The News Review:

- Australian cities need new water supplies: report
- Farmers’ water supply dries up
- KENYA: Communities come together to protect water sources
- Singapore wins international award for water management
- Ample water supply good news for river creatures.

Australian cities need new water supplies: report
Taipei Times – Aug 15, 2007
The annual report by the Water Services Association of Australia found that after a decade of punishing drought, authorities in all of Australia’s mainland capital cities will need to find new ways to provide water for residents, such as desalination and recycling, in the next five to 10 years. Hobart, the capital of the island state of Tasmania, is the exception and is expected to have sufficient water. The association’s chief executive, Ross Young, said the new infrastructure could cost up to A$30 billion (US$25 billion) over the next decade, which would likely be paid for by higher charges to consumers. “The 10 years of below average rainfall and drought have been a wake-up call for urban Australia,” Young said…
The annual report by the Water Services Association of Australia found that after a decade of punishing drought, authorities in all of Australia’s mainland capital cities will need to find new ways to provide water for residents, such as desalination and recycling, in the next five to 10 years. Hobart, the capital of the island state of Tasmania, is the exception and is expected to have sufficient water. The association’s chief executive, Ross Young, said the new infrastructure could cost up to A$30 billion (US$25 billion) over the next decade, which would likely be paid for by higher charges to consumers. “The 10 years of below average rainfall and drought have been a wake-up call for urban Australia,” Young said.

Farmers’ water supply dries up
The Age – Aug 15, 2007
Local water officials have decided to allocate a small volume ofwater to those on the Murray system, despite insufficient inflowsto cover losses in the channels system through evaporation andseepage. This month is a critical time for horticulture in the state’snorth-west, with water vital in the next month or two to finishthis year’s navel orange harvest. Up to 15,000 Murray irrigators will get just 5 per cent of theirallocations, their lowest ever start to the season. Goulburn-Murray Water’s executive manager, planning andenvironment, Alex Marshall, said despite low water storages, it wasimportant to provide some water to keep businesses going.

KENYA: Communities come together to protect water sources
Reuters AlertNet – Aug 15, 2007
"When the poachers were chased from the forests, they started cutting down trees along the river banks," Mugo said. Regenerating water supplies There have been difficulties in encouraging some residents to choose long term conservation over short term economic gain. Mugo supplies indigenous trees with medicinal value, which are also good for the conservation of water towers. “But it is hard getting people to plant these trees because they do not mature quickly compared to exotic, fast growing trees that often end up draining the water table,” he said. Despite this, the Nanyuki WRUA and other community organisations have planted a stretch of four kilometres on both banks of the river. With the support of other stakeholders, it aims to provide another 20 kilometres of trees. In the neighbouring district of Meru Central, similar schemes in the Ex-Lewa catchment have seen large areas of land reforested through joint community and government efforts…
Already three underground water springs supplying clean water to residents have been regenerated, and another 10 should soon follow, said Maitima M’Mukindia, the regional manager of the Ewaso Nyiro Water Resources Management Authority. The authority spans 12 districts, covering 210,000sqkm and works with at least 32 WRUAs. Meanwhile, the government formed the Water Resources Management Authority under water sector reforms in 2005 to ensure the efficient and effective usage of water and to address conflicts stemming from water resources. Thooko says permits must be issued to anyone who wants to start an irrigation scheme, set up a motorised pump on the river, or to divert river flow. Catchment degradation Countrywide, deforestation and land degradation continues to take its toll despite these government and community efforts, says Benson Mbugua, an officer in the Ministry of Water. According to various sources, Kenya has an overall forest cover of less than two percent, and deforestation has eroded the country’s soil cover, causing flash floods and the flow of soils downriver. Forests are necessary for water retention.

Singapore wins international award for water management
Channel News Asia – Aug 15, 2007
The PUB received the prestigious “Stockholm Industry Water Award” in Sweden on Wednesday. It is being recognised for good policies and innovative engineering solutions. The Environment & Water Resources Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said the latest international recognition for Singapore’s water management policies will spur the country to push the boundaries. Speaking to Channel NewsAsia from Sweden, Dr Yaacob added that having won the award, Singapore hopes to attract the world’s best players so that it can set itself as a global hydrohub. PUB will also partner the World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote safe handling of drinking water around the world. The Stockholm Industry Water Award is a prestigious prize which recognises innovative corporate development of water and wastewater process technologies. It also recognises contributions to environmental improvement through advanced production methods…
To share Singapore’s knowledge of water management globally, it has signed a partnership agreement with the WHO. Under the agreement, which will run till 2015, Singapore and WHO will cooperate in areas such as research collaboration, including using Singapore’s Marina Reservoir as a test-bedding site to manage urban water resources. Singapore will also support the international body’s response to regional chemical contamination to water supplies. “The lessons learnt in PUB and in Singapore are very valuable to the world and I think it’s good that Singapore is now planning to share its experience with others. by setting up the Singapore Water Week and planning for a technology hub,” said Anders Berntell, executive director of Stockholm International Water Institute.

Ample water supply good news for river creatures.
Free with registration – Pueblo Chieftain – AccessMyLibrary.com – Aug 15, 2007
| Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colorado) (August, 2007). 15–Ample water in storage in Colorado reservoirs has been good for water inhabitants — from fish to rafters — this summer. In the Arkansas Valley, leases earlier this y.