Western Europe and North America
UK: government launches pilot studies on climate-proof urban drainage
25 Jan 07
The government has launched 15 integrated urban drainage pilot studies in England to test new approaches to reduce the impact of urban drainage flooding, including clearer institutional responsibilities. The annual cost of urban drainage flooding could rise dramatically as a result of climate change if no action is taken.
Spain: chlorinated water linked to increased risk of bladder cancer
24 Jan 07
New research has shown for the first time a link between exposure to chlorination by-products through inhalation and absorption through the skin, and increased risk of bladder cancer. Until now the association had only been made with ingestion of these by-products, especially trihalomethanes (THM), in drinking water.
UK: minimum water efficiency standards for new buildings proposed
09 Jan 07
The Government has initiated a consultation on proposals to make minimum standards of water efficiency performance mandatory in all new homes and new commercial developments.
USA, Alaska: lack of house connections linked to poor hygiene in native villages
09 Jan 07
Research shows that children in Alaskan native villages without running water tended to have many more infectious diseases. Tthere was a general lack of awareness about the importance of hygiene, especially regarding hand-washing and wastewater disposal.
USA: first annual Water Efficiency Leaders awards
18 Dec 06
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the winners of the first annual Water Efficiency Leaders (WEL) awards. The winners included the New York State Funeral Directors Association, which had promoted new embalming technology that achieved 96 per cent water savings in funeral homes.
UK: environmental organisations urge government to restore water ecology by 2015
18 Dec 06
Blueprint for Water, a coalition of environmental organisations in England and Wales, presents 10 steps to restore the ecology of rivers, lakes and wetlands by 2015.
Europe: access to safe water and sanitation stagnating for over 15 years
06 Dec 06
According to the WHO, access to safe water and sanitation in Europe has been stagnating for over 15 years. Some 13,500 children under 14 die every year from diarrhoea related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene.
USA, Pennsylvania: foreign hackers tap water treatment plant
06 Dec 06
An infected laptop is believed to have allowed hackers operating outside the U.S, to install a virus and spyware on computer systems at a Harrisburg water treatment plant.The FBI was investigating the incident.
Europe: environmental group welcomes new EU groundwater directive
31 Oct 06
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) has welcomed the joint text for a new Groundwater Directive agreed by the European Parliament and Council. The directive legally binds Member States to prevent the input of hazardous chemicals and ensures that agriculture must also respect the 50 mg/litre Nitrates standard.
USA, California: water utility hands out free low-flush toilets
31 Oct 06
Residents of Stockton, California, lined up recently to pick up one of the 1,100 free ultra-low-flush toilets being distributed by Cal Water to promote water conservation. The toilets, which normally cost about US$ 200 use 6 litres of water per flush compared to the 19 litres or more needed by standard toilets.
