to demolish in 60 days the restaurants, shops and other commercial structures built in the project area — not included in its layout plan — after receiving the full verdict’s certified copy.

The court issued four directives in the short verdict after disposing of a public interest litigation writ petition filed in 2018 by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid, who appeared for the petitioner, said on Tuesday that there were 27 commercial outlets in the project area, including hotels, restaurants and shops, when the petition was filed.

‘But the government is yet to remove the structures as directed by the High Court a year ago,’ Manzill said.

He said that the establishment of the structures was a violation of the project layout plan.

The court observed that the project authority and the Rajuk introduced the operation of circular buses and water taxis, installed permanent or makeshift or specialised food shops at 27 points and department stores to meet costs of maintaining the project.  

The demolition of the commercial structures was among the four directives issued upon the Rajuk chair, the mayor of Dhaka north city, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, the Hatirjheel police station officer-in-charge and the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project director to protect and preserve the beauty of the Hatirjheel Lake.

The court in the four directives also declared the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Lake a public trust and ordered the formation of a separate authority under the prime minister to oversee the conservation, development and operation of various activities in the area.

Hatirjheel is the breathing point of the capital, the court observed. 

It also prohibited the construction of any other commercial structure on the project land.

Buses and minibuses were not allowed initially to ply the 16-kilometre circular roads inside the project.    

The court mentioned that the engineering unit of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and the 24 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army were jointly appointed permanent consultants for the project.

The court also ordered the construction of footpaths, bicycle lanes, sidewalks for physically challenged people and underground toilets for public use.

It also asked the authorities concerned to ensure the supply of pure drinking water in the project area.

The lake should be a fish sanctuary, the court said.

The court asked the authority to protect the beauty of the Hatirjheel-Bagunbari Lake, which is visited by hundreds of people every day.

The court also observed that the restaurants and other illegally built structures were creating public nuisances, obstructing visitors’ free movement and harming the project’s beauty.

The prime minister on January 2, 2013 inaugurated the 302-acre lake project that was implemented at a cost of Tk 1,971 crore.

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Originally Appeared Here