The News Review:

- KARACHI: KWSB promises more water supply to Site
- Blue-green algae returns to 2 major lakes in China, but water…
- Govt. allocates Rs. 392 cr. for safe drinking water
- Desalinated water plan

KARACHI: KWSB promises more water supply to Site
Pakistan Dawn – Jun 17, 2007
Mr Saeed said that the KWSB was working round-the-clock to augment water supply from 24-inch-dia connection at Banaras Chowk and would be in a position to augment it from 3mgd to 5mgd within a week. Thereafter the KWSB authorities would stand committed to supplying 8mgd water (5 plus 3mgd from five other connections) to Site area. On the question of interruptions in water supply to Site area, it was reported that it was due to power breakdowns and the water utility lacked generators to ensure an uninterrupted supply. Imran Shaukat of the Site Association said that the Sindh governor during a visit to the associations office on May 31, 2006 had ordered the KWSB to ensure supply of allocated quota of water to Site Ltd. He had also announced an enhancement in the quota to 12mgd on the commissioning of K-III Project, but to no avail. He urged the KWSB engineers to repair 25 leakages in various supply lines besides installation of a meter at Regent Cinema (Nazimabad) and to arrange generators to ensure 8mgd water supply to Site area. NEW KARACHI: The administration of New Karachi Town has declared rain emergency and cancelled leaves of all sanitary staff.

Blue-green algae returns to 2 major lakes in China, but water…
International Herald Tribune – Jun 17, 2007
An outbreak last month in Lake Tai forced millions of residents of the lakeside city of Wuxi to drink and bathe with bottled water. The algae bloom, which top Chinese officials blamed on pollution, lasted six days until it was flushed out by rain and water from the nearby Yangtze River. An algae bloom also struck Lake Chao earlier this month, but did not threaten water supplies. The bright-green algae, which are plantlike organisms, are common in fresh water worldwide. Some types can produce dangerous toxins. Today in Asia – Pacific.

Govt. allocates Rs. 392 cr. for safe drinking water
Hindu – Jun 17, 2007
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who presided over the Board meeting, said that Rs. 80 crore was allocated for providing drinking water supply and sewerage facilities in urban areas. He directed the officers of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to give priority to early completion of the ongoing schemes. Moreover, new schemes should be appropriately financed so that these were completed within two years, he added. He also directed the Commissioner and Secretary (Water Supply and Sanitation) that the ongoing works falling in the National Capital Region be completed in the next one year. Public Health Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said works worth Rs. 117 crore were going on in the rural areas while works costing Rs…
He directed the officers of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to give priority to early completion of the ongoing schemes. Moreover, new schemes should be appropriately financed so that these were completed within two years, he added. He also directed the Commissioner and Secretary (Water Supply and Sanitation) that the ongoing works falling in the National Capital Region be completed in the next one year. Public Health Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said works worth Rs. 117 crore were going on in the rural areas while works costing Rs. 340 crore were being executed in the urban areas. He disclosed that during the current financial year, Rs.

Desalinated water plan
NEWS.com.au – Jun 17, 2007
article-tools –> Liam Houlihan June 17, 2007 12:00am DESALINATION plants costing a billion dollars top a list of government plans to fix Victoria’s water crisis. Cabinet is split over the major project and is in last-minute talks before unveiling the details of its water supply blueprint, expected within days. One option would see at least two desalination plants built, jointly costing at least $1 billion. But none would be constructed at Port Phillip Bay. The Bracks Government is considering a range of measures to combat Victoria’s dwindling water reserves, which this week stood at 28.