Irish Water wants no public access to €80m Stillorgan reservoir site.
The utility company said the condition to provide publicly accessible open space within the reservoir site was incompatible with its core function to “secure a sustainable supply of drinking water to 200,000 people and to facilitate growth in the Dublin region into the future.” The condition was imposed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council when it approved plans to construct a new, covered reservoir on the site.
Once the new covered reservoir is operational, two other open reservoirs are to be decommissioned and landscaping of the site will include a meadow on the roof of the reservoir.
Irish Water said the entire site had been in use for more then 150 years as a critically important part of Dublin’s water services infrastructure and would remain so, as services are to be expanded over the coming decade.
Cllr Barry Saul (Fine Gael), who is currently running a campaign for a new public park to be created in the area, said up to four sports clubs had hoped to get pitches in on the site.
He accused Irish Water of showing poor judgment by opposing public access to the reservoir.
“Local sports clubs are crying out for extra pitches.
The current upgrade project is planned for completion in 2021.
Planning for additional water storage at the site will commence in the early 2020s with construction of additional storage likely to follow in the later part of the decade to ensure that evolving needs are met, the utility said.
“The entire site will be required for the present and future construction needs of Irish Water and will not be available for publicly accessible open space.” It said the Stillorgan reservoir, “as an active water supply site, contains high pressure pipes and valves, and the view of Irish Water is that the use of the site for active open space in the form of publicly accessible open space is not feasible”.

Cal/OSHA: Workers Need Access to Fresh Water to Prevent Heat Illness.
Triple-digit temperatures in the Southwest and West United States in the past week have already played a factor in at least two deaths, according to news reports.
Because of this, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers with outdoor workers they must provide fresh water and encourage workers to stay hydrated in order to prevent heat illness.
"It is tragic when someone dies of hyperthermia since in most every case it could have been prevented," Dr. Michelle Jorden, Medical Examiner, Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office in a statement to the press.
California’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard requires employers to train workers on the signs and symptoms of heat illness, provide shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees.
When temperatures reach 95 degrees or above, employers are required to implement high heat procedures to ensure outdoor workers are protected.
Some of these measures include effective monitoring with a mandatory buddy system for workers or regular communication with workers who work alone.
"Outdoor workers should have enough fresh, pure and suitably cool water so that they can drink at least one quart per hour during the workday, and should not wait until they are thirsty to hydrate," said Juliann Sum, Cal/OSHA chief, in a statement.
Employers should remind workers of the importance of staying hydrated and ensure they have easy access to drinking water at the worksite."
Online information on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are available on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page.

Over 2.6 miles of water main installed in East St. Louis, Mo.. Last year the company completed phase one of the project, which included installing approximately 3,500 feet of 36-inch ductile iron water main and approximately 4,500 feet of 24-inch ductile iron water main.
Jeff Kaiser, director of engineering for Illinois American Water, said, "The water mains installed in 2016 were large, transmission water mains, critical to delivering treated water from our East St. Louis water treatment to our Metro East customers.
Upgrading this infrastructure helps to ensure reliable water service for public health and fire protection to not only East St. Louis, but also Belleville, Sauget and other surrounding communities we serve."
Phase two of the project is nearing completion and includes installing about 2,500 feet of 16-inch ductile iron water main.
In addition, approximately 3,700 feet of 24-inch existing water main is being lined with 20-inch fusible PVC water main.
Lining the water main, rather than replacing it, decreases costs to customers and prevents unnecessary disruption to surrounding infrastructure.
According to Kaiser, after the water main installation is completed, Illinois American Water will conduct water flow and water quality tests to ensure standards are met.
These investments include replacing thousands of miles of pipe and upgrades to treatment plants, storage tanks and other assets.
More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
American Water announces new leadership American Water completes acquisition of Shorelands Water Company Illinois American Water recognized by local construction industry

Hawaii to close large cesspools in Pahala and Naalehu.
In a separate action, EPA reached an agreement with Aloha Petroleum, Ltd. requiring the company to pay a civil penalty of $57,500 for its operation of an LCC at its Aloha Island Mart convenience store and gas station in Captain Cook on the Big Island.
Aloha Petroleum has since closed the non-compliant cesspool and replaced it with an approved wastewater system.
LCCs were banned under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in April 2005.
The agreement with the County of Hawaii requires the closure of two LCCs serving the Pahala community, three LCCs serving the Naalehu community, and two LCCs serving the Pahala Elderly Apartments.
"EPA and the County of Hawaii are taking important steps to close these banned cesspools and replace them with modern wastewater treatment systems," said Alexis Strauss, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.
Newly-constructed secondary wastewater treatment facilities and updated collection systems will come online in 2021 for Pahala and in 2022 for Naalehu.
Cesspools serving the Pahala Elderly Apartments will be closed by September 2018 and replaced with septic systems.
The agreement also includes specific reporting requirements and allows for stipulated penalties should the county fail to meet agreed-upon deadlines.
Cesspools are used more widely in Hawaii than in any other state, despite the fact that 95 percent of all drinking water in Hawaii comes from groundwater sources.

Triple-digit temperatures in the Southwest and West United States in the past week have already played a factor in at least two deaths, according to news reports. Because of this, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers with outdoor workers they must provide fresh water and encourage workers to stay hydrated in order to prevent heat illness. “It is tragic when someone dies of hyperthermia since in most every case it could have been prevented,” Dr. Michelle Jorden, Medical Examiner, Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office in a statement to the press. California’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard…

In a move to help build thriving communities, Kenya Breweries Limited in collaboration with AMREF Health Africa in Kenya, Tuesday commissioned Kerwa-Nduma Water Project in Kikuyu Constituency, a novel initiative aimed at providing clean and safe drinking water to over 20,000 residents of Kikuyu Constituency.
The water project to be managed by Kerwa Water Project Welfare Association (KWPWA) comprises of a 4Km water distribution line, a 225,000litre rehabilitated water tank, a borehole, a water pump house and a water kiosk.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Diageo Corporate Relations Director, Dan Mobley said, “As a company, we seek to contribute to the communities by way of implementing innovative projects in the areas of access to clean drinking water, water conservation and management as underpinned by Diageo 2020 Sustainability Blueprint.” A World Bank study on water revealed that by 2050 over 40% of the global population will live under severe water stress; and as global population increases, so will tensions among different water uses.
Today, 18 million Kenyans have no access to water and sanitation services, therefore Nduma Water Project is fundamental in bridging the existing difference.
As a responsible corporate citizen, passionate about doing its part to respond to this societal need, KBL, through EABL Foundation is committed to invest in water projects within water-stressed communities such as Nduma,” said EABL Corporate Relation Director, Eric Kiniti.
“This is a project that is directly impacting people’s lives.
It is indeed changing people lives in a big way.
The residents will not only be able to access clean drinking water, but the water will promote economic activities,” added Mr. Ichungwah.
The program is part of a larger plan, dubbed “Water of Life” under which the Foundation has implemented over 78 community water projects in areas encountering a perennial water shortage across Kenya.
According to a study released in April 2016 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Society for International Development (SID), only 35 per cent of Kiambu County’s population use improved sources of water, a situation that exacerbates sanitation-related illnesses.

We must protect water system.
Unauthorized people near the waterworks present two types of threats: carelessness and malicious intent.
Fortunately, our waterworks has not been subjected to serious incidents of intentional harm.
We have seen that allowing unauthorized people near these facilities increases the risk of contamination, but it also makes it easier for someone to intentionally harm those who drink the water.
If unknown people are allowed on the grounds, how are we to know if one of them wants to do harm?
Every security plan devised for water systems relies on layers of protection.
First, there is detection: Has an intruder entered the property?
Second, delay: How difficult is it for the intruder to access critical facilities?
As long as unauthorized individuals are allowed to stroll around the grounds we cannot detect who might want to do harm and have done nothing to delay access to our critical facilities.
Finally, imagine the reaction if people started getting sick from contaminated water because we failed to secure the waterworks.

We must protect water system.
Unauthorized people near the waterworks present two types of threats: carelessness and malicious intent.
Fortunately, our waterworks has not been subjected to serious incidents of intentional harm.
We have seen that allowing unauthorized people near these facilities increases the risk of contamination, but it also makes it easier for someone to intentionally harm those who drink the water.
If unknown people are allowed on the grounds, how are we to know if one of them wants to do harm?
Every security plan devised for water systems relies on layers of protection.
First, there is detection: Has an intruder entered the property?
Second, delay: How difficult is it for the intruder to access critical facilities?
As long as unauthorized individuals are allowed to stroll around the grounds we cannot detect who might want to do harm and have done nothing to delay access to our critical facilities.
Finally, imagine the reaction if people started getting sick from contaminated water because we failed to secure the waterworks.

CATTARAUGUS INDIAN RESERVATION — Lawtons, a hamlet in the town of North Collins, has issued a ‘Do Not Drink’ on its water for over two years. However, the problem will soon be alleviated. The town and the Seneca Nation of Indians have agreed on a deal that will allow Lawtons to purchase water from the Nation and construct a connection pipeline on Seneca Street. The costs could be around 60 percent funded. It should allow Lawtons’ residents to have useable water near the end of 2018. “I have the goosebumps. I am so happy that this thing is going to happen,” Town Supervisor John Tobia said. “I am so happy for the people of our town, it’s a lovely community. To be able to go to your faucet and get some water, wow.” Tobia was joined alongside SNI President Todd Gates during a press conference at the William Seneca Building in Irving Monday morning. Both Gates and Tobia signed the contract, making the agreement official. According to Town Attorney Richard…

Two Danish students have developed "SolarSack" for inexpensive and environmentally friendly water purification.
Anders Løcke and Louise Ullmann, who study Architecture and Design at Aalborg University (AAU), have designed a better and cheaper system for purifying drinking water in developing countries.
The product, known as SolarSack, is a special bag that is filled with four liters of water and placed in the sun for four hours.
The user can then drink the water and reuse the bag for water purification.
But where a SolarSack supplies at least 500 liters of clean drinking water for a dollar, a bucket of coal provides less than 100 liters of water.
As part of their studies in Architecture and Design at Aalborg University, Anders Løcke and Louise Ullmann went to East Africa to investigate the problem.
There is plenty of sunlight in Africa, and it’s free," says Anders Løcke, AAU.
The two students behind the project just graduated from their program at AAU, and Anders Løcke will now work full time as CEO of SolarSack.
The Red Cross is also interested in the project.
The plan is to get SolarSack into production and distribute the product to NGOs and the private sector in East Africa.