The News Review:

- Smelt ruling could spell scarcer and pricier water
- Water: new wellspring of conflict
- UAE public provides safe water supply to needy populations in the…
- News: Not in my water supply | fluoride, water, health, resident,…

Smelt ruling could spell scarcer and pricier water
Sacramento Bee – Dec 15, 2007
Millions of Californians, she said, will need to change their lifestyles in response. “Look, it’s a drought year,” she said. “You’ve got significant water supply restrictions coming down the pipeline. Californians just simply have to function differently than they have been. “Birmingham of Westlands Water District said a 15 to 20 percent reduction in water supplies is likely. The district, the largest contractor on the U…
But it’s a limited, precious resource. “He hopes the decision forces California to make choices about what to grow in each of the state’s unique climate regions – both in cities and on farms – and conduct a full and open accounting of the state’s groundwater resources. Jerry Johns, deputy director of the state Department of Water Resources, said his agency plans to do more modeling next week to determine what the judge’s order means in terms of water cutbacks. It won’t be as grim as first expected, he said, because San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos has recovered much of its storage since summer. The state recently forecasted that deliveries would reach only 25 percent of contracted amounts in 2008. That is not unusual for the first forecast of the season, and the prediction typically grows as winter rains fill the state’s reservoirs. But Johns said this year there are “few prospects” the forecast will grow dramatically, especially if dry weather continues.

Water: new wellspring of conflict
New Zealand Herald – Dec 15, 2007
As Cochabamba illustrates, water is an explosive issue in developing countries, where people have traditionally received supplies for free from local wells and rivers. But in the past 15 years rapid industrialisation, especially in places such as China, has led to widespread pollution and degradation of the local environment. A report from accountancy giant Deloitte & Touche says humans seem to have a peculiar talent for making previously abundant resources scarce: “This is especially the case with water,” it observes. According to the firm’s findings, more than one billion people will lack access to clean water by next year. Paul Lee, research director at Deloitte, and one of the authors of the report, says: “Demand for water is expected to be driven by economic growth and population increases. India’s demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 2020. “The World Wildlife Fund has forecast that in the Himalayas, the retreat of glaciers could reduce summer water flows by up to two-thirds…
According to the firm’s findings, more than one billion people will lack access to clean water by next year. Paul Lee, research director at Deloitte, and one of the authors of the report, says: “Demand for water is expected to be driven by economic growth and population increases. India’s demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 2020. “The World Wildlife Fund has forecast that in the Himalayas, the retreat of glaciers could reduce summer water flows by up to two-thirds. In the Ganges area, this would cause a water shortage for 500 million people. Lee says: “The lack of the most important form of liquid in the world is therefore a fundamental issue and one that the technology sector can play a major role in addressing. “He and others, including the World Bank, believe that private industry can – sometimes – solve problems by taking water out of government hands and removing subsidies.

UAE public provides safe water supply to needy populations in the…
AME Info – Dec 15, 2007
Mohammed Abdullah Alhaj Al Zarooni, Manager, Dubai branch of the UAE Red Crescent said: ‘This campaign is inline with UAE’s humanitarian drive under the wise leadership of H. H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and H. H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Access to safe drinking water is crucial to the livelihood of millions of people living in the third world…
‘As many people around the world look to secure sources of pure drinking water, nationals and residents in the UAE are funding a significant programme that involves simple technologies aimed at providing clean water for a massive number of people. We truly appreciate BinSina’s campaign which is driven by a social mission rather than profits. This campaign comes as a humanitarian relief to a global menace and raises the public profile of water treatment as a priority in vulnerable populations,’ Al Zarooni added. Hanbali added: ‘Sanitation in developed countries has led to a dramatic decrease of death rates. People at developing countries are not very well aware of the importance of clean water and of the positive impact of hygiene and sanitation on their health. This campaign will better provide safe water to countries that face serious health threats because of populated water. ‘ The new straw that purifies water is an important part to confront water-borne diseases that are killing people in developing countries.

News: Not in my water supply | fluoride, water, health, resident,…
OCRegister – Dec 15, 2007
“”Does the (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California) expect people to believe that dentists would actually recommend a substance for healthier teeth that will pretty much decrease their business?” asked Santa Ana resident Karim Nasser. Water district spokesman Bob Muir says that’s exactly the case medical and dental professionals requested the addition of fluoride to water in Orange County and surrounding areas. Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley already have fluoridated water; since the newly fluoridated water will often be blended with other supplies, other county residents will encounter varying amounts of fluoride. Even with the prospect that the increase in fluoride will be negligible, many locals aren’t taking chances. Orange resident Terry Jakel installed a $200 reverse osmosis filter to purify his water. “Government shouldn’t be involved in dictating what they think is good for our health,” Jakel said. “We should have a choice of what we want to consume.