The News Review:

- Report warns water crisis looming in arid Southwest
- Asia Pacific can tap on US$10b fund to improve water management
- Water improves in whisky county

Report warns water crisis looming in arid Southwest
USA Today – Feb 22, 2007
The Colorado River Basin includes seven states: parts of California, the nation’s biggest farm producer; Wyoming, and five of the 12 fastest-growing states: Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. Until now, water needs have been met by selling or leasing water rights from farms to cities. As population growth demands more of a shrinking water supply, battles could erupt over dwindling farm land and rural landscapes drying up. Some farm production might have to shift elsewhere because of urban growth. The report says climate reconstructions using tree-ring data and projections with computer models show extended droughts were common in the past and will be longer, more severe and more frequent in the future. “That’s not a happy picture,” says Ernest Smerdon, a former University of Arizona engineering dean and one of the report’s authors.

Asia Pacific can tap on US$10b fund to improve water management
Channel News Asia – Feb 22, 2007
The money is provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a participant of the two-day Asia Pacific Water Forum held in Singapore. Water, or the lack of it, will be a challenge for many Asia Pacific countries in the coming years. An ADB report said despite progress between 1990 and 2002, more than 660 million people in the region did not have access to safe drinking water, with half of them in East and Northeast Asia. So the Asia Pacific Water Forum, which was conceived during a Fourth Water Forum in Mexico last year, hoped to address water issues faced by such countries…
E Seetharam, Principal, Water Supply & Sanitation Specialist, ADB, said: “Now money is available, but it has to be complemented with proper reforms and real capacity development in the region that means commitment and leadership. Singapore is a very good example, where the delivery of water supply services is done extremely well for the citizens for many years. “ADB is open to all the countries to come forward. In fact, we had a consultation with some of the key countries last year which could potentially utilise this programme and go forward to embrace the water agenda in their own countries, and we are ready to help them and partner with them. “The initial target countries there are about six of them are China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan and Vietnam. But many more countries are welcome, and the Asia Pacific Water Forum will address about 49 countries which include all the member countries of ADB.

Water improves in whisky county
BBC News – Feb 22, 2007
The move is part of a 2. 4b investment programme for Scotland – the second biggest in the UK and the largest ever in Scotland. Several water treatment works in Moray will benefit from the funding over the next few years. A number of environmental and flooding projects have also been identified. Public health’Ian Burnett, Scottish Water’s manager for Moray, said that by earmarking the money and keeping household charges “steady”, the company was demonstrating its commitment to its customers. He added: “Moray is renowned as home to most of Scotland’s distilleries. Scottish Water is determined to ensure that the area can be just as proud of its fresh drinking water supplies…
“Our investment will keep pace with the latest public health standards and satisfy the demand for new housing in the area. “We want our customers to enjoy the look and taste of their water. This investment will ensure that they have a water supply fit for the 21st century. News of the investment has been welcomed by whisky businesses in the area. The funding in Moray will go towards improving several water treatment works in the area as well as helping to alleviate flooding in certain parts of Forres, Portknockie and Elgin.