The News Review:

- Crisis plan to reuse water
- Big splashes don’t make a water plan
- Gushing of groundwater attributed to 24-hour supply
- Kerala for consensus on Mullaperiyar dam issue

Crisis plan to reuse water
NEWS.com.au – Nov 16, 2006
In a further sign that impetus for the controversial move is sweeping through government circles, the state’s water commission is preparing to officially advocate the addition of recycled water to the region’s supplies. More desalination plants and the raising of the Wivenhoe Dam will also be included in the commission’s blueprint for securing the region’s water supply for the next 50 years. The plan, which is being finalised by the Queensland Water Commission, is due to be released by February. However, due to the severity of the water crisis, many of the measures contained in the plan, such as the Traveston Dam, have already been brought forward by the Government. Water Commission chairman Elizabeth Nosworthy yesterday confirmed the plan would include recycled drinking water – or "indirect potable reuse" – as an option for meeting the region’s long-term water needs. The Beattie Government has signalled it will hold a referendum as early as next year on the question of supplying recycled drinking water to southeast Queensland.

Big splashes don’t make a water plan
The Age – Nov 16, 2006
At present, water from the Thomson Dam costs about 4 cents akilolitre, rising to $1. 20 at the household tap. If Baillieu’sdesalination plant were installed it would add about 10 per cent toMelbourne’s water supply and the price would be about $3. 30 akilolitre, rising to about $4. 50 at the household tap or more thanthree times the present retail price of water. Apart from the initial capital cost, the production of waterfrom desalination and the cost of pumping water through osmosisfilters is energy intensive. The waste product from the process,concentrated brine, is toxic and it would damage an alreadyenvironmentally stressed Port Phillip Bay.

Gushing of groundwater attributed to 24-hour supply
Hindu – Nov 16, 2006
The researchers, who collected water samples from several colonies in Nallakunta and Bagh Amberpet, felt that introduction of round-the-clock water supply by Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) could be the key reason for the strange phenomenon. Phenomenon to recur The preliminary report prepared by the researchers also point out that there is a possibility of the phenomenon to recur next year during rainy season and advocated proper utilisation of ground water resources in this region to avoid such situations. It may be recalled that in September, several cellars of old and new apartments in the region were inundated with groundwater. This had also led to a brief halt in the construction activity of new apartments here…
This had also led to a brief halt in the construction activity of new apartments here. “At present the oozing has stopped to some extent although not fully. We have concluded that with the introduction of 24-hour water supply, people had stopped using the groundwater and as a result, the water table went up considerably,” explained NGRI Geologist D. The researchers drew parallels of this phenomenon with oozing of groundwater in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. “There was a similar situation in Jodhpur also.

Kerala for consensus on Mullaperiyar dam issue
Hindu – Nov 16, 2006
Premachandran visiting the Mullaperiyar dam on Wednesday. KOTTAYAM: Water Resources Minister N…
, it had reached that level only once, on July 25, 1989. This showed that the Tamil Nadu authorities were taking a higher quantity of water from the reservoir ever since the water level was fixed at 136 ft. The only reason for their demand to raise the water level appears to be that if the water was stored in the reservoir it would help them to regulate the water supply to their powerhouse at the lower camp and produce more electricity. This showed that their demand was for increasing their additional income generation capacity. He said the attempt on the part of the Tamil Nadu authorities on Tuesday to divert more water through Erachilpalam by opening the shutters of the Four Bay Dam, near Kumily, showed that they too were apprehensive of the strength of the dam.