The News Review:

- Newsom in Tracy for new water facility
- Climate change water shortages conspire to create 21st century …
- Groundwater wells water supply

Newsom in Tracy for new water facility
San Francisco Chronicle
tmpl –> “I love this!” he said as he learned how to operate the machinery. Newsom along with officials with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was there for the groundbreaking of the Tesla Water Treatment Facility. It is one of 85 projects the agency plans to build over the next five years to improve the system that brings water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to the taps of 2. 5 million Bay Area residents. The Tesla project scheduled to open in 2011 will be the state’s largest ultraviolet water disinfection plant – meaning black lights will clean the water as it flows through without even touching it.

Climate change water shortages conspire to create 21st century …
New York Times
The early snowmelt could spell disaster for thousands of farmers and ranchers in the region who depend on slowly melting snow to provide water flows over the dry summer months said Scott Brinton assistant division engineer in the Colorado Division of Water Resources’ Southwest regional office. “Those people who were relying on the mountain snowpack are going to have difficulty later in the year” Brinton said. There are also broader implications as arid Western states wage costly legal battles over access to water supplies that are dwindling in part because of early snowmelt. Colorado — which is under an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to divert roughly 38 million gallons a year from the San Juan River Basin to thirsty cities in New Mexico including Albuquerque and Santa Fe — now fears it may not be able to meet the terms of the water transfer agreement as the snow melt arrives early and flows downstream. Meanwhile managers are working to empty reservoirs as quickly as possible across southern Colorado and New Mexico as huge volumes of melt water course down mountain streams. Rapidly melting snow in the San Juan Mountains forced Reclamation managers last week to release water from the El Vado Reservoir in north-central New Mexico at its fastest rate in four decades said Mary Perea Carlson an agency spokeswoman. “When it started coming down so rapidly we realized we’d better make some room” Carlson said.
Related from Foxpunks: Green Day Bring ’21st Century Breakdown’ to Life at Stunning …

Groundwater wells water supply
Canada.com
Currently she leads a small team who are maintaining a network of dedicated observation wells ensuring compliance with the provincial regulations responding to complaints and inquiries from the public and carrying out several studies to better understand and protect groundwater resources in this region. Pat will talk about the basics of groundwater protection and aquifers groundwater resources in the region common groundwater quality and quantity concerns current and upcoming groundwater regulations and information and tools available through the Ministry of Environment which are available to the public. The highlight of her talk will focus on the Vancouver Island Water Resources (Aquifer) Vulnerability Mapping Project – a research study that is analyzing the susceptibility of water quality to hazards associated with human activities and land use. Using GIS technology it is designed to support decision-making in future land use planning and the development of groundwater protection policies and guidelines. Pat is the project manager of this collaborative effort that involves the Ministry of the Environment Vancouver Island Health Authority Natural Resources Canada Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University College) the Regional Districts of both the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo the Islands Trusts and the Ministry of Health. Notes Kathleen Kinasewich coordinator of CVWWC “It’s just May the winter snow pack is low and some wells are already at summer drought lows ! So addressing the issues of aquifer protection is timely and a vital part of the bigger picture — protecting all of our water sources today so that there’s plenty for the future. “The Comox Valley Water Watch Coalition works to ensure that all groups elected officials and individuals interested in maintaining improving and protectomg the local Comox Valley watersheds and water sources have the resources and education to do more.