1) US: California
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an online mapping tool to provide users with information about their watershed and water supplier, as well as information about possible sources of pollution that could affect communities’ water supply. Known as the Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters, it was developed in consultation with EPA regional drinking water programs, state drinking water regulators and public water systems.
2) US: Washington
Does living near an oil or natural gas well affect your drinking water? According to Professor Rob Jackson, professor of Earth System Science at Stanford University, it’s “no, but there are exceptions”. Having studied groundwater quality at oil and gas fields throughout the US, the Professor presented his findings at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He said that most cases of groundwater contamination were caused by poorly constructed wells, pointing to a widely publicised case in Parker County, Texas.
3) Canada
Spanish engineering firm Acciona Agua has entered the Canadian water and wastewater treatment market with a CAD217 million (US$155.9m) drinking water contract. The design, construction, operation, rehabilitation and financing contract will cover a drinking water treatment plant and a water storage facility in Saint John, New Brunswick. The project, which the company will carry out with Brookfield Financial & North American Contractors (NAC), involves the renewal of part of the water distribution system in the city. Acciona has been involved with civil infrastructure and building projects across Canada since 2001 but this is the first for water.