The following is a transcript of the WaterWorld Weekly Newscast for October 23, 2017.
Hi, I'm Angela Godwin for WaterWorld magazine, bringing you water and wastewater news headlines for the week of October 23. Coming up...
- Sacramento officials search for cause of purple tap water
- Eleven-year-old is America's Top Young Scientist
- Xylem expands support for relief efforts in Puerto Rico
- Report: 'Cool roofs' also save water
The City of Sacramento issued a Do Not Drink order last week after reports of purple-colored tap water began coming in from residents of a northern neighborhood.
The Department of Utilities flushed the lines in the area, and the order was lifted by late Wednesday.
Various treatment chemicals have been known to cause purple or pink water, but according to city officials, they aren't chemicals that Sacramento uses.
An investigation into the cause is underway.
An eleven-year-old seventh grader from Lone Tree, Colorado, has been named America's Top Young Scientist in the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Inspired by the lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, Gitanjali Rao developed a sensor-based device that can detect lead in water faster and more easily than other current techniques.
Her invention, called Tethys, utilizes carbon nanotubes to detect changes in resistance to the flow of electrical current, indicating the presence of lead.
It is designed to be portable and easy to use. It even has a Bluetooth-enabled mobile app that indicates the water's status almost immediately.
This amazing young lady said she hopes to solve the water contamination crisis and decrease long-term health effects from lead exposure.
To learn more about her work, the competition, or the other nine finalists, please visit www.youngscientistlab.com.
Xylem has announced plans to expand its support for the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.
The water technology company has pledged a substantial contribution to Mercy Corps to deliver humanitarian assistance and start rebuilding the communities ravaged by the hurricane.
Xylem is also working with Planet Water Foundation to fund the construction of 10 aqua towers in remote areas of Puerto Rico.
Each aqua tower provides up to 10,000 liters of clean water on a daily basis.
A new study from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds that heat-mitigating roofs -- or "cool roofs" -- can also reduce outdoor water use.
By reducing the ambient air temperature, lawns and other landscaping need less water.
Based on regional climate simulations of 18 California counties, Berkeley Lab researchers found that widespread cool roof adoption could reduce outdoor water consumption by as much as 9 percent.
In Los Angeles County, if all buildings had reflective roofs installed, total water savings could reach 83 million gallons per day.
This was the first study designed to examine the link between heat mitigation and water conservation in urban areas.
While water conservation may not be a primary reason to install a cool roof, the research demonstrates that it's a previously unrecognized side benefit.
Berkeley researcher Pouya Vahmani said, "From a water management standpoint, it's an entirely different way of thinking - to manipulate the local climate in order to manipulate water demand."
To learn more, you can read their study, "Water conservation benefits of urban heat mitigation," in the journal Nature Communications.
For WaterWorld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin. Thanks for watching.
