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EPA allows water transfers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clarifies that permits are not required for transfers of water from one body of water to another. Such transfers include routing water through tunnels, channels, or natural stream courses for public water supplies, irrigation, power generation, flood control, and environmental restoration.

Thousands of water transfers currently in place across the country are vital to the nation's water supply and infrastructure systems. Whether a permit is needed under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) has been an issue in numerous court cases in recent years. The final rule defines water transfers as an activity that conveys or connects waters of the United States without subjecting the transferred water to intervening industrial, municipal, or commercial use. Pollutants introduced by the water transfer activity itself to the water being transferred would still require an NPDES permit under today's rule. Furthermore, this rule does not prevent states or tribes from using their own authorities to address water transfers, including use of non-NPDES permits.

Over the last several years, EPA has been advancing water quality improvements related to water transfers and other hydrologic modifications through watershed planning and management measures.  For example, last summer EPA issued the National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Hydromodification guidance that provides recommended best management practices for addressing the effects of changes in flow. The recently released Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters can assist communities as they analyze water quality priorities in their watersheds and identify management measures to reduce causes of impairments. More information on the rule: www.epa.gov/npdes/agriculture

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Great Lakes having an effect

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Great Lakes can lessen the impact of global warming or become global warming's victim—it all depends on Congress, according to a new report from the Healing Our Waters(R)-Great Lakes Coalition. The authors urged Congress to enact a comprehensive plan to restore the health of the Great Lakes.

“Climate change is already affecting the Great Lakes, and no matter what we do now, the those impacts will increase in the future,” said Donald Scavia, Ph.D., report co-author and professor of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. “But we can counter those impacts by restoring the Great Lakes to make them more resilient. At the same time, we need strong national efforts to cut greenhouse gas pollution so that the impacts don't become so severe that they overwhelm the Great Lakes.”

Great Lakes Restoration & the Threat of Global Warming synthesizes current climate change science and presents the likely impacts warming temperatures will have on the lakes, including lower lake levels, more sewage overflows, and increased pressure to divert Great Lakes water. The report describes the following likely impacts:

• Daily high temperatures in the region will increase 5.4 to 10.8 degrees relative to what was typical from 1961-1990, with wintertime temperatures increasing even more than summer temperatures.
• Increased evaporation from warming lakes—particularly in winter—is expected to result in less ice cover, contributing to lower water levels and increases in lake-effect snow.
• Lake levels could drop during the next century by approximately one foot on Lake Superior, three feet on Lakes Michigan and Huron, 2.7 feet on Lake Erie, and 1.7 feet on Lake Ontario.
• Water quality will likely worsen as more intense storm events will send polluted urban and agricultural runoff to our waterways, leading to drinking water impacts, beach closings, and higher costs to water suppliers.
• Biological dead zones will increase, jeopardizing fish and other aquatic life.
• Great Lakes forests and grasslands will change as plants adapted to the area confront increasingly unsuitable habitat. The ranges of some plants and animals will shift northward, while other creatures will vanish.

For more information, see www.healthylakes.org

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Less rain falls in Australia

CLAYTON SOUTH, Australia – Since 1950, Victoria has suffered a 40% decrease in autumn rain, according to a study by CSIRO Wealth From Oceans Flagship.

The researchers found that since 1950 the spatially alternating high and low pressure systems (called pressure wave-trains) conducive to rainfall over southern Victoria in May have been weakening, leading to rising sea level atmospheric pressure over south-east Australia.

Influences from the Indian Ocean sector occur in conjunction with those from the Indonesian Throughflow region, to the north of Australia. Dr Cai says higher sea surface temperatures in the Throughflow region are conducive to rainfall in central and northern south-east Australia, through the familiar tropical northwest cloud bands, which deliver rainfall to the region.

Victoria is not alone among states experiencing rainfall declines. During the past 50 years there has been a decreasing trend in rainfall over much of Australia, researchers note. In south-west Western Australia the trend is strongest in winter; and in southern Queensland strongest in summer. CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science agency. For more information, see www.csiro.au/news/UnderstandingDeclineAutumnRain.html

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White paper aids in reusing water

BEIJING, China; BRUSSELS, Belgium; and WASHINGTON, D.C. – GE Water & Process Technologies has released Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse: A Menu for Policymakers, a white paper outlining the policies and best practices currently being used to increase and implement successful water conservation programs in water scarce regions of the world.

Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse: A Menu for Policymakers is built around a variety of policies that are being used in different locations of the world, including efforts to:

• Provide more information on and recognition of water recycling and reuse efforts;
• Reduce or remove regulatory or cost barriers that prevent more water reuse or recycling;
• Provide financial, regulatory or other incentives for water recycling and reuse; and
• Require more water recycling and reuse.

Examples of how these policies are being applied in communities around the world are included in the report, which can be downloaded at www.ge.com/water

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GE to cut water use

WASHINGTON, D.C. – GE announced its commitment to reduce its own fresh water use by 20% by 2012.

The new initiative is the world's most aggressive corporate water target to date and is expected to free up 7.4 million cubic meters (2 billion U.S. gallons) of fresh water a year – enough water to fill more than 3,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. GE expects to implement water reuse technologies and/or process efficiencies at more than 100 company facilities to meet the absolute water reduction target. GE is using the same portfolio of water-saving solutions to help reduce municipal, industrial and agriculture customers' water footprints.

For more information on GE's water commitment and water reuse solutions, please visit www.ge.com/ecomagination

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California starts rationing

OAKLAND, Calif. – Two dry winters have resulted in the biggest water supply threat to the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in nearly 20 years. As a result, EBMUD has declared a severe water shortage and mandatory water rationing is in effect.

The District received roughly half of its normal runoff this year and projects its water storage will be over 200,000 acre-feet short of the water desired by October 1 of this year (the beginning of a new rain year). The water rationing is intended to safeguard its shrinking supply.

EBMUD is seeking a 15% overall reduction in water use, with specific goals for different types of customers.

In addition, the drought program approved by the Board prohibits the following:

• using water for decorative ponds, lakes and fountains except those that recycle the water;
• washing vehicles with hoses that do not contain shutoff nozzles;
• washing sidewalks, patios and similar hard surfaces;
• irrigating outdoors on consecutive days or more than three days a week (EBMUD recommends watering in the evening or before dawn);
• lawn or garden watering that results in excessive runoff;
• sewer and hydrant flushing and washing streets with potable (drinking) water supplied by EBMUD except for essential purposes;
• the use of potable water for construction if alternatives are available; and
• the use of potable water for soil compaction and dust control when another source is available.

Customers who violate these rules may be subject to fines, water flow restrictions, or loss of water service. For more information, see www.ebmud.com

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Recycling water bottles

ITHACA, N.Y. – Researchers at Cornell University has animated the impact of water-bottle use – and lack of recycling – for the brave of heart. Take a look: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZbTXDkrD1o

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Water-saving homes coming soon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Homeowners can save water by using WaterSense label products, and in the near future new homes can have WaterSense built into them, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

he WaterSense label, which means both water-efficiency and performance, is on more than 160 high-efficiency toilets and more than 60 bathroom sink faucets made by many different manufacturers in various styles, colors, and prices. Nationwide more than 400 irrigation professionals have been trained in water-efficient design and practices and are certified as WaterSense partners. The future New Homes specification will bring into the building process these products and practices, and many more water-saving tools.

The specification is designed to ensure not only sustainable, efficient water use but also a high level of performance satisfaction. WaterSense labeled new homes will combine WaterSense labeled products with other water-efficient fixtures and practices to reduce the amount of water used by approximately 20%. Homes must meet criteria in three areas: indoor water use, outdoor water use, and homeowner education. Additionally, homeowners will receive information on how to maintain a water efficient home. Third-party inspectors will certify that homes meet all of the criteria before they will be given a WaterSense label. For more information, see : www.epa.gov/watersense

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