DES MOINES, Iowa

The federal government said Friday that it will distribute $60 million among 12 states that have waterways that flow into the Mississippi River to help them control farm runoff and other pollution that contribute to a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

The money comes from the infrastructure law that President Joe Biden signed in November, the Environmental Protection Agency said.

Radhika Fox, EPA assistant administrator for water, made the announcement with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in Des Moines.

“The Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico watershed is an iconic ecosystem that millions of Americans depend on for drinking water, agriculture, recreation and economic development and it is essential that we reduce nutrient pollution that harms water quality,” Fox said.

Naig is the co-chairman of the 12-member Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force. It was designed to cut the amount of phosphorous and nitrogen that flows from rivers and streams into the Mississippi River and causes the Gulf’s dead zone.

In the Gulf, the nutrients feed an overgrowth of algae that eventually die and sink to the bottom, using up oxygen from the ocean floor up as they decompose.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said this month that the dead zone this year is expected to be about 5,364 square miles (13,893 square kilometers), which would be about 15% smaller than last year’s measurement.

In 2001, the task force set a long-term goal of reducing the dead zone, or hypoxic area, to 1,900 square miles (4,920 square kilometers), which is about 35% of its current average area.

The $60 million will be distributed over the next five years. Each of the 12 states will receive $965,000 this year and $748,000 for each of the next three years. In 2026, the fifth year, each state again will receive $965,000.

The states are Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

The money was attached to an EPA memorandum that provided guidance for how states could use the funds. It includes buying agricultural equipment such as cover crop seeders that can be shareable across thousands of acres, deploying remote-sensing tools to help identify critical sources of contaminants, implementing continuous real-time water quality monitoring and developing or revising numeric nutrient criteria and water quality standards.

Money can also be used for farmer-led education, training and demonstrations of on-farm methods to retain nutrients in the soil.

Iowa is often criticized because it has a voluntary nutrient reduction strategy that allows farmers to decide whether they want to implement measures that could reduce farm runoff of fertilizer, nitrate and other water contaminants.

Hugh Espey, the executive director of environmental group Iowa CCI, said the funding isn’t likely to make a big difference until Iowa develops policies that stop the rapid growth of livestock confinement barns that house millions of chickens and hogs.

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The people of Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal will now have access to clean running water following the intervention of humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers.

They have been without water since the floods in April. A huge water purification plant in Tongaat was destroyed. Gift of the Givers has so far drilled 17 boreholes in various parts of the town.

Shamin Naidoo lives in Tongaat with her three children and her 80-year-old mother. She and her family have been without adequate water for two months…

“We are a family of three. We have a 80 year-old mom, we try to consume as little as possible so that we can supply water equitably to other families. Among the three of us, we probably consume about 150 litres of water among the three of us.”

Naidoo and other residents of Tongaat have hope that their water woes would soon be over as Gift of the Givers is on site in various parts of Tongaat drilling boreholes.

Five of the 17 boreholes have been completed and are being used by the community. A representative from the Gift of the Givers Alfred Mahlambi says they are happy with the progress so far.

“So far we have drilled about 17 boreholes inside the schools and the Temple and we have put the pump outside the yard of the schools so that the community can come and get the water even after school. Everyone can come and get the water where we’ve drilled the borehole.”

Local residents have welcomed the intervention by Gift of the Givers.

“22 thousand litres of water which is available at any particular time and the community can access this water 24/7 and we really thankful to Gift of the Givers for giving us water. This is going to assist in terms of especially when it comes to the toilets and it will make our lives in terms of working of the toilets,” says one resident.

“It was difficult but now things are quite alright and we are lucky that we have some water tanks coming, thanks,” says another resident.

Chairperson of the Tongaat Civil Association Don Peruman applauded the temporary intervention by NGOs. Peruman says the challenge now rests with the municipality and Umgeni Water to ensure the resumption of water supply to all residents in Tongaat.

“We thank all the NGOs and human aid has been coming in and there are tanks popping all over Tongaat. The boreholes help us with drinkable water. But overall, we still in in distress and we need the municipality as well as Umgeni Water to come down together and get some sort of a solution and we have been told that we can get water on tap.”

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COLOMBO (News 1st); For decades, the people from the Madukkarai village in the Wakkappattan Grama Niladhari Division in Mannar, were facing serious hardships due to the lack of access to clean drinking water. 

Although there is a well in the village, Madukkarai residents had to travel far and wide to fetch water in exchange for money, as the water in the area was high in salinity.

At times, they also had to travel for kilometers to find water to drink. 

Proving that there is a proverbial light at the end of every tunnel, Gammadda intervened to provide the village residents with clean drinking water.

The project, funded by the generous donation of a philanthropist, was launched in Mannar today (11), amid a warm welcome extended by the residents of the area.

The water purification project will focus on putting an end to their sorrows and bring an end to traveling far for water.

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Help will soon be forthcoming for another 106 households in Mercer County that are currently lacking a safe and reliable source of public drinking water.

It was announced last week by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Senator Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., that a combination of grant and loan funding totaling almost $1 million would be used to extend public drinking water to families living in the Browning-Lambert Mountain area.

Manchin and Capito said the funding award to the Bluewell Public Service District would serve 106 households in the community.

Residents living along Browning-Lambert Mountain currently do not have a safe and reliable source of public drinking water. A $487,000 grant and $480,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program will be used to complete the project.

The local funding award was part of a larger $21.6 million allocation for six localities around the state.

“Every West Virginian deserves clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe,” Manchin said.

“Having safe, reliable water and wastewater systems in West Virginia’s rural communities is not a luxury, it is essential,” Capito added.

We are pleased to hear that public drinking water will soon be flowing to the Browning-Lambert Mountain area. Families living in this community have waited a long time for help.

Unfortunately, there are still additional communities across the southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia region that are lacking both safe drinking water and modern sewage treatment facilities.

The question that must be asked now is why?

Now that Congress has approved the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, it is imperative that funding be allocated immediately to reach all of those remaining communities in southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia that are still in desperate need of public drinking water and modern wastewater facilities.

This is real infrastructure and a real need.

Now that federal funding is available, get public drinking water to everyone who needs it.

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City Launches Hydrant Lock Program for Water System Protection

Kristen Zimmer, Conservation Program Manager, 509.625.6573

Friday, June 10, 2022 at 3:56 p.m.

The City of Spokane Water Department is adding security measures to its fire hydrants to ensure protection of the City’s water supply. The Water Department will begin installing locks in the West Plains area in June 2022, east of the Spokane International Airport and south of Sunset Blvd. We have worked with the Spokane Fire Department, the surrounding fire districts, Spokane International Airport and public works users to ensure the hydrants are readily available for emergencies.

Map of area that will have locked fire hydrants

“Our citizens rely on our water system to provide them with clean, safe drinking water on demand every day,” says Loren Searl, Water and Hydroelectric Department Director. “It is an important responsibility to ensure that no contaminants enter the water system through the use of hydrants and other accessible points to the water system.”

The City intends to lock all 7,500 fire hydrants as additional bulk water filling stations are built. In lieu of fire hydrant access, contractors and private residents can access water using the Garden Springs filling station located at 4821 W. Garden Springs Rd. to fill containers ranging from a 55-gallon barrel to a 5,000-gallon water truck. Customers can contact My Spokane 311 to register for an account and receive access codes.

Water Department staff model the set-up of a backflow assembly cage

A hydrant permit and backflow prevention cage will continue to be required to access fire hydrants in the water system. Fines exist for those who violate the Hydrant Permit Policy and payment is required to compensate for any damage done to City equipment or infrastructure. The public should call the Water Department immediately at 509.625.7800 if they witness anyone tampering with a lock or using a hydrant without a backflow prevention cage attached. Learn more about backflow prevention.

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Thursday’s oil spill  has renewed concern about water quality in Michigan. A new report found Michigan’s groundwater quality is often overlooked and water advocates are sounding the alarm.

Water advocacy group For Love of Water — or FLOW — says they are concerned about Thursday’s oil spill into the St. Mary’s River. FLOW Executive Director, Liz Kirkwood, says it’s a sign something needs to be done to protect our waters.

“Oil and water don’t mix. And it’s extremely difficult to clean up,” Kirkwood states. “This oil spill is just part of a long litany of other human made disaster that imperil our waters.”

FLOW says it’s a wake up call to the threats our drinking water faces. In a report they released yesterday, they say the state has underinvested in monitoring, mapping and reporting groundwater quality. They say this has led to more than 15,000 contamination sites in Michigan in the past century. 

“A huge percentage of Michiganders get water from surface water, but 45-percent of Michiganders get their water from groundwater. So, oil spill are obviously very concerning as well as any other chemical contamination,” Kirkwood explains.

She says this oil spill in particular reminds us that we’re playing with fire in the Straits of Mackinac

“With the location of this particular oil spill it’s a real wake up call on the threat that the Line 5 oil line proposes to the Great Lakes,” Kirkwood claims.

Kirkwood says something has to be done about Line 5 before a far worse oil spill happens in the Great Lakes. While some in Northern Michigan don’t seem too concerned. Either way Kirkwood says something has to be done before a much more catastrophic spill  occurs.

“We’ve had too many disasters and these are the warning signs and reminds of how we need to make sure we’re prioritizing the protection of water. Because you know, you can’t drink oil,” Kirkwood laughs.

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UKRAINE (WCBD) – Charleston-based nonprofit Water Mission provided an update Friday about its work on the ground in Ukraine as Russia’s invasion of the country continues into its fourth month.

Much of Ukraine’s infrastructure has been decimated by Russian shelling. In the early weeks of the war, many Ukranians resorted to melting snow for drinking water.

Water Mission mobilized first to neighboring countries to ensure refugees had access to safe water, then moved into the war-torn country to begin rebuilding sanitation infrastructure.

So far, 11 water treatment systems — each with the ability to meet the daily emergency water needs of 5,000 people — have been installed. Over 3.4 million water purification packets (each of which can treat 10 liters of water) and over 10,000 hygiene kids (each of which can serve four people for one month) have been distributed across the country.

Water Mission is now prioritizing getting safe water to hospitals. Water treatment systems have already been installed in three different hospitals in Mykolaiv and 15 additional systems are en route.

Teams are currently in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and on the Polish border responding to the evolving needs as the crisis continues.

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WEST CHESTER — Most people in Chester County don’t think twice to turn on the faucet to brush teeth or to fill up an ice cube tray and  have clean, pure drinking water come out of the tap.

A group of students and their teachers, and an art gallery owner want to see that everyone worldwide has access to potable drinking water.

Charlot Barker, managing partner of Ginkgo Arts, at 21 S. High St., started the nonprofit Wood for Water charity which designs wood products. The proceeds from sales are donated to help clean up drinking water.

Students lovingly work wood to clean up drinking water. (KELSEY KEBBEL – SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Barker started Wood for Water when she retired from the Chester County Intermediate Unit and after her daughter Mary suggested the idea.

The group partners with EOS International, which works with communities in Central America where 85 percent of the drinking water is contaminated. Last year, $5,000 was donated.

In 2020 and 2021, the Technical College High School Pickering Carpentry Program, with teacher Mike Bland made cutting boards.

Woodworkers for clean drinking water. Dave Purdy, left, Spike Carr, Vamouyen Kamara, Benjamin Mace and Charlot Barker. (KELSEY KEBBEL – SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Since then, teacher Spike Carr, at TCHS Brandywine, and his students designed and donated more expertly crafted cutting and charcuterie boards and trivets.

“The skills all the students learn in their programs are evident in their products,” Barker said.

Barker, former director of technology support, following a 24-year career at the intermediate unit, said that woodworking is one of the things that gives her purpose through her retirement.

“I’m incredibly grateful to know that we’ve helped people who we may never meet and know and that we’ve made their lives better,” she said. “Lack of access to clean water is particularly harmful to women and children because the women spend hours every day hauling water and their children can’t go to school.”

Barker and Jack Perme have developed a wonderful working relationship. The two met on a service trip to Haiti. Perme suggests ideas while serving as woodworking designer.

Perme uses a wheelchair and was diagnosed with a rare progressive condition cerebellar ataxia. Still, he keeps busy with a laser engraver affixing the Wood for Water tear drop logo on the wood products that are designed for sale.

“I don’t have many hobbies, and this gives me a purpose,” he said. “It’s something I used to enjoy doing and I’ve now found another way to still do it.”

Dave Purdy of the technical college high school said the work makes him feel proud of the students’ skill sets.

“They realize their skilled trade also has value,” Purdy said.

The woodworkers use materials donated by industry partners.

Student Vamouyen Kamara is pleased to work with several different tools.

“I look at it when it’s finished and how good it looks,” he said.

Fellow student Ben Mace enjoys helping others by building with wood.

For more information or to donate, go to www.woodforwater.org and visit the gallery at Ginkgo Arts.

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The sound of birds chirping, the splish splash of water, and warmth from the summer sun. Paddling down the East River, one might forget that you’re in Brown County.

An abundance of fresh waterways are one of our community’s greatest assets. There is a growing movement to make sure the habitats of the East River are maintained and recreation on it as a water trail is possible for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

So, let’s go “upstream” a bit to understand what a water trail is, review the current working plan and learn how you can get involved.

What is a water trail?

Think about it like a hiking trail on the water. Water trails feature access and launch points that are open to the public and able to be used by people of varying ages and physical abilities.

The water trail would be a place where friends meet, families create memories and our natural environment thrives. That’s a win-win-win.

A group of local kayakers had been paddling the East River and recognized the need to improve water quality, remove fallen trees and debris, and restore habitat. Like all good grassroots, community-led efforts, this group started asking questions, doing some research and getting more people involved. They connected to local nonprofit organizations, municipal leaders and Brown County government to find out what was possible.

This led to the creation of a local coalition that includes resident champions, the village of Allouez, Brown County Land and Water Conservation, Bellevue Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, Ledgeview Parks Department, The Nature Conservancy, Brown County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and Wello. 

What’s the current plan? 

The proposed East River Water Trail would run next to the existing paved trail and be open to nonmotorized recreation such as kayaks and canoes while surrounded by the beauty of nature.

The water trail project has two core pillars. The first is about water quality improvements and habitat restoration. The second is the addition of inclusive kayak launch sites to promote recreation and care for the natural environment. These two elements are not only core to the project, they represent building blocks to strengthening our community and overall well-being.

In May, this community coalition brought forward a proposal to the Brown County Land Conservation Sub Committee to catalyze efforts to improve water quality of the East River with $500,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Thanks to the future-thinking committee members, this funding request for the environmental improvements was approved at the committee level.

“Installing additional kayak launches, controlling invasive species and replanting natives, creating instream fish habitat and controlling bank erosion will provide great environmental and recreational benefits to Brown County residents,” said Michael Mushinski of the Brown County Land and Water Conservation Department.

This work would concentrate on the portion of the East River running through Bellevue, Allouez, De Pere and Ledgeview. 

What’s next?

The next immediate step is for final approval from the full Brown County Board of Supervisors. The coalition is also focusing on identifying additional funding sources to add the second pillar: recreation opportunities through the addition of accessible kayak launches to create the water trail.

Through local partnerships, we are identifying locations of interest and building-out cost estimates for what will be needed to establish and maintain the launches.

It starts small. It starts locally. It can start with you. This project is one example of getting involved where you live to build a culture of health. We welcome you to join us. 

Natalie Bomstad is the executive director for Wello. Wello’s purpose is to co-create community conditions that are fair and just to drive high levels of health and well-being for all. Share your thoughts, questions, and topic suggestions by emailing [email protected].

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The City of San Diego will begin implementing year-long severe water restrictions for all water customers starting Friday, per a statewide order from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

As instructed by the governor, the State Water Resources Control Board has adopted the emergency water conservation regulation by asking water agencies at the local level to take swift action in conserving California’s water.

As such, City of San Diego water customers will be taking on Level 2 restrictions outlined in the city’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

Water restrictions under Level 2 include all the following actions for City of San Diego customers:

• Areas with no irrigation system must use a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle, a hand-held container, or a garden hose sprinkler system on a timer. 
• Irrigation is prohibited during and within 48 hours of a rain event. 
• Landscape irrigation is limited to no more than three days per week before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. This does not apply to commercial growers or nurseries, nor to the irrigation of golf course greens and trees. 
• Use of recycled or non-potable water, when available, is required for construction purposes. 
• Washing of vehicles at residences is prohibited. Washing is still permitted at commercial car washes.

“We are asking San Diegans to take these steps now, so we can help avoid a more dire situation in the near future,” said Juan Guerreiro, Director of the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department. “Water is a precious resource and we must use our water wisely. We hope San Diegans will take the new restrictions to heart and take advantage of the range of rebates and water-saving tips offered.” 

The city offers multiple rebates for rain barrels and gutters, turf replacement, irrigation control systems, and gray water systems, among others. Tips from the city can also help steer customers to using less water inside and outside their homes.

NBC 7’s Dana Griffin shares ways Californians can cut down on their water usage.

The city’s new water restrictions apply to not only homes but also to facilities and properties.

Currently, the City of San Diego is working with every city department to adopt these water conservation practices. The city has already switched landscapes at municipal facilities into hardscapes, used drought-resistant plantings, and has been using water-saving devices in new and renovated buildings such as libraries and fire stations.

Extreme drought conditions in Northern California and throughout the west have required all Californians to do their part in reducing water use, despite San Diego having already secured a stable water supply for its region. The majority of San Diego’s water is bought from the San Diego County Water Authority.

In order to diminish the city’s reliance on imported water, the city is working to create drought-proof supplies sourced locally like the Pure Water Program, which seeks to secure almost 50% of the city’s drinking water by 2035.

If you spot water waste happening, you can report it through the city’s Get It Done app, call 619-533-5271, or email [email protected].

For more information on Level 2 water restrictions, rebates, and water-saving tips, visit www.wastenowater.org. 

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