Western Europe and North America
USA: research ties arsenic to tumour growth
22 Aug 05
A study by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center indicates environmental arsenic in drinking water can stimulate the growth of cancerous tumours and cause them to spread faster.
Canada: report warns US$34 billion must be spent on water, wastewater
08 Aug 05
Ontario’s water and wastewater systems need US$ 34 billion (EUR 27,5 bn) in investment over the next 15 years, as well as major organisational and management changes. These are the conclusions of the independent Water Strategy Expert panel report.
USA: Public Citizen warns for corporate access to public water funds
27 Jul 05
The proposed amendments on the Water Infrastructure Financing Act requires "restructuring" of public utilities and opens the door for private water companies to access public funds.
Europe: new groundwater directive “watered down”, say critics
11 Jul 05
Despite opposition from Germany, Italy, Sweden and Hungary, the European Ministers for the Environment have agreed on a new Groundwater Protection Directive. According to the European Environment Bureau (EEB), the new Directive backtracks on existing groundwater protection levels.
USA: public-private partnerships have positive impact, says water industry council
11 Jul 05
A report by the Water Partnership Council says satisfaction with public-private partnerships is high, employees are satisfied, and impacts on the environment, customers and the community are positive.
Netherlands: Dutch water companies organise first Water Week
27 Jun 05
With the summer and school holidays starting the Dutch water companies have launched the first annual water week from 27 June to 3 July 2005.
USA: NGO unearths research linking fluoride to cancer
24 Jun 05
Fluoride Action Network has unearthed an unpublished Harvard thesis linking fluoride exposure to an increased rate of deadly osteosarcoma (bone cancer), particularly for boys exposed at ages 6 through 8.
Germany: stop saving water, waste it, say health authorities
24 Jun 05
Environment-friendly Germans are so good at not wasting drinking water that health authorities have issued a nationwide plea for them to start wasting water - to keep water-supply systems from becoming stagnant.
Cyprus: water prices set to go up by 34%
13 Jun 05
A new proposal will soon be submitted to Parliament that would include increases in water prices of up to 34.3 per cent. The increase was needed to recover the real cost of water and to wipe out huge debts of the country’s water boards.
USA: clean water trust fund proposed at government hearing
13 Jun 05
The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee has held a first hearing about a proposal to establish a trust fund for clean water. It could take over US$ 400 billion to address US clean water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, twice the current level of investment by all levels of government.
