A proposal by the Aquarion Water Company aims to gradually increase costs for consumers, reaching up to a 27% increase.

The water company filed a notice with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) indicating their intent to seek a rate increase.

In a statement, the company said it’s been nine and a half years since its last rate review and since then, they’ve invested $740 million in critical infrastructure. That investment aims to ensure the high quality of its customers’ drinking water.

The gradual increase proposes to raise rates 13.9% in year one, an additional 6.9% in year two and an added 4.2% in year three.

“Aquarion’s reliable water service and hydrant maintenance also help fire departments across Connecticut protect lives, residences, and businesses,” an Aquarion spokesperson said in a statement.

Attorney General William Tong said his office “will intervene to vigorously review and scrutinize every aspect of this rate request.”

“The last thing Connecticut families and small businesses need right now is a double-digit water bill hike, on top of steadily mounting surcharges. I fully support modernizing our aging water infrastructure, but we need to make sure we are doing it in a way that respects the financial pressures Connecticut families and small businesses are facing right now,” Tong said in a statement.

Aquarion officials said their water rates are among the most affordable in the industry and in Connecticut. They said their competitive rates will continue even with the proposed rate schedules.

“The Office of Consumer Counsel will advocate vigorously for Aquarion water customers throughout this rate proceeding to ensure a just and reasonable outcome. Rising water prices are a challenge across the country, and water is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many low-income households, which presents serious health and safety risks. I am dedicated to fighting for affordable and equitable water rates for all Connecticut residents,” said Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman.

Aquarion was acquired by Eversource in 2017, according to Tong. Eversource deferred to Aquarion officials for information on the price hike.

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Originally Appeared Here

The #PadiofLife campaign was also a formal unveiling of Aquafina brand ambassadors, popular Nollywood actors, Kate Henshaw, Munachi Abii, Jemima Osunde, Jide Kene and popular social media water crusader, Aproko Doctor.

Aquafina used its ambassadors to tell relatable stories about the crucial role of clean water to healthy living and connected the benefits of friendship to that of clean water in the body.

Here are four key things to know about Aquafina Pure Drinking Water.

Premium International Brand: Aquafina is a global brand produced by the makers of Pepsi. It was first produced in 1994 at Wichita, Kansas, and is available in 35 countries, reaching billions of consumers globally. Aquafina is also produced in Nigeria and is regarded as one of the best-selling bottled water brands because of its guaranteed purity and premium quality.

Seven-step Filtration Process: Aquafina undergoes seven-step filtration protocols, including reverse osmosis to eliminate dissolved solids and organic compounds, carbon filtration, ozonation and ultraviolet light to deliver water that is pure and safe to drink. Aquafina is purity guaranteed and has a valid claim to status as one of the best water brands for nutritional health purposes.

It’s not just water, it’s a lifestyle: Aquafina is not just a water brand, but also a promoter of healthy lifestyle. The brand promotes healthy lifestyle with its sponsorship of notable events/activities including the Lagos City Marathon and the notable Aquafina Elite Model Look.

Availability: Aquafina is a global brand available in 35 countries. For consumers looking for clean, safe, and pure drinking water, Aquafina is available all over the country and comes in 50cl, 75cl, and 150cl pet bottles.

Like they say, ‘water no get enemy’. You can’t go wrong with Aquafina, the ever-present Padi of Life.

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The pandemic has given us a different perspective of life. And one of those involves the increasing love for remote work. More and more people are going off the grid to explore the world without compromising their professional life. And RVs seem to be the perfect companion for this lifestyle. These mobile homes are quite the rage among celebrities too.

Living Vehicle is a luxury RV maker and its 2023 line-up of RVs has been upgraded with a slew of new features that will give you the power to live off the grid, without compromising on your quality of life.

The 2023 Living Vehicle RVs packs available water generating systems and a fully-stacked mobile workstation. The guys at Watergen are behind the water generating equipment used in these RVs, that can create water from moisture in the air.

This allows you to be completely independent for clean drinking water, and powering this tech is pure solar energy. Apart from the cool technology bits, these RVs are high on luxury, comfort, and space too. The 2023 Living Vehicle RVs start with an MSRP of $$339,995. Each of these RVs is built-to-order and highly customizable. The current waiting period is 10 to 12 months.

With more solar power than any EV out there and the technology to create water from air, the 2023 Living Vehicle RVs are ready to leave civilization behind.

Living Vehicle RV Can Make Up To Five Gallons Of Water Daily, From Thin Air

Via: Living Vehicle

The highlight feature of this luxury RV is its capability to create water from the air. The Watergen atmospheric water generator (AWG) is an evolved version of the military-spec machine that was developed by the Israeli company back in 2014.

Over the years, this technology has gone through various changes and has become a lot more efficient. There have been instances of Watergen using a prototype water generator on concept vehicles before, but the 2023 Living Vehicle RV, is the first-ever usage of the Watergen system in a production vehicle.

Via: Living Vehicle

This system sucks in atmospheric air through a vent on the side of the RV. Condensation is then used to extract moisture from the air along with the removal of dust and debris. The water is then passed through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization process.

Then the water is sterilized using UV rays to irradicate any harmful bacteria and viruses. The created water is then stored in a tank which is then used for various purposes, including drinking. The Watergen system is fused into the RV’s power grid and works completely off solar energy, amassed from the rooftop.

Via: Living Vehicle

In its most efficient cycle, the water generator can churn out 19 liters of drinking water per day. This is ample for a family of four to survive in the most remote areas with ease. And if this system manages to create excess water from the air (courtesy of extremely humid areas), then the surplus is fed to the 379-liter onboard fresh water tank.

The minimum level of humidity required by the Watergen system to do its magic is 20 percent. As almost all of America has an average humidity of 30 percent and above, you can be anywhere and still get clean drinking water.

Related: This Amazing School Bus RV Conversion Is Nicer Than The Average Home

2023 Living Vehicle RV Packs A Work-From-Anywhere Setup

Via: Living Vehicle

Living Vehicle knows very well that the people who plan on getting their Watergen-equipped RVs to want to stay away from civilization, in peace and tranquility. In short, they knew that digital nomads would love this RV package.

And so to make this sweeter for them, their RVs apart from making water from thin air also hide a stacked digital area courtesy of the newly introduced Apple-backed Creative Studio remote office package.

Via: Living Vehicle

This workstation setup is neatly integrated into the underside of a foldable bed on the far end of the RV. This digital space includes either a 27- or 32-inch display from Apple which is connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro. And all of this sits on a beautiful 80-inch one or two-person desk, that neatly folds under the queen-sized bed.

Related: Skyscraper On Wheels: A Tour Of Mariah Carey’s $1.8 Million 2-Story RV

This Water-Making RV Packs Everything You Need To Live Off The Grid

Via: Living Vehicle

Living Vehicle has gone for an all-aluminum build to create a spacious and beautiful interior layout. It also gets a fold-out front porch which further elevates its spacious character. The further end of the RV houses the hybrid space that packs a fully-stocked kitchen with a removable island, a 368-liter refrigerator, a microwave, and an optional dishwasher and oven.

Via: Living Vehicle

The section closer to the tow-hook is a dedicated queen-bed-equipped master suite that can also double up as the creative studio. This area also houses a washing machine, a closet, and a three-drawer dresser. But all these bits are not fixed, as Living Vehicle offers various customization options.

Via: Living Vehicle

This RV also comes with one of the largest bathing areas we have come across. It is a 32X36-inch area that can also be stacked further with luxury fitments along with an outdoor shower provision.

Related: The Z-Triton Is A Bike, A Boat, And A Funky RV

2023 Living Vehicle RV: Models And Pricing

Via: Living Vehicle

The 2023 Living Vehicle RV comes in four model options. The base CORE model is priced from $339,995 and packs a 1,400W solar power capacity, a 14.4 kWh Li-Ion battery pack, and a 5 kWh hybrid inverter. Next up is the MAX model which starts from $399,995 and packs a 2,600W solar system, a 28.8 kWh battery pack, and a 10 kWh hybrid inverter.

The top-spec models include PRO ($469,996; 3000W solar power, 43.2 kWh battery pack, and 15 kWh inverter), and PRO-EV ($509,995; 3,400W, 57.6 kWh, and 20 kWh inverter). The EV charging tech ranges from a base Level-1 charging tech to a 240V Level 2 charging capability. This luxury RV has a maximum GVWR of 18,000 pounds.

Source: Living Vehicle

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Water is a prime natural resource and is very essential for all living beings. It is a basic human need and very essential for our socio-economic development. All over the world, due to the increase in population along with rapid industrialisation, the need for water is increasing fast.

Every year, nearly 500,000 km3 of water evaporates from water bodies on the planet and about 74,000 km3 per year evaporates from soil and vegetation. Out of this, 458,000 km3 goes back to the ocean as rain. It has been estimated that out of the total rainfall on land amounting to 118,000 km3 again, nearly 43,000 km3 of freshwater flows back to the oceans.

In view of this, we have got a great scope to refrain most of the freshwater from going back to the ocean and saving and utilise it by applying various techniques such as harvesting rainwater on the surface, recharging the aquifers with
rainwater, developing the wetlands, maintaining the river basin to accommodate more water and constructing small dams at suitable sites on different rivers etc.

In addition to this, necessary steps have to be taken to prevent the pollution of freshwater bodies and make proper arrangements for scientifically transporting water for various purposes with minimum waste. Agriculture being the major water-consuming sector, scientific methods should be developed to maximise the utilisation of water for agricultural production throughout the year.

It is suggested that, during the planning and implementation of water resource development and conservation projects, the following important aspects as summarised below should be taken into consideration.

Surface and Ground Water Development

Integrated and coordinated development of surface water and groundwater resources and their conjunctive use should be defined right from the project planning stage and form an integral part of the project implementation.

Drinking water for all concerned

Adequate safe drinking water facilities should be planned and provided for all the people concerned throughout the year. In this regard, water from deep bore wells should be mostly earmarked for drinking purposes.

Irrigation

Irrigation planning either in an individual project or a basin as a whole should take into consideration, the quantum of land, cost-effective irrigation options, appropriate irrigation techniques for optimising water use, benefits of irrigation to a larger number of families, and the need to maximise production etc.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation

Optimal use of water resources necessitates the construction of storage may be in form of small dams, where resettlement and rehabilitation issues come into the picture. Therefore, careful planning and implementation are necessary to ensure that construction and rehabilitation activities are implemented smoothly.

Financial and Physical Sustainability

Water charges for various uses should be fixed in such a manner, that it covers at least the operation and maintenance charges for providing water. It should also cover a part of capital cost. However, the subsidy on water charges for poor sections of society should be taken into consideration.

Participative Approach to Water Resource Management

In addition to Government agencies, the users and other stakeholders should be associated with various aspects of planning, implementation and management of water resource schemes. Necessary legal and institutional changes should be made at various levels for the purpose as far as possible.  The role of women should be ensured in the framing and implementation of various projects.

 Private Sector Participation

Private sector participation should help in a big way in introducing new ideas, generating financial resources, introducing corporate management, and improving service efficiency and accountability to users.

Water Quality and Quantity

Both surface and groundwater should be regularly monitored for quality and quantity. Effluents should be treated to acceptable levels before discharging into natural streams. Minimum flow should be ensured in perennial streams for maintaining ecology and social consideration. The principle of “polluter pays” should be followed in the management of polluted water. Necessary legislation should be made for the preservation of existing water bodies.

Water Zoning

At the national as well as state levels, there should be a water zoning and the economic activities should be guided accordingly. Industrial and urban developments should be regulated in accordance with such zoning.

Conservation of water 

A necessary plan should be made to conserve water resources. Its availability should be augmented by maximising retention, eliminating pollution and minimising losses. The efficiency of utilisation of water should be optimised. Awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered.

Flood Control and Management

There should be a master plan for flood control and management for each flood-prone basin. Adequate flood cushions should be provided in water storage projects. There should be strict regulation and economic activity in flood plain zones along with floodproofing to minimise loss of life and property. Flood forecasting activities should be modernised.

Land Erosion by Sea or River 

The erosion of land by sea or river should be minimised by suitable cost-effective measures. Each coastal state should prepare a comprehensive coastal management plan keeping in view the environmental and ecological impacts and regulate developmental activities accordingly.

Drought Prone Area Development

Drought-associated problems should be minimised through soil moisture conservation measures, rainwater harvesting, development of groundwater potential, transfer of surface water from surplus areas, development of pastures, forestry etc. which are relatively less water demanding.

Water Sharing

Water sharing among the states should be guided by a national perspective plan by taking into consideration water resource availability and needs within the river basin. The inter-state water disputes acts should be suitably reviewed from time to time and amended for timely solving water disputes.

Monitoring of Projects

Close monitoring of projects should be done to remove any bottleneck to implement the projects in time. There should be continuous monitoring and evaluation to follow up on the performance and socio-economic impacts of the project.

Performance Improvement

Allocation of funds in underwater resource sectors should be reprioritised to ensure that the funds required for development as well as for the operation and maintenance of facilities are available in time.

Maintenance and Modernisation

Structures and systems created in water resource projects should be properly maintained for which financial provisions should be made in the annual budget. Regular monitoring of structures and systems should be made and a modernisation programme should be undertaken as and when necessary.

Safety of Structures 

Proper organisational arrangements both at the national and state levels should be made to ensure the safety of storage dams and other water-related structures. Dam safety legislation should be enacted to ensure proper inspection, maintenance and surveillance of existing dams and to ensure proper planning, design and construction of new ones.

Science and Technology Input

For effective and economic management of water resources, advanced science and technology in related areas should be infused into the system to make the programmes techno economically viable.

Training of Personnel 

In order to plan, implement and monitor the projects properly, training should be given to involved personnel in areas of project planning and formulation, project management, operation, management of water distribution system etc.

An integrated and multi-disciplinary approach has to be made in planning, formulating, clearing and implementing water resource development and conservation projects, so that all sections of people get benefited throughout the year. The water project planning should give special attention to the needs of the weaker sections of society. The involvement and participation of beneficiaries and other stakeholders should be affected right from the project planning stage through its implementation.

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Originally Appeared Here

Photo: The Canadian Press

A Navy investigation released Thursday, June 30, 2022 revealed that shoddy management and human error caused fuel to leak into Pearl Harbor’s tap water last year, poisoning thousands of people and forcing military families to evacuate their homes for hotels.

A Navy investigation released Thursday revealed that shoddy management and human error caused fuel to leak into Pearl Harbor’s tap water last year, poisoning thousands of people and forcing military families to evacuate their homes for hotels.

The investigation is the first detailed account of how jet fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, a massive World War II-era military-run tank farm in the hills above Pearl Harbor, leaked into a well that supplied water to housing and offices in and around the sprawling base. Some 6,000 people suffered nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms.

After months of resistance, the military in April agreed to an order from the state of Hawaii to drain the tanks and close the Red Hill facility. A separate report the Defense Department provided to the state Department of Health on Thursday said December 2024 was the earliest it could defuel the tanks safely.

The investigation report listed a cascading series of mistakes from May 6, 2021, when operator error caused a pipe to rupture and 21,000 gallons of fuel to spill when fuel was being transferred between tanks. Most of this fuel spilled into a fire suppression line and sat there for six months, causing the line to sag. A cart rammed into this sagging line on Nov. 20, releasing 20,000 gallons of fuel.

The area where the cart hit the line isn’t supposed to have fuel, and so the officials who responded to the spill didn’t have the right equipment to capture the liquid.

“The team incorrectly assumes that all of the fuel has been sopped up,” Adm. Sam Paparo, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, told reporters at a news conference. About 5,000 gallons wasn’t recovered.

“Meanwhile, over the course of eight days, that fuel enters into this French drain that is under the concrete and seeps slowly and quietly into the Red Hill well. And that fuel into the Red Hill well is then pumped into the Navy system,” Paparo said.

Red Hill officials thought that only 1,618 gallons had leaked in the May spill and that they recovered all but 38 gallons. They noticed that one of the tanks was short 20,000 gallons but believed it had flowed through the pipes and didn’t realize it had flown into the fire suppression line. They didn’t report the discrepancy to senior leadership.

After the November spill when people started getting sick, the military moved about 4,000 mostly military families into hotels for months while they waited for their water to be safe again.

The report said officials defaulted to assuming the best about what was happening when the spills occurred, instead of assuming the worst, and this contributed to their overlooking the severity of situation.

Paparo said the Navy was trying to move away from that. He called it an ongoing process “to get real with ourselves” and “being honest about our deficiencies.”

He recommended that the Navy review operations at 48 defense fuel storage facilities worldwide.

“We cannot assume Red Hill represents an outlier, and similar problems may exist at other locations,” Paparo wrote in the report.

The report said the investigation revealed that poor training and supervision, ineffective leadership and an absence of ownership regarding operational safety also contributed to the incident.

“The lack of critical thinking, intellectual rigor, and self-assessment by key leaders at decisive moments exemplified a culture of complacency and demonstrated a lack of professionalism that is demanded by the high consequence nature of fuel operations,” the report said.

In particular, the investigation highlighted a February 2021 decision by the commanding officer of Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor to remove uniformed military oversight from day-to-day operations at Red Hill. The report said this significantly increased the risks of fuel handling operations.

It also noted key leaders at the scene of the November 2021 spill failed to exercise a sense of urgency, critical thinking, forceful backup and timely and effective communication demanded “by the seriousness of the situation.”

Navy leaders briefed reporters on the investigation on Thursday but had placed an embargo on it until early Friday morning. The Defense Department also filed a copy of its defueling plan with state Department of Health to meet a Thursday deadline. State health officials released both the investigation and the defueling plan to the pubic on Thursday.

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Kochi: Around 500 families in Vaduthala region are reeling under drinking water shortage as the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is yet to restore the drinking water supply which was stopped around three months ago.
The supply restoration works are delayed due to the delay in the interconnection works on KWA pipeline in Pachalam region.
The issue of water shortage is severe in Kalathipparambu Road, Ganapathy Temple Road, Janakiya Colony and Kotheri Road.
Recently the residents of division 31 of the city corporation had staged a protest at the KWA executive engineer’s office demanding a permanent solution for the issue and the officials had promised that the works on the pipeline at Pachalam would be completed soon. But the people are still depending on the limited quantity of water delivered through tanker trucks.
The councillor of the division Henry Austin said that procedures for the interconnection works at Pachalam have already begun and the issue is expected to be resolved within weeks. The works are being carried out using a fund of Rs 16 lakh.

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Originally Appeared Here

An organization in “B.C.” is working to empower Indigenous communities to solve water solutions through the creative minds of their own youth. 

The Indigenous Youth Potable Water Innovation Challenge is awarding $15,000 to groups of youth to come up with water solutions in their own communities. 

The organization behind the challenge, RESEAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation (RESEAU-CMI), is a non-profit centre of excellence hosted by the University of British Columbia (UBC). The idea is to get more Indigenous Youth involved in solving water solutions. They’re using this as an opportunity to challenge them, and help facilitate access for the youth to work alongside expert scientists and innovators. while also supporting them with scientists and innovators. 

They explained in conversation with IndigiNews that they also hope this helps the 34 Indigenous communities across Canada that are constantly under boil water advisories. 

Pictured above is the “Priest Lake” Community Water Treatment Plant Facility, on Si’ yi yen (Texada Island). After a mandate for proper water treatment came into effect, island residents collaborated with RESEAU-CMI, formulating solutions for safe drinking water while using different water treatment processes. Together they helped build this water treatment plant facility. Photo courtesy of RESEAU-CMI

Growing up in the lower mainland away from her own community, Kimberley Brown, who is from Lax Kw’alaams territory in the northwestern interior, didn’t think that a career in water was possible. 

“I don’t think youth know you can have a job in water, or that you can be involved in your community through water,” she said. 

Kimberley, who is a mixed Northwestern European and Tsimshian engineer, has been submerged in the world of water engineering since graduating from UBC in 2019. Her graduation project, which she worked on through RESEAU, involved creating a sea can-sized water treatment facility for a remote community in northern “B.C.” 

She now specializes in two areas of work: water treatment plants, and Indigenous community infrastructure. And, she’s helping lead this Youth-focused project, which she hopes will inspire more Indigenous Youth to become involved in water science. 

The Indigenous Youth Potable Water Innovation Challenge is a recently-launched pilot program, and there are still several opportunities left to get involved, as of June 2022. 

With up to $20,000 ($15,000 for the idea, $5,000 in administration support) in available funding per community, money can go towards paying Youth to problem-solve as they work together to brainstorm solutions for clean water in their communities. Assisted by scientists, entrepreneurs and experts from the water industry, Youth will workshop their ideas before presenting them to their community. 

Their brainstormed ideas could eventually be implemented into real-world solutions that help their communities.

A Tl’azt’en Nation water operator and community member cut down the Boil Water Advisory sign that had been up in the community for a decade. Through a project led by RESEAU-CMI which brought a new water treatment plant, the community celebrated the return of clean drinking water in 2018. Photo courtesy of RESEAU CMI

According to RESEAU-CMI, the Youths’ ideas will be judged by their own community as well as an Indigenous Advisory Council, which is overseeing the program development.

Outside of supporting the teams through experts in the field, once the money is awarded, RESEAU-CMI steps back. Communities, they explained, are free to use that money how they see fit. 

“It’s all very based off of self-determination [and] self-governance,” said Kimberley.

“Maybe they want to take that $15,000 and split it up between scholarships for those kids. That’s really not our decision.”

All communities deserve successful water solutions

While the organization hopes to get up to eight communities involved, they won’t be forcing them to compete against each other. They want every community to succeed in finding solutions. 

“The evaluation will be by the community — like the leaders themselves,” said Kimberley. 

Already, RESEAU-CMI is receiving pitches. 

Kimberley shared an idea presented by a group of eight youth in grades 9-12 from the Lax Kw’alaams Band, North of “Prince Rupert,” where they attend Lax Kw’alaams Wap Suwilaawksa (Coast Tsimshian Academy). 

Within Lax Kw’alaams territory, there are two water dams: an upper and a lower dam, which both have water settling issues. 

“Their proposed project is to have the kids help come up with the solution for the lower dam, to create a settling pond. What that will do, is lower the amount of turbidity that enters through the distribution system and ends up at the water treatment plant,” Kimberley explained. 

“So the water that will be coming to the water treatment plant will already be cleaner, in a sense. It will still need to be treated, but at a lower level.”

The Lax Kw’alaams Youth will be helping to create the preliminary design of the settling pond. 

Get Involved

Applying is a simple process as well. Visit https://www.reseaucmi.org/work/k-12 for more information, and reach out to [email protected] to learn more. 

All the organization asks for is your community name, a contact in the community (teacher, head of public works, etc), as well as how many kids will be involved, including a team name and a school if it will be involved.

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Originally Appeared Here

Schools encouraged to use elementary & secondary school emergency relief funding for lead remediation

HELENA—Schools across Montana are testing their drinking water for lead. More than 380 schools have already received their results and are in the process of remediating plumbing fixtures that showed elevated levels of lead. 

Testing for lead in school drinking water is a requirement for Montana schools that provide a basic instructional program that is approved by the Board of Education, as indicated in the Department of Public Health and Human Services’ (DPHHS) rules. If test results show lead concentrations at 5.0 ug/L or higher, the fixture must be remediated. The cost of lead remediation in schools can vary greatly from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.

“The focus is on a safe environment for our Montana students to learn,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “These dollars can be used in flexible ways that best serve our Montana schools.”

One of the available funding sources for remediation is the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. The ESSER fund was established in 2020 as part of the coronavirus response. Montana schools have already received more than $593 million dollars. To date, only $121 million has been expended. Lead mitigation is considered a reasonable expense that can be covered by ESSER funds. To apply for the funds, the local school districts and school boards must detail how the funding will be used through a plan submitted to the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI). If a plan has already been submitted, the plan can be revised to address lead mitigation.

There are a number of other funding options available to schools to assist with the remediation costs. A table of the available funding options can be found on the Lead in School webpage at: https://deq.mt.gov/water/Programs/dw-lead#accordion1-collapse5

Once remediation has taken place, follow-up testing is required to determine the effectiveness of the remediation efforts. 

Schools were to conduct initial water sampling by Dec. 31, 2021. The deadline was set prior to the pandemic and has played a role in delaying schools’ efforts to test for lead. As a result, DPHHS is flexible with the due date. 

“We appreciate the effort schools have put forth in complying with the lead testing requirement,” DPHHS State Toxicologist Dawn Nelson said. “Progress is being made, and we’re eager to keep moving this important project forward. We encourage all schools to utilize the resources that are available to support this vital work.”

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has partnered with DPHHS to create the Lead in Schools Drinking Water Program. While DPHHS oversees the rules, DEQ provides technical assistance to schools for sampling and remediation and maintains all school sampling data available for public viewing at: Lead in Schools | Montana DEQ (mt.gov)

“DEQ and DPHHS are working hand-in-hand on the Lead in School Drinking Water Program to provide support to schools and to better understand lead in school drinking water across the state,” said Greg Olsen, DEQ’s interim water quality administrator. “Identifying and remediating lead in school drinking water is important to protect children’s health.”

The cost of all initial samples is covered entirely by funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant, authorized under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2017 and administered through the DEQ.

For more information visit: https://deq.mt.gov/water/programs/dw-lead

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About DEQ:

At the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, our mission is to champion a healthy environment for a thriving Montana. DEQ is charged with maintaining and improving Montana’s air, land, and water. For more information about DEQ programs, please visit: deq.mt.gov  

About DPHHS:

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services seeks to promote and protect the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of all Montanans. DPHHS works to protect adults from abuse and financial exploitation, serve people with developmental disabilities, fund the treatment of adults and children with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, determine eligibility for various assistance programs, oversee child support payments, protect children from abuse and neglect, and implement various public health programs.

About OPI:

The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) serves 402 public school districts and over 149,000 students. OPI offers our Montana schools many resources for classroom learning, school safety, and teacher retention and recruitment. Superintendent Arntzen’s main focus is putting Montana students first. Please visit our website at https://opi.mt.gov/

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Originally Appeared Here

TREZEVANT, Tenn. — A local town is getting help with improving their water infrastructure.

An $88,500 loan was announced for the Town of Trezevant on Thursday by Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers.

The loan, which is intended to address improvements to the water treatment system, has a five-year term at 0.1% interest and comes from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program.

“We are pleased we can assist communities with these loans as they make infrastructure more affordable,” Governor Lee said. “It is important that Tennesseans receive reliable services, and we are grateful to the local officials working to provide them.”

“Water infrastructure is crucial,” said Salyers. “We are glad we can make these loans available, and we look forward to the results that will come from this assistance.”

This fiscal year, TDEC has awarded over $26.1 million in drinking water loans and more than $82.2 thousand in clean water loans to meet Tennessee’s infrastructure needs.

Click here to learn more about the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program.

For more news in the Carroll County area, click here.

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Originally Appeared Here

Billions of people around the world lack access to clean water – if not every day, then at some point during the year. Climate change, population growth and industrialisation means water scarcity is only set to get worse. Water desalination and purification strategies are therefore on many chemists’ agendas.

Cells possess water transport proteins called aquaporins capable of selectively moving more than one million molecules per second – they’re one of the fastest membrane channels. The fluorine-based macrocyclic channels we reported on in May, however, shift water at a rate that blows aquaporins out of the water. Their potential applications in low-energy desalination and water separation systems have rightly generated much excitement.

Nanotechnology and materials science are the bedrocks of new water purification technologies. But quietly supporting those fields are studies trying to unpick mass transport at the molecular scale. And a part of that is unravelling water’s unique physicochemical properties under confinement, and why they deviate from those of bulk water.

Increasing the diameter in macroscale water pipes increases the flow rate by decreasing the surface area to volume ratio. This is not the case for nanoscale water pipes. Here water flows fastest through the narrowest channels. In aquaporins, water molecules are confined to channels with sub-nanometre diameters, which forces the water molecules to flow in single-file chains. In contrast to bulk water, where each molecule takes part in around four hydrogen bonds, each water molecule in a single-file chain only participates in two. Just like bulk water, the hydrogen bonding topology of water at the nanoscale is linked to its unusual properties.

Of course there’s still much we don’t know about water transport, particularly in terms of quantum mechanical effects. For example, and given the phenomenon was only reported earlier this year, we don’t yet know how generally applicable quantum friction is.

Water at the nanoscale is also easily influenced by the electrostatic and dielectric properties of any channel and its surroundings. This adds extra complications when it comes to developing membranes that incorporate nanoscale water channels. And, as with any membrane technology, transitioning concepts from the lab up to a larger scale will throw up hurdles surrounding fouling, stability, longevity and cost. Water channel research might have come of age, but it still needs to mature.

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Originally Appeared Here