The News Review:

- Disaster looms as ‘Saddam dam’ struggles to hold back the…
- Vancouver Island water supply expanded
- The Philippine Star

Disaster looms as ‘Saddam dam’ struggles to hold back the…
The Independent – Independent – Aug 8, 2007
“In fact the state of the two-mile long earthfill dam, which holds back some eight billion cubic metres of water in Iraq’s largest reservoir, has recently been deteriorating at ever-increasing speed. According to one source, the chance of a total and immediate failure of the dam is now believed to be “reasonably high” at current water levels and “most certain” within the next few years. The effort to prevent the collapse of the dam is overseen by the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources. The US Army Corps of Engineers has made continual efforts to monitor the deterioration and undertake remedial action. But a US report, obtained separately from the embassy statement, says that “due to fundamental and irreversible flaws existing in the dam’s foundation, the US Army Corps of Engineers believes that the safety of the Mosul Dam against a potential catastrophic failure cannot be guaranteed”. Iraq, the site of the biblical flood, is very vulnerable to inundation because it is very flat south of the Kurdish mountains. Prior to the building of dykes and other control measures in the early 20th century, there were frequent disastrous floods when snow melted in the mountains of Turkey.

Vancouver Island water supply expanded
Globe and Mail – Aug 8, 2007
The Capital Regional District says the 9,700 hectares will be acquired from TimberWest Forest Corp. , and include two separate parcels of land. com: Vancouver Island water supply expanded.

The Philippine Star
ABS CBN News – Aug 8, 2007
According to the weather bureau, an average of 20 tropical cyclonesvisit the Philippineseach year. But Pagasaexperts explained that it would take at least a month of rain every day tobring back the water level in Angat dam within the comfort zone. Such a monthâsvolume of rainfall would just be to refill the Angat reservoir to a safe levelthat would ensure we have potable water supply in Metro Manila until summermonths next year. Actually,the long dry season in Luzon is seriouslyaffecting the water reservoir at the Angat dam in Bulacan more than any of thewater impounding structures in the region. What makes the low water levelsituation in Angat critical is the fact that it is where more than 12 millionhouseholds in Metro Manila and suburbs get their potable drinking water fromthe taps. Of thistotal, the Ayala-owned Manila Water Company serves 5. 5 million consumers wholive in Marikina City and other areas in the easternMetro Manila.