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It's 'pay to sip' in Melbourne, Australia
About 50 cafes have signed up to do the unthinkable — ask Melburnians to pay for a glass of tap water. The project, touted as a way to make people water-wise, is backed by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will run for a week from December 1. Money raised from a "token sum" charged during Drink for Change is to be used by the businesses to install water-saving measures, but it has raised concerns that it could be a softening-up step towards making charging for tap water an accepted practice. The Age_ 11/19/08
James Bond battles world water villain
The new James Bond movie deals with water rights and a villain who wants to control the entire world's water. Some say the new movie could be a lot more realistic than many people imagine. In the latest Bond film, 'Quantum of Solace,' 007 faces a villain who takes control of a country's most precious resource: fresh water. Why h20? The film's director Marc Forster believes the world is in for a water crisis. "Water will be, really, the next huge problem i think humanity is going to face," said Forster. ABC4News_ 11/17/08
Space Station's remodeled water supply: 'Yuck factor 'looms large
Time for a remodeling job for the International Space Station. At 10 years old, it needs more bedrooms, another kitchen and bathroom and a more reliable water supply — though one that might make most folks squirm a bit. Top priority for the Endeavour crew, poised to lift off Friday night from Florida for a 15-day mission: installing hardware designed to recycle urine into drinking water. The station's primary source of water is the space shuttle, which makes about four deliveries annually. With the winged rocket ships facing retirement in two years, water recycling is a must. "There is definitely a yuck factor," said Endeavour astronaut Sandy Magnus. Despite her candor, she can make the reclaimed urine seem as appealing as the water from a mountain stream. "We are not really drinking our own urine. We are drinking water that has been reclaimed from a process with urine as the input," Magnus said. Houston Chronicle_11/12/08
Seal pup delays £2 million Scottish water project
Engineering work on a £2.6 million Scottish Water project in Sutherland was held up after a grey seal pup was born on the route of a new pipeline. Animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA was asked for advice. However, engineers were able to resume operations after the pup and its mother moved on after a few days. Steve Bunn, project manager for Scottish Water Solutions, said: "We planned for all sorts of eventualities but this seal pup kept us on our toes." BBC News_ 11/3/08
Aquaholic drinks himself to death by gorging on a hosepipe
A man suffering from a rare 'aquaholic' thirst was found dead after drinking a massive volume of water directly from a garden hose, an inquest in Reading, England, has heard. Andrew Else, 51, was found drenched and lifeless outside his care home after staff spotted him drinking from the hose. He is said to have developed an unquenchable thirst after suffering a stomach condition in his 20s. He would go to extreme lengths to satisfy his cravings, regularly drinking from bathroom taps. Pathologist Dr Colin McCormick said Mr Else had died from over-consumption of water which had diluted the levels of sodium in his blood, causing heart failure. Toxicology tests also found he had died from water intoxication - a condition known as hyponatraemia - after drinking several litres. Recording a verdict of accidental death Pearl Willis, deputy coroner for Berkshire, said: 'Andrew was an emotional individual who had a fascination with drinking water spanning many years. Daily Mail_ 10/30/08
This Water advertisement banned
This Water, part of UK Innocent Drinks founder Richard Reed's empire, has had an ad campaign banned after it failed to inform consumers there was up to 42g of sugar in each bottle. The poster campaign featured images of bottles of the drink with the strapline: "Simple, natural, refreshment". Each poster highlights that the drink was made from water and fruit but made no mention of added sugar. Guardian_10/15/08
Texas runners carry water in One-Of-A-Kind 5K …. lots of water
More than 1,000 runners are expected to trot through Irving’s Hackberry Creek area this fall in a global version of a neighborhood fun run, many of them carrying 50 pounds of water along the way. The event raises funds for Water Is Basic (WIB), an organization that drills clean water wells in Sudan, Africa for villages that don’t have a source of clean drinking water. Last year’s event raised $15,000 for the cause which funded five new wells in Sudan, providing clean water to approximately 10,000 people. The event will feature a decidedly uncommon competition pitting teams of water carriers against one another. Teams of runners will carry “Jerry Cans” of water the entire length of the course, replicating a common daily chore undertaken by children in developing countries. Coppell Gazette Star_10/10/08
California's drought exposes relics in Lake Shasta
There's more than just muddy flip-flops and busted lawn chairs emerging from the depths of Lake Shasta as the reservoir drops to its lowest levels in 16 years. Old bridges, train trestles, tunnels and the foundations from towns long-drowned have begun to pop out of the lake's muddy depths. Lake Shasta last week dropped to 150 feet below its high-water mark, putting it well on track to break the 155-foot mark set in 1992. The lowest the lake ever dipped was in 1977, when the lake dropped to 230 feet below the high-water mark. Redding Record Searchlight_ 10/5/08
Hollow log discovery points to early Virginia water system
For the past year, Max Mellott, assistant superintendent of Leesburg's Utility Maintenance Division and local history buff, has diligently researched the history of Leesburg's water and sewer system. "There's evidence that there was a water system of sorts going back to the [early] 1800s," he said. In July, that evidence came to life with the discovery of an eight-foot-long hollow log once used to pipe water. Leesburg used a wooden pipe system during most of the 19th century, the first technological breakthrough that reduced the town's reliance on wells. Washington Post_10/2/08
Minnesota cop slogs through sewer to get his man, er, kids
In a case of good, old-fashioned, follow-the-footprints crime fighting, a Mankato, Minnesota, police officer slogged five blocks through a storm sewer to apprehend a band of past-curfew juveniles. No one was injured, but the officer is asking the department to buy him a new pair of pants. Mankato Free Press_ 9/29/08
Wisconsin farm awaits approval to turn cow manure waste into clean water
A large, western Wisconsin farm can now turn cow manure into water you could drink. There are more than a thousand cows at Emerald Dairy that produce lots of manure every day. Owner John Vrieze installed an Integrated Separation Solutions system that filters and purifies some of the water in the manure so it’s clean enough to drink. ”We’re not trying to promote it as water you would drink but it’s as clean in many ways as rain water." Because Emerald Dairy is the first to try this, Vrieze says he’s been trying for 30 months to get the permits he needs to discharge this water safely into the environment rather than his manure lagoon that would reduce by more than half the amount of manure that has to be spread on fields. Wisconsin Public Radio_ 9/22/08
Man bottles, sells NYC tap water
A New York man said he has taken to bottling tap water and selling it in local stores in an attempt to keep water "honest and local." Craig Zucker said his Tap'd NY bottled water has been cleared of chlorine and impurities through reverse osmosis so customers can purchase the purest possible New York water, the New York Post reported Thursday. "We are a for-profit business, but we have a message, which is that water should be kept honest and local. Right now, we let Fiji and France ship water into New York, which is an insult to New Yorkers," Zucker said. Zucker's said his friends and family don't know what to think of his latest business venture. "Either they said it was the most brilliant idea they'd ever heard, or the stupidest," he said. UPI_9/18/08
'Flow' -- the movie
Irena Salina's documentary looks at all things water and the effects a dwindling supply has on health, prosperity and security. As if we didn't have enough to worry about, the quietly apocalyptic "Flow" makes a good case that what's going on with our planet's water supply should make you very, very afraid. Any film that begins with a bleak W.H. Auden quote ("Thousands have lived without love, not one without water") is not going to be a ray of sunshine in anyone's life. Made over a five-year period by director Irena Salina, who went all over the world and talked to an impressive list of experts, "Flow" (which also stands for "For Love of Water") is a smartly done, involving look at a number of interrelated water issues. LA Times_9/12/08
Detroit Zoo will remove Kilpatrick's name from water tower
Now that Detroit's Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is resigning, Detroit Zoo officials said his name will be removed from the water tower at 10 Mile and Woodward within weeks. In recent months, the public has clamored for the removal of the mayor's name as news continued to surface on the mayoral scandal. For now, there are no plans to replace his name with that of his successor nor change the zoo's name, though the city is no longer providing funding, said zoo spokeswoman Patricia Mills Janeway. By next spring, the tower will be rewrapped with the new logo of the Detroit Zoological Society, which took over operations of the 125-acre zoo in 2006. Detroit News_ 9/5/08
Arctic ice 'is at tipping point'
Arctic sea ice has shrunk to the second smallest extent since satellite records began, US scientists have revealed. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) says that the ice-covered area has fallen below its 2005 level, which was the second lowest on record. Melting has occurred earlier in the year than usual, meaning that the iced area could become even smaller than last September, the lowest recorded. Researchers say the Arctic is now at a climatic "tipping point". BBC News_ 8/28/08
Boston police put damper on water balloon fight
A horde of green bandana-clad warriors descended on the intersection of Harvard and Brighton avenues in Allston yesterday, screaming, squirting, and slinging water balloons until Boston police, who said the fun was getting out of hand, stepped in to break it up. Answering the call of a local arts group, nearly 100 combatants, clad in wrestling masks, trucker hats, and military fatigues and armed with squirt pistols, hydrocannons, and water balloons, engaged in an impromptu public display of late-summer zaniness. The event, dubbed Allston Squirt Gun Day, was put on by a group of local artists calling themselves The Clone Collective. The battle was the second squirt gun war in Boston this month. Boston Globe_ 8/24/08
St. Paul, Minnesota ballpark becomes 'Skinny Water Stadium'
A baseball team that often pokes fun at the conventions of the sport has joined forces with a beverage marketer for a promotion that simultaneously celebrates and sends up the naming of stadiums after corporate sponsors. The St. Paul Saints, a minor-league team in St. Paul, Minn., signed a deal with the Skinny Nutritional Corporation, which distributes the Skinny Water line of beverages, to rename Midway Stadium — its ballpark for all 16 of the team’s seasons — as Skinny Water Stadium. The tongue-in-cheek aspects of the agreement could be found in the fine print: The renaming lasted for just a week, from last Sunday through Saturday. The name has since reverted to Midway Stadium. New York Times_ 8/11/08 (logon required)
Two submarines reach bottom of Russia's Lake Baikal
Two small, manned submarines reached the bottom of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake, on Tuesday in a show of Moscow's resurgent ambitions to set new records in science. The Mir-1 and Mir-2 submersibles descended 1,680 meters to the bottom of the vast Siberian lake in a mission led by Artur Chilingarov, a scientist and State Duma deputy who was part of an earlier mission to the North Pole that sparked criticism in the West. Tucked away in the remote hills of southeast Siberia, where Russia borders China and Mongolia, Lake Baikal is home to some of the world's rarest types of fish and other water life. The scientists will take samples of water and soil from the lake, which is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals. They also will plant a small pyramid bearing the Russian flag in the lake bed. Moscow Times_ 7/29/08
U.S. border agents find 49 people hiding in a water truck
Forty-nine people being smuggled into the United States near San Diego, California, were found yesterday packed inside the metal tank of a water truck that a Border Patrol agent noticed near the notorious Smuggler's Gulch. The truck was coming out of a construction area, its driver apparently trying to blend in, when the agent saw that it didn't have a license plate, said Border Patrol Agent Jason Rodgers. He said most of the 49 people agents found inside the truck's cylindrical water tank were in the first stage of dehydration. Three of the women were pregnant – one eight months, and the others three and five months. Another woman inside the tank had a dislocated ankle, Rodgers said. He said all received medical evaluations and treatment. The next step is to try to determine what country each person came from, then deport them. San Diego Union-Tribune_ 7/26/08
Continental Airlines to cut the amount of drinking water on board
Continental Airlines is reducing the amount of drinkable water and magazines on its flights. And planes are switching to a lighter, more durable life vest. The Houston-based carrier on Thursday reported those and other cost-saving measures aimed at the soaring cost of fuel. Continental said a combination of record high fuel prices, weakening economic conditions and a weak dollar resulted in the worst financial statement for the airline since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Cleveland Plain Dealer_ 7/17/08
Seattle's automated toilets go way of the box and chain
After spending $5 million on its five automated public toilets, Seattle is calling it quits. In the end, the restrooms, installed in early 2004, had become so filthy, so overrun with drug abusers and prostitutes, that although use was free of charge, even some of the city’s most destitute people refused to step inside them. The dismal outcome coincides with plans by New York, Los Angeles and Boston, among other cities, to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for expansion this fall in their installation of automated toilets — stand-alone structures with metal doors that open at the press of a button and stay closed for up to 20 minutes. The units clean themselves after each use, disinfecting the seats and power-washing the floors. Seattle officials say the project here failed because the toilets, which are to close on Aug. 1, were placed in neighborhoods that already had many drug users and transients. New York Times_ 7/17/08 (logon required)
Portland, Oregon reservoir nearly loses millions of gallons of water because of skinny dippers
Two people caught skinny dipping in a Portland reservoir that is a main source of water for the city nearly caused officials to dump millions of gallons of water and close the facility. But the two were swimming in a section of the reservoir that was not being used. Had that section been in use, water bureau officials say they would have had to dump millions of gallons of water from that pool and possibly shut off the reservoir. AP/ABC News_ 6/30/08
Trace amounts of caffeine found in Scottsdale, Az. water
Maybe it's from all those lattes that Scottsdale residents like to drink. Recent tests of Scottsdale's water supply detected only one pharmaceutical compound in the H{-2}0 - "an infinitesimal trace of caffeine," the city reported Thursday. In May, Scottsdale tested its water in response to reports that pharmaceuticals were appearing in some municipal supplies nationwide. The only positive detection was for caffeine. The test found water there contained 3.6 ng/l (nanograms per liter) of caffeine. At that level, a person would have to drink 5.6 million gallons of water to ingest the amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee. That volume of water would equal more than eight Olympic-size swimming pools, according to the city. Arizona Republic_6/27/08 logon required
"Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water"
Poet John Keats penned his own tombstone inscription at age 25 when he was dying of consumption. An essay on Keats and poets. Washington Post_ 6/21/08
Biffy, the bidet invention, eases bathroom woes
Nevada-based physician Dr. Warren Smith has invented the Biffy, a bidet attachment designed to relieve common problems associated with using traditional toilet paper. The founder of the American Biffy Company said the bidet attachment "is a great solution for those suffering from a variety of rectal and vaginal issues." In a simple, one-step motion, the Biffy delivers a fan of fresh water to a user's bottom, thoroughly rinsing the area clean. Since only water makes contact with the skin, there is no touching or rubbing of sensitive areas, which helps alleviate discomfort associated with using dry paper. Originally designed for a patient with no arms below the elbows, Smith's invention has steadily grown in popularity and has been a proud fixture in many bathrooms across the country. News Release_ 6/17/08
WaterWebster staff report
June 10, 2008
(Editors: To reprint this story at no cost, click here.)
More than 500 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors gathered at Atlanta’s Georgia World Conference Center this week to discuss all things water. It was the American Water Works Association’s 2008 conference and the exhibits included aisles and aisles of water-related equipment, like water tanks, purification systems, pipe distribution systems and, of course, leak detectors. At the entrance to the booth run by Cartegraph, an Iowa firm that makes communications software systems to track water mains and other equipment, booth visitors were greeted by, what else? A drop of water from the ceiling. “We have acres and acres of roof space,” said Ashley Boatman, spokesperson for the World Conference Center, “and sometimes with all of this space it’s difficult to know where the leaks are until it rains.” Thunder storms Monday night apparently caused the drip outside the Cartegraph exhibit but Boatman said conference center workers would “be right on it.” It wasn’t a big drip said Shane Gardner, Cartegraph’s strategic territory manager, “just once every so often.” And just often enough to catch the attention of surprised visitors.
Agency in New York City fails to pay water bill for 22 years: Balance due $4.5 million
William C. Thompson Jr., the city comptroller, said an audit revealed that the Economic Development Corporation had not paid any water or sewer bills at the Brooklyn Army Terminal for 22 years, for a total of $4.5 million. During a press conference at his office in Lower Manhattan, Mr. Thompson said that he was outraged that the agency was so delinquent, not only in failing to pay its bills, but also in not bothering to contact the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, which runs the water system, since 1989. It was especially galling, he said, that city agencies owed millions for water at a time when water rates have increased by double digits in recent years. Mr. Thompson said that he was concerned that many other agencies were also delinquent in their water bills. So he has called Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to conduct a citywide review. “It’s unconscionable,” he said, using one of Mr. Bloomberg’s signature words. The Economic Development Corporation, which controls the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, did not immediately return a call. Neither did the mayor’s office. New York Times_ 6/9/08
Washington, D.C. temperature ties record and a neighborhood loses water pressure
The 98 degree reading tied a 1999 record and dozens of Southeast residents were without water or had little water pressure yesterday as a result of residents turning on about 25 fire hydrants in the area. D.C. Water and Sewer Authority spokeswoman Michele Quander-Collins said many residents were without water. Quander-Collins said some residents complained that as soon as WASA employees arrived to close a hydrant, neighbors would return and open it again. However, Quander-Collins said things appeared to improve as the evening went on, and it appeared possible that hydrants were being shut off. Anticipating the possibility of hydrant problems again today, WASA officials wanted to remind the public that unauthorized hydrant use is unlawful, dangerous and damaging. Washington Post_ 6/8/08
UK schoolboy names Antarctic iceberg 'Melting Bob'
Melting Bob is three times the size of Greater London with a surface area of 1,985sq miles (5,141sq km) and had been referred to by a codename - C19A. But Max Dolan, aged six, from Winchester, won the Scott Polar Research Institute competition. Organisers said it is the first time an iceberg has been known other than by its numeric codename and co-ordinates. Scientists will track Melting Bob over the next decade in the Southern Ocean. Max beat 500 entrants to the prize. "The iceberg bobs in the water and is melting", Max said about his inspiration. Entries were judged by Professor Julian Dowdeswell, the director of the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, and author Dame Jacqueline Wilson. "I like the name because it encompasses the two ways in which icebergs become smaller - by melting, of course, but also by fragmentation which is caused by flexing in ocean waves," said Prof Dowdeswell. "This flexing could be regarded as the bobbing of the winning suggestion." Melting Bob was created in May 2002 when it cleaved from the Ross ice shelf. BBC News_ 5/31/08
Pump for space station toilet loaded onto shuttle
After being rushed in from Russia, a toilet pump was loaded into space shuttle Discovery today just in time for this weekend's liftoff to the international space station, where the lone commode is acting up. A NASA employee based in Moscow hand-carried the pump on a commercial flight that touched down Wednesday night. Within hours, the pump and related equipment were packed away aboard Discovery. Discovery is scheduled to blast off Saturday on a 14-day mission. For the past week, the two Russian and one American men have had to periodically manually flush the urine side of the Russian-built toilet. The job takes 10 minutes and requires two people. "Insert that into your daily life and you can see it would be quite inconvenient," Kirk Shireman, NASA's deputy space station program manager, said at a news conference. The solid-waste part of the toilet is working properly. AP/Houston Chronicle_ 5/29/08
Singer Celine Dion top water user on drought-stricken Florida's 'Treasure Coast'
Utility records show that some of the Treasure Coast's biggest users live along Martin County's coastline, including wealthy Jupiter Island, where homeowners use up to 1.6 million gallons a month - more than 250 times the average amount used by residential customers served by Martin County utilities. The area is near Palm Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast. For the 12 months that ended in March, the title of top water-guzzler went to Renlec Management, the Montreal-based company of Canadian singer Celine Dion, who owns 5.7 acres in the island town. In a year, the property used about 6.5 million gallons of water, or enough to fill a 50-gallon bathtub about every four minutes. Representatives of Dion's company didn't respond to requests to comment on water use at the site, where an old house has been razed to make way for a 9,800-square-foot home under construction. Golfer Tiger Woods' 12-acre Jupiter Island estate, where a home is under construction, used about 3.7 million gallons of water in that period, averaging about 310,700 gallons a month. Much of that went to irrigating new landscaping and large native trees, which had to be transplanted, according to an e-mail from Christopher Hubman, who serves on the board of Woods' charitable foundation. Plans call for an on-site reverse osmosis facility that would eliminate the need for utility water for irrigation, he said. With few exceptions, Treasure Coast residents are limited to watering their lawns no more than twice a week because of the lingering drought. The rules allow more frequent watering for new landscaping. Palm Beach Post_ 5/24/08
Drinking water can hurt babies under six months
Babies younger than six months old should never be given water to drink, physicians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore remind parents. Consuming too much water can put babies at risk of a potentially life-threatening condition known as water intoxication. "Even when they're very tiny, they have an intact thirst reflex or a drive to drink," Dr. Jennifer Anders, a pediatric emergency physician at the center, told Reuters Health. "When they have that thirst and they want to drink, the fluid they need to drink more of is their breast milk or formula." Because babies' kidneys aren't yet mature, giving them too much water causes their bodies to release sodium along with excess water, Anders said. Losing sodium can affect brain activity, so early symptoms of water intoxication can include irritability, drowsiness and other mental changes. Other symptoms include low body temperature (generally 97 degrees or less), puffiness or swelling in the face, and seizures. Reuters/MSNBC_ 5/21/08
Virtual water cooler: Researchers try to re-create office interactions
Once upon a time, people bonded with their co-workers on office softball teams and traded gossip at the water cooler. OK, so those days aren't gone yet. But as big companies parcel Information Age work to people in widely dispersed locations, it's getting harder for colleagues to develop the camaraderie that comes from being in the same place. Now, technology researchers are trying to replicate old-fashioned office interactions by transforming everyday business software for the new era of work. AP/Chicago Tribune_ 5/19/08
Mets game delayed by water main break
The break at neighboring Citi Field delayed the start of the Mets-Pirates game at Shea Stadium by 40 minutes. The break affected water pressure at Shea. Areas such as bathrooms and concessions on the upper levels were affected. Newsday_ 5/1/08
April, 2008
Water making your pizza taste funny? Clone your own
Iron Chef Mario Batali says, "Water is huge. It's probably one of California's biggest problems with pizza." Water binds the dough's few ingredients. Nearly every chemical reaction that produces flavor occurs in water, says Chris Loss, a food scientist with the Culinary Institute of America. "So, naturally, the minerals and chemicals in it will affect every aspect of the way something tastes." Batali himself encounters the water problem at his upscale New York restaurant Del Posto, where he makes traditional Italian food. The tap water in Manhattan is far different from that of the motherland. His solution: create his own mineral-water composite. Working from a chemical analysis of l'acqua italiana, Batali's team basically clones the H2O that gives the food in Italy its — well, its gestalt. He plans to do this at Pizzeria Mozza in LA." Wired_ 4/21/08
Could you drink, bathe and clean using just 20 litres a day?
Full marks to those who keep a tight rein on their carbon footprint, but don't relax just yet: water is the new carbon, and our engorged water footprints need to be scrutinised before the rivers really do run dry. The phrase "water footprint" was coined to describe the embedded or "virtual" water in a food or industrial product – the real volume of water used to create that product. It is difficult to avoid using products which have not been involved in a water-intensive process somewhere along the line, and the figures are staggering: it takes 1,760 litres to get one pint of milk out of a cow and into your fridge; a kilogram of cheddar swallows up 5,000 litres. There is also, of course, plenty of water embedded in everyday activities other than eating, such as washing, cooking and cleaning. The average Brit splashes about 155 litres of water each day, compared with 20 litres for most people living in sub-Saharan Africa. Water might flow freely from our taps, but our small island is not immune to global shortages. Water is a limited commodity, and is becoming more expensive as its supply grows more difficult to guarantee. The Independent_4/24/08
Samsung secretive about water-powered cell phone
Samsung's plans for a water powered cell phone were recently leaked; no, not that kind of water power -- the modified cell phone design does not use hydroelectricity, but rather breaks apart water and uses the hydrogen obtained for power. Samsung's new plans for water-powered cell phones utilize a metal catalyst that becomes a metal hydroxide in a reversible process, yielding hydrogen. While keeping tight lipped on the details, Samsung is making the bold prediction that our cell phones will be running on water by 2010. Their engineers claim that a working prototype currently provides 10 hours of use. This, according to Samsung, equates to about 5 days of life in a normal use scenario. The engineers say that they are modifying the phone to make it easy to be able to top up on the go (drinking fountain anyone?). Daily Tech_ 4/21/08
Woman crashes car into water -- saves morning coffee
A woman is safe after losing control of her car and accidently driving into the waters of the Oakland Estuary. But on the upside, she saved her morning coffee. Authorities say the car went into the water a little after 6 a.m. Thursday after its 22-year-old driver apparently lost control of her car while reaching for a cell phone. After the car became lodged in stilts under a home on the water, the driver was able to get out of the car and make it back to shore. Onlookers say she came ashore still cradling her coffee cup. AP_3/28/08
Heather Mills 'soaks Paul McCartney lawyer'
The McCartney-Mills divorce hearing ended in farce when Heather Mills reportedly tipped a glass of water over the Beatle's posh lawyer. Mills refused to admit pouring the water, but joked that lawyer Fiona Shackleton, 51, had been “baptised in court”. And a source told The Sun: “Heather tipped the water over Fiona’s head. She didn’t throw it. It was cool, calm and collected. It trickled down Fiona’s neck." The Sun/Daily Telegraph_ 3/18/08
Cleaner water with a wand (no magic required)
Travelers who don’t trust the water from a mountain stream or a hotel-room faucet have often used chemicals or filters to purify it. Now they have a high-tech option as well: swirl the water with a portable, lightweight wand that beams rays of ultraviolet light. The SteriPen JourneyLCD is built to be portable for travelers who fear the tap and for campers who want to do more than filter stream water. The wand can clean up a quart of water that is clear — but could harbor stomach-wrecking microorganisms — in 90 seconds. The high-frequency light damages the DNA of bacteria, viruses and protozoa in the water like giardia and cryptosporidium so they can’t reproduce and create havoc. To make the disinfection process easier for users to monitor, one new device on the market, the SteriPen JourneyLCD($129.95) has a liquid-crystal display that shows a countdown during purification (48 seconds for 16 ounces, 90 seconds for 32 ounces) and a smiley face at the end to signal that the job is done. The lamp that creates the ultraviolet light, which has a wavelength of 254 nanometers, is good for 10,000 treatments — about 2,500 gallons of water — said Miles Maiden, inventor of the SteriPen and the chief executive of Hydro-Photon. Meridian Design, of San Jose, Calif., also makes a portable ultraviolet water purifier, the mÜV ($49 at the company Web site, uvaquastar.com) that is rechargeable, said Dan Matthews, president of the company. The unit is in limited production, Mr. Matthews said. New York Times_ 3/2/08 (logon required)
Crime-fighting tool: Hair reveals where murder victims drank water
University of Utah scientists developed a new crime-fighting tool by showing that human hair reveals the general location where a person drank water, helping police track past movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims. "You are what you eat and drink -- and that is recorded in your hair," says geochemist Thure Cerling, who led the research effort with ecologist Jim Ehleringer. The new hair analysis method also may prove useful to anthropologists, archaeologists and medical doctors in addition to police. "We have found significant variations in hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in hair and water that relate to where a person lives in the United States," Ehleringer says. "Police are already using this to reconstruct the possible origins of unidentified murder victims." So a single hair can help determine a person's location during recent weeks to years, depending on the length of the hair sample and thus how much time it took to grow. Science Daily_ 2/26/08
Academy Award celebrity swag special: waterless urinals to two Los Angeles schools
In lieu of a gift, environmentally conscious celebrities attending the Academy Awards will receive a waterless urinal donated on their behalf. Caroma, an Australian plumbing products company known for their dual flush toilets, is giving celebrities the gift of giving back by donating their H2Zero waterless urinals to two charter high schools being built green in South Los Angeles. Caroma, a brand well-known Down Under for helping to conserve Australia's critical water supply, is a world leader in water efficient products including dual flush toilets and waterless urinals which save billions of gallons of water annually. News Release_ 2/22/08
Land-locked Swiss invent underwater car
OK, so the Swiss have invented a car that runs on land and underwater. But did they REALLY have to make it a convertible? It's called the "sQuba," and conjures up memories of James Bond's amphibious Lotus Esprit from "The Spy Who Loved Me." The concept car — which unlike Bond's is not armed — was developed by Swiss designer Rinspeed Inc. and is set to make a splash at the Geneva Auto Show next month. Company CEO Frank Rinderknecht, a self-professed Bond fan, said he has been waiting 30 years to recreate the car he saw Roger Moore use to drive off of a dock. AP_ 2/14/08
A Valentine hint from Listerine? Mouthwash flavors enter Lititz, Pennsylvania water supply
That minty taste and scent in the Lititz borough water supply turned out to be just a broken pipe and leaky gasket at the local Listerine plant. Spokesman John Repetz says the state Department of Environmental Protection found a minor concentration of mouthwash flavors in the water, and four borough wells have been shut down. Three wells are continuing to supply water that meets state requirements to the 20,000 customers of the Lititz system. McNeil Consumer Healthcare says no sewage leaked from the pipe at the Lititz plant where it manufactures Listerine mouthwash. Spokesman Chris Clark says the water is from rinsing containers when flavors are changed. He says the problem area has been bypassed while repairs are under way. AP/Centre Daily Times_ 2/12/08
New York City disputes claim that carriage horses can't get water
An animal welfare group claims that carriage horses along Manhattan's Central Park South aren't getting enough drinking water. But the city says that isn't so. The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages complained Monday that two water troughs in Central Park have been shut off for the season. The city's Health Department, which regulates the horses, said plenty of water is available at hydrants used by carriage drivers with buckets. AP/amNew York_ 2/11/08
Another Australian water tank supplier collapses
Aussie Water Wizards has closed its three stores in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and its administrators have warned customers will not receive refunds. Aussie Water Wizards owner Bill Mackay could not be contacted, but administrators Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants blamed the rebate restructure. "The change in the rebate structure really hurt the market. Everyone is trying to cut corners to keep business," team manager James Plowright said. The state's $1000 rebate for all new water tanks expired in January but from February 1, a $1500 rebate started, but only for people buying 3000 litre tanks or larger. Courier Mail_ 2/10/08
Sax notes lead to off-beat boiler
Inventor and saxophone player Peter Davey has come up with a device that he claims boils water in no time. He calls it the "sonic boiler" because he claims it uses the power of sound. How the heater actually works has confounded experts. The device looks oddly like a bent desk lamp, with a metallic ball at the end instead of a lightbulb. When plugged into the power supply, and the ball is lowered into water, it boils the liquid within seconds. "Everybody boils twice the amount of water they need so I decided I would find a way to boil water and make steam more economically," said Davey. "The principle is beautiful. I have cashed in on a natural phenomenon and it's all about music," he said. "If I hadn't been playing the saxophone, I probably wouldn't have come up with the idea." Davey noticed as he played the saxophone at home that everything resonated at a different frequency. "The glasses will tinkle on one note. Knives and forks in the drawer will tinkle on another note and I realised that everything has its point of vibration," he said. "In the same way, a component in the ball is tuned to a certain frequency." Davey said it took years of trial and error to get the device to where it is now. Davey, who turns 92 today, is now looking for a manufacturer who will buy the technology and make the devices for the mass market. Christchurch News_1/31/08
The claim: Never drink hot water from the tap
The claim has the ring of a myth. But environmental scientists say it is real. The reason is that hot water dissolves contaminants more quickly than cold water, and many pipes in homes contain lead that can leach into water. And lead can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in young children. Lead is rarely found in source water, but can enter it through corroded plumbing. The Environmental Protection Agency says that older homes are more likely to have lead pipes and fixtures, but that even newer plumbing advertised as “lead-free” can still contain as much as 8 percent lead. A study published in The Journal of Environmental Health in 2002 found that tap water represented 14 to 20 percent of total lead exposure. The bottom line: Hot water from the tap should never be used for cooking or drinking. New York Times_ 1/29/08 (logon required)
Southeast U.S. drought may close 3 water rides at Six Flags Over Georgia
A Cobb County Water System official discussed the possible restrictions during a meeting Tuesday with Six Flags officials, according to Six Flags spokeswoman Hela Sheth. The rides discussed were Skull Island, Splashwater Falls and Thunder River. Six Flags also operates the White Water theme park in Marietta. Bob Lewis, general manager of Marietta Power & Water, which supplies the water-ride park, said the utility has not had any discussions with Six Flags about whether the park would be affected by the state's drought restrictions on 61 North Georgia counties. Sheth said Six Flags will cooperate with whatever water officials decide. Atlanta Journal-Constitution_ 1/24/08
Sundance Festival film takes on water profiteers
Documentary film "Flow," premiering at the Sundance Film Festival this week, condemns water profiteering, calling for a UN resolution to make access to clean drinking water a human right. The film by French-born director Irena Salina blasts Paris-based Suez and Vivendi Environment for commercializing water systems around the world, as well as Nestle, the world's largest bottled water seller, for draining watersheds. Even the World Bank gets knocked in the film for funding massive water diversion projects that have displaced 80 million people, instead of smaller, cheaper and more eco-friendly community projects to bring fresh drinking water to the poor. Along with a collective of activists, Salina is calling for a binding international treaty to protect the human right to water, as well as tougher local laws to prevent contamination of watersheds and water profiteering.AFP_1/23/08
Hmmmmm. Did I leave the water running?
Overwatering your plants is never a good idea, especially if they're illegal. Police were called to a three-family house in New Haven Wednesday on a report of a water leak from a second floor apartment into the first floor. Firefighters responded to the apartment, where they say they found a large marijuana growing operation with a leaking watering system. State and local police returned with a search warrant Thursday and found more than 331 marijuana plants with a street value of about $1.6 million, police said. Associated Press_1/11/08
FBI turns to a hydrologist to solve D.B. Cooper case
FBI agent Larry Carr has this special theory of how to solve the D.B. Cooper mystery. Maybe, he said, some clever hydrologist armed with satellite technology can trace the Cooper cash found on the Columbia River in 1980 back to the very creek or stream where it fell from the sky on that fabled night in 1971. That might lead to the body of Cooper itself. On Nov. 24, 1971, Thanksgiving eve, the man who bought a ticket as Dan Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient flight from Portland to Seattle. He collected four parachutes and $200,000 in ransom money in Seattle and then leapt out the back stairwell as the plane flew south somewhere over Ariel, Cowlitz County, Washington, on a cold, nasty, rainy night. And as anyone who lives around here knows, he hasn't been heard from since — a mystery that has fueled 36 years of theories and crazed speculation. "Maybe a hydrologist can use the latest technology to trace the $5,800 in ransom money found in 1980 to where Cooper landed upstream," Carr said. "Or maybe someone just remembers that odd uncle." The Columbian/Seattle Times_ 1/1/08
Eight glasses of water a day - and other myths
Many tidbits of medical wisdom have been shown to be untrue or there is little scientific evidence to back them up, according to a report by two U.S. researchers in the British Medical Journal. Here is what their online investigation revealed: Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. There's a lack of medical evidence showing you need to down this much water daily. This common prescription can be traced to a 1945 medical recommendation that stated: "A suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 litres daily in most instances. An ordinary standard for diverse persons is one ml for each calorie of food. Most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods." If the last, crucial sentence is ignored, the statement could be interpreted as an instruction to drink eight glasses of water a day. Evidence suggests you can meet all your fluid needs through food and other beverages including juices, milk and even caffeinated drinks. Globe and Mail_12/21/07
Main break sends water into musician Eddie Van Halen's yard
Eddie Van Halen's Coldwater Canyon Avenue home has been saved from any damage after a water main break sent thousands of gallons of water rushing through his yard and streets. The rupture, due to a broken air valve, occurred about 1 a.m. Monday in Studio City north of Los Angeles. Water flowed down Coldwater Canyon Avenue and traveled as far as a mile away. Fire spokesman Cecil Manresa confirmed the lone house affected by the water belongs to Van Halen. Mud and debris filled the pool and damaged a gate and block wall, but sandbags placed around the home prevented any water from entering inside. AP/Mercury News_ 12/10/07 (logon required)
Clogged toilet gives inmate opening to escape
An Indiana inmate who escaped from a work-release crew by creating a distraction with an overflowing toilet has been recaptured, authorities said. Police arrested Wayne Mitchell, 24, Thursday when he showed up at his father's house in Indianapolis driving a Chevrolet Camaro convertible authorities said he stole to make his getaway. Mitchell was in the Clark County Jail for a probation-violation warrant, but had been working with a crew clearing roadside trash. When the crew stopped at the Clark County Fraternal Order of Police lodge to eat lunch Wednesday, Mitchell went into a restroom and clogged a toilet, causing it to overflow, police said. He then came out saying he needed some towels from the jail's van to sop up the mess. Instead of going to the van, Mitchell walked to nearby G&R Auto Sales, where an employee gave him the keys to a car he said he wanted to look over, police said. Police said he then stole a red 1995 Camaro. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer_ 12/6/07
When Los Angeles has a drought, who ya gonna call? Drought Busters.
Richard Crossley and his 15 colleagues each drives a white Toyota Prius (complete with "Drought buster" logo) and wields a polite smile, handshake, and an armload of bulging information packets. The program, which helped cut water use by about 30 percent during a drought in the 1990s, comes as the entire state takes steps to conserve water. Christian Science Monitor_ 11/27/07
Police said yesterday water tanks and electric pumps had become a target of thieves. Four stolen tanks were recently recovered when police raided a property in the eastern suburbs after a tip-off to Crime Stoppers. The police co-ordinator of Crime Stoppers, Det-Insp Val Smith, said the tanks were an unexpected bonus for police who went to the property to investigate reports of drug trafficking. "Since then we've heard other reports of water tanks being stolen," Det-Insp Smith said. "I guess it's another case of supply and demand driving the market for thieves. News.com.Au_11/22/07
Huge water park planned for Mesa, Arizona desert
The massive new water park would offer surf-sized waves, snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking — all in a bone-dry region that gets just 8 inches of rain a year. The Waveyard, to be built 15 miles east of Phoenix, would dwarf the typical water-slide parks familiar to many Arizona families. No citizens groups overtly opposed the project, but its water usage may raise questions in the future as the growing Phoenix areas struggles to replenish its vast aquifer. Arizona has been in a drought for a decade, and rivers that feed Phoenix and surrounding communities experienced near-record low measurements this year. Jim Holway, associate director of the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University, said the Phoenix area currently enjoys huge supplies of underground water. But it's tough to determine exactly how long communities can sustain their rate of water consumption, given that global warming may make the desert even drier. The Waveyard will need as much as 50 million gallons of water at first to fill its artificial oceans and rivers. Replenishing water lost to evaporation and spillage will require another 60 to 100 million gallons per year, enough to support about 1,200 people in the Phoenix area. Project organizers say they won't tap Mesa's drinking water supplies to fill the park. Instead, they plan to draw from a well that has elevated levels of arsenic, which makes its water unsuitable for drinking. The Waveyard will build a treatment plant to make the water safe for swimmers. AP_ 11/19/07
Drinks firm enlists Jesus to sell bottled water
A drinks company is banking on some divine help in a new venture -- selling spiritual water in bottles featuring Jesus and carrying prayers -- despite warnings this promotion could backfire. Spiritual Brands Inc., a start-up company from Florida, is hoping to make a splash in the competitive bottled water market, worth over $11 billion a year in the United States alone, with its new Spiritual Water. Elicko Taieb, company founder and chief executive, said the company chose Christianity first, since it is so prevalent in the United States, but has plans to expand. "We are working on covering everyone, from Muslims to Jews to Buddhists," said Taieb, who said his family practices Judaism and Catholicism. He said he's not worried about turning people off with the holy images, though John Sicher, publisher of industry newsletter Beverage Digest, said it could happen. "Provocative marketing is fine, but this may well raise an issue of respect or a lack thereof," Sicher said in an email. Reuters_ 11/2/07
Nevada's great cloud-rustling controversy
About 30 miles south of Gardnerville is an unremarkable patch of land that was once the center of a hurricane of controversy involving the right to claim water in rain clouds. In December 1947, Nevada rancher Dick Haman and partner Freeman Fairfield filed a claim to all the water clouds passing over their 12,300-acre spread near Topaz Lake. While Haman's claim was certainly not the most outrageous water scheme to come down the pipe, the action did show the lengths to which desert dwellers will go to find water. Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard_ 10/28/07
Southern California water board member claims he won the Medal of Honor; FBI steps in
Xavier Alvarez, the newest director of Three Valleys Municipal Water District in Claremont, had a personal story so harrowing he came to be known as the "Rambo" of the water board. He said he was a 25-year veteran of the Marine Corps. In 1979, he rescued the U.S. ambassador during the siege of the embassy in Tehran. He was shot twice, hanging from a helicopter, removing the American flag on the way out. He also said he was married to a "Mexican starlet;" played ice hockey at a minor level for the Detroit Red Wings; and had been a cop in Downey until he was let go for excessive force. But when Alvarez, 49, told a gathering of water officials that he had received the Medal of Honor -- an award held by only about 100 living people -- a call soon came from the FBI. Authorities say Alvarez never served in the military. Last month, he became the first person in the nation charged with making a bogus claim of having a medal for valor, according to the FBI. Los Angeles Times_ 10/20/07 (logon required)
What's in your sewer water? Utah sewer district makes a point to help the Great Salt Lake
The water looks clear, but the label on the bottle tells a different story. "Ingredients," notes the back side of the bottle's label: "Water, fecal matter, toilet paper, hair, lint, rancid grease, stomach acid and trace amounts of Pepto Bismol, chocolate, urine, body oils, dead skin, industrial chemicals (aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, selenium, silver arsenic, mercury,) ammonia, ... soil, laundry soap, bath soap, shaving cream, sweat, saliva, salt, sugar. No artificial colors or preservatives. Some variations in taste and/or color may occur due to holidays, predominant cuisine preference, infiltration/inflow, or sewer cross-connections." The specially labeled bottle water comes courtesy of the North Davis Sewer District. And no, it's not real. Yet. AP/Salt Lake Tribune_ 10/15/07
The drop of water that defies gravity
Scientists claimed a world first by making a drop of water flow uphill. The research team from Bristol University ran a tiny droplet down an incline of 85 degrees, then made it move back up by vibrating the surface to make the droplet generate enough energy to move itself. The team is still not entirely sure why the vibration doesn’t make the water go farther down the slope. TimesOnline_ 10/6/07
True or false: The U.S. produces 80% of the world's solar-powered hot water
The answer is: FALSE It is actually China which can claim this fact -- it produces around 80 million cubic meters of solar hot water a year, taking 80% of the global market share. Solar-powered hot water is taking off to such an extent in China that now, around 1 in 10 households have solar heated water. Worldwatch Institute/CCTV/CNN_ 10/2/07
September, 2007
Clyde the Elk Prefers Bottle Water
In the debate over whether bottled water tastes better than tap water, Clyde the elk votes for the bottle every time. Clyde is a domesticated elk who was born and raised on a ranch and lives at the privately run Wyman Living History Museum outside this northwest Colorado city. It's not clear who gave him his first bottle of water, but he now spurns the ranch's well and a 6,000-gallon tank of city water. He wraps his lips around a bottle if it's proffered by a human. It might be that Clyde likes the bottle more than the water. Julie Harris, his caretaker, said she sometimes sneaks city water into his bottles to cut costs. Associated Press_9/26/07
University of Central Florida to install water fountains, immediately
University of Central Florida officials said they would immediately begin installing 50 water fountains throughout their Bright House Networks Stadium, with 10 fountains expected to be in place by Saturday's game against Memphis. UCF spokesman Grant Heston said the university made the decision following criticism from fans stemming from a debut game last Saturday. During that game, parched fans discovered the structure has no public drinking fountains as concession stands ran out of bottled water around the end of the third quarter.
Sun-Sentinel_ 9/18/07
Philadelphia Congressman Bob Brady offers to pay for using up all the free water
It wasn't Bob Brady's fault. OK, so he had a humongous picnic in West Philly last weekend that sucked up all the city's free PhillyTap bottled water, indirectly forcing an Oxford Circle community group to spend $275 on water it thought it was getting free. But the congressman and city Democratic Party boss stepped up yesterday, personally offering to send a check to the Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association for its loss. The Water Department took responsibility last week for the flub. Though Oxford Circle had reserved the water more than three weeks in advance, Brady's organizer, City Councilwoman Carol Ann Campbell, didn't put in her order until four days before the event. The Water Department has traditionally given out water for community events as a public service. Brady didn't get the water because he was Bob Brady; he got it because someone was expecting another shipment of bottles, a spokesman said. Philadelphia inquirer_ 9/17/07
Copper thieves stole tubing from drinking water wells serving 1,500 people, forcing three of five wells to be shut down. Residents served by the Muscoy Mutual Water District Co. have been asked to conserve until the equipment is repaired. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating the copper caper. The value of the purloined copper tubing - essential to keep the water well motors running - was put at only $50, sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said. Two wells were repaired Thursday, but a third well providing a fourth of the agency's water will be shut down for 10 days. Copper has long been a target of those desperate for quick cash. Thefts have skyrocketed nationwide during the last year as demand and the price of the copper has soared. Copper was selling for $3.39 a pound this week. Los Angeles Times/Fresno Bee_ 9/14/07
Worms in Scottish tap water 'just an aesthetic issue'
Water chiefs were at the centre of a storm yesterday after describing worms in the water supply as an "aesthetic issue". Customers complained to Scottish Water after they found tiny bloodworms - midge larvae - coming out of their taps. About 30 householders in Oban are thought to have discovered the 6mm worms when pouring a glass of water. The quango said the problem was caused by a build-up of midge larvae in a filter at the local reservoir. It had now added "a backwash of chlorine" to the supply to prevent further breeding. Jason Rose, a Scottish Water spokesman, apologised for the problem, but said it was an "aesthetic issue" and there was no risk to health. A resident who asked not to be named, said: "Nobody is going to want to drink, cook or clean with water that is infested with midge larvae. To imply it's only an 'aesthetic issue' is just bloody cheek." The Scotsman_ 9/11/07
Chinese chicken chokes after testing the water
Think a bottle of mineral water might have poisoned you? Then test it on a chicken. One Chinese family on the southern island province of Hainan had just that idea when one of their number started vomiting blood after drinking a bottle of water, a newspaper said. They fed the luckless chicken the rest of the water to see what would happen, the Beijing News said, citing a report in a local paper. "The result was the chicken died within a minute," it said, showing a picture of a man holding a plastic bottle squatting over the crumpled body of the bird. The province's authorities were investigating, it added. Reuters_ 9/9/07
August, 2007
France: No blessing for carry-on holy water
The real miracle would have been getting it past airport security. Inspectors at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport barred passengers on a new Vatican-backed chartered flight to the shrine at Lourdes from returning to Rome with carry-on holy water, some in containers in the shape of the Virgin Mary, above, saying the water, which is said to have healing powers, had to follow security rules just like other liquids. Reuters/New York Times_ 8/30/07 (logon required)
Prehistoric Greek water works found
Archaeologists excavating a sprawling prehistoric fortress in southern Greece have discovered a secret underground passage thought to have supplied the site with water in times of danger. Dating to the mid-13th century B.C., the stone passage passed under the massive walls of the Mycenaean citadel of Midea and probably led to a nearby water source, authorities said Friday. The passage would allow the people of Midea, about 93 miles south of Athens, safe access to drinkable water even in times of enemy attack. Only three such networks — major engineering feats requiring intensive labor — from Mycenaean times have been found so far. AP/Yahoo!_ 8/24/07
The dour Moscow of Cold War film strips is long gone, and this increasingly prosperous city fancies itself striding chest out into the future. But every summer, the people here get a taste of old-style deprivation. In neighborhoods rich and poor, for as long as a month, most buildings have had no running hot water, not a drop. For all its new wealth and aspirations, Moscow remains saddled with an often decrepit infrastructure. Now, an apt symbol of its condition is the city's hot water system, perhaps one of the more exasperating vestiges of Soviet centralized planning. Buildings in Moscow usually receive hot water from a series of plants throughout the city, not from basement boilers, as in the United States. By summer, the plants and the network of pipelines that transport the hot water need maintenance. Off goes the hot water. International Herald Tribune_ 8/20/07
Bottled or tap? 'Colbert Report' to air Stephen Colbert's water fight with Richard Branson
Branson, who was on the show to promote his Virgin American airline, doused Colbert with a glass of water when the segment ended. He was reportedly angry (or pretending to be angry) because he didn't have a chance to plug the airline by name. Colbert retaliated by drenching Branson after sending a staffer for a glass of water. Colbert had to be dried off by staffers after the water fight. Comedy Central officials claim it was all in good fun. But audience members who attended the taping last Tuesday blogged that Colbert looked ruffled and angry afterward — and that the two men sat in stony silence for a few seconds. The water fight will air Aug. 22. NYPost/FoxNews_ 8/14/07
Despite his plea that Los Angeles residents save water, mayor and other leaders are heavy users
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa challenged residents this summer to "change course" and slash their water use by 10% in the face of a historic drought. But records show that the mayor and several other top city officials have long been heavy water users themselves. In Villaraigosa's case, even if he had made a 10% reduction at the two homes where he has lived since winning election in 2005, he still would have used nearly twice as much water as comparable properties in the vicinity. City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and Councilman Tony Cardenas surpassed the mayor, using more than twice the number of gallons over the last two years as typical property owners in their parts of town. In fact, a review of Department of Water and Power documents shows that at least nine of the city's 18 elected leaders used higher than average amounts of water -- sometimes a little, other times a lot -- over the last two years. Los Angeles Times_ 8/10/07 (logon required)
Water is the way to go: UK funeral directors plan to boil bodies to dust
If you really want to be different - and green - how about having your remains boiled in water? Cemetery bosses are in talks with a Glasgow firm Resomation which plans to turn bodies to dust rapidly by submerging them in water and heating them to 150C (302F). The process - called resomation - is similar to cremation but the company claims it is better for the environment because it uses less energy and does not emit harmful chemicals. When a body is cremated, it is heated to up to 1,200C (2,192F) and lets off a number of harmful gases, including high levels of mercury. With resomation, there also is no wooden coffin to be destroyed. It would cost up to £300,000 to install a machine and the cost per funeral would be around £300 - about the same as a cremation. The name resomation is based on the Greek word resoma - which means rebirth of the human body. Already, up to 1,100 bodies have been treated this way in the US. Chemically, the process is similar to - but much faster than - natural decomposition. Afterwards, the 'bio-ashes' are returned to loved ones. Daily Mail_ 8/4/07
July, 2007
Maker of toilet aquarium swims into new territory
Toilets and pet fish have an unhappy history, but AquaOne Technologies is changing that — one flush at a time. This wasn't how the Westminster, California-based company set out to make its name. Really. The serious-minded small business was founded seven years ago with the worthy goal of ending the biggest single source of wasted water in any household: leaky and overflowing toilets. Its first product, the FlowManager, was a sensor that attached to the toilet bowl to detect leaks and shut off the water to the fixture. It's been welcomed by nursing homes and other care facilities. Richard Quintana, 53, AquaOne's chief executive, said the company originally had no plans to sell a fish tank toilet. It was simply a trade-show gimmick to attract passersby to look at a new sensor. During an executive brain-storming session on ways to demonstrate the new sensor they realized they were dads who had all flushed their share of dead guppies and goldfish over the years, and the same thought hit all of them: What if we had fish in that tank and flushed it and the fish stayed and didn't go down the drain? At the trade show, something unexpected happened. Crowds gathered to see the fish tank toilet — and ignored the new sensor. "It was insane," said David Parrish, the chief operating officer for AquaOne. "We had to set up appointments for people because so many people were coming by to play with the fish tank that we couldn't present our products. They wanted to buy the thing." Since December, the company has sold 1,000 of the 1.6-gallon Fish 'n Flush tanks which include two aquarium aerators and a filter and retails for $299. Los Angeles Times_ 7/25/07 (logon required)
Turbulent water at Oregon reservoir: it bubbles and then there is an explosion of debris
Ben and Mandy Kauffman of Albany say they were camping at the Green Peter Reservoir near Sweet Home last weekend when and saw what appeared to be a black hole in the water that formed a perfect circle with some debris coming up. The Army Corps of Engineers says the events are likely geothermal eruptions - possibly the release of warm water or gas. The corps is investigating. But officials say they do not believe the eruptions put visitors to the reservoir at risk. AP/KMTR-TV_ 7/23/07
'Well from hell' spewing hot water from taps
But no arsenic
Hot water is flowing from cold water faucets in Sun Groves, and it's not a plumbing problem. The Chandler neighborhood southeast of Lindsay and Riggs roads is close to one of the city's newest wells - a natural underground hot spring where water temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, said Bob Mulvey, assistant municipal utilities director. The heat became more noticeable in recent weeks because record water consumption is forcing the city to pump more from the thermal source, he said. "It's bizarre that you can't have cold water," said Sun Groves resident Charles Bassett. "Our 3-year-old son said it's too hot to wash his hands. My wife is seven months pregnant and can't take a shower to cool down." The "well from hell" isn't all bad. Mulvey said it is producing 3 million gallons a day, three times the quantity of an average city well. That has saved the city more than $4 million in additional well-drilling costs. Unlike other sources of groundwater, this one has such a low arsenic level that the city doesn't have to treat it to meet strict federal standards. The Arizona Republic_7/18/07 (logon required)
Extreme health claims for water too good to be true
Minneapolis Star Tribune reader's representative Kate Parry tracked down the sources used for a widely distributed news story that made incredible health claims for drinking water, among them: "drinking five glasses of water a day 'has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, breast cancer by 79 percent and bladder cancer by 50 percent.'" Parry determined those claims and others originated more than 15 years ago, had no scientific basis and have spread ever since on the Internet. Her recommendations: There are many bogus "health" websites online sponsored by those trying to make a quick buck off consumers. Editors, reporters and consumers should always apply a smell test before using them. There's a good "Guide to Healthy Web Surfing" offered by MedlinePlus, produced by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. It recommends some questions to consider before using a health website, among them: Can you tell who runs the website? Does it make health claims that "seem too good to be true?" Who pays for it? Minneapolis Star-Tribune_ 7/14/07
Scientists make a building made of water
An international team led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers has created a building made of water. The building, to be unveiled during next year's Expo Zaragoza in Spain, features liquid curtains for walls -- curtains that not only can display images or messages, but can also sense an approaching object and automatically part to let it through. The pavilion's roof, covered by a thin layer of water, will be supported by large pistons and can move up and down. When the pavilion is closed, the roof will collapse to the ground and the whole structure will disappear. The facade of the water pavilion will be like a very large display, with text, letters, and interactive patterns. "You could throw a ball at the wall, and then see an open circle drop down to meet it precisely where and when its trajectory intersected the water surface," said William Mitchell, head of MIT's Design Laboratory. Officials said the pavilion illustrates the potential of "digital water" as an emerging medium. Science Daily_7/11/07
Chinese city opens public toilet with more than 1,000 stalls
They're flushing with pride in a southwestern Chinese city where a recently opened porcelain palace features an Egyptian facade, soothing music and more than 1,000 toilets spread out over 32,290 square feet. Officials in Chongqing are preparing to submit an application to Guinness World Records to have the four-story, free-of-charge public restroom listed as the world's largest, state-run China Central Television reported Friday. "We are spreading toilet culture. People can listen to gentle music and watch TV," said Lu Xiaoqing, an official with the Yangrenjie, or "Foreigners Street," tourist area where the bathroom is located. "After they use the bathroom they will be very, very happy." AP/USA Today_ 7/6/07
St. Louis wins bragging rights for best water taste from U.S. mayors
During the 75th Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, St. Louis (MO) was chosen as the Best Tasting City Water in America and it will receive a cash award of $15,000 and bragging rights. Hundreds of mayors attending the 75th Annual Meeting were the judges of the “Best Tasting City Water in America” who conducted a blind test of tap water for taste, clarity and aroma. The five finalists (Anaheim, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Long Beach, CA; St. Louis, MO and Toledo, OH) were part of a group of 93 cities, which were selected for their achievement in providing great tasting, quality water to America’s citizens. News Release_ 6/26/07
Around-the-world relay spreads awareness and raises money for safe drinking water projects worldwide
The inaugural 2007 Blue Planet Run began June 1 in New York and athletes representing 13 countries and ranging in age from 23 to 60 are running 24/7 for 95 days. It ends in New York September 9. The 15,200-mile route passes through through 16 countries including Ireland, England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan, Canada and the U.S. The relay is sponsored by Dow Chemical. Check out the route. News Release/Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire_ 6/11/07
U.S. Conference of Mayors to pick city with the best tasting water
Finalists in the 2007 City Water Taste Test are Anaheim, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Long Beach, CA; St. Louis, MO and Toledo, OH. The finalists were selected June 6 from a group of 93 contenders. The blind test rated tap water entries for taste, clarity and aroma. The winner will be selected during 75th Annual Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Los Angeles (June 22-26). The winning city will earn the title "Best Tasting City Water in America," $15,000 and bragging rights. The contest is sponsored by Veolia Water North America. The ten cities that received honorable mentions were: Arvada, CO, Beverly Hills, CA, Dubuque, IA, Greenbay, WI, Lansing, MI, Northbrook, IL, Philadelphia, PA, San Jose, CA, Sugar Land, TX, and Tallahassee, FL. News Release_ 6/6/07
Hotel mini-bars drive Australian travelers to cheat
More than half of Australian travellers have tried to cheat hotel minibars with tactics such as replacing bottled water with tap water, a survey has found. Herald Sun_ 5/28/07
Tornado that destroyed Greensburg, Kansas leaves its tourist attraction untouched
The most powerful tornado recorded in the U.S. in years destroyed Greensburg, Kansas Friday night, but it didn't wipe out the town's tourist attraction: the world's largest hand-dug well.
NPR reported the well, built in 1888 for the railroads, survived the F5 tornado that killed at least eight in the town of 1,500 residents. The 109-foot-deep well served as the town's water supply until 1939 when it was closed and turned into a tourist attraction. WaterWebster_ 5/7/09
Automated public toilets off to a slow start in Los Angeles; city bureaucracy is blamed
The green, oval, vaguely Art Deco pod arrived in Pershing Square six months ago — billed as the answer to one of downtown's most human of needs. It's a luxury automated toilet, the kind seen on the streets of world-class cities such as Paris and New York and a prototype for as many as 150 that officials plan to roll out across Los Angeles in the next few years. Costing as much as a small downtown condo, it offers instructions in Vietnamese, French, Italian, Spanish, English and Braille, advising passersby to drop a quarter in the slot and step inside. Unfortunately, the bathroom doesn't work. Los Angeles Times_ 5/3/07 (logon required)
Major Discovery: New planet could harbor water and life
An Earth-like planet spotted outside our solar system is the first found that could support liquid water and harbor life, scientists announced today. Liquid water is a key ingredient for life as we know it. The newfound planet is located at the "Goldilocks" distance—not too close and not too far from its star to keep water on its surface from freezing or vaporizing away. And while astronomers are not yet able to look for signs of biology on the planet, the discovery is a milestone in planet detection and the search for extraterrestrial life, one with the potential to profoundly change our outlook on the universe. The study leader is Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland. The new planet is about 50 percent bigger than Earth and about five times more massive. The new “super-Earth” is called Gliese 581 C, after its star, Gliese 581, a diminutive red dwarf star located 20.5 light-years away that is about one-third as massive as the Sun. space.com_ 4/24/07
Japan's Toto Ltd. warns toilets might catch fire
Japan's leading toilet maker Toto Ltd. is offering free repairs for 180,000 bidet toilets after wiring problems caused several to catch fire, the company said Monday. "Fortunately, nobody was using the toilets when the fire broke out and there were no injuries," said company spokeswoman Emi Tanaka. "The fire would have been just under your buttocks." The popular Z series features a pulsating massage spray, a power dryer, built-in-the-bowl deodorizing filter, the "Tornado Wash" flush and a lid that opens and closes automatically. Prices range from $1,680 to $2,600. The model is not sold overseas. AP/Boston Globe_ 4/16/07
Thames, which has come under fire for losing 200 million gallons of water a day from leaking pipes, says that tending allotments with hosepipes is a "non-essential use of water". It is lobbying the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a change in water laws dating back to 1945. At present, council allotment holders are exempt from hosepipe bans because their land is treated as public rather than private. Geoff Stokes, secretary of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners said Thames Water "could take a running jump". Evening Standard_ 4/15/07
UK water company decides leak is its responsibility to investigate, 5 years after it's discovered
A mysterious leak that pours water out at a rate of a gallon every 20 seconds is to be investigated - five years after it was first noticed. The water - which may be from an underground source - pours non-stop on to a road in Camp Hill, Nuneaton. It started as a trickle and has developed into a stream over the years. Severn Trent Water said the delay was due to it initially believing the leak was from an owner's property but would now treat the matter as a priority. BBC News_ 3/29/07
Celtic have been fined £420 by Uefa after supporters were alleged to have thrown plastic water bottles towards the San Siro Stadium pitch in Milan. Two incidents of bottles being thrown towards the pitch were recorded by officials from European football's governing body at the 7 March match. Neither missile reached the playing surface during Celtic's Champions League defeat by AC Milan. Celtic are likely to appeal within the three-day limit. The club claims that the bottles were thrown from an area outwith the official Celtic support. BBC Sports_ 3/26/07
Sculpting with desalinated sea clay: it's an art form
Rony Maffi was born with an artist’s soul; his talent was inherited from the Guaiqueri Indians who lived in the Araya Peninsular of Sucre before the Spanish conquered Venezuela. His mother, Yesenia, is a self-taught sand sculptor who passed this gift on to Rony in a technique that he now uses called Pariche, which means mountain of colors in Indian. His clay is collected on the beach from underneath the sand, in wet form and desalinated with fresh water. All At Sea_ February, 2007
January, 2007
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick won't face charges over suspicious water bottle
The water bottle had a hidden compartment and Vick tried to bring it through security at Miami International Airport last week. Laboratory tests on the substance in the bottle's compartment, which police suspected may have contained marijuana, found no evidence of drugs, according to a memo by Deisy Rodriguez, an assistant state attorney. The memo didn't say what the substance was. A police report said the bottle appeared to hold water, but had a compartment hidden behind the label the contained a ``small amount of dark particulate'' and a smell ``consistent with marijuana.'' Bloomberg_ 1/22/07
Water drinking contest blamed in death of California woman
A 27-year-old mother of three has died of water intoxication after competing in a Sacramento radio station contest where people attempted to drink as much water as they could without peeing. Jennifer Strange was found dead in her suburban Rancho Cordova home shortly after participating in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, held by KDND 107.9 on Friday. Strange had told friends she was hoping to win the prize, a Nintendo Wii video game, for her kids. Water intoxication occurs when water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, upsetting the body's delicate balance of electrolytes, which are critical for nerve and muscle function. AP/CBC News_ 1/14/07
