The News Review:

- Coal ash may pose risk to NC water
- Water supply resumes after oil pollution scare
- Nigeria: Reviving Kano’s Ailing Industries
- Authority eyes plan to protect water supplies
- Old well provides water to residents

Coal ash may pose risk to NC water
News & Observer – Feb 18, 2008
Millions of gallons of water a day flow from Duke’s ash ponds into the Catawba. State records show that arsenic, boron and selenium — all toxic in high concentrations — have been found at potentially unsafe levels in groundwater under Duke’s ash basins. Duke says there is no evidence that water supplies have been harmed. Tests support that at Mountain Island. But until recently, groundwater has gotten little scrutiny. The Environmental Protection Agency first raised the question in 2000, acknowledging “gaps” in the oversight of ash basins at the nation’s 440 power plants. EPA is soliciting public comment to find “practical and safe solutions” for monitoring ash, an agency spokesman said.

Water supply resumes after oil pollution scare
EastDay.com – Feb 18, 2008
Domestic water supplies to about half the population in the urban area of Foshan city in west Guangdong Province were cut for more than six hours from 8:45am on Saturday after a two-kilometer long ivory-white slick was spotted in the Xijiang River, forcing restaurants and businesses to close and sparking a surge in bottled water sales. Two pumps of the Gaoming Waterworks in Gaoming District were closed down while technicians cleaned their filters at a pumping station on the river, and officials began an emergency operation to soak up the oil and clean the river. The city’s marine affairs department also sent oil skimming boats to help clearing the pollutants. Three other waterworks in charge of water supply to the urban areas of Foshan city were required to operate at full capacity to ensure the domestic water supply, while the city government has informed the citizens with cell phone text messages on the oil pollution. The silt was cleared by 1:30pm and water supply resumed at around 3pm on Saturday…
Two pumps of the Gaoming Waterworks in Gaoming District were closed down while technicians cleaned their filters at a pumping station on the river, and officials began an emergency operation to soak up the oil and clean the river. The city’s marine affairs department also sent oil skimming boats to help clearing the pollutants. Three other waterworks in charge of water supply to the urban areas of Foshan city were required to operate at full capacity to ensure the domestic water supply, while the city government has informed the citizens with cell phone text messages on the oil pollution. The silt was cleared by 1:30pm and water supply resumed at around 3pm on Saturday. “Tests show the water was safe to drink, but we will keep on monitoring the water quality of the river,” said an official with the city’s publicity department who just gave his surname as Li. Environment officials have begun an investigation into the source of the pollution and the type of oil, which they said emitted a “strange unpleasant odor”, but no pollutants were found in the upper reaches of the river. The 2,075-meter-long Xijiang River, a major tributary of the Pearl River, runs through the western part of Guangdong.

Nigeria: Reviving Kano’s Ailing Industries
AllAfrica.com – Feb 18, 2008
Consequently, the Kano state government set up an 18 man committee under Dr Mansur of the Economic Summit Group to come up with a viable option that would restore Kano to its glorious past of socio-economic growth. One of such recommendations of the group was the establishment of an independent power project to serve as an alternative source of energy to the industries and small scale businesses. Increased revenue generation, agricultural development and irrigation, enhancement of commerce and water supply were some of the measures, the group insisted must be tackled before revival of the Kano economy could be achieved. Following these recommendations, the 2008 budget of the Kano state government targeted five focal areas of socio-economic development as priorities that would be tackled within the fiscal year. Last week while signing the memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the liquefied natural gas independent power project in South Korea, Governor Shekarau said the idea was to boost economic activities and revive the commercial viability of Kano state. Business Trust reports that economic activities in the state are at the lowest ebb as a result of poor energy supply, especially in the last six years. A visit to the Sharada industrial estate revealed that most of the companies are operating below capacity using non permanent staff as most of them, cannot employ permanent staff due to poor production.

Authority eyes plan to protect water supplies
Tribune-Democrat – The Tribune-Democrat – Feb 18, 2008
“The authority is doing everything it can to protect the water. ” With nearly half of Pennsylvanians relying on groundwater as a drinking source, more communities are protecting water supplies by establishing Wellhead Protection Areas, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Farm chemicals and fertilizers, mine drainage and leaking septic systems are some possible contaminants, DEP said. A steering committee is working with Casselbery & Associates of State College to map potential trouble spots in the Boswell area. A final report on a well-head protection plan is due by June 30, 2009, Haynal said. The Wellhead Protection Area could include zoning, public education, groundwater monitoring and subdivision control, the DEP said on its Web site.

Old well provides water to residents
Fiji Times – Feb 18, 2008
RESIDENTS of Tuirara subdivision who face constant water cuts have turned to a 30-year-old well for survival. Located at Tovata, residents of the heavily populated area have raised their frustration on water supply problems causing them great inconvenience. However, for those living on the higher end of Tuirara overlooking the sea, the well is providing water for them. Resident and well owner Pradeep Chand, 49, said residents were always asking him for water. He said water problems started a month ago and residents were lining up each morning to fetch water from the well. Mr Chand said he and others dug the well beside his home 35 years ago.