The following is a transcript of the June 23, 2011, edition of the WaterWorld Weekly newscast.
Hi, I'm Angela Godwin, digital media editor for WaterWorld magazine, bringing you this week's water and wastewater news headlines. Coming up...
• Survey finds water market optimistic
• Pesticide bill to hit Senate floor
• Abstract deadline extended for Virtual H2O
• Boil water advisory issued in NY
• Report heightens concern about aging nuclear plant sites
• Lemoore water deemed safe
• Lilies cause flooding in Philippines
[story1]
Janney Capital Markets has released the results of its water market survey conducted at the recent AWWA Annual Conference and Expo in Washington, DC.
Analysts asked 100 exhibiting companies of varying sizes about their shipment levels, 12-month demand outlook, and pricing power.
About 50% of the respondents said that over the next year, they expect double-digit shipment growth, while an additional 40% expected single-digit shipment growth.
60% of those surveyed reported a single- or double-digit increase in sales compared to a year ago, with 20% reporting declines. Among those segments with the best year on year growth were metering, filtration systems, and treatment chemicals.
In general, the analysts found equipment suppliers optimistic, despite continued weakness in the housing market and increased competition for a limited number of projects.
[story2]
A bill to remove Clean Water Act permitting requirements for pesticide users has passed in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Its next stop: the Senate floor.
If passed, it would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act -- or FIFRA -- to exempt pesticide users from obtaining a permit when using a registered and approved pesticide in or near navigable waters.
Supporters say removing the permit requirement will ease regulatory burdens on farmers.
Opponents, however, raise concerns about water quality and the impact of pesticides on aquatic life and drinking water supplies.
The bill passed the House in March with a vote of 292 to 134.
[story3]
There's still time to participate in the September 13th edition of Virtual H2O, the completely online water industry conference and expo.
If you have a technology or case study you'd like to share with your water and wastewater industry peers, visit virtualh2oevent.com and submit your abstract.
Interested parties have until July 1 to submit proposals.
As always, participation is free and no travel is required.
[story4]
The Rockland County Department of Health is advising about 15,000 customers of the Nyack Water Department to boil their water before using.
This, because of a high level of coliform bacteria discovered during routine sampling in June.
Officials are investigating the source of the contamination.
In the meantime, the water department has raised chlorine residual levels and is flushing areas of the water system.
[story5]
A new report by the Government Accountability Office concludes that operators of nuclear power plants in the United State don't have a quick way of detecting radioactive water leaks in their aging systems.
The report was generated in response to an ongoing Associated Press investigation that revealed 75% of the nation's nuclear plant sites have had radioactive tritium leaks. In three instances, tritium has contaminated nearby groundwater resources.
While tritium is a mildly radioactive form of hydrogen, it poses a significant cancer risk when found in drinking water.
The AP investigation suggests that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has relaxed some of its safety requirements to ensure that older nuclear plants continue to operate. With the aging plant infrastructure, the risk of leaks increases.
With no method for quickly detecting those leaks, a breach could go undiscovered for years.
The NRC said it disagreed with AP's findings and that it takes safety very seriously.
[story6]
A quick follow-up on a story we shared with you last week.
Officials have lifted the advisory against drinking the water at Lemoore Naval Air Station. The warning was issued after two dozen people complained of gastrointestinal illness on the base.
Water was tested from several sampling points and no evidence of bacterial contamination was found.
[story7]
In international news...
Massive flooding in the southern Philippines this week has affected more than half a million people and forced more than 1,000 residents to evacuate.
The cause? Heavy rains... and water lilies.
The tightly packed lilies clogged a 200-mile section of the Rio Grande, blocking the flow of water to the Moro Gulf. In some places, growth was 10-feet thick.
Hundreds of military troops have been working on cutting through the lilies with chain saws, but intermittent rains and strong currents are hampering efforts.
Officials said they are racing against time as more rain is in the forecast.
For WaterWorld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin. Thanks for watching.
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