Legislation would provide a significant increase in funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System project, which when completed will cover a service territory of more than 5,000 square miles and provide drinking water to 300,000 residents and businesses in southwest Minnesota U.S. Sens.
Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Al Franken, D-MN, have joined Senators Jon Tester, D-MT, and Steve Daines, R-MT, in the introduction of a bipartisan bill that would invest in critical Minnesota rural water infrastructure projects.
The Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act will invest $80 million annually for the next 20 years to construct and upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Minnesota and across the country.
The legislation would provide a significant increase in funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System project, which when completed will cover a service territory of more than 5,000 square miles and provide drinking water to 300,000 residents and businesses in southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota.
The project is currently 67 percent complete and the three states have prepaid 100 percent of the non-federal cost share.
“Rural water projects play an essential role in providing reliable and safe drinking water to communities across the country,” Klobuchar said.
“This legislation will ensure the Lewis and Clark water project is funded to completion—boosting the economic development and well-being of southwest Minnesota.” “Investing in our rural water infrastructure improves access to clean drinking water while creating a lot of good jobs for working families,” Franken said.
“For years, I’ve fought for funding to finish the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, which would improve local economies across southwest Minnesota.
And this bill would help the project get across the finish line.
We need to get this water—and the economic development benefits that it would bring—flowing to businesses and communities in the region.

Global Communities-Liberia and Coca-Cola Turns over WELL Project in Liberia.
By Abel R. Okai Bong County – The Golden Triangle Partnership fund under the Coca-Cola System in collaboration with Global Communities has turned over thirty-two newly constructed hand pumps to the people of Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties.
The Well Project which was Implemented by Global Communities, improved supply of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) products and services by providing business and technical trainings for 114 WASH entrepreneurs (WEs) – natural leaders who were trained to install and repair hand pumps as well as to produce soap for sale – consequently improving the livelihoods of the WEs as well as the comfort of their families.
Speaking during the turning over ceremony, the Senior Program Manager of Global Communities said the project was intended to provide clean and safe drinking water as part of the corporate social responsibilities of the foundation.
Mr. Michael Fogbawa added, as part of the project they trained eighteen WASH entrepreneurs, constructed twelve new wells, and rehabilitated more than seventy five hand pumps in Bong County He noted the project enhanced school hygiene, sanitation and health promotion through basic WASH education and the provision of sanitation products for improved latrines and hand washing stations.
A project beneficiary from Arthur Jack Village, commented, “Many times my husband had to accompany me on the 1-hour trip into the forest to fetch drinking water.
Now with the hand pump, we in the community, especially women and children, no longer have to deal with the dangers of traveling far into the forest to collect unsafe drinking water.” Korto Temie said.
During the handover ceremony, Liberia’s Assistant Minister of Public Works, Mr. George Yarngo, encouraged his local government colleagues to support community members in ensuring the project remains sustainable over time.
Mr. Anthony Sheriff expressed optimism the community members will take full ownership of the hand pump which is provided to ensure it remains a viable source of safe water for decades to come.
Through the WELL project, over 40,000 people in 570 Open Defecation Free (ODF) communities and three schools in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties will be reached with sustained access to clean water, and improved sanitation products and services.

The city is known for low water table which often leads to flood events during wet seasons in most neighbourhoods.
This scenario to most residents in the Madasgascar neighbourhood is better imagined than experienced.
Well-to-do families buy drinking water in containers from youths who fetch from distant neighbourhoods on two wheels truck or wheelbarrows.
The street running down beside the residence of the quarter head is often lined up with containers, waiting for the youths.
Twenty litres of the mineral is sold between FCFA 300 and 400 and 10 litres FCFA 200 or FCFA 150 depending on the distance.
She earns FCFA 30,000.
Most of the neighbourhood is not connected to tap water.
Taps run dry even in other neighbourhoods.
He attributed water scarcity to global warming, galloping urbanisation and high water consumption for agricultural use, that the available water if good techniques and equipments are employed for treatment can be fit for drinking.
Two-thirds of the Cameroon population doesn’t have access to potable water, one-third in Douala has access to tap water but there is intense contamination from underground water, he noted.

Yemen’s children are suffering a man-made health catastrophe.
Comment: A deadly combination of cholera, hunger and child recruitment is plaguing the Yemen’s future generation, writes Khalid al-Karimi.
Military escalations have dwarfed all peace efforts, and as a result, the situation for children is deteriorating.
While cholera can be treated easily, cases of the disease have spiralled out of control.
International humanitarian organisations continue to issue alarming statements about the steady rise in the epidemic, and 22 provinces are now reported to have cholera.
The United Nations has stated it needs $2.1 billion for its work in Yemen this year, highlighting that although it is attempting to increase aid to the victims, it is unable to de-escalate the crisis.
Children on the battlefield More able-bodied children have been attracted the frontlines in Yemen.
In a report released earlier this year, UN agencies had documented nearly 1,500 cases of children recruited by all parties to the conflict since March 2015.
The fighting has turned Yemen into a prison where children die every day in every city.
It is time the warring sides took stock of the country’s children, and of its future as a nation.

Tidal Creek Co-op wants to provide clean water for Wilmington.
The co-op plans to purchase a reverse osmosis filtration system for DREAMS of Wilmington, which is located on the north side of downtown.
Although the company that builds the filters, National Water Services Inc., claims these reverse osmosis filtration systems can remove emerging chemicals like GenX from the water, evidence or independent verification that its system is capable of doing so has not been provided.
“Alternatively, public water systems can treat source water with activated carbon or high pressure membrane systems (e.g., reverse osmosis) to remove PFOA and PFOS from drinking water.” While the EPA stands behind their report, they stopped short of saying these filtration systems can specifically remove GenX from the water, saying, “The EPA has looked at the treatability of PFOA and PFOS, but has not evaluated any data on the treatment of GenX.” Despite this, these reverse osmosis carbon filtration systems, like the one at Tidal Creek are highly effective for removing many dangerous chemicals and other toxins that are in the water.
According to the EPA, surface runoff dissolves naturally occurring minerals on it’s way to our water sources.
While that’s not necessarily a problem, some of the other materials it picks up along the way is.
The EPA says that surface runoff can contain a wide range of toxins, including radioactive material, human and animal waste, microbial bacteria, viruses, metals, pesticides, herbicides, as well as synthetic and volatile organic substances that are the result of industrial waste.
That would allow the co-op to install this system at DREAMS, then repeat the process somewhere else.
“We’re taking action because we haven’t seen them do so, and we’re hoping to send the message that people are really concerned, and that people need clean water as a right, not a privilege.” Paul said that in the end, Tidal Creek would like to unite all the separate organizations who are working toward a sustainable water solution across the area.
“If all of those groups came and purchased that water from our bulk systems, not only would they be able to donate clean water to the people, but then all of those proceeds would go to a sustainable solution to a really large sector of the population.” For more information, and to find out how you can get involved, visit the Tidal Creek website at tidalcreek.coop, contact Shayla Paul at shaylah@tidalcreek.coop, or call (910)799-2667 ext.

Susan Story, president and chief executive officer, Linda Sullivan, executive vice president and chief financial officer and Walter Lynch, chief operating officer, will host the 2017 second quarter earnings conference call and audio webcast with investors, analysts and other interested parties on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Interested parties may access the webcast by going to the investor relations homepage at ir.amwater.com.
Presentation slides used in conjunction with the earnings conference call will be available online.
The company recognizes its website as a key channel of distribution to reach public investors and as a means of disclosing material non-public information to comply with its obligations under SEC Regulation FD.
Following the earnings conference call, an audio archive of the call will be available through Aug. 10, 2017.
The online webcast will be available at American Water’s investor relations homepage at ir.amwater.com through Sep. 3, 2017.
After that, the archived webcast will be available for one year on the Archived Presentations page at ir.amwater.com.
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly-traded water and wastewater utility company.
More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
Contacts American Water Works Company, Inc. Edward Vallejo, 856-566-4005 Vice President, Financial Planning and Investor Relations edward.vallejo@amwater.com or Maureen Duffy, 856-309-4546 Vice President, Communications and Federal Affairs maureen.duffy@amwater.com

North and East Delhi will get water ATMs.
To help people access clean drinking water at busy markets and public places across the city, the municipal corporations are working to install water ATMs.
Both the North and East Delhi Municipal Corporation have approved the plan to install 200 water ATMs and are now identifying the sites for setting up the machines.
The machines will dispense a glass of water (250 ml) for Rs 2.
North Delhi municipal commissioner PK Gupta has also written to the deputy commissioner of all six zones to share the details of sites in a week’s time.
On a pilot basis, one water ATM was installed in Defence Colony where people get filtered water at just Rs 2 for 250 ml in paper glasses.
And if you have bottle to carry the water, it is available at just Rs 5 per litre.
On June 18, Hindustan Times visited the place and spoke to shopkeepers, who had appreciated the move.
We manage to sell 300 glasses of water per day,” said the worker at the ATM.
As per the tender, ATMs should be installed within 90 days of allocation of project.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) With thousands without water, for hours, hydration is a big concern for people in Emporia and surrounding areas and drinking water is a necessary part of all of our daily lives.
The CDC said water is also essential in keeping your body temperature normal, lubricating joints, protecting your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and to get rid of bodily wastes.
There are some basic signs to know whether or not you’re dehydrated.
So what do you do to stay hydrated when there’s no water?
Dr. Elliott said the best thing you can do is stay indoors.
keep your air conditioning running.
“Keep your windows and shades closed.
Avoid any excessive activities, particularly something outside.
The only thing to keep in mind is those contain a lot of sugar.” Play Video Play Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Remaining Time -0:00 This is a modal window.

Better water and wastewater infrastructure for Southwestern Ontario.
OTTAWA, July 20, 2017 : The governments of Canada and Ontario are committed to investing in local infrastructure that ensures Canadians and their families have access to modern, reliable water and wastewater services that meet their needs.
These investments safeguard the health and well-being of residents, protect waterways and preserve local ecosystems, while also laying the foundation for new economic opportunities to strengthen the middle class across the province.
For example, thanks to this investment residents of London will benefit from a project that will design and construct flood proofing measures at the Vauxhall Pollution Control Plant, needed to protect the plant against stormwater damage.
This investment is part of an agreement between Canada and Ontario for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.
Quotes "Investing in water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to maintaining a healthy environment and providing access to clean, reliable drinking water.
The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "We are committed to building and maintaining high-quality water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to benefit the residents of London.
The Honourable Deb Matthews, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Member of Provincial Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Quick facts •The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
•$21.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
To learn more about what’s happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

The New Orleans inspector general says the city hasn’t adequately warned residents that ongoing street repairs and water system improvements could result in temporarily high lead levels in some buildings’ tap water.
Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux’s (KWAH’-treh-voh’s) latest report says some old city water lines — and lines on private properties — are made of lead, which can affect the brain and nervous system when ingested.
Citing $2.4 billion in planned New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board infrastructure projects as well as numerous past water system and street projects Quatrevaux raises the possibility that individual homes or businesses might see spikes in lead levels in drinking water.
In a statement emailed Thursday, the city Sewerage and Water Board stressed its compliance with all state and federal laws and said the city’s water is safe.
It outlined its existing policies for educating customers by way of social media, direct mail and email about risks of lead exposure.
There, lead was discovered in the drinking water after the city began tapping Flint River water as a source.
The river water was not properly treated, leading to lead leaching from old pipes and fixtures.
"The City and S&WB have taken proactive steps to inform residents of the potential for increased exposure to lead in water caused by partial replacement or disturbance of LSLs (lead service lines), as well as the steps the public should take to reduce the impacts of that temporary elevated lead exposure," the board’s statement said.
Meanwhile, the city says it’s taking steps to reduce the long term danger of lead pipes.
Because lead lines were an industry standard until the dangers of lead became known in the 1970s, the city has no special inventory of where its lead supply lines exist.