An infrastructure priority: Ensuring safe drinking water.
While that’s an important part of our nation’s infrastructure, an often-overlooked component is our drinking water delivery systems.
Just as roads and bridges create stable communities and economies, so does safe, clean drinking water.
While drinking water quality does remain high across the country, the recent crisis in Flint, Michigan, should serve as a stark reminder that more can, and should, be done so communities can effectively and efficiently pipe safe drinking water to peoples’ homes.
Instead of waiting to react to the next crisis, the Energy and Commerce Committee, which I chair, has been hard at work on legislation to ensure that Americans across the country have access to clean drinking water.
3387, the Drinking Water System Improvement Act.
3387 authorizes $8 billion over five years for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program — a federal-state partnership to help assist states in ensuring the quality of water Americans drink remains high.
Doing this is an important step in ensuring the quality of our water and provides us with the tools we need to monitor water quality in real time.
Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican, is Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
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EU Auditors: Drinking water quality improved in Romania but investments still needed.
The quality of drinking water available to consumers in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania has improved in recent years thanks to EU funding, but significant investments are still needed, according to a report from the European Court of Auditors.
The auditors examined EU action on drinking water quality in the three countries, the audit covering the period from the Member States’ accession to the end of 2016.
However, although the report found that the quality of water has improved in the three countries, the auditors point out that there are still areas where water from the public network does not fully comply with the 1998 EU Drinking Water Directive.
Moreover, significant further national public and private investment will be needed to provide access to good quality water for all the inhabitants of Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, and to ensure that EU-funded investments can be adequately maintained.
“Financial support from the EU budget to these water networks has been substantial, but it should not replace expenditure by the member states,” said George Pufan, the member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the report.
“Overall, these three countries will have to invest more than EUR 6 billion by the end of 2020 to cover their needs.” Between 2007 and 2020, the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund support for the management and supply of drinking water in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania will total EUR 3.7 billion.
The auditors recommend the three countries to require, as part of the selection criteria for water facility projects that contribute to national targets, the inclusion of plans to reduce water losses, to ensure that tariffs provide for sustainable infrastructure and, if necessary, to provide financial or other forms of support to households for whom water costs are above the affordability rate.
Irina Marica, irina.marica@romania-insider.com Sign up to our free daily newsletter and stay up to speed with major topics and reliable local info from our team of senior journalists.

A bipartisan coalition holds press conference over drinking water standards and SB623.
@TheSunGazette VISALIA – During the drought, water was tough to come by and everyone needed some.
And since other sources of funding such as bond funding or the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund do not qualify for operations and maintenance costs, there is a constant lack of adequate available funding for those things.
Without that funding there is little rural communities can do to treat nitrates and other harmful chemicals out of their drinking water.
“Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right but the legislature failed to deliver on this promise,” Coffee said.
“Never in history have ag and environmental justice been able to come to an agreement.
“And we have more than our fair share of disadvantaged communities in the Valley.” Gurrola, mayor of Arvin said, “This bill provides sustainable funding and permanent, long-term solutions for contaminated drinking water.” The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund will be located within the SWB in its Office of Sustainable Water Solutions.
Boyer said Self Help has been able to facilitate solutions in many of Tulare County’s disadvantaged communities where residents have been dealing with contaminated groundwater.
Their water system is well over 60 years old and water meters have been installed.
“Who knows, the important thing is that if the bill passes it will create a permanent funding source for clean water projects.”

Mother-of-two, Regina George, of Bipi Island in Manus, is one of those privileged ones who is now having and will have access to clean drinking water during the dry season.
This has been made possible through the use of reverse osmosis technology, which involves converting beach well water using solar-powered desalination plants to fresh water.
K12 million was from the PEC funds while National Planning put K3 million into the project.
"Previously during dry season, we traveled to mainland Manus to fetch water.
The desalinated water is used for drinking while the waste water, which is still clean, is used for washing and doing laundry.
10 plants were installed on Mbuke, Whal and Bipi islands after feasibility studies were conducted.
The plants’ filtration needs to be replaced every six months and Sojitz commercial manager, Paul Kone, said as the construction company, they will return to the island over the next 2 years to monitor the equipment.
The Japanese Ambassador was also on Bipi Island on Tuesday to hand over the project to Minister Maru.
(George using the water on Bipi Island.
Learn More Sponsored by Celebritique Report ad Sponsored Ellen Shocks LGBT Community & Confirms She Is Moving On Many knew what Ellen’s plan was, but no one expected it to leak like this….

No clean drinking water in schools promoting sugary drinks.
Health Toronto, September 11 Lack of proper drinking water but considerable exposure of beverage industry-sponsored food and drink kiosks and advertisements are forcing adolescent students to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages, consuming which may raise the risk of developing obesity and diabetes.
The presence of the sugar-sweetened beverage industry in schools suggests that the beverage industry is capitalising on countries that have fewer enforced regulations to protect youth to access a key subgroup of impressionable consumers, the researchers said.
"Schools represent an important area of influence for adolescents," said lead author Katelyn Godin, doctoral student at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
"With limited access to clean drinking water and the very visible presence of the beverage industry in schools, it’s clear that being in an environment that encourages students to purchase unhealthy sugar-sweetened beverages has an impact on behaviour."
For the study, appearing in the Public Health Nutrition, the team focussed on high schools in Guatemala City, and found that students consume soft drinks an average of 2.5 days each school week.
The study suggests that the increased level of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage could be fuelling the obesity epidemic in most developing countries.
These markets and food franchises have developed strategies to increase the availability, affordability and acceptability of these beverages in developing countries.
Most of these beverages become popular due to their convenience and lower cost per unit of energy when compared with original nutrient-dense beverages like dairy, fruit and vegetable juices.
"An initial step to addressing these problems is enforcing policies that limit the power the sugar-sweetened beverage industry has in schools, while providing students with healthy alternatives to sugar-laden, high calorie drinks," Godin added.

World Health Organization reports that some 884 million people lack access to clean, safe drinking water and there is an answer The Bucket Ministry.. How do you provide clean and safe drinking water to 884 million around?
What is The Bucket Ministry™?
In the summer of 2012 we had an opportunity to be on mission on the Amazon River in Brazil.
With a quick backwashing of the filter daily it will continue to deliver clean, safe, drinking water for 20-plus years.
As part of The Bucket Ministry™ program we teach each family that receives and bucket how to clean the filter and many are asked to demonstrate to their peers so we can be assured they understand how to complete the task.
Our teams deliver introductory training, initially, on sanitation and hygiene and then our follow up teams will go into much more detail.
So just giving them clean water is not enough.
Many pastors that we work with consider the follow up to be one of the best parts of the ministry as it gives them an “open door” to return to the home of the recipient to continue the relationship.
Perhaps something as simple as sharing our social media posts will tell the story of God’s work in this ministry to many more people.
The only thing we ask in return is that you share the story with others and that you join us in sharing God love through the gift of clean, safe drinking water.

We’d like to thank Sen. Bill Monning for his authorship of Senate Bill 623 — the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.
This bill provides a comprehensive solution for a million Californians who lack access to safe and affordable drinking water, including thousands of people, many of them children, in 27 water systems in Monterey County, alone.
This bill combines an agriculture-funded solution to nitrate contamination with a water user fee that will address chronic naturally occurring contamination issues, such as the hexavalent chromium that is a problem in Monterey County.
Simply put, this fund will correct an injustice that’s gone on far too long.
There’s no excuse in the world’s sixth-largest economy for more than a million people to be unable to rely on the water coming out of their faucets.
— Natalie Garcia, Community Water Center, Santa Cruz The Sentinel welcomes your letters to the editor.
Letters should be short, no more than 150 words.
We do not accept anonymous letters.
Letter-writers should include their full name as well as a street address and telephone number.
We don’t publish those details in the newspaper, but need the information for verification purposes.

The Global Rundown Over 180 million people around the world lack clean water due to conflict, according to UN estimates.
A hospital in Gorakhpur, India is under fire after the death of 42 children in two days, which hospital officials claim is linked to encephalitis, a disease spread during monsoon rains.
The World Bank advises that tackling water scarcity in the Middle East will boost stability and growth.
War refugees who have returned to Kabul, Afghanistan face limited water access.
A 40-year dispute over water rights in Washington State’s Yakima Valley is drawing to a close.
Reuters By The Numbers 386 Number of children who died at Baba Raghav Das Hospital in Gorakhpur, India during the month of August, compared to 193 in July.
Al Jazeera 18,445 Number of Rohingya Muslims who have registered in Bangladesh following clashes in northern Myanmar.
Rohingya insurgents attacked government security forces last week, forcing thousands to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
Reuters Science, Studies, And Reports More than 180 million people in conflict-affected countries do not have access to clean drinking water, according to a report by UNICEF.
The rest of the city’s 5 million inhabitants, many of whom are war refugees, struggle to find reliable sources of clean water.

Budgam people block highway to protest water shortage.
Villagers said that around 15000 souls inhabiting the area were craving for potable water supply for past more than two months.
Hundreds of persons Monday blocked Srinagar-Gulmarg highway in Mazhama village to protest “acute” drinking water shortage.
Villagers said that around 15000 souls inhabiting the area were craving for potable water supply for past more than two months.
Villages like Narbal Ghat, Bazar Mohalla, Kawoosa, Chinar Colony, Kanihama, Mazhama, and other small hamlets are facing water scarcity past two months, he said.
“Time and again, we had apprised the authorities but still no action was taken.
It is pertinent to mention that a scheme under NABARD has been devised to cater to the water needs of this badly affected area but it is pending approval from the authorities.
Until its approval, locals are demanding consistent tanker services to these villages.
Protests were called off after the PHE officials assured locals tanker services that even was sent to Mazhama latter in the day, however, locals alleged that the water quality of these tankers is beyond any consumption usage so they didn’t get collect the water.
Until the water supply is restored fully we would pump water tankers into service.”

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 0:33 Hurricane warnings and watches in Caribbean as Irma approaches 5:08 Adam Gase news conference after Dolphins-Vikings 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 1:18 Cigarette thief swipes 36 cartons valued at $1,000 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 0:33 Hurricane warnings and watches in Caribbean as Irma approaches 5:08 Adam Gase news conference after Dolphins-Vikings 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 1:18 Cigarette thief swipes 36 cartons valued at $1,000 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.
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