Water Taste Test Competition in Denver

The Best of the Best Taste Test contest was hosted this week at the American Water Works Association. Holding its annual taste testing contest, five judges were gathered on the panel at this years conference.

Regardless of the fact that three of five judges were locals from Denver, the contest was won by Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust.

It's not clear what the judging criteria were exactly, but to read the full story, visit Denverpost.com.

Assessment of Barbuda's Underwater Ecosystem Sets Standards

A research team of 9 marine biologists based in Barbuda are trying to find out the status of the living creatures in the coral reef ecosystems surrounding the coastline, in order to improve their ocean management. 

The team set out to "conduct an ecological assessment of the fish, coral, lobster, conch, and water quality within 3 miles of shore," running tests across 250 different sites.

The team are hoping to figure out and achieve, "sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable," ways to utilize the natural resources we have available to us.

To view the full story and what exactly the team found, visit the National Geographic.

Students of University of Virginia invent "Magic Stone"

Described by Jim Smith, the leading professor on a new, exciting project at the University of Virginia, describes their new invention as, "Imagine a magic stone, and you take this magic stone and you drop it in your water container and it purifies the water and makes it safe to drink. Now imagine that this magic stone only costs a few dollars."

Named the Madi Drop, further tests will be carried out will decide just how viable the brick filter is as a water filter. For the time being the team is happy with the results.

To view the full story, visit Voice of America. Thinking about getting a water filter? Have a look at the SureAqua range.

Water and the Economy is a series of articles looking disclosing just how much of a role the finite resource of water plays in the United States Economy. According to studies conducted by the USGS Water Science School in 2005, the current approximate total water usage by the US is estimated at 410,000,000 Gallons per year. As discussed in the previous part of the series, the Thermoelectric Power Industry is the top consumer of water, drawing a total of 201,000 million gallons per day, accounting for 49 percent of all water withdrawals within the United States.

This week we will be looking into America's second largest consumer of water. That's right, you guessed it, it's you. Public Water Supply accounts for 21 percent of all water withdrawals, withdrawing a grand total of 44,200 million gallons of water per day.

The highest users of the Public Water Supply are California using approximately 7000 million gallons per day, shortly followed by Texas which uses approximately 4000 million gallons per day, as well as New York which uses approximately 3000 million gallons of water per day.

Where does all that water come from?

According to research conducted by the USGS, in 2005 roughly 258 million residents of the country's 301 million residents (at the time) were catered to by the Public Water Supply industry. 

The industry is made up of both public and private water-supply organizations. They are responsible for withdrawing the water from the sources, cleansing it using-while adhering to government guidelines-modern day water treatment techniques, and making sure the water is delivered through extensive piping systems, ripe and ready to run out of your tap.

The water used is withdrawn from rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and delivered to approximately 86 percent of the population. In order for a facility to qualify for the Public Water Supply sector, or as you would know as the Water Department, an entity must provide water to a minimum of 25 people and have a minimum of 15 connection to their facility.

With out the Public Water Supply sector, you would be left to dig a well or install a storage tank in your home, something we're not all exactly clued up to do.

So, what role does this play in the economy?

Public-supply water is delivered to users for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes, and also is used for public services.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Water Supply Industry grossed a total of $7,623 million in 2007, a whopping total of $225,000 per employee in the industry. Employing roughly 33,871 residents of the United States, 

Industries such as Water Sewage and Other Systems, Sewage Treatment Facilities, and irrigation systems are all a direct product of the demand for a Public Water Supply industry, generating a combined effort of $11,253 million per annum, employing a total of 49,365, an earning of $423,00 per employee.

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Dam Ready to Burst in Eastern Germany

Just as the water levels rose in Brisbane, Australia following the Australia Day floods, water levels in the Vltava, Mulde and Saale rivers into the Elbe rose so high that dam walls were at risk of bursting.

Following the floods that  recently swept through Prague, residents of Dresden, Halle and Meissen have prepared for the worst. As the situation intensifies, residents are being evacuated.

For the full story, visit Bloomberg.com.

United States Water Systems to be Upgraded

The, "U.S. regulators say that $348 billion needs to be spent by 2030 in order to upgrade deteriorating drinking water systems across the nation," as reported by the CNN earlier this week.

Pipe systems as old as, "50 to 100 years" are being replaced, a process which alone will take a $247.5 billion bite out of the total expenditure. 

A total of $72.5 billion has been allocated to the the prevention of contamination of 73,400 water systems around the country. 

To view the full story, visit CNN.

Iowa Water has a Nitrate Surge

Having previously been drought stricken, Iowa has experienced one of the wettest Springs on record. However, the saving grace has not come with out a cost. The extreme rainfall events have caused the fertilizers to run off the land and into near by rivers and water supplies. 

A result of this is that Nitrate levels in the waters sources have risen to such a level that authorities are concerned that they may pose a health risk.

For the full story, visit Fox News. For more information on pollutants and what threats they pose, read the Sureaqua article, The Effects of Polluted Water Part 1 and Part 2.