This annual worldwide event is coordinated by WEF and the International Water Assoc. (IWA) of Europe and allows thousands of school children and grown-ups to participate in a water quality monitoring event today.
Participants receive a test kit and analyze temperature, acidity, clarity and dissolved oxygen. Results are then posted on the WWMF website and shared with the local community. The event is also a celebration of the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.
In related news, WEF and IWA have announced a memorandum of understanding about further integrating their research databases so members of both groups can access data, results, studies and more from researchers around the world. Press release here.
[flv]http://www.waterandwastewater.com/videos/flvideo/804.flv[/flv]
The Liquid Assets documentary is about America’s crumbling water and wastewater infrastructure and is due out in October. Penn State is asking for help to convince local PBS stations to run the program.
A friendly reminder to your local station can help to ensure broadcast of Liquid Assets. When you contact the station, mention that you are calling about a documentary that they may be interested in airing. You might ask them to view the preview on this Liquid Assets Web site, and tell them that the PBS stations will be receiving information about the documentary directly from Penn State Public Broadcasting at www.liquidassets.psu.edu.
Our local PBS station is KCET: viewerservices@kcet.org
I don’t see Liquid Assets on their schedule yet.
New research ongoing at Virginia Tech University is looking at plant growth when biosolids are used as a soil amendment. According to Chris Peot, a member of Virginia Biosolids Council which is underwriting the research, writes:
“The research shows that microorganisms in biosolids, when breaking down the organic matter, release naturally occurring essential plant growth hormones, allowing the crops to resist stressful conditions such as drought.”
(Hat tip: WEF)
In November the Water Environment Federation and FEMA will present a two day training course in San Francisco on water sector interdependencies. Under the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), the water sector is one of 18 federally identified critical infrastructures… essential to public health… and commercial viability.
Eligible participants include water and wastewater (water sector) utility executives and managers, as well as key lead representatives from other key sectors. The training will be provided at no-cost to participants.
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) filed an amicus curiae brief today in the Kern County biosolids litigation. Three SoCal cities are defending the use of biosolids as a beneficial, land applied agricultural fertilizer. Money quote from WEF:
The WEF brief documents the scientific, technical, and regulatory foundation for the safety of land application… WEF has a long-standing position in support of biosolids recycling, including support for land application as one of several management options available to public agencies under the EPA’s Part 503 regulation.
WEF believes the California decision could have wide ranging impact on biosolids recycling nationwide.
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA) are coordinating the events associated with the 2007 World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD). WWMD is a global education and outreach event designed to promote personal stewardship and individual involvement in the protection of our world water resources.
The message is simple, it is not solely the responsibility of government agencies and corporations to assure clean safe water. It is up to the users of water, to become involved in the protection of the world’s waters. Clean water is everyone’s right and it is also everyone’s responsibility. Water is a renewable resource carried by the hydrologic cycle throughout the world therefore collaborative partnerships are necessary to protect this resource.
