Are you kidding me?

Well here is another fine example of big business having its way with the US House. I cant imagine that members of the House of Representatives truly believe that lessening restrictions on pesticide use is a step in the right direction. I see it as exactly the opposite! Exempting farmers and companies use of pesticides, on or near water, from complying with the EPA Clean Water Act amounts to turning a blind eye at a time when we need to see improvements in fresh water resource preservation efforts. I certainly hope the Senate has the decency and presence to pull the plug on this effort. 

This isn't the first time this has been argued by the EPA on behalf of the pesticide industry. In Jan 2009, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier EPA decision that pesticide use "should not" fall under the  Clean Water Act passed in 1972. The court ruled that "pesticides constituted pollutants under federal law and thereby had to be regulated to protect public health and the environment". The rule excluding pesticides was put into place by the Bush administration; no surprise there.   

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MAEE4O1.htm  
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/conservationists_applauded_the.html 


What do you think?
AP

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Peak Water is so much more troubling than Peak Oil could ever be

Those of us that are concerned about climate change and the effects being experienced around the globe, have heard about and understand the alarm being sounded about Peak Oil. People that are really paying attention to the global crisis are also aware of an even greater concern to humanity; Peak Water. 

It's not hard to to understand why Peak Oil gets so much more attention than Peak Water; any guesses? The obvious answer should be money!  More specifically how much corporations profit from oil vs water.  

Water is at level two in what I have tagged "The Trinity of Human Existence": Air, Water, Food. Everything else is irrelevant without the Trinity. 

Due to an explosion in world population, human demand for freshwater already exceeded supply capabilities in many parts of the world; and as the human population continues to rise at an unprecedented rate, the demand grows with it and  many more areas are expected to experience this imbalance in the immediate future. The status-quot is unsustaianable.

Agriculture represents 70% of freshwater use worldwid. The United States accounts for approximately 5% of the world's population, yet the US uses almost as much water as India (~1/5th of world population) or China (1/5th of world population). The industrial sector in the United States consumes more water than the agricultural sector. Currently in the U.S. there are 36 states  in some form of water stress, ranging from serious to severe.

The Ogallala Aquifer in the southern high plains of Texas and New Mexico is being drawn down at a rate that far exceeds replenishment. Portions of the aquifer will not naturally recharge due to layers of clay between the surface and the water-bearing formation. The term fossil water is used to describe aquifers that are not sustainable because the recharge rate is extremely slow. The Ogallala Aquifer primarily consists of Fossil Water.

In California, massive amounts of groundwater are being sucked out of the Central Valley groundwater aquifers—unreported, unmonitored, and unregulated. California's Central Valley is home to one sixth of all U.S. irrigated land, and the state leads the nation in agricultural production and exports. This can have major implications for the U.S. economy.

The Central Arizona Project (CAP) is a 336-mile (541 km) long canal that diverts 489 billion gallons a year from the Colorado River to irrigate more than 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) of farmland. The CAP project also provides drinking water for Phoenix and Tucson. It has been estimated that Lake Mead, which dams the Colorado and supplies fresh water to more than 10 million people, is expected to run dry within the next 10 years.

The Ipswich River near Boston now runs dry in some years due to heavy pumping of groundwater for irrigation. Maryland, Virginia and the District have been fighting over the Potomac River. In drought years like 1999 or 2003, and on hot summer days the region consumes up to 85 percent of the river's flow.

Nine of the ten fastest-growing counties in the 15 months following Census 2000 (April 1, 2000) were in the South: three in Texas, three in Georgia, one in Virginia, one in Kentucky, and one in Florida.

Peak Water will be the primary cause of unrest and human suffering during the next century; if we continue too neglect the situation.

Listen to the children have to say- and then let me know what you think about the situation.



Opinions please; the subject is so worth your time and requires discussion & action NOW!


AP

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EPA allows pesticides to be applied to water.

Pesticides can be sprayed or added directly into or near bodies of water to control mosquito larvae and weeds, without special permitting under the Clean Water Act. On November 21 2006, the U.S. EPA finalized that decision, which affects both direct and airborne pesticide applications to water.

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The United States abstains from declaring safe water and sanitation as a basic human right.

To much to loose?

Today is a day worth noting in human history. I have long been an advocate for declaring safe water as a basic human right; along with the other two necessities for sustaining life- safe food & safe air. It’s the trinity of survival; Air, Water, Food; everything else is non-essential. I believe that as a species this trinity of survival should be an inalienable right for all human beings; regardless of cost or degree of challenge.

41 county’s chose to abstain. I am eager to hear the reasoning behind the decisions. I would venture to make an educated guess and preempt the coming disclosures as being politically motivated on behalf of the citizens. They will proclaim inadequacies and lack of clearly defined rolls and responsibilities governments. The reasons will be relative to potential liabilities, costs and burdens. What you won’t hear is how they don’t want to loose their rights to sell water or relinquish control of it for profit and power.

UN record of vote and comments:

Introducing a draft resolution on the human right to water and sanitation (document A/64/L.63/Rev.1), the representative of Bolivia said that human right had not been fully recognized, despite

Water Quality Today: Iron

IRON IN DRINKING WATER

Iron is one of the most troublesome elements in water supplies. Making up at least 5 percent of the earth’s crust, iron is one of the earth’s most plentiful resources. Rainwater as it infiltrates the soil and underlying geologic formations dissolves iron, causing it to seep into aquifers that serve as sources of groundwater for wells. Although present in drinking water, iron is seldom found at concentrations greater than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l) or 10 parts per million. However, as little as 0.3 mg/l can cause water to turn a reddish brown color.
Iron is mainly present in water in two forms: either the soluble ferrous iron or the insoluble ferric iron. Water containing ferrous iron is clear and colorless because the iron is completely dissolved. When exposed to air in the pressure tank or atmosphere, the water turns cloudy and a reddish brown substance begins to form. This sediment is the oxidized or ferric form of iron that will not dissolve in water.

Health
Iron is not hazardous to health, but it is considered a secondary or aesthetic contaminant. Essential for good health, iron helps transport oxygen in the blood. Most tap water in the United States supplies approximately 5 percent of the dietary requirement for iron.

Taste and Food
Dissolved ferrous iron gives water a disagreeable taste. When the iron combines with tea, coffee and other beverages, it produces an inky, black appearance and a harsh, unacceptable taste. Vegetables cooked in water containing excessive iron turn dark and look unappealing.

Stains and Deposits
Concentrations of iron as low as 0.3 mg/l will leave reddish brown stains on fixtures, tableware and laundry that can be very hard to remove. When these deposits break loose from water piping, rusty water will flow through the faucet.

Iron Bacteria
When iron exists along with certain kinds of bacteria, problems can become much worse. Bacteria feed on the iron, leaving behind a reddish brown or yellow slime that can clog plumbing and cause an offensive odor. This slime or sludge is most noticeable in the tank of the toilet when the lid is removed.

Organic Iron
Iron combines with different naturally occurring organic materials; it may also exist as an organic complex. The combination of naturally occurring organic material and iron can be found in shallow wells and surface water. This type of iron is usually yellow or brown but may be colorless.

Test Your Water
If there is an iron problem with the water supply, the first step is to determine the source. The source of iron may be from the corrosion of iron or steel pipes or other components of the plumbing system where the acidity of the water, measured as pH, is below 6.5.
A lab analysis of water to determine the extent of the iron problem and possible treatment solutions should begin with a test for iron concentration. A water sample kit can be obtained from a certified laboratory. The laboratory’s instructions for collecting the water sample should be followed. Collect the sample as close to the well as possible.
If the source of water is a public water system and you experience iron-related problems, it is important to contact a utility official to determine whether the red water is from the public system or from the home’s plumbing or piping.

Treatment Considerations
 Before choosing a water treatment method or device, answer the following questions:
1. What form of iron do I have in my water system?
2. According to the water test results, will the water treatment unit remove the total iron concentration? (Total iron includes both soluble and insoluble iron.)
3. Will the treatment unit treat the water at the flow rate required for my water system?
4. Will the pH have to be adjusted prior to a particular treatment?
5. Would the construction of a new well or the reconstruction of an existing well be more cost effective than a long-term iron removal treatment process?

Iron water is one of those conditions that will need to be addressed or the long term effects will create additional problems later. Don't put it off.

AP

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AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com 


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Arsenic linked to Diabetes

In my efforts to stay in touch with the global water situation I have noticed a resurgent “buzz” on the topic of Arsenic in drinking water. The topic is always worth discussing. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and is a major contributor to many forms of cancer and illness. In a 2008 article posted in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA-PDF or HTML)evidenced a link between Type 2 Diabetes & low level exposure to inorganic Arsenic.

Arsenic is a metalloid that exists in both organic and inorganic forms; the later of which is the most troublesome. A common source of organic Arsenic is Fish and Seafood and for the most part it passes through the body. Arsenic was discovered in 1250 and quickly gained notoriety as an extremely poisonous metalloid and human carcinogen. It is known to cause bladder, lung and skin cancers, and may cause kidney and liver cancer. The chemical attacks the central and peripheral nervous systems, damages the heart and blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. It also may cause birth defects and reproductive problems.

Arsenic is commonly found in drinking water supplies all over the world. In its two forms, organic and inorganic; the inorganic form is more dangerous. Inorganic arsenic occurs naturally. In addition, at least six million pounds of arsenic are released into the environment of the U.S. each year through several unnatural processes including mining, burning coal, copper and lead smelting, wood-preservative treatments, municipal incinerators and the use of common pesticides.

Currently in the US, the maximum arsenic concentration allowed by the EPA is 10 parts per billion (ppb). This is also the recognized limit by the World Health Organization. Before January 2006, 50 ppb was considered acceptable in many states across the country. There is evidence for concern that levels even below 10ppb are dangerous. Recent studies have associated these lower amounts with increased levels of skin cancer. The negative effects of continuous low dosage exposure to arsenic can take years to become apparent.

All sources of drinking water should be checked. Arsenic is an element of the earth's crust and can be released from the sediment into the groundwater. Most water sources are Direct Draw from some kind of ground source; including municipally treated and distributed water.
Never blindly trust the source of your drinking and bathing water. Test your water & filter it if uncertain or remain at risk; you decide.

AquaPro
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Water: If the rising water doesn’t get you, the lack of it will!

I have spent the majority of my adult life, doing business in one way or another with water. I have spent the last several years considering the fast approaching dilemma we face; not only as a nation but as inhabitants on this jewel of a planet we call Earth. Of all the troubling environmental considerations before us, it’s seems the most worrisome is getting the least amount of attention. While all the politically motivated topics; oil, gas, energy, crops etc, most certainly need our immediate consideration and action, the worsening situation of available clean water should be our greatest environmental concern. To allow continued disregard he probable impacts on generations to come and life as we know it,

Regardless of our political, religious, personal views we will all be adversely affected to some degree by the lack of fresh water in the very near future. A great deal of the world already is.

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