WaterBriefs: ACWA recognizes three water agencies for environmental efforts

Dec. 7, 2006
Also in this report: New projects totaling $4.6 million awarded to WPCS; ABB calls for better electric motor data; Mayor Villaraigosa, LADWP, Inyo County send first water flow into Lower Owens River; Scientist maligned in story demands Wall Street Journal retraction; Early registration open on Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Conference; MTS sensors ease tank cleaning process in dairy processing; GL&V closes on acquisition of shares of Krebs International...

In other news below:
-- New projects totaling $4.6 million awarded to WPCS
-- ABB calls for better electric motor data
-- Mayor Villaraigosa, LADWP, Inyo County send first water flow into Lower Owens River
-- Scientist maligned in story demands Wall Street Journal retraction
-- Early registration open on Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Conference
-- MTS sensors ease tank cleaning process in dairy processing
-- GL&V closes on acquisition of shares of Krebs International

ACWA recognizes water agencies for environmental efforts -- Recipients of Theodore Roosevelt Award announced -- ANAHEIM, CA, Dec. 7, 2006 -- The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) yesterday presented three water agencies with the water community's most prestigious award for environmental stewardship.

The City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power, the Eastern Municipal Water District, and the East Bay Municipal Utility District were named recipients of the 2006 Theodore Roosevelt Environmental Award for Excellence in Natural Resources Management. The awards were presented December 6 during ACWA's fall conference and exhibition in Anaheim.

Since 1993, ACWA has presented the Theodore Roosevelt Award each year to recognize water agencies for programs that protect natural resources while meeting public needs. Winners are selected in three budget categories.

"The public is not always aware of the commitment ACWA members have to conservation and environmental stewardship," ACWA President Randy Fiorini said. "These three projects are top-notch examples of the lasting environmental legacy water agencies are working every day to build for future generations."

In the first budget category ($100,000 or less), the City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power won for its "Water Efficient Landscapes Project." The department's multi-part water conservation effort included a xeriscape tour program showcasing innovative landscape designs and a series of plant guides to help consumers make choices. It also included a turf buy-back program, SMART irrigation controllers, and distribution of native plant seeds to area nurseries.

The Eastern Municipal Water District captured the award in the second budget category ($100,000 to $1 million) for its California Friendly Landscape Pilot Program, aimed at improving water efficiency in new homes on a regional scale and promoting adoption of "California Friendly" landscape standards.

In the third budget category ($1 million or more), the East Bay Municipal Utility District was honored for its Lower Mokelumne River Partnership Salmon Restoration. EBMUD operates the program under a joint partnership agreement with the California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that provides sustainable water supplies, hydropower and other natural resources while protecting and enhancing the anadromous fishery, preserving and enhancing the Mokelumne River ecosystem and encouraging stakeholder cooperation.

The Association of California Water Agencies (www.acwa.com) is a statewide association whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California.

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Among other recent headlines:

New projects totaling $4.6 million awarded to WPCS -- EXTON, PA, Dec. 7, 2006 -- WPCS International Inc., a leader in design-build engineering services for specialty communication systems and wireless infrastructure, has announced that it has recently been awarded a variety of new contracts totaling approximately $4.6 million. Some of the new contracts awarded to WPCS, through its subsidiaries, include projects to be completed for Pratt & Whitney, Connecticut Water Company, Foxwoods Resort Casino, American Ambulance Service, Parvus Corporation, Ensco, Duquesne Light Company, Crown Castle, South Florida Water Management District and Valero Energy Corporation...

ABB calls for better electric motor data -- LONDON, Dec. 7, 2007 (World Pumps e-newsletter) -- ABB says that it wants the electric motor industry to give a clearer indication of motor reliability (such as running temperature, alongside efficiency levels and motor noise) in its technical motor data. Although motors fail through winding breakdown and bearing failures, the root cause of these failures could be lack of understanding on the part of the customer, says Steve Ruddell, ABB's general manager for motors and drives in the UK. For additional detail, see: "New measure for real-world reliability"...
Also see:
-- "Improving motor efficiency"
-- "ABB wins $130 million refinery order in Poland"
-- "Salt Union gets ABB award for energy saving "
-- "ABB, Severn Trent Water awarded for 'Best Environmental Initiative of the Year'"

Mayor Villaraigosa, LADWP, Inyo County send first water flow into Lower Owens River -- Project called largest river restoration in the U.S. -- OWENS VALLEY, CA, Dec. 6, 2006 -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Inyo County Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Cash made history today as they released the first flow of water into the Lower Owens River since the City of Los Angeles began diverting water from it nearly a century ago. The Lower Owens River Project (LORP), a cooperative effort of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the County of Inyo, will provide a steady flow of water to 62 miles of the Owens River below the Los Angeles Aqueduct Intake where the river has been essentially dry since the Aqueduct opened in 1913. From the Aqueduct Intake, water will be released through automated gates, and follow its natural route down to the Delta of Owens Lake just south of Lone Pine. Additional water will spread into basins at Blackrock and the Owens Lake Delta to create hundreds of acres of wetland habitat and maintain off-river lakes and ponds for waterfowl, shore birds and fisheries...
Also see: "Water treatment plant serving San Diego, Southwest Riverside counties back in service two days early"

Scientist maligned in story demands Wall Street Journal retraction -- Newspaper accused of wrongdoing on Erin Brockovich story credited as key to $295 million settlement, says scientist -- SAN JOSE, CA, Dec. 6, 2006 -- Dr. Shukun Li, a respected Chinese public health scientist, today demanded that the Wall Street Journal retract a front-page story that claimed a 1997 scientific study she co-authored was ghostwritten and the product of scientific fraud. Plaintiffs' attorneys cited the Wall Street Journal story as instrumental in Pacific Gas & Electric's decision to settle a California lawsuit known as "Erin Brockovich II" for $295 million in February 2006. In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Li stated her character and professional reputation, as well as the legacy of her late colleague and 1997 study co-author Dr. JianDong Zhang, had been damaged as a result of the story, "Study Tied Pollutant to Cancer: then Consultants Got Hold of It", published Dec. 23, 2005. The Wall Street Journal compounded its error in a June 2, 2006 follow-up story. Both stories were written by Wall Street Journal staff reporter Peter Waldman. Based in part on the Wall Street Journal story, the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM), which published Dr. Li and Dr. Zhang's study in 1997, retracted its publication of the study, "Cancer Mortality in a Chinese Population Exposed to Hexavalent Chromium in Water", in June, 2006...

Early bird registration ending soon on Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Conference -- WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 6, 2006 -- "Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century" will bring together stakeholders from all levels of government and the private sector to explore creative methods to pay for sustainable water infrastructure today and into the future. It's the first of its kind to address the challenge of integrating the many diverse tools and strategies to pay for sustainable water infrastructure. The March 21-23 Atlanta conference hosted by the USEPA and Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority will provide a forum to exchange ideas about how best to meet the challenges confronting water infrastructure today. With 28 sessions in four tracks, the topics covered will focus on innovations that reduce costs and increase investment in drinking water and wastewater systems and programs. Particpants can save up to $125 by registering by Jan. 10...

MTS sensors ease tank cleaning process in dairy processing CARY, NC, Dec. 6, 2006 -- MTS Systems Corp. Sensors Division's M-Series sensors are being used by dairy manufacturers to provide accurate level and temperature measurement for clean-in-place tanks. MTS M-Series sensors' accuracy enables manufacturers to quickly clean their system thoroughly and responsibly in compliance with industry regulations on the cleaning of dairy processing equipment...

GL&V closes on acquisition of shares of Krebs International -- MONTREAL, Canada, Dec. 4, 2006 -- Groupe LaPerriere & Verreault Inc. (GL&V) is pleased to announce the closing of the acquisition of the shares of Krebs International, as all the conditions relating to the transaction, for which a definitive agreement was announced on Nov. 29, have been met. Krebs is a process equipment supplier based in Tucson, AZ, with several subsidiaries and sales and engineering offices around the world. Krebs has grown 33% a year over the past three years. That and the rapid expansion of the millMAX™ pump line and its re-entry into the oil and gas market have brought many positive challenges to the company...
Also see:
-- "GL&V to acquire Krebs International"
-- "GL&V purchases all shares of process equipment supplier Krebs International, completing one of largest acquisitions ever"

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For previous "WaterBriefs" reports, click here.

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