The Town of Swan River said a company that specializes in wells arrived in the town Wednesday evening, followed shortly afterward by parts needed to make repairs.
A state of emergency was declared on the weekend after the town experienced what was described on its website as a “major break in its water pumping a distribution system.”
Water emergency ‘not over,’ no timeline for repairs Swan River residents warned In an update Thursday, the town said, “This style of work requires time and precision.
The environment and cold temperature are playing a role in the length of time needed to complete the repairs.” The town could not yet say when residents could return to typical water use.
The statement said, “We cannot stress enough that we need everyone to continue strict water restriction and conservation practices.
This means no baths, no showers, no washing clothes or running dishwashers.” The town continues to give residents access to drinking water, available for pickup at Swan Valley Regional School, and porta potties at the Swan Valley Co-op, from the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Town of Swan River said a company that specializes in wells arrived in the town Wednesday evening, followed shortly afterward by parts needed to make repairs. A state of emergency was declared on the weekend after the town experienced what was described on its website as a “major break in its water pumping a distribution system.” READ MORE: Water emergency…

BRUSSELS, Belguim – The European Union proposed Thursday giving millions of people in the 28-nation bloc better access to safe tap water and reduce water consumption via wasteful plastic bottles. The legislation proposed by the European Commission, the EU executive, aims to make safe drinking water a citizen right in line with social rights adopted at a summit in Gothenburg, Sweden in November. The commission was responding to a petition signed by 1.6 million people demanding better access to potable water, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said. “Today we are therefore proposing to modernise our…

Columnist David McKay Wilson talks about changes in the plan for Westchester County Airport since George Latimer took over as county executive. FiOS Westchester has discovered groundwater contamination at the county airport, with officials suspecting it was caused by chemicals used in firefighting foam decades ago. Preliminary results from one monitoring well, located near a former Air National Guard septic field, found contaminants in concentrations that were 14 times the limit set by the US Environmental Protection Agency health advisory. The airport borders the Kensico Reservoir, which provides drinking water to New York City and some Westchester residents. Most residents in nearby Greenwich, Connecticut, get their water from reservoirs in town managed by Aquarion Water Co., although some rely on private wells. Tests of the Kensico Reservoir have found no evidence that the contamination has seeped into the water supply, a state official said. “We had a few high hits on some wells,” said Vincent Kopicki, the county’s commissioner of public works and transportation, at the Jan. 24 meeting of the county Airport Advisory Board. The contamination was detected at a well just north of the airport in July 2017, which led to testing of wells across the airport property. Samples taken in November found contamination at the airport, with the public notified of the findings at the Jan. 24 meeting of the Westchester Airport Advisory Board. Investigators want to determine which direction the contamination is flowing — to the west toward the Kensico Reservoir, or to the southeast, toward public wells in Greenwich. The EPA sets safe drinking water standards of 70 parts per trillion….

“But believe me, once you factor in cooking, all the water your dog slurps out of the bowl and onto the floor, and the occasional mini shower while standing over a bucket so you can reuse the water to flush the toilet, there’s not a lot left over.” In late January, Helen Zille, the head of the provincial government warned that if the taps do run dry, it would be "the disaster above all disasters".
Cape Town accesses its water from six major reservoirs that can collectively store 898,000 megalitres of water.
Day Zero occurs when the system’s stored water drops to 13.5 per cent of capacity.
David Olivier, a postdoctoral research fellow at Global Change Institute, says in 2015 the city of Cape Town was allocated 60 per cent of the Western Cape’s water supply system with nearly all the rest going to agriculture and livestock.
While there’s no suggestion that the situation in Cape Town will lead to conflict, that may not always be the case.
Something that Francesco Femia, co-president of the Centre for Climate Change and Security in the United States, says comes down to a crucial issue: climate change is not regarded as a national security issue in most places.
And Femia says water shortages will contribute to an increased likelihood of conflict unless major steps are taken by governments and international communities.
In the United States, the situation has reached a point where the country no longer has a set fire season.
National guards are brought in from other states and federal resources devoted to putting out the fires are not usually enough.
But are governments completely unprepared for the threat of climate change and water shortages, especially in growing, densely populated cities such as Cape Town?

Washington, January 31, 2018 – A US$210 million World Bank project will improve the quality of drinking water supply and wastewater services to 5 million residents in Baghdad who suffer from water shortages and the outbreak of waterborne diseases due to inadequate infrastructure, rapid population growth, and the inflow of internally displaced people.
The Baghdad Water Supply and Sewerage Improvement Project, approved today by the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors will support the Mayoralty of Baghdad and the Baghdad Water and Sewerage Authorities through improvement in utility management, and generate employment during the construction, operation and maintenance stages of implementation.
The project will also help reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and improve the quality of life, health, and sanitation.
“The recently completed National Water and Land Strategy (2015-2035) indicates that Baghdad will need substantial investments in its water supply and wastewater treatment systems over the next 20 years.
“In close coordination with the International Finance Corporation, this project will focus on creating a more favorable business environment, and on supporting the preparation of feasibility studies and transactions to enable private sector participation in the water sector.” The residents of Baghdad deal with daily water service interruptions, especially during the hot summer months.
Baghdad is one of the governorates impacted by outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Leakage from sewer pipes contaminates potable water networks and groundwater aquifers, which aggravates health and environmental problems.
Contaminated water supply and improper disposal of sewage force families to spend a significant fraction of their income on medical treatment and to purchase bottled water.
“We are committed to improving public services for the residents of Baghdad and to alleviating the burden households face on a daily basis in getting clean and reliable water supply.
We are confident that improved access to these services can significantly strengthen people’s trust and confidence in the state and contribute to building social cohesion when it is most needed”.

WEST PLAINS, Mo.
— Patrons on the west system of Howell County Public Water Supply District #2 on County Road 8800 and State Route 17 south of CR 8800 will have to boil their water until further notice.
Department officials say a water line burst is being repaired, which is the cause of the boil order.
The boil order affects all water patrons of the west system on County Road 8800 and State Route 17 south of CR 8800.
This boil advisory does not include patrons in the area Junction Hill or the patrons of the Brandsville System.
Water must be boiled until samples have been tested and safe results are received from the Department of Natural Resources.
To ensure the safety of the water, customers should boil water vigorously for three minutes prior to use for cooking or drinking.
Customers also can disinfect dishes by immersing them for at least one minute in clean water containing at least fifty parts per million (ppm) free chlorine, or roughly 1 teaspoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water.
For more information, contact Robert Hatley at the District office 417-256-8871.

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill.
The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects.
“Water is now running.
Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill.
We expect to have full supply of water by Tuesday midday,” she said.
Mombasa Water Company will clear the outstanding bill of Sh21 million,” she said.
He said that no extra cost would be passed on to residents due to increased cost of power.
Special tariff The outstanding power bill had accrued after Kenya Power backdated bills after the utility firm realised it had been under-billing CWSB for over a year.
“I am happy that water has resumed and I can now go on with my normal activities.

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill. The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties. The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects. Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) chair, Sureya Hersi, said Tuesday morning that pumping of water resumed following a meeting with Kilifi governor Amason Kingi at his office in Kilifi town on Monday. “Water is now running. Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill. We…

Late Monday morning Swan River Deputy Mayor Lance Jacobson provided an update to CTV News.
Sunday the town, about 500 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg declared a local state of emergency and issues a notice saying a total loss of water was imminent.
Around 4,000 people live in the community.
READ MORE: Low water supply in Swan River prompts local state of emergency Jacobson said the reason the reservoir must be full before repairs can begin is because once the contractors start repairs, won’t be treated for drinking.
The Town of Swan River is asking people to conserve water as much as possible and is commending residents for their cooperation up until now.
Schools in the community remain closed.
“From a patient care perspective, the Swan Valley Health Centre remains functional although the region will review treatment options for some high-need patients including those scheduled to receive hemodialysis in the next few days.
PMH said there are currently 44 patients admitted at the Swan Valley Health Centre in Swan River, the only hospital in the community.
Personal Care Homes are using bottled water where necessary and have advised residents and families of the water conservation efforts that are now underway.” PMH said it continues to assess and proactively plan for impacts to all of its health care services and programs within Swan River as a result of the community’s water supply issue.
“We are working closely with the Town of Swan River and apprising the province’s Office of Disaster Management regarding our latest status updates and community action plans.” PMH said it’s working to conserve water.