Toledo area municipalities will soon be able to test the safety of the drinking water supply quickly and easily, a University of Toledo spokesman announced.
That’s due to a $500,000 state grant, which paid for the new technology and renovations for the laboratory in the UT College of Engineering, university spokesman Meghan Cunningham said in a media release.
UT will hold a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Tuesday in North Engineering Room 1600 to celebrate the new Drinking Water Research Lab funds administered through the State of Ohio Community Capital Program.
The new lab eliminates concerns of cross contamination from other samples and improves testing accuracy, she said.
Dr. Youngwoo Seo, associate professor in UT’s civil and environmental engineering and chemical engineering departments, said a host of emerging algal toxins and contaminants from emerging micro pollutants — such as pharmaceutical products or micro plastics in their source waters — offer new challenges for water treatment plants in Ohio.
The lab’s technology includes a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer system and a flow cytometer.
They will be used to detect various cyanotoxins — such as microcystin from the toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie — and assimilable organic carbon, which is used by harmful microorganisms.
“Many water utilities have difficulties in continuously analyzing samples [because of] high costs and limited time,” said Dr. Joseph G. Lawrence, UT research professor and director of the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization.
“They will now have access to the lab on a regular basis for monitoring contaminants in treated water, as well as samples from different points in the treatment process.
“A water utility could, for example, send water samples every week during the algal bloom to track the concentration of toxins in source water and treated water so that they can make informed decisions on the type of treatment,” he said.

But Clark, the TDCJ spokesman, said that he toured the three state facilities in Beaumont on Sunday with top prison administrators and said floodwaters did not get into the facilities.
"There is no water near the units," Clark said.
"I spoke with offenders and given the situation they were in good spirits."
At Beaumont’s federal units, family members shared complaints from inmates that their health had been severely compromised since the flooding.
Parolees were also evacuated from halfway houses in Gulf Coast communities, Houston and in Beaumont and taken to facilities around the state.
"As soon as those halfway houses are operational, we will move them back," Clark said.
Before the deluge, the state evacuated 5,900 inmates by the busloads from several prisons along the swollen Brazos River in Rosharon and Richmond and took them to facilities with room generally in gyms and multi-use areas.
Those removed from the Brazos River area went to several state facilities including the Wallace Pack Unit, which is under an emergency federal court order to keep heat-sensitive inmates out of housing areas that do not have air conditioning.
More than 1,000 inmates from Stringfellow were sent to the Pack Unit, Clark said.
"While Harvey undoubtedly had devastating effects on many parts of Texas and several prisons, the idea that the leaders of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice have chosen to violate a federal order and expose hundreds of its most vulnerable inmates to dangerous heat levels at the Pack Unit that Judge Ellison has already ruled were unconstitutional is beyond disappointing," Edwards said.

Texas faces environmental concerns as wastewater, drinking water systems compromised.
HOUSTON – As residents of Southeast Texas muck out their homes and pile debris on their lawns, the region is dealing with a daunting array of environmental problems.
Thousands of people in southeast Texas still don’t have safe drinking water, including in Beaumont, a city of 118,000 to the east of Houston.
"Without raising the debt limit, I’m not comfortable that we will get the money that we need this month to Texas to rebuild."
FEMA reported Sunday that 37,000 people were in shelters across the state at latest count, with another 2,000 in shelters in Louisiana.
"We’ve seen a lot of folks whose medications were damaged during the storm or lost," she said.
but most of the city is dry, and I’m saying to people – if you can open, let’s open up and let’s get started."
"Come and visit us in one year and I’ll show you a better city than it was before the storm," Turner said.
On Lake Houston Parkway in Kingwood, Alspaugh’s ACE Hardware store was in cleanup mode after receiving four feet of water, but it was open for business.
harvey-1stld-writethru _____ Keywords: Harvey, Hurricane Harvey, Harvey aid, Mnuchin, flooding, Texas, Texas flooding, Texas aid, debt ceiling

South Florida stores order drinking water, hurricane supplies as jittery locals empty shelves.
South Floridians swarmed local stores Monday, emptying shelves of drinking water and other supplies as Hurricane Irma strengthened to a Category 4 storm.
When he arrived at the Morningside Publix he decided to stock up.
More Videos 1:14 Hurricane Irma strengthens to category 4 as storm nears Leeward Islands Pause 0:36 Watch as Hurricane Irma spins through the Atlantic 0:38 Hurricane Irma’s menacing eye strengthens 5:08 Adam Gase news conference after Dolphins-Vikings 0:33 Hurricane warnings and watches in Caribbean as Irma approaches 0:46 Drivers pass growing wildfire near Los Angeles freeway 0:40 Hurricane Irma remains strong Category 3 as track shifts south 0:33 Hurricane Irma moving west 0:33 Hurricane Irma strengthens to Category 3, churns closer 1:16 UM running back Mark Walton on the running games success in the victory over Bethune-Cookman Video Link Embed Code Facebook Twitter Email Hurricane Irma strengthens to category 4 as storm nears Leeward Islands NOAA released new satellite imagery that shows a strengthening Hurricane Irma approaching the Leeward Islands.
Drinking water was sold out Monday at the Walmart Supercenter at 3200 NW 79th Street; Walmart’s public relations spokesman said the company had decided not to comment on storm supplies, saying “they are focused primarily on ensuring smooth operations and want to avoid a rush on stores.” At Sunset Harbor in Miami Beach, water was sold out Monday afternoon; a manager told shoppers it would be restocked Tuesday.
This scientist can show you Hurricane Irma now a Category 4, Governor Scott declares a state of emergency Everything you need to survive a storm The latest on how Hurricane Irma might affect Dolphins’ season opener As Hurricane Irma grows stronger, South Florida gears up for the storm Miamians stocking up on water at Walmart in case #HurricaneIrma impacts South Florida.
pic.twitter.com/d7K8DgjRLF — Joey Flechas (@joeflech) September 4, 2017 At home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot, store spokespeople said that the businesses are monitoring the storm and have plans to meet demand.
More Videos 1:14 Hurricane Irma strengthens to category 4 as storm nears Leeward Islands Pause 0:36 Watch as Hurricane Irma spins through the Atlantic 0:38 Hurricane Irma’s menacing eye strengthens 5:08 Adam Gase news conference after Dolphins-Vikings 0:33 Hurricane warnings and watches in Caribbean as Irma approaches 0:46 Drivers pass growing wildfire near Los Angeles freeway 0:40 Hurricane Irma remains strong Category 3 as track shifts south 0:33 Hurricane Irma moving west 0:33 Hurricane Irma strengthens to Category 3, churns closer 1:16 UM running back Mark Walton on the running games success in the victory over Bethune-Cookman Video Link Embed Code Facebook Twitter Email Hurricane Irma’s menacing eye strengthens Video from NASA of Hurricane Irma’s eye on Sept. 4, 2017.
“Today we have shipped more than 325 truckloads of product to Florida in preparation for the storm.
Never miss a local story.

Women,children most at risk from floods in India, Nepal,B’desh.
Kochi, Sep 4 Women and children continue to be most at risk from the floods in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, international development organisation WaterAid warned today.
"The loss of sanitation infrastructure means greater risk of disease transmission, heightened risks of infection, of harassment or attack when girls try to find a safe place to relieve themselves, as well as the indignity and health risks of being unable to manage periods hygienically",WaterAid said.
India is the worst affected country with 943 deaths reported and 30 million people affected, according to the UN.
V K Madhavan, Chief Executive of WaterAid India said though the flood waters are beginning to recede, the situation is getting more critical.
"People are unable to access safe sanitation or clean drinking water as household toilets are waterlogged and water pumps have been submerged.
In Bangladesh, the UN estimates that eight million people have been affected across 32 districts.
In Nepal, where 1.7 million people have been affected, the flood waters are starting to recede and residents are beginning to return to their homes.
In Siraha district, cases of diarrhoea, skin infections, and viral fevers have all been reported due to lack of clean water and sanitation, WaterAid said.
Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds.

Your Views: Factory farms threaten state’s drinking water.
Factory farms have turned dairy cows into machines and are producing more excrement than Wisconsin’s landscape can handle.
In Kewaunee County, up to 60 percent of the drinking water wells are contaminated.
This is not Wisconsin farming.
The manure is typically flushed out with water so its volume is multiplied several times over and then channeled into holding tanks or open pit lagoons.
Operators don’t just apply the waste once but over and over as these are animal factories producing excrement in huge volumes.
By repeatedly dumping liquid and solid manure on these fields, an underground sewage system exists that contaminates waterways and ultimately drinking water wells.
Scott Walker to declare “No more CAFOs.
No more using Wisconsin’s land, water and air as a manure pit.”
Elkhorn

Western Province Gets $ 42.2 Million For Water and Sanitation Programmes.
The Zambian Government and the Western Water and Sewerage Company have signed a Forty-Two Point Two Million Dollars [US$42.2 million] ON-LENDING AND GRANT AGREEMENT, of which Thirty-Five Point Three Million Dollars [US$35.3 million] is a loan and Six Point Nine Million Dollars [US$6.9 million] a GRANT, for Water and Sanitation Programmes in MONGU, SESHEKE, SENANGA, AND KAOMA Districts of Zambia’s Western Province.
Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Mutati affirmed that the government, under the leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is keen to resolve the water and sanitation challenges faced by citizens and residents in towns which are currently experiencing rapid growth in order to speed up the country-wide economic transformation, industrialization, growth, and job-creation agenda.
Mr. Mutati further clarified that “the agreement will enable construction and rehabilitation of climate resilience water and sanitation infrastructure, including expansion into peri-urban and low-cost settlements,” adding that the programme “will also build the capacity of water utilities, regulators, and train communities involved in the program including creating economic opportunities for women and youth.” “The intervention in the four provinces will also result in up to ONE MILLION residents in the targeted towns gaining better health from increased access to safe and reliable drinking water and improved sanitation services,” assured the Minister.
The principal loan was obtained by the Government from the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.
Apart from the listed beneficiary towns in Western Province, the beneficiary towns in the other provinces are Kasama and MThe Zambian Government and the Western Water and Sewerage Company have signed a Forty-Two Point Two Million Dollars [US$42.2 million] ON-LENDING AND GRANT AGREEMENT, of which Thirty-Five Point Three Million Dollars [US$35.3 million] is a loan and Six Point Nine Million Dollars [US$6.9 million] a GRANT, for Water and Sanitation Programmes in MONGU, SESHEKE, SENANGA, AND KAOMA Districts of Zambia’s Western Province.
Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Mutati affirmed that the government, under the leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is keen to resolve the water and sanitation challenges faced by citizens and residents in towns which are currently experiencing rapid growth in order to speed up the country-wide economic transformation, industrialization, growth, and job-creation agenda.
Mr. Mutati further clarified that “the agreement will enable construction and rehabilitation of climate resilience water and sanitation infrastructure, including expansion into peri-urban and low-cost settlements,” adding that the programme “will also build the capacity of water utilities, regulators, and train communities involved in the program including creating economic opportunities for women and youth.” “The intervention in the four provinces will also result in up to ONE MILLION residents in the targeted towns gaining better health from increased access to safe and reliable drinking water and improved sanitation services,” assured the Minister.
The program in the FOUR PROVINCES is expected to be implemented during a period of 48 months and will cost a total of US$ 150.57 million.
The program in the FOUR PROVINCES is expected to be implemented during a period of 48 months and will cost a total of US$ 150.57 million.

UT’s new Drinking Water Research Lab allows cities to test safety of public water supply.
A new Drinking Water Research Laboratory at The University of Toledo will allow local municipalities to quickly and easily test the safety of the public water supply.
A $500,000 grant from the State of Ohio Community Capital Program provided the state-of-the-art technology and renovations for the laboratory in the UT College of Engineering.
"Water treatment plants in Ohio face new challenges from a host of emerging algal toxins, as well as contaminants from other emerging micropollutants, such as pharmaceutical products or microplastics in their source waters," said Dr. Youngwoo Seo, associate professor in UT’s chemical engineering department.
"By engaging with the lab, the municipalities can get early warning signs of new and emerging algal toxins, as well as quantification of existing toxins during cases of concern."
The lab’s liquid chromatography mass spectrometer system and new flow cytometer will be used to detect various cyanotoxins, such as microcystin from the toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie.
The lab is focused exclusively on drinking water research, eliminating concerns of cross contamination from other samples to allow very low detection limits for improved testing accuracy.
"Many water utilities have difficulties in continuously analyzing samples due to high costs and limited time.
A water utility could, for example, send water samples every week during the algal bloom to track the concentration of toxins in source water and treated water so that they can make informed decisions on the type of treatment," said Dr. Joseph Lawrence, UT research professor.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the lab will be held in North Engineering Room 1600 on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

As the world observes 2017 World Water Week from August 27-September 1, over 180 million people lack basic drinking water in countries affected by conflict and unrest.
And for India, where per capita availability of fresh water declined by more than 50 pc in the past 50 years, preserving every drop of groundwater is critical to its water security.
Though there’s adequate fresh water for every one on the planet, inappropriate management and infrastructure makes thousands of people lose their life each year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
After all, how far can we go without clean water?
The theme touches the core of people’s daily lives and also looks at changes that needs to be made, especially by the primary water users, including industries, energy producers and farmers.
#WaterWomen Women play critical roles in aspects of water governance, yet they are visibly missing from the water dialogue.
Thus, to spread awareness about water week and promote the role of women as decision makers, water managers and effective water users, through #WaterWomen campaign and photo contest, SIWI aims to collect images that illustrate these important roles and tell the stories of women as invaluable water managers, decision makers and users.
This plant is the only source of clean water as tube wells in the vicinity have been found to be contaminated by arsenic.
Like Das, people in the Madhusudan Kati village, West Bengal had been drinking water from the wells for the last 20 years without knowing that the water was poisonous, till they found symptoms of illness, which doctors then detected to have been caused by the contaminated water in the village.
Apart from access to safe drinking water for women and children, performance of services and institutions, including schools and health centers, is also impacted.

Texas hospital forced to evacuate patients due to lack of water.
A Texas hospital was forced to evacuate patients on Thursday due to a lack of water at its facilities.
Nearly 200 patients at Baptist Beaumont Hospital were being transferred by air to other acute care facilities in the area.
Baptist Beaumont Hospital spokeswoman Mary Poole said the hospital’s main pumping station lost service, meaning the acute care center no longer has access to potable water.
Poole said the hospital is working with HCA Healthcare to move patients to nearby facilities.
“Due to the citywide lack of services we have no other alternatives but to discontinue all services which will unfortunately include emergency services,” the statement said.
“This is being done immediately.” City manager Kyle Hayes said that it’s unclear when they will be able to provide residents with potable water, and that continually rising flood waters on the Neches River are covering the pumps that serve as a primary source for drinking water.
Hayces said city workers won’t be able to assess the damage or check for repairs until the water recedes.
The city’s backup water source, which is locoated in Harden County, also failed.
Officials are attempting to get bottled water to residents as quickly as possible.