The News Review:

- State denies emergency water supply ‘undrinkable’
- Sowing of summer crop may be affected
- South East “Drier Than Ethiopia”
- Water row: main issue still unresolved
- Poor winter rains hit cereal production
- Toxic oil spill in China river cuts water supplies

State denies emergency water supply ‘undrinkable’
NEWS.com.au – Nov 3, 2006
The Daily Telegraph reported today that the water the Government had earmarked to relieve Sydney’s water crisis failed basic drinking quality guidelines. It said a Government-commissioned report into deep water storages under Warragamba Dam had revealed they were below the standard required to meet drinking water – or even bulk water – supply guidelines. It said the report also warned that Sydney’s drinking water supply would be compromised because of increased pollution run-off caused by accessing the deep water. The report, obtained under a Freedom of Information request, said dissolved oxygen levels in the 40 billion litres of deep water are as low as 56. The recommended drinking water and bulk water supply standard is for oxygen levels above 85 per cent to prevent heavy metals contaminating the water column. But NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus has said water quality at the dams is fine… The report, obtained under a Freedom of Information request, said dissolved oxygen levels in the 40 billion litres of deep water are as low as 56. The recommended drinking water and bulk water supply standard is for oxygen levels above 85 per cent to prevent heavy metals contaminating the water column. But NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus has said water quality at the dams is fine. "The merest commonsense tells you as the total dam water levels fall the surface water gets more oxygen in it," Mr Debus has said. "If we ever got down to using the water that is presently at the bottom of the (Warragamba) dam it would be properly oxygenated. "Our water quality is and will remain exceptionally high.

Sowing of summer crop may be affected
Hindu – Nov 3, 2006
Prakash, who chaired the meeting, decided to continue water supply in the canals on either sides of the project till the end of kharif season and said a final decision on supply for summer crops would be taken after reviewing the storage position at the end of December. He told the meeting that 83 tmcft of water was available in the reservoir as on Thursday which had to be shared between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh according to allocations. At present, the available storage would facilitate water supply in both the States till the end of kharif season. However, it was felt that after the kharif season water would not be enough to take up sowing of summer crop in the command areas. About 40 tmcft of water is required for summer crops in the command areas of Bellary, Koppal and Raichur. The required quantity for summer crops had to be calculated after deducting evaporation loss and the quantity required to augment drinking water supply during summer. It was expected that there would be a shortage of about 20 tmcft water for summer crops… However, the issue would be decided only after the end of kharif season, he added. After discussing the prevailing situation in all command areas under the project, the meeting decided to continue water supply in the Tungabhadra Right Bank High-level Canal (RBHLC) up to its 69th mile stretch till December 17 by which time the kharif season would come to an end in Bellary district. Assessment

Any extension of water supply in this canal would be decided only after assessing the crop position and the availability of storage in the reservoir before the end of November. Water supply in the Tungabhadra Right Bank Low-level Canal (RBLLC) would be continued even after December to take up sowing of summer crop in the command areas of Hospet, Sirguppa and Sandur in Bellary district. The meeting decided to minimise water supply in the canal through an on and off system till December end to save water for taking up sowing of summer crops in its command areas.

South East “Drier Than Ethiopia”
Green Building Press – Nov 3, 2006
Each person uses an average of 33 -35 gallons of water per day – 50 per cent more than 25 years ago. This increase in use has added to the pressure on supply and underlines the importance of using water wisely, conserving it through simple measures such as turning off the tap whilst brushing your teeth. There is an obligation on the Government to take into account water resources before embarking on major house-building programmes. More affordable homes are needed in the East to meet genuine local need, but it would be irresponsible for the Government to ignore existing pressures on the water supply. The Environment Agency has proposed to the recent public examination in Ely that all the new houses should be built with dual water systems so that we can recycle water for some uses, such as flushing toilets. Developers say it would put the cost up. For that matter so too would be the inclusion of renewable power, such as solar panels; in both cases, though, the running costs of the home would fall.

Water row: main issue still unresolved
Hindu – Nov 3, 2006
Suresh, general secretary of the Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents Welfare Association (VARWA): “our main demand for converting the category to domestic is still unresolved. While the officials say that a policy decision has to be taken in this regard as it is applicable to whole of Andhra Pradesh, we only want them to expedite the issue. ”

If it is a policy decision how come different rates for water supply could be levied in different cities. For example in Hyderabad it is only Rs. 8 per kilo litre of water supplied to the domestic users (including apartments) and in Vijayawada it is Rs. Whereas in Visakhapatnam, the GVMC collects Rs.

Poor winter rains hit cereal production
Reuters AlertNet – Nov 3, 2006
Early snow melt caused a reduction in the irrigation water supply for the upcoming winter cultivation season. The deterioration of security has a multi-dimensional negative impact on peoples’ livelihoods. Food prices noticeably increased in northern Afghanistan following the harvest, which is abnormal for this time of year. Due to a shortage of animal food, livestock prices have decreased by 30 to 40 percent in the northwestern provinces. Food security summaryAt the present time, there are no signs of destitution or famine but signs of heightened economic stress are evident in the northern provinces (Faryab, Jawzjan, Sari Pul, Balkh, Samangan, Baghlan, Kunduz and Talkhar)… Lack of access to potable drinking water presents the real threats of acute morbidity and population displacement across the northern provinces. Measuring the magnitude of the water access problem and targeting interventions appropriately is complicated by the often inadequate distinction between the long-term issue of poor water quality and drought-induced acute lack of access to water. The association between irrigation water demand and supply is multifactor in northern Afghanistan. Although residents report a significant decrease in irrigation water supply, this may be explained in part by the fact that communities do not maintain the canals and intakes to the same level as they did in the past because of the widespread perception that this is the responsibility of the government and aid community. The response strategies that households are undertaking in the affected provinces continue to be reversible, such as sale of small stock (particularly male animals), in particular in Faryab Province. In addition, people are undertaking internal and external labor migration. Although one might believe that labor migration from rainfed zones is a sign of high levels of food insecurity, the picture is more complex, with many households increasingly diversifying their livelihoods and engaging in labor markets.

Toxic oil spill in China river cuts water supplies
China Post – Nov 3, 2006
Most of China?s canals, rivers and lakes are severely tainted by agricultural and household pollution. Chinese leaders say the country faces a critical water shortage, partly due to chronic pollution and chemical accidents. In August, China said it would spend 1 trillion yuan (US$125 billion; euro100 billion) to improve water treatment and recycling by 2010 to fight the mounting threat of urban water pollution. Last November, a chemical plant blast spilled tons of benzene and other toxic material into the Songhua river, halting water supplies to millions in China and neighboring Russia. Local authorities were accused of reacting too slowly and delaying public disclosure of the spill.