The News Review:

- Recycled tap water’s ‘unsettled question’
- … Its Modular Packaged Water Treatment Plant Will Allow…
- Water ministry to tackle crisis
- Water Forum to Explore Investment Opportunities

Recycled tap water’s ‘unsettled question’
San Diego Union Tribune – Sep 26, 2006
But what about drugs and other possibly dangerous substances that might remain in the recycled water?Water providers don't routinely check for pharmaceuticals, personal-care products or numerous other substances that scientists call “emerging contaminants. ” Sewage plants aren't designed to remove them. Neither federal nor state agencies regulate them in water supplies. And California hasn't taken some of the most basic steps to keep them out of the state's waters. Public health officials, water-quality experts and policymakers have been worried for years about the potential effects of these compounds, which show up widely in the nation's lakes and streams. The prospect of recycling wastewater into drinking water has amplified those fears. Where: City Hall, 12th floor, 202 C St…
The uncertainty leaves the public and pollution watchdogs uneasy, particularly in the wake of numerous reports about waterborne drugs altering the sexual characteristics of fish in Europe and the United States. “You don't want to see a mirror image of that showing up in human life 20, 30, 40 years down the line,” said William L. Rukeyser, spokesman for California's State Water Resources Control Board. Widespread pollutantsWhen San Diego first tried – and famously failed politically – to turn wastewater into drinking water seven years ago, skeptics expressed deep reservations about what unknown and untested pollutants might still lurk in purified sewage. Scientists have since detected a dizzying array of previously ignored chemicals in rivers and lakes worldwide, including waterways that are the source of drinking water for San Diego County. Common contaminants include detergents, fragrances, caffeine, estrogen and painkillers. Basically anything that people consume or lather on their bodies eventually ends up in the water.

… Its Modular Packaged Water Treatment Plant Will Allow…
Free with registration – PR Newswire – AccessMyLibrary.com – Sep 26, 2006
The Serrano Water District has water rights to 3,000 acre-feet of that water per year (one acre-foot equals 325,850 gallons). That is nearly one trillion gallons of water. The system is simple but complex, said Houtz; “SIONIX water treatment systems are simple; ‘complete, turn-key, portable and packaged’; they are secure from intrusion and biological contamination, deliberate or natural; systems may be monitored, controlled or diagnosed.

Water ministry to tackle crisis
The Age – Sep 26, 2006
Mr Howard said the creation of the office was brought on bywater shortage and quality problems faced across Australia. “Access to water is a national problem,” he said in a statementtoday. “The sustainable management of Australia’s scarce waterresources is one of our nation’s most significant challenges. “To provide greater leadership, I have decided to establish anAustralian government Office of Water Resources in mydepartment. Malcolm Turnbull, parliamentary secretary for water, would beheavily involved in the new office, Mr Howard said. “It will be headed by Dr James Horne and will report to myselfand my parliamentary secretary, Malcolm Turnbull,” Mr Howardsaid. He made the announcement as the Queensland city of Toowoombamoved to level five water restrictions after recently voting down areferendum to drink recycled sewerage water…
Meanwhile, the federal opposition said the government shouldhave gone further and pressed ahead with a water portfolio. Labor’s environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said thegovernment must recognise the ramifications of climate change aspart of any water policy. “Until the government gets serious about addressing the climatechange issue, it’s hard to take them seriously when it comes to theconsequences of climate change, which include a drastic reductionin our water supply,” he told ABC Radio. write(”email”); us.

Water Forum to Explore Investment Opportunities
Arab News – Sep 26, 2006
Desalination plants in the Kingdom produce about four million cubic meters a day. There are 28 desalination plants in various locations of the vast Kingdom, producing 60 percent of water supplies. About a 25 percent of the Kingdoms water supply comes from underground reserves, and 14. 8 percent comes from treatment of black water. According to a report by the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority, last year saw a steep increase in the number of licenses issued for water and electricity projects, beating forecasts by a 168 percent. Total investments in these projects amounted to $3. 6 billion, compared to $2.