Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) has so far opened 6,747 water wells in 36 countries under the scope of its 18-year-long project.
In a statement released to mark World Water Day, the IHH said it was continuing its efforts to ensure that millions of people suffering from water scarcity across the world get access to clean water that meets all their needs.
According to a UN report prepared in 2017 together with the UNICEF, 2.1 billion people worldwide remain unable to access clean water; there is no clean water in the houses of each three people out of 10 in the world.
Also, 4.5 billion people lack sanitation and hygiene services, it added.
With the water wells IHH establishes, locals not only have access to clean and drinkable water but also are able to use the water for their agricultural activities and generate income.
The water wells have been named after donors; in fact, majority of the wells have been named after martyrs of July 15, 2016, defeated coup and Operation Olive Branch.
Among the countries where IHH has established water wells are: Ethiopia, Somalia, Niger, Sudan, Cameroon, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.
Those who wish to donate for a water well can send 5 Turkish liras via text message to 3072 or 16 Turkish liras to 4072 or donate either online or do a money transfer to IHH’s bank account.
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BEAN STATION, Tenn. (WATE) – Families near a slaughterhouse in Bean Station are using bottled water after their well water was contaminated by coliform and E.coli.
Dean Taylor is one of the people in Bean Station who received bottled water from the state on March 2.
It says there had been a failure of the septic system at Southeastern Provision, a slaughterhouse, not far from Taylor’s home.
"Said that there been a catastrophic water contamination from the slaughterhouse up the road here," said Taylor.
As a result, water resource inspectors checked the septic system at Southeastern Provision.
The contaminated water had flowed downhill to Taylor’s home and others.
The state’s order to Southeastern Provision was swift: shut down its underground wastewater system.
"At this time they have shut off all flow to their subsurface system and are hauling all their waste offsite to a treatment facility," said Atchley.
Hipsher shut down his well.
The state has suggested to Dean Taylor since his well water is contaminated he should consider hooking up to city water.

BEAN STATION, Tenn. (WATE) – Families near a slaughterhouse in Bean Station are using bottled water after their well water was contaminated by coliform and E.coli.
Dean Taylor is one of the people in Bean Station who received bottled water from the state on March 2.
It says there had been a failure of the septic system at Southeastern Provision, a slaughterhouse, not far from Taylor’s home.
"Said that there been a catastrophic water contamination from the slaughterhouse up the road here," said Taylor.
As a result, water resource inspectors checked the septic system at Southeastern Provision.
The contaminated water had flowed downhill to Taylor’s home and others.
The state’s order to Southeastern Provision was swift: shut down its underground wastewater system.
"At this time they have shut off all flow to their subsurface system and are hauling all their waste offsite to a treatment facility," said Atchley.
Hipsher shut down his well.
The state has suggested to Dean Taylor since his well water is contaminated he should consider hooking up to city water.

The nonprofit West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC), who owns and manages the Art Van Sports Complex (AVSC) at 3300 10 Mile Rd.
NE in Plainfield Township, today announced that its water is considered safe from Perflourinated Sulfonic Acid (PFAS/PFOA/PFOS) contaminants.
A recent water analysis of its ballfield irrigation water that comes from two wells on the complex property has shown that no contaminants were detected.
ALS Global Laboratory analyzed the irrigation water sample on behalf of FTCH Feb. 1, and the primary findings of the test indicated that any concentrations of PFOS and PFOA chemicals are below the detection limits of the analysis method.
“While the WMSC never received any indication of water contamination, we wanted to initiate our own study to ensure that all water at the Art Van Sports Complex is safe for our patrons,” said Mike Guswiler, president.
“We hope these findings reassure our athletes and their families who enjoy this complex that this is a safe environment to play ball.” Separate from the wells that supply strictly irrigation water for the ballfields, the Art Van Sports Complex sources water from the Plainfield Township Water Treatment Plant for drinking fountains, concessions and bathrooms.
While Plainfield Township’s water was deemed safe (PFAS sampling at 6.8ppt based on DEQ safe limit of 70ppt) in its most recent test, the township is in the process of putting in place a granular-activated carbon filter at its water treatment facility, which is intended to completely remove any PFAS levels.
The filter should be in place before the first tournament of the season at the Art Van Sports Complex.
“We appreciate Plainfield Township taking this proactive and voluntary step to remove all levels of PFAS in the drinking water that sources the AVSC and the surrounding area,” said Guswiler.
“We want to give our guests every confidence that they will have a safe and positive experience at the AVSC.” The WMSC will post updated information on this issue at www.westmisports.com/venues/art-van-complex.

WAUPUN — Area residents with private drinking water wells can have their well water tested with Rock River Intermediate School and the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Fond du Lac County.
Registration details are available at fonddulac.uwex.edu.
Three tests are available, bacteria, nitrates, and/or arsenic, at $20 each or all three for $50.
Payment by check or credit card and registration are due by March 13.
The public is invited to learn more about the sampling program and well water during Literacy Night from 5-7 p.m. March 13 at Rock River Intermediate School, 451 E. Spring St., Waupun.
Students in the sixth grade science class will demonstrate how well water gets contaminated and show existing water quality data for the area.
Members of the public can bring well water samples from an unsoftened, cold water tap in a clean jar for the students to spot-check for water hardness.
Testing private drinking well water is optional.
No one forces testing or treating any contamination that may be found.
Children, especially babies and pregnant women, are more vulnerable to certain contaminants.

State environmental and health officials told Blades-area residents Thursday night they’ve shifted their focus to testing private wells after the town’s new filtration system significantly lowered contaminants in municipal wells.
Of the 44 private wells tested and the 24 samples returned so far, four homes have been given carbon filtration systems to clear up contaminants.
Three of them had levels of perflorinated compounds above the Environmental Protection Agency’s human health advisory of 70 parts per trillion.
Questions remain, including how one well can be affected while adjacent ones aren’t, and if contaminants can migrate from one well to another.
Blades-area resident Stephanie Angeles shares those concerns.
"There’s only three of us on the street.
Two are clear, I am not, and yet they are further south than I am," Angeles said.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn Garvin says there are many reasons why one well might be contaminated, while nearby ones are not.
The state will have a better idea of any possible trends once officials get more data back.
Garvin said more wells are scheduled to be tested.

LITTLE ROCK — When flooding submerges wellheads, there’s a good chance the well water supply has been contaminated, said Mike Daniels, water quality specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“However, even if flooding has occurred nearby, then it is a good idea to have the water supply tested to assure it is still safe for humans and livestock,” he said.
“If there is any doubt about whether the quality of a water supply has been compromised, it’s important to have that water tested and follow procedures to sanitize the water supply.” You may submit water samples to the state Health Department or the Arkansas Water Quality Lab.
Visit arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/water-quality-lab.php to learn how to collect a sample to get an accurate result.
“It’s best to submit the sample within 24 hours after collection,” Daniels said.
However, “as long as the sample has been refrigerated, it will be about to provide realistic results for up to four days.” If the results show more than 10,000 colony forming units of total bacteria per milliliter, more than 100 colony forming units of coliform bacteria, or more than 50 colony forming units per milliliter, it’s a good idea to shock chlorinate the well.
Shock chlorination is a process by which home water systems, such as wells, springs and cisterns are disinfected using liquid bleach, or chlorine.
“It is the most widely recommended means of treating bacterial contamination in home water system as it is the quickest, cheapest and most efficient method of treatment,” Daniels said.
“Shock chlorination should only be done when the water supply will not be used by humans or animals for at least 24 hours because the initial chlorine levels are not safe to drink.” Visit uaex.edu/publications/pdf/MP292.pdf to learn more about shock chlorination in MP292 and improving home water quality.

BLADES, Del.
– On Wednesday, Delaware officials announced two more of the 41 private wells, in the Blades area, showed elevated levels of per fluorinated compounds.
As a precaution, DNREC and DPH provided the homeowners with a carbon filtration system after notifying them of test results.
Officials want all homeowners to know that if your well returns with elevated levels of PFCs ,either above or near the EPA’s health advisory, a home filtration system will be provided.
Last week, DNREC and DPH announced that Blades’ new carbon filtration system significantly lowered PFCs in the town’s water system.
State agencies also say the Blades water supply did not detect PFCs during a follow-up sampling of the carbon filtration system.
DNREC, DPH and the Town of Blades are continuing to provide alternative water to any area residents who request it.
Water is now being distributed from The Blades Town Hall, located on 20 West Fourth Street in Blades, Delaware, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Tonight at 7 p.m., DNREC and DPH are hosting a public meeting at the Blades Fire Hall, located on 200 East Fifth Street in Blades, Delaware, for further discussion of the town’s drinking water and private well water in the area.
Representatives from both state agencies and the town will present updates on Blades’ area drinking water and will answer questions.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Water Well Trust, the only national nonprofit helping Americans get access to a clean, safe water supply, is seeking low income households from three counties in New York to receive new water wells or rehabilitate existing wells.
In October 2016, the USDA awarded a $52,081 grant to the Water Well Trust through its Household Water Well Systems Grant program for a project to increase potable water availability to rural households in three New York counties — Delaware, Rensselaer, and Columbia.
Funds are still available for low-interest loans to eligible individual households for a new water well or rehabilitation of an existing water well.
To be eligible to receive a WWT loan, applicants must be the owner and occupant of the home as their primary residence.
In addition, the applicant’s household income must not exceed 100 percent of the median non-metropolitan household income for the state in which the applicant resides.
The 2017 median non-metropolitan household income for New York is $62,500.
The income criteria apply to both the applicant and all other occupants of the home.
The Water Well Trust (WWT) is a 501(c)3 organization created by the Water Systems Council to provide a clean water supply to American families living without access to a precious resource most of us take for granted.
For more information, visit waterwelltrust.org.
Contact: Margaret Martens, Program Director Water Well Trust, mmartens@watersystemscouncil.org or 202-625-4383.

The Hampton Bays Water District has filed a lawsuit against the makers of chemicals that have contaminated wells in the hamlet claiming the companies knew the compounds were toxic and would not biodegrade.
The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court last Wednesday, names The 3M Co., Buckeye Fire Equipment Co., Chemguard Inc., Tyco Fire Products LP and National Foam Inc., all of which sold aqueous film-forming foam containing perfluorinated compounds (PFCs).
“Defendants knew it was substantially certain that their acts and omissions .
would cause injury and damage,” states the lawsuit filed by Manhattan-based law firm Napoli Shkolnik.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation was investigating the Hampton Bays Fire Department as the cause, but it is not clear if a determination has been made.
Three of the 11 wells in the district, which serves 7,000 households and withdraws one billion gallons from the aquifer annually, were found to be contaminated with PFCs and have since been taken offline, according to the suit.
Contamination was discovered in the other two wells in 2017, with one taken offline in July and the other in September of that year.
Exposure to the perfluorinated compounds can affect the immune system and fetal health and development, as well as cause liver damage, cancer and thyroid problems, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said.
However, the companies are jointly responsible because they “actually knew of the health and environmental hazards which PFOA [perfluoroocatanoic acid] and PFOS [perfluorooctanesulfonic acid] posed” and conspired to conceal that information from the public, the lawsuit states.
Representatives from 3M, Buckeye and National Foam did not respond to a request for comment.