INDORE: Summer is yet to knock the doors, but many parts of Nimar region have started facing water crisis. Dhar and Burhanpur districts have been declared as drinking water scarce areas until June 30 or till receiving sufficient rains. Bracing itself for the drinking water crisis in the summer, Dhar and Burhanpur district administration has also ordered different measures.
All 13 development blocks and as many as 802 villages of Dhar are fluorosis-affected while availability of clean drinking water to meet the demand is already a challenge in the district. With the collector Pankaj Jain declaring Dhar as a drinking water scarce area, local administration has put a ban on using water of different sources including tube wells, rivers, dams, canals, streams, springs, lakes, reservoirs, and wells for irrigation, industrial and such other purposes.
According to the collector, water sources can be acquired for maintaining the availability of drinking water in the affected area while tube well/borewell mining in the water scarcity area has been prohibited for any purpose without the permission of the authorized officer.
On proving violation of the said order, there is a provision of punishment including imprisonment of two years or fine or both under section 9 of Madhya Pradesh Peya Jal Praikshan Adhiniyam, 1986.
On Saturday, Dhar collector reviewed different works proposed and being carried out under ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ and ‘Jal Nigam’ and instructed the officials concerned to speed up the same. He also ordered to lodge an FIR against the contractors, who fail to start/complete the assigned work in the given deadline.
Situation is however better in Burhanpur, where collector Praveen Singh has put a ban on digging tube-wells without permission of the officials concerned.
“A pipeline is being laid from Tapti River to supply tap water to all around 40,000 households under Burhanpur municipal corporation. Testing of the same is scheduled in May this year” Singh told TOI, adding that Burhanpur is expected resolve drinking water crisis in months.
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Originally Appeared Here

The drinking water of a mobile home park near Muscatine that serves about 100 people contains the highest concentrations of toxic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment that have been detected so far by a new state survey.

The water of Kammerer Mobile Home Park, which is just south of Muscatine in a low-lying area near the Mississippi River, is contaminated with trace amounts of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” — according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The Iowa DNR’s tests of dozens of community drinking water supplies across the state have found detectable amounts of the chemicals in 10 of those water sources so far, but none have been as high as Kammerer’s.

That water had a combined concentration of the two most-studied PFAS of 29 parts per trillion. That’s less than half of the current federal safety threshold of 70 parts per trillion — which is under review and is likely to be revised downward — but it exceeds the safety levels established by several states.

It’s unclear whether any of the mobile home park’s residents are aware of the situation.

“They didn’t exceed anything with the (federal) health advisory — that’s the point at which we would require a public water supply to notify their customers,” said Roger Bruner, supervisor of the Iowa DNR’s water quality bureau that is conducting the statewide survey.

The owner of the mobile home park, Tim McCleary, did not respond to a request to comment for this article.

Iowa DNR records show the park draws water from a 140-feet-deep well that is highly susceptible to surface contamination because of the porous sediment in the area. There are a number of industrial sites nearby and an airport. Firefighting foams that contain PFAS, which have been used at airports, have been prime sources of contamination in other areas of the state.

Bruner said the precise source of contamination of the Kammerer drinking water is unclear because the state’s testing program is not designed to identify it.

“That would take quite a robust site investigation,” he said.

Other state tests have shown that the drinking water of several Mississippi River towns have PFAS, and that the river itself is contaminated.

Studies have shown that PFAS — used to make non-stick and stain-resistant products, among others — can accumulate in people’s bodies over time and are tied to a number of ailments, including cancers, liver damage, immunodeficiencies and abnormal infant and childhood development, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Bruner said more drinking water systems in Iowa will be tested by the Iowa DNR this year.

This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

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Originally Appeared Here

NewsDesk @bactiman63

The Public Health Center of Ukraine published the following last week concerning the potential risk of water supply issues in the current situation in the country:

Image/Robert Herriman

Due to the possibility of disconnecting centralized water supply systems to avoid shortages of drinking water, local authorities together with enterprises, institutions, organizations are obliged to take immediate measures to create a strategic supply of drinking water of guaranteed quality in the area.

• Prohibit the use of well and tap drinking water without laboratory confirmation of its quality, even for domestic use, due to possible chemical and microbial contamination.
• Organize points of delivery and bottling of drinking water.
• To transport and store drinking water, use tank trucks and tanks, as well as temporarily supplied water mains from artesian wells.
• Operation of wells is possible under the conditions of laboratory control of water quality by territorial centers of control and prevention of diseases.
• Ensure rehabilitation of mine wells (catchments) and disinfection of water in them.
• Through the media, the Internet is constantly informing the public about the dangers of using water from untested decentralized and centralized water supply systems for drinking and other purposes.

While local authorities are working to provide drinking water in the regions, it is important for the population to monitor the location and schedule of drinking water supply.

Before you are sure of the quality of drinking water, you can use only well-boiled water.

To cook, be sure to use tested drinking water, use heat treatment (cooking, frying, baking). Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with boiled water, then sprinkle with boiling water.

If you suspect the development of signs of infectious diseases (fever, fever, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, runny nose, cough, yellowing of the skin, sclera, eye rashes, rashes, abscesses, etc.) seek medical attention immediately, do not allow self-medication because the course of many infectious diseases is variable and may be unusual.

 

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Originally Appeared Here

Even in this day and age, when humans have successfully landed on the Moon and Mars, there is still a large number of people throughout the world who have little or no access to safe drinking water. According to studies undertaken by worldwide organizations and groups, The absence of filtered water for the bulk of the world’s population is the primary reason why the globe continues to suffer from chronic diarrhea and other water-borne ailments.

No matter where you live, whether in the first or third world, there are those who are compelled to drink contaminated water tainted with germs and chemicals on a daily basis, making them sick. This is why Turapur designed pitchers and countertops to provide every family with a simple and authentic water filtering system. The problem is that none of us wants to get older.

We spend a lot of our hard-earned money on things like moisturizers, getting fit, eating healthy, and I’m guessing you try to drink a lot of water since water keeps you hydrated and youthful, right? We are, however, incorrect, according to the creators of the Turapür Pitcher. Because the water we get from our faucets and bottles is ‘dead’ water, as they say.

The problem is that we all know deep down that our water supply is contaminated with pollutants. If you’ve ever tasted true, pure spring water that hasn’t been tainted by humans, you’ll understand what we mean: there’s just no comparison. The explanation for this is simple: you’re drinking a different product from what comes from the tap and comes in nice bottles. It is chemically distinct.

Because spring water is ‘alive’ with free hydrogen, it’s ionized, and ionized water is a phenomenally potent antioxidant. TuraPur is a water filtering device that boosts water alkalinity. You may supposedly make water with tremendous health advantages and a greater antioxidant content by using a TuraPur Pitcher or TuraPur Countertop device.

What is TuraPur Water Pitcher

Turapur is a water filtering device that resembles Brita and other pitcher filters. You pour tap water into the pitcher’s top, it goes through the filter, and purified water emerges from the bottom. Turapur differs from conventional water filters in that it produces hydrogen-rich water. The pitcher is not a water purifying device, but rather a water filtration system that adds hydrogen ions to your water.

Why would you want to drink water laced with hydrogen ions? Turapur’s creators believe that this water makes you feel more invigorated. It also claims to slow down the symptoms of aging in your body. “Hardly anyone in the United States knows about this fountain of youth,” says Turapur’s producer. Many people say that drinking TuraPur water on a daily basis can provide significant health advantages.

TuraPur supporters believe that the antioxidants in TuraPur water encourage healthy inflammation throughout the body, assisting you in losing weight, supporting your organs, and reversing the effects of aging, among other things. TuraPur, according to the official website, can help you shed a large quantity of weight. TuraPur can help with healthy weight reduction by making fat burning simpler while supplementing a diet and exercise plan. TuraPur may be purchased at TuraPurWaterFilter.com for roughly $60 for one pitcher. Each pitcher includes one complimentary water filter.

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How does Turapur Water Pitcher Work?

Turapur’s creators say that its filter has “specially chosen mineral layers.” Water picks up hydrogen ions as it travels through these mineral layers. Magnesium is found in the mineral layers. When water comes into contact with magnesium, a chemical reaction occurs, resulting in liberated hydrogen ions. Hydrogen ions play a crucial part in the body because they aid in the equilibrium of free radicals.

Did you realize how your body needs a specific temperature balance to function properly? Turapur’s designer argues that you must also maintain a free radical equilibrium. Free radicals are substances found in our bodies that cause oxidative stress and can increase the risk of illness. Antioxidants, such as those found in fruits and vegetables, are used to counteract free radical damage.

Turapur’s hydrogen water has the capacity to make “a super-powerful antioxidant” in the water you drink every day. So, instead of consuming fruits and veggies all day to meet your daily antioxidant requirements, simply sip Turapur water. According to the company, drinking Turapur water on a regular basis can help you prevent the effects of aging on your body, lower your risk of sickness, and gain more vitality. To cut a long tale short, drinking water is always beneficial to your health. Turapur claims to boost these health advantages even further by making water even healthier.

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What is the role of Hydrogen?

For years and years, science has been grateful to Cavendish for discovering a gas called hydrogen for one reason or another. It is due to hydrogen’s role in numerous biological processes. It is something that the body needs in order to begin its operating operations.

• Skin
  The primary benefit of hydrogen to the skin is its hydrating ability. When the body has adequate water, particularly hydrogen, the skin keeps moisture and does not appear rough and shaggy, but rather smooth and supple.
• Blood
  Water aids in the dissolution of any cholesterol particles present in the blood, so assisting in the clearing of the blockage. As a result, it aids the body in receiving an adequate and effective flow of blood. This differentiating trait is aided by hydrogen particles included in water’s makeup.
• Energy
  One of the body’s primary necessities is ATP, or Adenosine Tri Phosphate, which provides the body with adequate energy to function throughout the day. This energy is aided by the body’s hydrogen concentration.
• Basic component of water
  Water, which is thought to be the most fundamental need of life, is made up of two molecules of hydrogen. The cells are kept hydrated, the muscles are kept lubricated, and toxins are eliminated on time. Furthermore, the hydrogen content aids the body’s immune system.

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That indicates that anything that increases the hydrogen content of water will be good for the body.

How Hydrogen is added to Water in Turapur Water Pitcher

Some hydrogen-rich water systems, which use osmosis and power to add additional molecules to water, cost thousands of dollars. TuraPur claims to offer comparable advantages at a fraction of the price, all in a simple pitcher. TuraPur employs many stages of filtration to restore hydrogen to water and improve its taste:

• A specialized filtration layer of NSF-certified activated carbon strips removes unpleasant taste and odor from your water.
• The water is softened by a coating of “Ion Exchange Resin.”
• The water is then enriched with free hydrogen by one layer each of magnesium, infrared ceramics, and tourmaline.
• When the water comes out of the pitcher, it’s refreshing, crisp, clean, and clear – and packed with additional hydrogen for optimal health benefits.

ACT NOW & SAVE – Click Here to Get Turapur Pitcher While Supplies Last on Discounted Offer

What does the Turapur Water Pitcher do?

TuraPur enriches your water with free hydrogen. You’re undoubtedly aware that water is made up of two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule (H2O). TuraPur increases the amount of hydrogen in your water, which aids in the battle against oxidative damage. As per the official website, the additional hydrogen molecule can “combat oxidative stress in your body and safeguard you from its detrimental consequences.” The water also has antioxidants that fight oxidation. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that cause oxidation in the bloodstream. The antioxidant molecules, according to the TuraPur sales page, “work like bodyguards who dive in front of you to take the bullet.”

Benefits of Turapur Water Pitcher

The TuraPur sales page extols the virtues of TuraPur and hydrogen-rich water. TuraPur’s creators say that drinking TuraPur on a daily basis can help promote the health of various vital organs. TuraPur says that by drinking the unique water on a daily basis, you may affect the health of all of the following:

• Brain
• Heart
• Lungs
• Skin
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Ears
• Gums

TuraPur’s sales website is replete with customer testimonials from people who have experienced significant health advantages after drinking TuraPur water. One 93-year-old lady claims her joints feel better after drinking the water, and that she can move about freely and quickly quenches her thirst with TuraPur water. Another woman says to have more energy and that her joints are feeling better. She also believes that drinking TuraPur water on a daily basis has made her skin seem healthier and younger. Other consumers claim to have increased stamina and energy, a pain-free lifestyle, and other advantages after drinking TuraPur water on a daily basis.

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Turapur Water Pitcher Costing

This pitcher is now $39.95 and includes automatic participation in their “Priority Pass” program. This subscription is designed to ensure that you “won’t spend a day without this incredible water invigorating every cell in your body.” This subscription stipulates that 60 days after receiving your pitcher, you will be given a new pack of three filters, and your credit card will be charged $45.

Customers will continue to get fresh filter packs every six months until they terminate their membership. According to the website, your Priority Pass membership would ultimately cost only 25 cents per day because its filters will last six months. They claim that if you compare it to the $1.50 you would spend for a single bottle of water, and you drink three bottles of water every day, it would add up to $270 every two months if you did not have the benefit of ionization.

However, in order to get true savings for your household, you must calculate your water bottle prices. To avoid costs, you can cancel your membership at any moment. If you do not cancel, you will be charged on a regular basis. Here’s how the hidden fees work:

• Today, the TuraPur water container costs $59.95, which includes one filter.
• TuraPur delivers three replacement filters in 45 days and bills your card an extra $45 cost.
• TuraPur provides three filter cartridges and charges your credit card $45 every six months after that.

In other words, by purchasing TuraPur now, you consent to a $90 annual membership. TuraPur filters are not available on any other website. TuraPur filters may only be purchased via the company’s official website, TuraPur.com. If you enjoy TuraPur and want to keep drinking hydrogen-rich water, our auto-ship service is ideal. When your old filter has to be changed, TuraPur sends you a new one. However, if you dislike TuraPur and do not need to change the filters every two months, this auto-ship scheme can rapidly become prohibitively expensive.

Refund Policy of Turapur Water Pitcher

As per the website’s sales page, they provide a three-year warranty that ensures your “water pitcher will arrive intact and work appropriately once installed.” Otherwise, any damaged components will be replaced free of charge. Filters, on the other hand, should be changed every two months, and normal wear and tear are not covered by warranty.” Unfortunately, it appears that they do not currently provide any form of standard Refund Policy to their clients.

About Health Sense Media

TuraPur is available online via Health Sense Media, LLC. The headquarters of that corporation is in Baltimore, Maryland. TuraPur sells three main products: the TuraPur Diverter, the TuraPur Countertop, and the TuraPur Water Pitcher. TuraPur.com and TuraPurWaterFilter.com appear to be operated by Health Sense Media, both of which sell the pitcher and filter subscription bundle.

Final Review

TuraPur is a water filtering device that adds extra free hydrogen to your water, ostensibly boosting the health benefits of your water. Drinking TuraPur water on a daily basis is said to enhance healthy inflammation throughout your body by providing more antioxidants. TuraPur costs $60 and includes a $45 auto-ship subscription every six months. You may purchase the TuraPur water pitcher online today at their website.

Overall, the Turapur pitcher is supported by a substantial amount of scientific study. For many years, people have been concerned about the possible hazards of both tap water and bottled water. Given that the Turapur pitcher is covered by a guarantee and that you may cancel your filter subscription at any time, it looks to be a good buy. To discover more about this one-of-a-kind water pitcher, go to the official website.

Click Here to Get Turapur Pitcher For a Special Discounted Price Online

Affiliate Disclosure

The links contained in this product review may result in a small commission if you opt to purchase the product recommended at no additional cost to you. This goes towards supporting our research and editorial team. Please know we only recommend high-quality products.

Disclaimer

Please understand that any advice or guidelines revealed here are not even remotely substitutes for sound medical or financial advice from a licensed healthcare provider or certified financial advisor. Make sure to consult with a professional physician or financial consultant before making any purchasing decision if you use medications or have concerns following the review details shared above. Individual results may vary as the statements regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA, or Health Canada approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or provide any kind of get-rich money scheme.

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Originally Appeared Here

ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff

Like other local authorities, Tasman District Council faces new regulations for its drinking water supplies.

Tasman District Council has approved an additional $160,000 of operational expenditure to comply with new requirements for its drinking water supplies and says another $960,855 will be needed next year.

The additional $160,000 for 2021-22 was approved by elected members during a discussion about the implications for the council of the Water Services Act 2021. Non-council water suppliers will also be affected.

A council report on the matter says the key implications of the act and supporting regulatory documents for the council are that it must develop new water safety plans, implement new source water protection requirements, implement more stringent sampling and monitoring requirements, and increase focus on the management of risks and hazards.

In addition, a key objective and requirement of the act is for water suppliers to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai (protect the health, wellbeing and mauri (life force) of water) to the extent it applies to their functions and duties.

READ MORE:
* Most people likely unaware of ‘over-the-top’ draft water rules, says mayor
* Te Tauihu iwi collaborate on freshwater management
* Marlborough council backs iwi collaboration on freshwater management

Cherie Sivignon/Stuff

Tasman District Council waters and wastes manager Mike Schruer says more staff are needed.

Crown water regulator Taumata Arowai has enforcements tools for those who don’t comply, ranging from infringement notices to criminal prosecution.

“There are significant penalties for breaching the act that can be given to individuals and/or body corporates,” the staff report says. “Any breach could compromise the council’s reputation.”

To comply with the requirements, the council needs to invest additional resources including more staff along with operational and capital expenditure.

Waters and wastes manager Mike Schruer​ told councillors that interviewing was under way for one person. Another two water quality specialists were wanted – one in 2022-23 and another in 2023-24.

“It requires a lot of in-house knowledge and access to in-house data and information,” Schruer said of the positions, adding consultants could be used at a “significant higher cost”.

STUFF

The Government will push ahead with Three Waters reform despite considerable opposition. Video first published on October 27, 2021.

In addition to $960,855 in operational expenditure for 2022-23, another $292,000 of capital expenditure is expected. For 2023-24, operational expenditure of $530,855 and capital expenditure of $228,500 is anticipated.

At a subsequent meeting, elected members received a report on stage one of the work involving representatives of Te Tauihu iwi as well as staff from Tasman District, Nelson City and Marlborough District councils on what giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai may mean in the top of the south.

The elected members also noted the parties would continue to collaborate and progress stage two.

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Originally Appeared Here

 Many Nigerians are groaning under acute water scarcity as vendors in several parts of the country have increased charges as a result of persistent power blackout and fuel scarcity making access to water for domestic needs difficult for many families.

While boreholes, wells and even streams in cities and rural communities are being overcrowded by families in need of water, LEADERSHIP Sunday observed that one might mistake them as car owners queuing for fuel or those waiting to collect souvenirs from events.

Abuja, Abia, Kaduna, Ekiti, Lagos, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kwara and Gombe are reported to be worst hit. Over 70 per cent of residents in the aforementioned states rely on solely on commercial water vendors who prior to the hardship sold a 20 litre jerry can of water for N10 as against the new rate of N50.

Further findings by our correspondents revealed that the scarcity has affected the production and distribution of sachet water (pure water) as many manufacturers used to source their water from public supply sources and private boreholes.

Consequently, a cart containing twelve 20-litre jerry cans which was sold for N250 now sells for N500.

LEADERSHIP Sunday also observed that most taps in city centres have gone dry without a drop of water for a couple of weeks.

Some borehole operators in Abuja told our correspondent that they were currently running at a loss, and they all agreed to add only N50 to the initial fixed price of N70 for which they sold a cart of 12 cans of 20-litre jerry cans.

Borehole operators in Kubwa, Nyanya, Karu, Kado and Gwarimpa and other suburbs of Abuja told LEADERSHIP Sunday that their facilities were crowded because domestic users who purchase water directly from them get it for as cheap as N20 for the 25-litre jerry can.

They said the price increase was due to the prolonged power outage and exorbitant fuel price, especially among black marketers which has remained at N400 per litre.

They said, “The electricity situation in Abuja as you can see is affecting our business; most people with boreholes aren’t even selling because most fuel stations  where they used to buy petrol from to pump their generators  are not willing to sell fuel in jerry cans. Worse is that soldiers often seize plastic containers, sometimes with already purchased fuel, leaving us frustrated.

Asked why water vendors popularly known as ‘mai-ruwa’ were selling at exorbitant prices, the borehole operators said; “They are independent and we cannot regulate their prices or decide for them. They are just hot cakes now, that too, they have seen that families that are lazy are patronising them.”

They said youths who are supposed to utilise the opportunity to make money for their families  have chosen to be parasites to their parents and relatives, while foreigners from neighbouring Niger and Mali were making brisk business after which they would travel back home for their farm work.

Some water vendors who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday said they were Nigeriens and Malians who came into Nigeria in search of greener pasture. They said most borehole operators who use power generators to sell water to them do so at higher rates.

They said; “We have no choice but to pass the cost to our customers, although they complain, we also explain to them, it is not easy to push a truck loaded with water around.

“This is because we do not find it easy to cope with the high demand this dry season; the job of ‘mai-ruwa’ (water vendor) is energy sapping. Every day, you have pains all over the body, so what we do is to rest when the sun is much.

“We even charge higher for those who stay upstairs. We don’t always like to carry water to such customers, we charge like between N60 per jerry can for people that stay on the first floor, while we take N70 for higher floors.”

Many residents said they spend between N500 and N700 daily on the average on water due to lack of public water supply in their areas.

Mrs Linda Ogbe, a housewife, said she now spends over N300 daily on water compared to N60 she spent before now for the same quantity of water due to the fuel scarcity.

She prayed to see the end of the prolonged power outage and fuel scarcity.

Mrs Ogbe said, “This water thing has not been easy for us in the past three weeks and the additional cost is becoming unbearable; we want the government to provide water for residents. Water boards nationwide should be begged to pump water, they should be reminded that their job doesn’t stop at distributing bills.

Another resident said; “Even of more concern is the quality of water, the vendors source from shallow wells which might not meet acceptable public health standards.

“The current water situation can lead to an epidemic should any waterborne disease break out, it is God that has been keeping us,” she said.

A school proprietress, (names withheld) told LEADERSHIP Sunday that until the ugly development, they depended solely on the water board for water. She expressed fears about the health of her pupils as she emphasised that water is hygiene.

“My dear, I fear for my learners. Reason is that we now patronise water vendors but the question is how many trucks can we buy in a day? Our toilets, in fact, I can say most school toilets are not properly flushed. We are handicapped. This isn’t healthy. No light, no fuel and no water. We hardly can convey school pupils using the school bus and after all the stress, one cannot get water to freshen up. I fear for Nigeria, if nothing is done to address this mess, families, schools and in fact, all public places might be forced to stop people from using public rest rooms,” she said.

Like most states of the federation, prices charged by water producers and vendors in Ekiti State have increased. The association of water producers, particularly sachet water, about a week ago, increased the price of water by around 70 per cent.

The leadership of the association in the state after a series of meetings with members even before the fuel crisis had announced their resolve to increase the price.

A bag of sachet water formerly sold between N130 and N140 is now sold for N200. A water producer in the state, Mr James Adamolekun, said they had no option than to increase the price in order not to run at a loss.

He said; “The cost of maintaining our distribution vans, micro filters, water facilities, fuel and diesel have skyrocketed so we are left with no option.”

In the Benue State capital Makurdi, though there is the River Niger, water scarcity has remained a major challenge. The story is the same in Abia, Kaduna, Gombe, Plataeu, Kwara, Nasarawa and other states.

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Originally Appeared Here

Dear Editor,

Protecting our drinking water is of utmost importance, even when it comes to siting renewable energy projects that may reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

The Ulster County Legislature is on the verge of awarding a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement to SG Pioneer PV to build a giant 20-acre solar farm directly next to the Binnewater Reservoir, which provides water to 23,000 Kingston residents.

The project will require 20 acres of forest to be razed that is directly next to our source of drinking water. According to the Center for Watershed Protection, there are many natural connections between protecting water from pollution and tree cover.

Additionally, metals like lead and cadmium used in solar panels may leach out and get into groundwater, as well as affect plants. These metals have a detrimental effect on human health. Lead impairs brain development in children, and cadmium is a carcinogen.

Waste from used solar panels is going to be a huge problem by 2050, because solar panels only last five to 25 years and can easily be damaged by weather events and crack open. The decommissioning agreement SG Pioneer PV has signed with the Town of Ulster only accounts for the removal of the panels and remediation of the panels after 25 years; it has no timeline or duty for the company to replace panels or to report how long panels were damaged before they replace them.

The Legislature has a duty to the people of Kingston to look further into this project before it is awarded a PILOT. It has not been in the newspaper once. It requires tax breaks and grants to be financially viable. It is directly next to our sole source of drinking water. The public must be thoroughly informed about the tradeoffs and risks of siting this project directly next to our drinking water.

Alex Panagiotopoulos

Kingston, N.Y.

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Originally Appeared Here

About half of Montana schools that had tested their water by mid-February under a new state rule had high levels of lead, according to state data. But the full picture isn’t clear because less than half of the state’s school buildings had provided water samples six weeks after the deadline.

For many schools with high lead levels, finding the money to fix the problem will be a challenge. The options aren’t great. They can compete for a dwindling pool of state money, seek federal aid passed last year, or add the repairs to their long lists of capital improvement projects and pay for the work themselves.

“We prioritized emergency needs and then will follow up with the next-most-serious thing,” said Brian Patrick, Great Falls Public Schools’ director of business services and operations. “Obviously, this is something we want to get addressed right away. We want safe water for our kids.”

Lead, a toxic metal long known to cause lasting organ and nervous system damage, can make its way into drinking water through pipes and fixtures. Children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can slow development and cause learning, speech, and behavioral problems. Although federal rules require that community water sources be tested for lead, schools have largely been free from that oversight and can decline to be tested.

The rule in Montana, created by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services in 2020, requires schools to check at least every three years for lead in the water of any sink or fountain used for drinking or food prep. Schools’ initial deadline to get that done was Dec. 31, 2021. According to the rule, any faucet whose water has a lead concentration of 5 parts per billion or higher must be fixed or routinely flushed. Fixtures that test higher than 15 ppb must immediately be shut off.

“There is no safe level of lead,” said health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt. “And that is why schools, DPHHS, and [the Department of Environmental Quality] are taking actions to remove sources of lead in children’s environment.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water fountains not have water lead concentrations higher than 1 ppb, according to a 2016 policy paper.

State officials have said 589 school buildings need to meet Montana’s new rule. Of the 222 schools that had turned in samples by Feb. 18, 110 had at least one water fixture with lead levels higher than 15 ppb, according to a KHN analysis of state data. Almost a third of all fixtures tested so far across the state had dangerous levels of lead in their water, according to state data.

The highest test result so far came from Skyview High School in Billings, where a sink in a theater control room tested at 7,800 ppb — federal environmental regulators classify lead concentrations over 5,000 ppb as hazardous waste. That sink and any other that had levels higher than 15 ppb were blocked off from use, said Scott Reiter, director of facilities at Billings Public Schools.  

Montana’s rule mandates that schools’ results be publicly posted but doesn’t require schools to tell parents when students have been exposed. For many Montana schools, this is the first time they’ve tested for lead.

In some cases, schools with a long list of high lead numbers must wait for solutions, with some sinks and fountains blocked from use. At Billings West High School, more than 40 fixtures tested in the red — higher than 15 ppb — out of 139 samples taken. As of mid-February, repair work hadn’t begun at Billings West as district officials prioritized projects that keep access to drinking water for students and employees in other schools, whether that’s applying filters or replacing fixtures.

“We’re just taking it one school at a time,” said Billings Public Schools Superintendent Greg Upham. “In some cases, it will fall to our general funding facilities budget, which is unfortunate, but, you know, on the safety side of it, that’s what we need to do.”

Greg Montgomery, who manages DEQ’s new monitoring program, said he’s still reaching out to schools that haven’t finished sending in water samples. “This rule rolled out right as covid hit,” Montgomery said. “And schools have also had a lot of turnover. I’ll get calls from new facility people saying they just heard about the program and how do they get started.”

Although DEQ helps oversee the program, the rule’s enforcement falls to DPHHS. Ebelt said the deadline was set before the pandemic and covid slowed that work for many schools.

He said a total of 308 schools had submitted an inventory of their buildings’ plumbing fixtures and more samples had been coming in. As of Feb. 28, 293 schools had provided samples. Not all results have been posted.

“We plan to be flexible with the deadline and will continue to work with schools,” Ebelt said.

Classroom and bathroom sinks were more likely than any other type of fixture to have high levels of lead. Of all the drinking fountains tested, 20% tested high enough to need flushing or get turned off, according to state environmental officials. Schools don’t have a deadline to make repairs, though some have taken anything whose water tested over 5 ppb out of service.

Nationwide, no one has tracked how many lead pipes deliver water to homes, schools, and businesses, let alone tested every faucet for traces of the neurotoxin. At least seven states — California, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Virginia — require school districts to test for lead and report elevated levels to parents, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Last year, Washington state mandated that schools test drinking water for lead if the buildings went up or pipes went in before 2016. And in 2020, Virginia lawmakers instructed school boards to submit plans to test for lead and to make fixes if needed.

Patrick, with Great Falls Public Schools, said that in some cases, the district brought in water bottle fill stations with filters to replace old hallway drinking fountains. The district already had plans to use part of the proceeds from a bond issuance to replace the internal piping at Lewis and Clark Elementary School, where 23 fixtures had lead levels of 5 ppb or higher.

He said that the district had considered testing in the past but that the estimated cost was too high. With the new rule, the state covers the cost of lab tests and supplies for taking samples.

However, if repairs are needed, many schools may be left to foot the bill themselves. The state set aside $40,000 to help schools fix problems, but that money is first come, first served. As of Feb. 18, about $15,000 remained.

Patrick said that as schools calculate total repair costs, they’re submitting that information to state officials. He hopes that more than $40,000 will be set aside for repair projects the next time schools submit samples. For now, the gap in funding may mean delaying other projects. “It just means a project that we’re going to do, like re-asphalting part of a playground or something like that, gets postponed for another year,” he said.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill that Congress passed late last year included $55 billion to expand access to clean drinking water. But the money hasn’t been disbursed to states yet, it’s not limited to school repairs, and how much of that funding will land in Montana isn’t clear yet.

Montgomery, of DEQ, said that if schools don’t have the money to make fixes, some may qualify for rural development grants or low-interest loans.

In Troy, 27 of the 58 water fixtures tested at the elementary school came back above the state’s allowed limit of less than 5 ppb, with five in the red. The rural school district now faces the cost of repairing those water sources after incurring the hidden cost of the staff time it takes to inventory and sample every water source — no small expense for a small district with limited cash and workers.

“We’re just going to chip away at it with the general funds that we do have, and there may be some areas that we just shut down different water sources too,” said Jacob Francom, superintendent of Troy Public Schools. “Fixtures are very expensive — and testing regularly, I mean, it starts to add up.”

KHN data editor Holly Hacker contributed to this article.

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In an effort to help solve the undrinkable water crisis in some First Nations communities, the federal government has launched a call for problem-solving proposals.  

The Canadian government announced on March 2, 2022, that they have launched a call for proposals for projects that address the retention, recruitment, and availability of water and wastewater operators working on reserves.  

The Honorable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services commented on the need for safe drinking water, “Our government remains committed to improving access to clean drinking water for First Nations communities.” 

She continued, “For many of these communities in need of long-term solutions for reliable access to safe, clean water, the availability and retention of a trained water and wastewater operator plays an important part in addressing that challenge.” 

“Proposals funded through this initiative will help to address some of these barriers and support First Nations in creating and sustaining a qualified workforce of operators,” she concluded.  

Proposals need to address community-based, regional, or national issues related to building water and wastewater operator capacity in First Nations communities.  

Proposals that are delivered or offered by Indigenous communities, organizations or in partnership with Indigenous peoples, will be prioritized.  

Projects that get selected will receive up to $500,000 in funding.  

The deadline to submit a proposal is April 25, 2022.  

According to the Government of Canada, they are committed to supporting First Nations as they implement sustainable solutions that address the need for skilled operators in ways that best suit their communities. 

Since 2016, the Government of Canada has committed over $5.2 billion to build and repair water and wastewater infrastructure, and to support effective management and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on reserve.  

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The price of sachet water, commonly known as ‘pure water’ has doubled across most states in the country, selling at a minimum of N20 per sachet from N10 recorded earlier in the year.

This is based on a recent survey carried out by Nairametrics Research across some states in the country. Specifically, a 20 pieces bag of sachet water rose by 100% to sell for a minimum of N200 wholesale price, compared to an initial average of N100 per bag, while a sachet now sells for N20.

Nigerians have had to reluctantly accept the price increase, considering it is the most popular and convenient source of drinking water in most areas of Nigeria. Several households also use it as their major source of drinking water in their homes.

The increase in the price of pure water is coming at a time when Nigerians are grappling with drooping effect of increased inflationary pressure from almost all fronts, with cost of food items continually moving up, transportation cost also surging on the back of sustained fuel scarcity in the country.

The recent increase in the price of sachet water indicates a 300% compared to N5 recorded before the covid-19 lockdown in 2020. The price increase has now spread across major states in Nigeria, with Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Imo States amongst others already selling a sachet of pure water for N20.

What they are saying

According to Mr. Alex, a manager of a sachet water company in Ogun State, he explained to Nairametrics that the union agreed to increase the price of sachet water to reflect changes in the prices of production materials in the country.

“The price of materials has surged, and it has affected our ability to even record profits, as a bag of sachet water at N100 is really below production cost,” he said.

In the same direction, Mrs Jane, a pure water seller in Abuja stated that the price increase commenced immediately after the strike action embarked on in September 2021, which resulted to a 100% increase in the wholesale price from N100 to N200 per bag.

Consequently, the price of a sachet of pure water moved from N10 to N20 per sachet, while some traders sell for a discounted rate of three sachet for N50.

Back story

Water Producers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) stated in November of 2021 that the price of ‘pure water’ could rise from N20 to about N50 per sachet if the federal government implements the proposed Excise Duty on carbonated beverages.

The statement was following the move of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to amend the Finance Act to include levies on all carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.

What this means

While Nigerians are still dealing the weakening effect of surging inflationary pressure as a result of high cost of food items, transport cost and other related issues, they will have to make provision to buy sachet water for double the price, hereby eroding their purchasing power further.

Sachet water, which has in time past been an easy-to-get item, before now with N20, a customer would be able to buy four sachets of water, however, can now only get 25% of its initial value in just less than two years.

Related

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