The News Review:

- Tulsa water supply is safe and isn’t about to be turned off
- Bottled Water Industry Supports Comprehensive Groundwater Resource…
- Water curbs slapped on residents
- SEN. JEFF BINGAMAN HOLDS A HEARING ON S. 2156, THE SECURE WATER ACT.

Tulsa water supply is safe and isn’t about to be turned off
Tulsa World – Tulsa World (subscription) – Dec 12, 2007
Public Works Director Charles Hardt and Environmental Operations Manager Clayton Edwards both confirmed that Tulsa’s water supply is safe to use for drinking and other purposes. While one of the city’s two water-treatment plants has been without power, the other plant has been producing enough treated water, that meets consumption standards, throughout the ice storm. PSO crews continue working to restore power to one of the City’s water treatment plants. Jewell Water Treatment Plant continues serving citizens as it has since Monday. City officials are continuously monitoring water levels and water quality.

Bottled Water Industry Supports Comprehensive Groundwater Resource…
Earthtimes.org – Dec 12, 2007
Doss also addressed bottled water industry support of comprehensive groundwater resource management. "IBWA member bottlers recognize the critical importance of environmental conservation and stewardship of all water resources and employ conservation and stewardship practices to their use and management of groundwater resources," Mr. Doss also stated, "Groundwater management laws and regulations must be comprehensive, science based, multi-jurisdictional, treat all users equitably, and balance current uses with future needs. From the perspective of water management programs, the bottled water industry should be treated no differently than other beverage, food processing and other manufacturing operations…
– IBWA supports the enactment of HR 135, which would establish the 21st Century Water Commission to make recommendations on how to ensure a comprehensive water resource strategy in the United States. Every member of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee who served in the 109th Congress voted for HR 135 in 2005, when it passed the House of Representatives. The Commission would be authorized to: 1) project U. future water supply and demand; (2) study current water management programs of federal, interstate, state and local agencies and private sector entities directed at increasing water supplies and improving the availability, reliability and quality of freshwater resources; and (3) consult with representatives of such agencies and entities to develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy. — There is a need for more and better data at the state level on groundwater resources. A number of federal agencies, such as United States Geological Survey, U.

Water curbs slapped on residents
Stuff.co.nz – Dec 12, 2007
Utilities asset manager Ross Haslemore said sprinklers had not been banned yet. There were no problems with the parks and reserves department watering the Main St plots but it had been advised to cut back watering to three times a week, as opposed to daily. Some parks and reserves areas had bore water supplies although the Main St was serviced by the town supply, he said. The first level of restrictions, which limits watering of residential gardens to alternate days, had to be brought in after a high draw off of water at the weekend. With the Mataura River running quite low for this time of year and the town supply wells producing less, further restrictions would have to be imposed if the high use continued, Mr Haslemore said. The next level of restrictions included a complete ban on sprinklers. Yesterday's rainfall had very little impact on the situation, Mr Haslemore said.

SEN. JEFF BINGAMAN HOLDS A HEARING ON S. 2156, THE SECURE WATER ACT.
Free with registration – Political/Congressional Transcript Wire – AccessMyLibrary.com – Dec 12, 2007
Water has always been a priority in the West. Nonetheless, the stakes are higher now than ever before, as the confluence of drought and climate change and population increases and environmental needs are testing water managers in unprecedented ways. Added to the mix is the increasing reliance on water resources to help produce electricity and fuel. Almost daily, we’re seeing disturbing news reports describing conflicts over water. These conflicts continue in the West, as they have since the West was settled, but we’re also seeing them spread to other areas, such as the Southeast, where drought has resulted in a heated dispute between Georgia and Alabama and Florida over flows in the Chattahoochee River. The news is also filled with dire predictions about water supply. For example, there are reports now forecasting significant reductions in snowpack…
Almost daily, we’re seeing disturbing news reports describing conflicts over water. These conflicts continue in the West, as they have since the West was settled, but we’re also seeing them spread to other areas, such as the Southeast, where drought has resulted in a heated dispute between Georgia and Alabama and Florida over flows in the Chattahoochee River. The news is also filled with dire predictions about water supply. For example, there are reports now forecasting significant reductions in snowpack. Snowpack is the source of 80 percent of stream flows in the West. Perhaps more alarming, USGS testified before this committee in June that a majority of climate models are in agreement that the Southwest — which is the fastest-growing region in the country — will likely face a 20 percent to 40 percent reduction in overall water supply as a result of global warming. In light of these conflicts and projected uncertainty over future water supplies, it’s alarming that the funding available for water resource programs has fallen significantly in recent years.