The News Review:

- Feinstein: Delay new water restrictions for fish
- State releases Yakima basin water review
- Polluted Water Spreads Cholera in Zimbabwe
- Leading Membership Organization Responds to Drought Crisis in the …

Feinstein: Delay new water restrictions for fish
San Jose Mercury News  USA 
Dianne Feinstein is seeking a delay in a long-anticipated permit due Monday that will dictate how much water is available to Californians and how part of the Delta environment will be protected. The request sent in a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne comes as the specter of a potentially severe drought looms over a state that has weathered two dry years in a row and is facing dry conditions so far heading into 2009. A delay is needed to “minimize the potentially devastating economic impacts to my State from significant further cutbacks to our water supply” Feinstein wrote in the Dec. She warned of widespread water rationing steep economic costs and job losses. At issue is a permit meant to protect a tiny fish Delta smelt.

State releases Yakima basin water review
Seattle Post Intelligencer 
State releases Yakima basin water review. — The state has released a supplemental environmental impact statement that explores ways to improve water supplies and fish habitat in the Yakima River Basin.

Polluted Water Spreads Cholera in Zimbabwe
Environment News Service 
There are also serious regional dangers with cholera cases crossing the borders into South Africa and Botswana. On December 2 South African health authorities said the country had recorded 460 cholera cases and nine related deaths mostly in border areas near Zimbabwe. The major cause of the cholera outbreak is the inadequate supply of clean drinking water and poor levels of hygiene. Shortages of medicines equipment and staff at health facilities throughout the country are compounding the health challenges. WHO is advocating for improved access to oral rehydration salts for treating moderate dehydration which is a symptom of cholera. Health officials say the rehydration salts could help quickly reduce sickness and deaths. To help Zimbabwean authorities and partners respond to the health emergency WHO has sent medical supplies to treat 50000 people for common conditions for three months as well as supplies to treat 3200 moderate cases of cholera.
Related from Fathernickthomas: WHO team reviews Zimbabwe situation of cholera outbreak

Leading Membership Organization Responds to Drought Crisis in the …
MarketWatch 
TheWater Conservation Practitioner Certification program provides testing onthree levels: entry supervisory and managerial. Level One Certification iscurrently being offered by the CA-NV AWWA. “We have created a tool that is helping utilities measure theirconservation efforts and respond to new government directives in water supplymanagement” says Debra Kaye AWWA National Director representing the CA-NVSection. “Those employees who obtain this certification can be confidant inknowing they are contributing to solutions that will have a positive impact onthe pending water supply crisis. CA-NV AWWA manages six professional certification programs serving morethan 20000 individuals helping to ensure plentiful water for more than 35million people. The Section publishes a quarterly journal Source and helpsdisseminate technical input on water issues to state regulators andlegislators. For more information about the CA-NV AWWA or the Water Conservationworkshops and examinations it offers go to.