Nestle Waters’ John B. Challinor II responds to bacteria in bottled water study
GUELPH, ONTARIO, May 28, 2010 (Water Tech) — In a column posted on nationalpost.com, John B. Challinor II, director of corporate affairs for Nestle Waters Canada, responded to a recent study that showed that bottled water contains more nonpathogenic heterotropic (HPC) bacteria than tap water.
Challinor quoted Health Canada as stating, “Like most foods, bottled water may contain naturally occurring bacteria which typically have little or no health significance. In numerous studies, heterotropic bacteria isolated from water have been shown to be of no human health consequence.”
He also referenced a 2003 World Health Organization study found that these bacteria pose “no significant risk to consumers.”
Challinor concluded by saying, “HPC bacteria can sometimes be found in trace amounts in bottled water and municipal water systems, even after disinfection.”
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Another reason to talk to people about why Multi-Pure is a better option than buying bottled water.
EPA takes action to reduce pesticides in American waters
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new permit requirement that would decrease the amount of pesticides discharged to the nation’s waters, according to a press release.
This action is in response to an April 9, 2009 court decision that found that pesticide discharges to US waters were pollutants, thus requiring a permit, the release stated.
The proposed permit, released for public comment and developed in collaboration with states, would require all operators to reduce pesticide discharges by using the lowest effective amount of pesticide, prevent leaks and spills, calibrate equipment and monitor for and report adverse incidents.
Additional controls, such as integrated pest management practices, are built into the permit for operators who exceed an annual treatment area threshold, according to the release.
“EPA believes this draft permit strikes a balance between using pesticides to control pests and protecting human health and water quality,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.
Manufacturing facilities significant source of pharmaceuticals in water
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 (Water Tech) — A new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) conducted in cooperation with the State of New York indicated that pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals to surface waters, according to a press release.
The findings were published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology.
Outflow from two wastewater treatment plants in New York that receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities had concentrations of pharmaceuticals that were 10 to 1000 times higher than outflows from 24 plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers, the release stated.
“This is the first study in the U.S. to identify pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment,” said Matthew C. Larsen, USGS Associate Director for Water. “The USGS is working with water utilities to evaluate alternative water treatment technologies with the goal of reducing the release of pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment.”
This study is part of a long-term effort to determine the fate and effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern and to provide water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the development of effective water management practices, according to the release.
EPA takes action against Iowa beef feedlots for Clean Water Act violations
KANSAS CITY, KAN., June 10, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a series of civil enforcement actions against three beef feedlot operations in Iowa for violations of the Clean Water Act, according to a press release.
The actions were part of a continuing enforcement emphasis aimed at ending harmful discharges of pollutants from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) into the region’s rivers and streams, the release stated.
“In some instances, we are finding harmful bacteria such as E.coli in wastewater discharged by feedlots at levels that are exponentially higher than the levels at which EPA permits municipal wastewater treatment systems to discharge their treated wastewater,” EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said. “This is just one measure of the harm that can come when feedlots fail to operate within the law.”
Residents call for city to delay conversion to chloramine disinfection
GLOUCESTER, MASS., June 11, 2010 (Water Tech) — A group of residents in Gloucester, Mass., have called for the city’s water treatment plant to delay its planned conversion to chloramine disinfection, the Gloucester Times reported.
The residents cite evidence that suggests that chloramines may corrode pipes, cause skin rashes and increase rates of asthma and cancer, the article stated.
State officials side with the US Environmental Protection Agency, which says chloramines are safe, according to the story.
“I want the city representatives to know there is another whole side to chloramine in hopes that this can be delayed so that it can be investigated more,” said local nurse Pat Murphy. “It is not proven to be safe.”
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Chloramine.
Pennsylvania House committee to hold public hearing on chloramines
DANBY, VT., June 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — Vermonters for a Clean Environment’s (VCE) Executive Director Annette Smith and a member of People Concerned about Chloramine will testify on June 17 before the Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee, according to a press release.
The committee is holding a public hearing on the use of chloramine as a disinfectant in water treatment.
Smith’s testimony is part of VCE’s support of legislation in Pennsylvania to place a moratorium on the further use of chloramine in the state, the release stated.
The hearing is being held at the request of the Chloramine Information Center and Pennsylvania residents who are concerned about short- and long-term health and engineering impacts caused by the use of chloramine as a secondary disinfectant.
“VCE appreciates the chance to educate elected officials in Pennsylvania about Vermonters’ experience with chloramine and changes in water disinfection,” said Smith.“I will be sharing testimony we have heard in Vermont from scientific experts, doctors and individuals who have suffered symptoms. Information is power — if Pennsylvania legislators are listening to the experiences of citizens in other states, they should be thinking twice about allowing the use of chloramine in their state.”
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Chloramine.
California Water Board releases list of 1,700 severely polluted waterways
SACRAMENTO, CALIF., June 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — According to the California State Water Resources Control Board, there are more than 1,700 beaches, rivers, lakes and coastal waters that are severely polluted or “impaired.”
Every two years, the State Water Board is required to create a list of seriously polluted water bodies, known as the “303(d) list,” after Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.
The list, which was formerly adopted on June 15, indicates that more than 90 percent of Californians live within 10 miles of a severely polluted waterway.
“The new list reflects a staggering water pollution problem in California,” said Tom Lyons of the California Coastkeeper Alliance. “It shows just how far California is from realizing the Clean Water Act’s promise of fishable, swimmable, drinkable waterways almost four decades after the Act was signed into law.”
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