The United States Agency for International Development (USID) says five thousand households would benefit from its Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services (E-WASH) programme.
The E-WASH programme aims at improving water delivery services and sanitation across six states including Abia, Delta, Imo, Sokoto, Niger and Taraba.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, USAID Nigeria Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, said the programme would focus on strengthen governance, financial and technical viability of water agencies, which will subsequently lead to an improvement in the health and hygiene of the population.
“Through the course of this activity, USAID will help the water boards demonstrate that better performance that will raise the quality of services for their customers, facilitate economic sustainability by improving finance through a reduction or better targeting of subsidies, and increase the chances of serving all customers in their area, including the marginalized,” Haykin said.
“I am confident that USAID, our new partner state governments, collaborative development partners and the business community, can share our respective expertise, capabilities and resources to develop more professional and accountable water and sanitation utilities,” he noted.
Haykin said the six beneficiary states were selected based on their willingness to reform the existing functionality of their infrastructure and their potential for positive impact.
The minister of water resources, Suleiman Hussain Adamu, who was represented by the director, water supply of the ministry, Benson Ajisegiri, lauded USAID for the programme.
“By strengthening these state Water Boards’ capacity to make solid investment decisions, improving the efficiency of their billing and collections, and responsiveness to the concerns of their customers, more people and businesses will ultimately have access to water and sanitation services,” he said.
The United Nations had said that about 57 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water, and each year, water-borne illnesses kill around one million Nigerian children under the age of five.

“The new and adjusted fees for public water systems (PWS) are necessary to ensure adequate funding for the department to carry out its responsibilities under the SDWA and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act,” explained Neil Shader, DEP press secretary.
“This funding will allow for the hiring of additional staff to increase the frequency of drinking water inspections throughout the commonwealth.” The new Safe Drinking Water (SDW) annual fee is based on the number of customers a public water system has, according to Shader, who explained that “the revised fee structure for new or amended SDW permits depends on the population served and whether the proposed modification is a minor or major change.” Steve Disney, the Bradford authority executive director, described the financial impact the new fees will have locally.
“Since The Bradford City Water Authority serves approximately 18,000 residents, we fall into the population served category between 10,001-25,000, which constitutes a $20,000 annual fee,” he said.
“Bradford City Water Authority will also see fees charged for construction permits or major construction permit amendments of $5,000 and also for minor construction permit applications of $1,000.” There will be higher fees, but Disney is hopeful the fees will translate into clean water coming from customers’ taps.
“Protecting and improving water quality is always a good thing, and something our board and our employees strive to do every day,” he said.
“I’m hopeful the DEP will work hand-in-hand with each water system to continuously look for ways to improve water quality and will not resort to just over regulating the industry and causing undue financial hardship on the various water systems, which ultimately trickles down to the rate payers.
“We’re all in this together with a common goal of providing an adequate, safe supply of water to our customers at an affordable rate,” Disney added.
“Ensuring that Pennsylvanians have access to safe, clean drinking water is one of the most important roles that DEP has,” said Shader.
“The recommended number of PWSs/per DEP inspector was determined to be 100-125.” Article with images +2 Shader said the biggest positive change to come from more funding — and more inspectors — will be “more frequent inspections, which can identify possible issues with drinking water systems before they affect customers.” Shader said the DEP anticipates generating about $7.5 million in additional funding in 2019 and explained, “These fees are necessary to ensure adequate funding and staff for DEP to carry out its responsibilities under the Federal and State Safe Drinking Water acts,” he said.
“The minimum services that the Safe Drinking Water Program must provide to administer the SDWA and its regulations include monitoring and inspection; maintaining an inventory of public water systems in Pennsylvania; conducting systematic sanitary surveys of public water supply systems; assuring the availability of laboratories certified to analyze drinking water for all contaminants specified in the drinking water standards; reviewing and approving plans and specifications for the design and construction of new or substantially modified public water systems to deliver water that complies with drinking water standards with sufficient volume and pressure to users of the systems; and issuing orders and taking other actions necessary and appropriate for enforcement of drinking water standards.”

Amritsar
Ernest Hemingway has said, “The earth is a fine place to live on and worth fighting for.” This was uppermost in the mind of Pathankot girl Dr Anupam Khajuria when she took admission in M.Sc (Honours) in environmental sciences in GNDU, Amritsar, and later in Ph.D in environmental engineering in Osaka University, Japan.
The erudite Anupam is of the opinion that progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot see anything.
At the Suzhou conference, she told the panelists and the world that one-sixth of the world’s population was water stressed.
“This, in effect, means that one in every six persons in this universe does not have access to clean drinking water.
The focus of environmentalists these days should be on water-related issues, such as clean water supply and its management, control of water pollution, waste water recycling, impact of climate change and rapid urbanisation on groundwater storage,” she says.
She very well knows how some parts of the state are facing serious groundwater contamination problems.
“This because of slow but steady accumulation of toxins in the land that occurred due to the excessive use of pesticides during the green revolution of the sixties.
Dr Anupam has also participated in similar convention held in Indore in April this year where a declaration titled ‘Indore 3R declaration on achieving clean water, clean land and clean air in cities’ was signed.
Ravi Dhaliwal

New legislation aimed at improving consumers’ trust in drinking water from the tap will see maximum limits for certain pollutants such as lead, harmful bacteria tighten, while new caps for certain endocrine disruptors will be introduced.
The legislation also provides for the monitoring the levels of microplastics.
According to the European Commission lower consumption of bottled water could help EU households save more than €600 million per year.
This was part of the follow-up on their resolution on the citizens’ initiative Right2Water.
Nationalist MEP Francis Zammit Dimech remarked that it was imperative to improve water’s quality given that it was one of the most important element in a person’s life.
According to Zammit Dimech the updated directive on water would improve the water’s quality but also require more rigorous and secure methods of testing water.
Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi remarked that she backed the ambitious approach adopted by the European Parliament.
The MEP said that the directive adopted means higher quality standards and that the recommendations which emanate out of the reports on climate change and circular economy would be adopted.
Labour MEP Miriam Dalli argued that the Directive on Drinking Water was aimed at having a legal framework which would provide for improved standards for drinking water however there were still people without access to clean water.
The MEP who abstained from voting on the directive, remarked that there was no binding legislation on the Member States to provide clean potable water.

That’s because the Korean Green Growth Trust Fund, in collaboration with the World Bank Water Global Practice, had organized a Knowledge Exchange event that would focus on water-related issues; how to mainstream green growth concepts in water resource management; and water and sanitation service provision.
Why Korea?
For us, an appreciation of the history of South Korea was a key part of our learning experience.
In addition, 65% of South Korea is mountainous, making water storage that much more difficult.
Key Learnings Korea impressed us with its use of integrated data and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for disaster forecasting, planning, & response; the clear division of roles between ministries and agencies; the self-regulation of the industry; and overall inclusion of environmental aspects in infrastructure development (Green Growth).
In particular, the reclamation and restoration of the Cheonggyecheon River resonated well with the delegation, as Kenya is in the process of reclaiming and cleaning up the Nairobi River, a process that requires intense political courage, stakeholder engagement, and deep commitment to green growth principles.
An interesting story of restoration and renewal (and political courage!)
In 1958 the decision was taken to cover the stream for public safety, and from 1968—1978 the Cheonggyero Expressway was constructed over the covered stream.
However, as demand grew for a better quality of life, a vision for recuperation of the environment and restoration of local culture emerged, and in 2002 Mayor Lee Myung-Bak of Seoul City launched the restoration program for the Cheonggyecheon River.
This would be no small feat, as the area had become the most overcrowded part of the city, with 60,000 businesses, 200,000 shopkeepers, an estimated 170,000 vehicles using the elevated expressway, and 1 million people passing through the area per day, causing traffic chaos, severe congestion and crime.

“The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of and acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability” (UN-Water, 2013).
In the urban cities, like Karachi, adequate water for drinking has become a severe problem for its citizens since the last decade.
The situation in urban cities is no different.
In Karachi, long queues waiting to get water bucket filled from a water tanker, can be observed; while, in other cities, the in-house boring to extract water has provided an expensive but alternate solution to the reliance on government provision of clean drinking water.
The normal practice of waste treatment before disposal or recycling is un-employed.
In monsoon season, excess water cannot be stored; while in draught, water is not available for survival.
In KPK, AJK and GB, small reservoirs and micro-hydral projects are the most feasible options.
In Punjab, small scale run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants on canals are helpful not only for power generation but also for efficient irrigation (such a plant was first built by Sir Ganga Ram in Renala Khurd in 1925 on canal Lowar-bari-doab).
WASA should introduce benefits for using water up to certain limit to encourage people to save water and high tariffs for extra water usage.
Waste water treatment plants need to be built in urban cities to eliminate water pollution.

Jason and Melissa Schutz own and operate a beef farm in Boyceville, Wisconsin.
In 2016, Melissa attended an informational meeting on a local initiative to improve the water quality in the Wilson and Annis Creek watersheds.
The Schutz’s operation consists of 50 cow-calf pairs split between two locations, an upper pasture and lower pasture.
The upper pasture utilizes a groundwater spring to fill a watering tank that animals drink out of year round.
The outlet pond is where the lower pasture watered with continuous access.
During the spring, summer, and fall, the animals utilized the pond for drinking and cooling.
When temperatures dropped below freezing in the winter months, Jason broke the ice daily for the animals to drink.
The local NRCS office was able to offer Jason and Melissa technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to improve surface water quality.
With careful planning to meet Jason and Melissa’s objectives, the NRCS was able to capture the overflow from the upper pasture tank in a waterline, and install a new watering facility in the lower pasture, greatly improving the water quality.
“This is an excellent project, simple, but very effective in improving the water quality within Annis Creek; the cattle have dry feet and manure is not being deposited in the stream,” stated John Sippl, NRCS District Conservationist.

The Water Gala is a formal charity event filled with food, entertainment, and tons of enjoyable activities for family and friends, where 100% of all profits go straight to charity: water, a non-profit that brings clean and safe drinking water to communities around the world.
[PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY, October 10—] charity: water, a national non-profit organization dedicated to solving the water crises, has established its first student led subdivision at Rutgers University.
The goal for the Rutgers chapter is to spread awareness about the water crises and allow students to be involved in bringing safe, clean water to developing communities.
Rutgers students have hosted many awareness and fundraising events for their charity chapter, and they plan to expand even more through their first annual Water Gala.
Charity: Water Rutgers is hosting The Water Gala at Rutgers University, a formal charity event open to the public.
The mission of The Water Gala is to bring awareness to the water crises, and raise $1500 for clean water.
By reaching a minimum goal of raising $1500, fifty individuals will have lifetime access to clean water (learn more: https://www.charitywater.org/).
The Water Gala will take place on November 15th, 7-11pm, at Livingston Hall in the Livingston Student Center.
It will be a great time, for a great cause.
charity: water Rutgers is the first University Chapter for charity: water.

Seqwater and Redland City Council issued the warning to residents of Karragarra Island, Macleay Island and Lamb Island this morning.
The organisations said they were working closely to resolve the situation.
The notice was precautionary following a break in the bulk water pipeline between North Stradbroke Island and Karragarra Island.
The break meant groundwater may have infiltrated the treated water.
An Seqwater spokesman said it was anticipated it would take at least 12 hours to repair the water infrastructure on Karragarra Island which also supplies Macleay and Lamb Island.
For updates on repair and reconnection of supply visit www.yourseqwater.com.au .
The boil water alert will stay in effect until SEQwater and Redland City Council are confident there is no longer a public health concern.
Regular updates will be provided to affected communities.
Consuming unboiled drinking water could lead to illness, especially for vulnerable people such as those who are very young, elderly or immune compromised.
Anyone concerned about their health can contact 13432584, their local doctor or local hospital.

MEPs will vote 23 October on rules to further improve the quality of and access to drinking water for all people and reduce plastic waste from water bottles.
Most people in the EU have good access to high quality drinking water.
According to a report by the European Environment Agency (2016), more than 98.5% of tests carried out on drinking water samples between 2011 and 2013, met EU standards.
The legislation aims to further increase tap water quality by tightening the maximum limits for certain pollutants such as lead (to be reduced by half), or harmful bacteria.
Levels of microplastics will also be monitored.
The new rules would also increase transparency and provide consumers better access to information.
Drinking tap water is cheap and environmentally friendly.
Members want measures such as installing free fountains in public places – including shopping centres and airports – and encouraging the provision of tap water in restaurants.
According to the European Commission, access to better quality water could reduce bottled water consumption by 17%.
The Right2Water citizens’ Initiative gathered more than 1.8 million signatures, which shows how strongly Europeans feel about drinking water.