The News Review:

- Chennai breathes easy on water front
- Durham violated water test rules; 27 systems flunk
- Water crisis looms, Reyes warns

Chennai breathes easy on water front
Hindu – Jan 27, 2007
Water supply scenario in Chennai has been stable for about two years now. The city, which was reeling under water crisis for few years, has been receiving daily water supply with the help of two major projects and considerable rainfall. With the New Veeranam project initiated in September 2004 by Chennai Metrowater, about 180 million litres of water a day was transmitted from Veeranam lake to Porur lake in Chennai through pipeline covering 228 km. The lake continues to augment the city water supply. Initially, the city received alternate day’s water supply with the implementation of the scheme and the transportation of water from distant sources was stopped…
The lake continues to augment the city water supply. Initially, the city received alternate day’s water supply with the implementation of the scheme and the transportation of water from distant sources was stopped. Considerable rain The execution of the project gained significance as there was no scope for obtaining substantial quantum of water through Krishna Water Supply project during 2003 and the groundwater resources used for city supply was also depleting due to poor monsoon rain. The water supply situation has remained stable with considerable amount of rain in 2005 that increased the storage levels of city reservoirs-Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam- the major resources for water drawal. At present, about 640 mld of water is being supplied to the city against the demand of 840mld. Residential areas are supplied with 559 mld of water through pipeline. The tail end pockets are provided water through tankers, which amounts to 16 mld.

Durham violated water test rules; 27 systems flunk
News & Observer – Jan 27, 2007
A system fails when it finds more than 15 parts per billion of lead at more than 10 percent of its test sites. Those systems must begin testing for lead every six months instead of up to three years. They also must take steps to improve water treatment, a process that could take three years. Systems that failed included five small towns, four schools, and several subdivisions and mobile home parks. Lead, which can cause brain damage and other developmental problems, is especially toxic to pregnant woman and young children. The state sent letters Thursday to 290 public water systems citing them for reporting or lead monitoring violations. Of that number, 214 sent in no lead test results from last summer and 76 failed to submit an adequate number of samples…
Some said they had no choice because their area was so new, or so old, they had few, if any, houses or mobile homes built then. Others apparently didn’t know any better. The Public Water Supply Section has not matched those reports, showing the age of the test houses, with results filed since October. Miles, state water supply section chief, said Friday she didn’t have enough people to do that job. Last year the legislature voted to beef up her agency. She’s scheduled to get seven new state-paid employees this fiscal year and up to a total of 19 new state employees next fiscal year.

Water crisis looms, Reyes warns
Manila Standard Today – Jan 27, 2007
“The uncoordinated and uncontrolled exploitation of our country’s water resources has had a major impact on the availability of clean and safe water at present, and has already jeopardized the supply of this resource for future generations. ” Reyes issued the warning during the conference of the Integrated Water Resource Management Group, composed of agencies involved in water conservation and management held in Quezon City. He called on all sectors to work together, plan and manage the use of water resources in order to prevent an acute crisis that might result in sectoral “conflicts” in the use of this natural resource. “Based on the 1990 baseline data for the Philippines, 27 percent of the population still has no access to drinking water,” Reyes said.