2Water%20and%20Sanitation%20Summit%20Synthesis%20Report%20-%20Final%2014%20August. Water and development: top ten Twitter influencers | Global Development Professionals Network | Guardian Professional. Next week water experts from across the world will descend on Stockholm for the annual World Water Week conference. To coincide with our coverage of the event, we’ve put together a list of influential voices on social media to keep you updated with the latest insights from the world of water. Have we missed someone? The list is not intended to be definitive, so add your suggestion in the comments thread below. @WorldBankWater The official feed of World Bank Water. BLOG: How to end #opendefecation in #India?
@EndWaterPoverty End Water Poverty is a global civil society coalition campaigning to end the water and sanitation crisis. Some countries have already adopted the #humanright to #water & #sanitation into national law, has yours? @UN_Water UN-Water coordinates action around freshwater related issues, including sanitation. #UNWaterFacts: Meat production requires 8-10 times more water than cereal production. UN-Water (@UN_Water) August 27, 2014 @UnescoIHE @UNICEFwater. Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States and Indigenous Communities. Water 4.0: New book by David Sedlak. A great new book is coming out this year from Yale University Press. Here is the book’s website, a description of the book and a keynote lecture by the author. “Turn on the faucet, and water pours out. Pull out the drain plug, and the dirty water disappears. Most of us give little thought to the hidden systems that bring us water and take it away when we’re done with it.
But these underappreciated marvels of engineering face an array of challenges that cannot be solved without a fundamental change to our relationship with water, David Sedlak explains in this enlightening book. To make informed decisions about the future, we need to understand the three revolutions in urban water systems that have occurred over the past 2,500 years and the technologies that will remake the system. About these ads Like this: Like Loading... Water Alternatives 7(1) February 2014 Special Issue: 'Informal Space in the Urban Waterscape' & More! - WaterWired. Pollution threat to Knysna festival. KNYSNA's municipality has appointed a contractor to deal with the recurring problem of potentially dangerous bacterial pollution in SA's top estuary, following the new discovery of high E. coli levels in the lagoon water.
This has set off a race against time to prevent the bacteria from affecting the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival next month. Municipal manager Lauren Waring said yesterday "disturbingly high" bacterial readings had recently been taken at a number of points in the Knysna Lagoon, rated SA's top estuary in terms of conservation importance by the Department of Water Affairs. Ms Waring said the pollution was not the result of spillage from the town's wastewater treatment works. "Samples taken of the final effluent as it leaves the plant record zero E. coli per 100ml.
" She said a contractor had been appointed to clean the affected culverts weekly at least until the end of the annual Oyster Festival next month, which includes boat races on the lagoon. Garden Route Media. Water scarcity –an unresolved issue in many parts of the country leads to protests over service delivery. Water scarcity –an unresolved issue in many parts of the country leads to protests over service delivery Many people living in informal urban and rural parts of the country still lack adequate and safe drinking water which has led to several protests countrywide.
A newly released Water Research Commission (WRC) study investigated selected rural and urban case study sites in the North West, Western Cape and Limpopo provinces. The study sought to deepen understanding of linkages between water scarcity and societal expectations for service delivery, as well as the dynamics between water scarcity and social protests. When government has not met expectations, citizens have responded by blaming government structures for non-delivery of services and demanding better performance.
The result is a self-reinforcing cycle which leads to poorer delivery, because officials are even less willing to communicate with the public or co-operate with each other. AmaBhungane. The water affairs department has written a damning report on a Limpopo district municipality run by a close ally of axed ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and provincial premier Cassel Mathale, indicating that it paid out millions of rand for water projects that were never undertaken or completed. A investigation has also found that some of the companies awarded contracts by the Mopani district municipality were owned by relatives of Selby Manthata, a prominent Limpopo businessperson, a well-known ally of Mathale and the business partner of Mathale’s wife, Mokgadi Kgohloane.
One of the contracts, for the construction of a pump and pipeline for R3.5-million, went to Manthata’s brother, Makgetsi Manthata. The report says the pump is not operational. The Mopani district is a water-stressed area. Central to the saga is the mayor of the Mopani district municipality, Joshua Matlou, who served as the ANC provincial chairperson in the district alongside Malema in 2006. EU's water privatisation plans 'irresponsible' A European Citizens' Initiative demanding that water be treated as a public good rather than a commodity will put pressure on the EU executive, which is pushing for privatisation of the sector in bailed-out countries, say campaigners The European Commission's attempts to privatise urban water systems over the last decade have faced strong resistance.
But now privatisation has reappeared as one of the bail-out conditions for struggling European Union economies. Will the financial crisis give the commission the opportunity to bypass democratic accountability and create new markets for water companies? Public water systems were never designed to generate profits but to deliver clean water to all citizens for public health purposes, making them one of the most essential public services of them all. At the EU level, water services have remained under the control of member states, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle. But this did not stop the commission. Public Funds Could Help Provide Water and Electricity, Researchers Say.
UNITED NATIONS, May 15, 2012 (IPS) - For several decades, governments around the globe have turned to privatisation as the best option to help relieve the world's destitute by providing them with health care services, water and electricity. By and large, however, this effort has failed. Numerous experimental alternatives to privatisation exist, but a report by the Municipal Services Project has an idea that is not outlandish or even terribly experimental. If public pension and other government funds redirected their investments, it says, they could help provide improved access to water, energy and health services for the world's poor. Municipal Services Project is an organisation that researches alternatives to privatisation and the commercialisation of public service provision.
"Public funds should serve to reinforce much needed public services," David McDonald, co-director of the Municipal Services Project, said. So how can countries close this gap? NGOs and researchers must collaborate. Exxaro accused of destroying Mpumalanga wetlands. Beeld reported that the mining giant had allegedly destroyed one wetland and commenced mining in a second. Three weeks ago Minister of Water and Environment Affairs Edna Molewa, in a written response to a question by the Democratic Alliance, said Exxaro had broken the law at its Leeuwpan coalmine. Delmas farmer Peet Bezuidenhout said on Sunday he had complained to Blue Scorpions head Nigel Adams, because Exxaro had depleted a wetland area, and now, most recently, drained a pan before beginning another mining operation.
The wetland area and the pan were situated next to each other on the farm Weltevreden. Adams said law enforcers would visit the farm on Monday. Exxaro spokesman Hilton Atkinson told Beeld he would respond to questions on Monday. Molewa said in her written response to the DA that officials from her department had already visited the farm twice, and that Exxaro had been explicitly warned it had damaged the wetland, and transgressed the terms of its licensing agreement. Thousands exposed to unsafe tap water. It has emerged that drinking water from 14 municipalities in seven provinces is unsafe for human consumption . The startling findings, contained in the 2012 Blue Drop Report, were released by Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa yesterday. "Residents and visitors are hereby warned not to consume the tap water supplied in these towns without some form of acceptable disinfecting treatment at home [boiling or the addition of bleach]," the report says.
The red-flagged municipalities include Ikwezi and Koukamma in the Eastern Cape, and Bushbuckridge, Chief Albert Luthuli, Mkhondo, Msukaligwa and Nkomazi in Mpumalanga. Also affected are the Free State's Letsemeng, Ngwathe, Nketoane and Phumelela, Thabazimbi in Limpopo, Ngaka Modiri Molema district in North West and Umsobomvu in Northern Cape. However, Gauteng residents can breathe easier - none of its municipalities has been red-flagged. Other areas in the top 10 included municipalities in the Western Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal. Ecuador: Plurinational March for Life, Water, and Dignity. Thousands of Indigenous protestors carrying a giant rainbow flag arrived in Ecuador's capital of Quito on March 22 (World Water Day) after a two-week Plurinational March for Life, Water, and Dignity of the Peoples.
The march was in opposition to government plans to commence with large-scale mining, as well as to defend Ecuador's new progressive 2008 constitution against neoliberal attacks and to pressure for the passage of water and agrarian revolution laws. The protesters contended that mining will siphon off and contaminate water supplies, and that communities were not properly consulted about the environmental impacts of the projects. The march began on March 8, International Women’s Day, in the canton of El Pangui in the southern province of Zamora Chinchipe, traveling about 700 kilometers to Quito. The march stopped in towns and cities along the route to build support for their demands. Mining Ecuacorriente's Mirador mine is expected to extract 2.1 billion kilograms of copper. Erin Brockovich's New Map Tracks The Dangers Of Toxic Chemicals. Think of the name Erin Brockovich and you probably pull up a picture in your mind’s eye of the eponymous film--and more specifically, Julia Roberts defending the California town of Hinkley against its local utility, which poisoned nearby groundwater with toxic chemical compounds.
But that film was based on real events, and a real Erin Brockovich actually exists. These days, you can see her in the film Last Call at the Oasis, a film from Participant Media (the company behind An Inconvenient Truth) that examines the magnitude of the global water crisis before us (it goes into limited release on May 4th). Co.Exist spoke to Brockovich about her role in the film and what she’s up to today. Co.Exist: What inspired you to participate in this documentary? Erin Brockovich: I’ve been working on water issues ever since the film Erin Brockovich came out.
Do you think our water crisis has gotten worse since Erin Brockovich came out [in 2000]? It has absolutely gotten worse. Yes. Twynam's flight to Africa. The Land | 24 April 2012 Twynam founder John Kahlbetzer. THE family that sold Australia's biggest water licence in history to the federal government has been selling its NSW farming operations and is setting up a new agricultural empire in the Blue Nile state in Sudan, Africa.
Over the past three years, the Kahlbetzer family's company, Twynam Agricultural, has unwound more than half its agricultural portfolio in NSW, selling more than $200 million in land in addition to the $303 million in water licences it sold to the government. It is still looking to sell land holdings on the Murrumbidgee River. Twynam founder John Kahlbetzer has registered a new company called Twynam Agriculture Africa but has declined to comment on the motive behind Twynam's retreat. Twynam managing director Tim De Mestre confirmed the company had started development of cotton and food crops in Africa, The Australian Financial Review reported yesterday. Delay in Diepsloot water questioned. A PLAN to fix the sewage-polluted water supply in Diepsloot will be made public today, says the City of Johannesburg.
The water supply to the township, home to an estimated 150000 people, was contaminated when a contractor working on a nearby sewer line broke the drinking water line, spokeswoman Millicent Kabwe said yesterday. Johannesburg Water had finished repair work in Diepsloot on Saturday afternoon. "Everything possible is being done. However, the water has to be completely free of contamination prior to it being distributed. Residents were warned on Friday not to drink the water. But wetland specialist Paul Fairall, chairman of the Jukskei River Catchment Area Management Forum, said the forum was suspicious of the delay in releasing the water for domestic use. "Your basic tests for (bacteria and pollutants) can be done in 24 hours.... Results of new tests done on the water were expected to be available late last night, Ms Kabwe said. "The pressure is there. Blaines@bdfm.co.za. Areas of Diepsloot still without safe water. Inter Press Service – Telling Africa’s Untold Stories » Steady Water Supply for Zimbabwean City Still a Pipe Dream.
By Busani Bafana Bulawayo only has a 20-month supply of water left if the seasonal rains do not come. / Busani Bafana/IPS BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Apr 17 (IPS) – Residents of Zimbabwe's water-scarce city, Bulawayo, are concerned about the government’s slow response to finding a permanent source of water to cover their needs. In March the city announced that it would only have a 20-month supply of water left if the seasonal rains do not come. Zimbabwe has experienced poor rains over the past few years. Though the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department had predicted rainfall would peak from October to December 2011 for some parts of the country, it forecast that Matebeleland, would receive below average rainfall. Four of the city's five supply dams, which have a total capacity of 362 million litres, are half full.
As a result, municipal authorities have implemented a water rationing programme. But residents like Henry Sithole are worried that water rationing may become a permanent feature. Treated Wastewater Used for Drinking Supplies. South Africa's water crisis just got expensive. Over R570-billion will be needed for investment across South Africa’s water value chain, in the coming 10 years, according to Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.
The money is needed to pay for water resources infrastructure, water services and water conservation and demand management across national government, municipalities and the country’s existing 12 water boards. The vast funding needs raise the probability that water tariffs for consumers are likely to rise in the coming years. Molewa was speaking at a briefing in Cape Town on the progress being made in her department’s turnaround strategy. R162-billion was needed for water resources infrastructure, R394-billion was needed for water services, and a further R16-billion was needed for conservation demand management. The figures form part of a long-term investment plan currently being finalised by the department, according to its chief operations officer Trevor Balzer. Water sector needs R573bn pumped into it. Weekend of queues and confusion for thirsty Diepsloot.
Diepsloot water tests delayed. Four Ways to Play the Water War. Climate Change Linked to Waterborne Diseases in Inuit Communities. Water Strife in Greater Bangalore (3) - From a Local Water Hero (Nagadala).wmv. Water Strife in Greater Bangalore (4) - Scenes from an Ongoing Industrial Pollution Dispute.wmv. Water Activism in Greater Bangalore (2) - Nagadala's Public Art (in Kannada).wmv. Water Strife in Greater Bangalore (1) - An Introduction to Chikkaballapur and Doddaballapur.wmv. The impending urban water crisis - Dream City. A Belgian Encounter with the Commons | David Bollier | Peer2Politics. 2012 - 4th Edition. Strong impressions from the WWF. Rampant water pillage is sucking Yemen dry.
Water affairs to fill top posts. Water monitoring 'easier' with free mobile phone app. Rainwater harvesting- 2 case studies. Robert Redford's 'Watershed' Documentary Raises Awareness For Worldwide Water Conservation. Searching for Safe Water in New York City on World Water Day. Carolina water supply improving, may soon be safe to drink. The Global Water Grab: A Primer. Creek Watch iPhone App Goes Social. Psiru_financing_water_sanitation. Book Launch: Alternatives to privatisation – public services for the future. Close the Tap. ASC | Library | Web dossiers - Water in Africa. Mapping Access to Safe Water. No single course for providing water | Global development. Water & Sanitation: Glass Half Full and a Busted Flush. World Water Day 2012 - Water and Food Security - 22nd March 2012.
South Africa's water crisis - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source. Venda, South Africa - Venda Communities say No! to CoAL Mining | Gaia Foundation. Black gold versus blue water. Tribal woman awarded for protesting bad sanitation. The water data hub is LIVE! Sewage spills into North West river. WaterDay.org. Access to water | Global development. Water policy draft favours industry: Experts. Ned Breslin: Few Celebrating MDG Success in Water. Woolworths Story for love of water | FLOW (For Love Of Water) Pigeon-McDonald-Kishimoto-Hoedeman_Remunicipalisation_Putting_Water_Back_in_Public_Hands_2012. SA, Lesotho show off giant water project. Independent UN expert warns on sidelining right to water and sanitation. Can we solve global water scarcity? From the field: Getting creative in Malawi. « charity: water blog. MDG drinking water target being met is cause for celebration | Sanjay Wijesekera | Global development. JMP-report-2012-en. Water Alternatives - Current issue.
Bhushula v Ukhahlamba District Municipality (2200/09) [2012] ZAECGHC 1 (12 January 2012) Matthew Gandy on Water and Urban Fragmentation. #water for #Rooigrond, couldn't ask for a better #2012 g. Call for water to be prioritised. Bridge over troubled water - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source.
Flush Tracker - World Toilet Day.