This week's NEWS

They are back! Those wild and crazy guys from Bryan, TX... they really know how to deliver the "consumer confidence." EPA invites utilities to try out their "event detection" systems. Quaggas are not just a western U.S. problem! New laboratory information is available. Water treatment topics go from C (for chloramines) to N (for nanotechnology) to Z (for zeolite).

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State Updates

• Idaho's June Drinking Water Newsletter (PDF file, 541 K)
• Utah's Summer 2008 OpenLine newsletter (PDF file, 544 K)
• Montana gets USEPA approval for its variance and exemption review (Federal Register, July 3)
  Commentary: Whew! Montanans can relax as EPA finds that "the State of Montana did not abuse its discretion on any variance or exemption granted or proposed."  
• Oklahoma's Annual Compliance Report for 2007 (PDF file, 892 K)
• Florida increases its fees for public water systems (PDF file, 13 K)
• California publishes new 1-ppb PHG for molinate, seeks comments on a proposed PHG for styrene and on proposed PHGs for chlorite and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
  Commentary: The existing California MCL for molinate, a rice herbicide, is 20 ppb, and there is no USEPA MCL or MCLG. The use of molinate is decreasing in the US.
• Ohio proposes revisions to its water well standards (PDF file, 17 K)

Security

• EPA wants you!! Utilities are asked to challenge their water quality "event detection systems" (PDF file, 109 K)

Water Treatment

• Zeolite secrets are unveiled by European researchers (CORDIS News, June 25)
• Pennsylvania water systems that have used chloramines for 40-60 years perplexed by opposition to neighboring system's plans to convert (Harrisburg Patriot News, July 7)
• Connecticut village will upgrade its not-so-adequate facility to treat well water for VOCs (Hartford Courant, July 4); how the village treatment system works
• New Brunswick, Canada, city gets new "privatized" water treatment plant (St. John Telegraph Journal, July 5)
• Nanotechnology: Applications and Implications, AWWA webcast, July 23
• New filtration system planned to address "brown" water from iron and manganese in Pennsylvania town (Intelligencer, July 7)
• Illinois village discusses the possibility of a treatment plant to handle arsenic and iron issues (Danville Commercial News, July 8)

Laboratories

• USEPA's Supplement to the Fifth Edition of the Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water (PDF file, 65 K)
• California water district gets new $17 million laboratory (San Jose Mercury News, July 6)
• New England States' Sample Collection and Preservation Guidance Manual for Drinking Water (PDF file, 539 K)
• Standard Methods available... online

Water Quality Reports

• Bryan, TX's unique annual Water Quality "calendar" is here!
  Commentary: Yes, they are back! The city with the motto "The Good Life, Texas Style" once again educates, informs and elucidates the finer points of its drinking water quality (and other aspects of water and wastewater operations) through the lens of infamous Rock and Roll groups: Motley Water Crüe, Wettalica, AquaSmith, and The Thirsty Girls, to cite a few examples. It is estimated that over 97% of its citizens actually read the water quality report!  The other 3% only look at the pictures.

Publications

• Australian Health Stream for June 2008

NEWS CONTINUES BELOW

UV Disinfection Services With finalization of the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR), ultraviolet (UV) disinfection can be one of the most cost-effective treatment methods to ensure continued regulatory compliance. To help you decide if UV disinfection is right for your water system, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. can provide assistance throughout the design process, from technology evaluation to construction and startup assistance. Because of our long-time involvement with regulatory agencies, Malcolm Pirnie offers in-depth understanding and expertise in research projects, regulatory compliance, and design of UV disinfection facilities for drinking water and wastewater facilities. We recognize that resources are limited and can help you find alternative sources of funding, the right equipment procurement strategy, and innovative approaches for retrofitting or upgrading existing facilities. For more information, visit our website to meet the UV disinfection experts: Christine Cotton and Sam Jeyanayagam.

Sodium

• Salt used to control ice on highways causes gradual increase in sodium levels in New Jersey sources (Bergen County Record, July 5)

Chromium

• Wellhead treatment initiated to remove chromium contamination at California Superfund site (USEPA News Release, July 2)

Quagga Mussels

• Great Lakes face new invasive threat: Quagga mussels "are sucking out the energy" (Naperville Sun, July 6)
• Oregon lake is potential target of "hitchhiking pest" and a lake's water quality is important re: mussels' ability to take hold (Oregonian, July 6)
• Idaho takes preemptive steps to keep invasive mussels out (KTVB, July 4)
• More Northern California boaters face inspections before getting lake access (Sacramento Bee, July 3)
• Specially trained dogs are helping find mussels (National Public Radio, July 7)

Research

• Researchers "listen" to plants growing to monitor water contamination (Jerusalem Post, July 7)

Fluoridation

• Pipe corrosion problems have an Arkansas city without fluoride for nine months (Log Cabin Democrat, July 8)

Arsenic

• New Jersey town wants to help well owners get connected to a public water system... at a discount (The Express-Times, July 5)

Bottled Water

• Is bottled water money down the drain? (Victoria Times Transcript, July 7); the news article cites a report by Canada's official statistical agency: Against the flow: Which households drink bottled water?  (Statistics Canada)

PCE

• State funds pipeline to help Arizona city help its neighbor with PCE problems (PDF file, 43 K)

Private Wells

• Wisconsin officials urge care in dealing with floodwater and getting well water tested (Janesville Gazette, July 5)

Water Reuse

• WateReuse Association launches an international division in Australia
• Southern California recycling project aims to save five billion gallons of water each year (Whittier Daily News, July 7)

Desalination

• Florida city's new reverse osmosis desalting plant goes on-line (Flagler County News, July 5)

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