Flint …an update.

This morning Six state employees have been criminally charged in connection with the Flint water crisis. Flint’s water became contaminated with lead in April of 2014, while the city was under the control of a state appointed emergency manager who switched water sources from treated Detroit water to water from the Flint River, which was then treated locally. Corrosion control chemicals were not added to the water which lead to lead leaching into the water used for human consumption.

John Oliver..Lead:

 

 

L.L. Bean recalls kids water bottles.

I don’t know how things like this happen today, but they do.

Some 6,700 bottles were sold from mid-2016 to May 2016. Lead is toxic if ingested by children and have adverse health issues. Even low levels of lead can affect IQ, attention spans, and academic achievement. These issues can not be corrected.   Consumers should immediately stop using these bottles and apply to L.L. Bean for a full refund. 

Stickers on the bottom have the number 297684, and can further be identified with PO#844 and BB2D2-LLB-R45-0413.

Air into Water

Canadian researchers have come up with a machine that can turn the humidity in the air into drinkable water.

Simon Fraser University professor Majid Barhami has spent 3 yrs developing the Hybrid Atmospheric Water Generator.  With this unit and future models they hope to be able to help solve the world’s water crisis. The prototype is slightly larger than a small fridge. 

The atmosphere always has a bit of humidity in it…they have even  been able to make water in desert like conditions. This new patent pending technology can make between 19 to 40 litres a day anywhere it is. Bahrami says there is no fear of running out of atmosphere as it replenishes itself automatically.  Humidity can be harvested for human consumption.

 

Harvesting Water from the Atmosphere.

The unit presently works off electricity , but future designs will include solar panels.

The Slippery Slope

The agreement banning water diversion from the Great Lakes has been breached. Waukesha, Wisconsin is the first US city to get approved to divert water from the Great Lakes…this is a precedent that should be a concern to Canada and the US.

Waukesha’s Water Application Fuels Sprawl and Pollution:

The aquifer for the city of Waukesha is running low and the water is contaminated with high levels of naturally occurring cancer causing radium. They will be drawing some 31 million litres of water daily from Lake Michigan.

Divisive Conversation:

After consulting with Ontario and Quebec, the 8 states adjoining the Great Lakes gave  approval to the proposal. There are going to be strong conditions to withdraw and return the water in order to protect the Great Lakes.

The environmental group the Sierra Club has voiced their concerns over the deal. In their view Waukesha has known about the radium for decades and failed to act…the growing water contamination problem resulted from failures to act from the federal and state governments..not from water shortages. Now Canada needs to be concerned.

Not about Radium:

 

95% of the American fresh water is held in the Great Lakes, and must surely look attractive to some of the arid  states. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin ,  Ontario and Quebec have a pact to help prevent water raids from outside the watershed. 

The first community has been approved…with a 2013 report identifying 8 other cities near the water shed as possibly needing water in the next few years. Where will this all lead to, stay tuned , but a concern raised by Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs is the possibility of “water wars”. this sounds a bit drastic now , but our economies need water to grow and the Great Lakes and indeed Canada has water.

Lake Ontario Waterkeepers

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is a Canadian Charity working for a day when every person in our watershed can safely touch the water, when the water is pure enough to drink, , and when the lake is clean and wild enough that you can toss a line in anywhere and pull out a fish.

After the tragedy of Walkerton , a lawyer and a researcher decided that no person should die or get ill  after swimming in , or drinking , or fishing from public waters… and so Lake Ontario Waterkeepers was born. All that is needed is a commitment to clean water,  the right mix of sound environmental policy, transparent and informed decision making, public education , and community building programs.

History of Lake Ontario Waterkeepers:

The Lake Ontario Waterkeeper program includes law , science, culture , and digital media. This includes…

a. Waterkeeper Swim Guide…this is an app and a website that helps you find beaches and check water quality status.

b. Waterkeeper Drink Guide…a smartphone app that shares drinking water advisories from across Canada.

c. The Clean Water Workshop…this workshop mentors university students with a passion for environmental law and watershed protection.For communities facing pollution problems the student volunteers provide much needed legal research and support.

Gordon Downie uncut:

If you don’t have a beach or water app on your smart phone go to http://www.waterkeeper.ca and download these apps and enjoy the water in confidence. For instance, by checking the swim app at the time of writing this I know not to go swimming at Petrie Island in Orleans. The water is not good there right now.

 

Ottawa Riverkeeper..The Gala and Beyond

On June 1st, over 400 river lovers arrived at the Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant to celebrate the Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala. surrounded by the river on all sides the setting was magical. The dress code was “river chic”. Various dignitaries helped with the proceedings , including MC Evan Solomon, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna was an honoured guest, Madame Sophie Gregoire Trudeau received an handcrafted paddle as 2016 Honorary Riverkeeper. Sophie also gave a nice speech on the healing powers of water and the importance of the natural world when raising a family. Mayor Jim Watson received the 2016 Water Leader Award and expressed his commitment to the Ottawa River for future generations. The Blue Water Leadership award was presented to the Ottawa Riverkeeper Organization from the RBC to support further programs to the tune of $100,000.  Serena Ryder capped of the event with a great performance. What a night was had by all.

Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala 2016:

If you have an interest in getting involved in the Ottawa area with water issues , take at look at http://www.ottawariverkeeper.ca. the Ottawa Riverkeepers is dedicated to protecting the health of the Ottawa River and it’s tributaries. Their programs and activities are driven by the goal of swimmable, drinkable,  and fishable waters now and in the future. The range of activities runs from water quality testing, court challenges, education and outreach.

Ottawa Riverkeeper: Who They Are…

 

So check out their website at http://www.ottawariverkeeper.ca and see how you can get involved.

 

Dead Fish on Quebec’s Yamaska River.

On July 3rd it was reported that tens of thousands of fish in the Yamaska River around Ste. Hyacinthe had turned up dead. Wildlife officials had collected samples, but the determination of cause had not been discovered as yet. Sewers, agriculture, and the construction industry were being looked at as likely culprits. 

The combination of high temperatures, low water levels,no rain, and water usage are also possibles issues. The lack of rain means the water levels are really low, which can lead to a lot of organic matter in the water, which needs oxygen to break down , leaving little for the fish. 

….and now what happened…the City of Ste. Hyacinthe released a statement that work related to the expansion of the water treatment plant was the likely cause. There was a”planned overflow of waste water” into the river. An estimated 8.5 million litres of sewage was released over a 48 hour period around June 28th. Essentially 10% of the river’s flow was sewage. 

Low water levels and high organic matter seem like smoke and mirrors…when 10% of the water is raw sewage. Obviously, bad decisions were made…and investigation is ongoing. Looks like the City of Ste. Hyacinthe tried to do what montreal did last winter , but with horrible results. If found guilty there could be a fine of up to $10,000.

Mystery of the Dead Fish in Quebec:

Florida’s Toxic Algae Bloom

In Stuart Beach on Florida’s west coast tourism drives the local economy. It is the height of summer ,but they have empty beaches, empty restaurants, and empty hotels. Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in several counties due to the algae bloom that started in Lake Okeechobee and spread to the beaches.

How did this occur? The Army Corps of Engineers released nutrient rich water into the St. Lucie estuary as part of their flood control measures. A massive bloom was already covering the lake and got released, and the algae outbreak eventually reached the beaches.

Why did this occur? Algae outbreaks happen when fertilizer sewage and manure pollution hit the water and in the right conditions we have a bloom. Consider it to be like adding miracle grow to the water..and a massive algae growth occurs. Toxic blooms can effect the liver, nervous system, and skin.

What can be done? Some feel it is not the pollutants , but the water storage limitations that need to be addressed, repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike need to be done. (Federal issue). Others feel that pollution must be looked at(State issue), the water needs to be cleaned up.

Herbert Hoover Dike..

Both State and Federal authorities have to work together. The Engineers look after the water levels in the lake, and with levels at a 10 yr high. The dike is also prone to seepage and erosion. In the interest of public safety they don’t want the water to get to high. Water quality is a state issue. The blame game as to who is responsible is at the heart of the matter. We know what has to be done, until some real leadership is shown, Florida is stuck.

$1billion Security Project.