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Last week's edition

About this Newsletter

January 31, 2005

Latest postings:

• OH: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District: Research and Development Manager
• CA: Zone 7 Water Agency: Manager of Engineering Services
• CA: Southern Calif. Water Company: Water Distribution Superintendent
• CA: American Water: Operations/Planning Engineers
• WA: King County Wastewater Treatment Division: Wastewater Treatment Operator

Want more? See all postings.

National/International News

—  Great Lakes News 

• Great Lakes water levels well above year-ago levels
  (New York Newsday, 01/24) "The water levels in the Great Lakes system have risen as much as 16 inches this winter from one year ago, bringing hope for next summer to the region's boaters and beach visitors."
  
   
• Drain in Great Lakes is open, report says
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/24) "A conservation group released a study Monday that claims a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging project has punched an expanding 'hole' in the upper Great Lakes that has plunged Lake Michigan’s long-term average water level by about a foot."
  
   
• Georgian Bay losing its water
  (Toronto Star, 01/25) "A new study confirms what cottagers have suspected for years — Georgian Bay is losing water. The water dropoff is due in large part to erosion along the bed of the St. Clair River, which links Lakes Huron and Erie."
  
   
• Zebra mussels likely contributing to Great Lakes algae ills
  (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 01/28) "A rising tide of stringy, smelly algae on Great Lakes beaches in recent years likely results from zebra mussels creating clearer water while also adding nutrients to the lake bottom, researchers say."
   

—  Infrastructure

• AMSA proposes national tax on drinks to build waterworks
  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 01/27) "Water and sewer agencies want a national tax on beer, soft drinks and other beverages to pay for construction projects across the country. The proposed 6.6 percent tax, modeled after the federal gasoline tax that supports highways, could raise $10 billion a year."
  

—  Water Quality

• Environmentalists urge stiff perchlorate limits in Calif. water
  (San Bernardino Sun, 01/23) "Clean-water activists pushed for tougher state drinking water standards on perchlorate at a Saturday forum."
  
   
• One year to go for Arsenic Rule compliance
  (AWWA WaterWeek, 01/26) "One year from today public water systems in the United States will encounter an important Safe Drinking Water Act compliance deadline. Jan. 26, 2006, is the date they must comply with USEPA's tougher new 10-micrograms/L arsenic standard adopted in 2001 under the revised Arsenic Rule."
  
   
• Massachusetts budget office readies for perchlorate requests
  (Wilmington Advocate, 01/27) "David Cressman is predicting many sleepless nights in the upcoming month. It's budget time. Even though he is a 17-year veteran, Cressman remains a bit apprehensive as individual department budgets began piling up in his office before the Friday, Jan. 14 deadline."
   

—  Water Supply

• Asian quake made water levels jump in Florida wells
  (Reuters, 01/24) "The undersea earthquake that triggered last month's deadly tsunami in Asia caused water levels to jump by up to 4 inches in monitoring wells deep under Florida some 8,000 miles away, scientists said on Friday."
  
   
• San Diego Water Authority plans $171-million treatment plant
  (North County Times, 01/28) "Regional water officials decided unanimously Tuesday to build a $171 million water treatment plant in San Marcos in one shot, rather than in two phases, because of the increasing threat of summertime drinking water shortages."
  
   
• Restrictions lifted on Phoenix water
  (Phoenix Business Journal, 01/28) "It is now safe for Phoenix residents to approach a water faucet with an empty drinking glass in one hand, city officials said late Wednesday afternoon."
  
   
• Decade-long water battle put to bed in Texas
  (San Marcos Daily Record, 01/28) "One of the City of San Marcos' main hopes for augmenting future water supplies has gone down the drain. Last week, the Supreme Court of Texas declined, for the second time, to decide a battle that has been fought for a decade between the city and the San Marcos River Foundation."
  

—  Water Resources

• Dover, New Hampshire to pay $36,000 for Clean Water violations
  (EPA News Release, 01/26) "The City of Dover, New Hampshire agreed to pay a $36,000 penalty and spend an additional $24,504 to perform an environmental project aimed at restoring New Hampshire’s ailing oyster populations, in order to settle EPA claims that it violated the federal Clean Water Act between 1999 and 2003."
  
   
• Kentucky oil pipeline spill nears Ohio River
  (Chicago Tribune, 01/27) "A pipeline broke and spilled an estimated 63,000 gallons of crude oil into the Kentucky River early Wednesday, creating a 12-mile slick that crews were racing to contain to keep it from contaminating drinking water."
  
   
• Heavy fines in California snakehead fish smuggling case
  (Fresno Bee, 01/27) "A Los Angeles grocery owner was fined nearly $230,000 for selling Asian snakehead fish, which can live for three days out of water, slither across land, and prey on native birds, fish and mammals."
  
   
• EPA approves pollution control plan for Everglades
  (ENN, 01/27) "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week approved the bulk of a controversial state rule designed to curb phosphorus pollution in the Everglades."
  
   
• Scientists say Valdez spill impacts slow to fade
  (Yahoo News, 01/28) "Crude oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill still lingers in Alaska's Prince William Sound and nearby areas, with parts of the environment still far from recovery, several scientists said at a three-day conference."
  
   
• EPA issues interpretive statement on pesticides and water
  (US Newswire, 01/27) "EPA is issuing an interpretive statement and a proposed rule in response to recent court decisions highlighting the need for EPA clarification regarding Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements for the application of pesticides to or over the nation's waters."
  
   
• Court orders Mass. cranberry growers to restore wetlands
  (EPA News Release, 01/27) "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that a federal judge has ordered Carver, Mass. cranberry growers Charles and Genelda Johnson, Francis Vaner Johnson, and Johnson Cranberries Limited Partnership, to pay a civil penalty of $75,000 and restore and create over 25 acres of wetlands and streams for Clean Water Act violations."
   

—  Air Quality

• Proposal lets farms violate air standards in exchange for data
  (Daily News Central, 01/23) "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed a new program that would exempt factory-style farms from prosecution for violating the Clean Air Act."
  
   
• UC Davis study finds dairies cause half of emissions believed
  (Vacaville Reporter, 01/27) "Large dairy operations might not cause the severe air pollution problems experts once thought, according to a study released Wednesday by University of California, Davis, researchers."
  
   
• Environmentalists target nine plants for use of mercury
  (Columbia Daily Tribune, 01/27) "Nine chlorine plants in the nation pour at least eight tons of mercury into the environment each year - a situation that demands federal action to force companies to convert to cleaner technology, activists said yesterday."
   

—  Wastewater

• EPA urged to finalize wastewater blending guidance
  (WaterWorld, 01/24) "A broad coalition of over 20 national and state organizations representing municipal interests, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Towns and Townships and the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), joined together to urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize its Nov. 7, 2003 wastewater blending policy."
   

—  Meetings

• 2005 AWWA Water Security Congress
  (AWWA, 01/20) April 10-12. "The American Water Works Association is excited to announce the 2005 Water Security Congress. The first Congress, held in 2003, provided a forum for more than 400 water industry leaders to learn, network, and share ideas."
  
   
• U.S. water experts to meet in San Francisco
  (San Francisco Chronicle, 01/27) June 12-16. "The city's Public Utilities Commission said Tuesday that it would host the world's largest conference on drinking water and global water issues."
   

—  Everything Else

• AWWA elects new president
  (US Newswire, 01/24) "The American Water Works Association (AWWA), the authoritative resource on safe water, has announced the election of North Carolina water utility veteran Terry Rolan as its next president-elect."
  

Illinois

—  Water Supply

• Logan County to vote on water authority
  (Peoria Journal Star, 01/23) "Rademaker, a retired contractor and current Emden mayor has joined forces with hundreds of other northern Logan County residents trying to create a water authority to protect and manage the area's natural resource."
  
  

• Lake County water agreement sought
  (Waukegan News Sun, 01/26) "A Lake County Board Committee on Tuesday authorized county staff to work on an intergovernmental agreement with Wauconda for the provision of village water to a group of unincorporated residents whose wells have been contaminated with vinyl chloride."
  
  

• Mokena to pay for water upgrades
  (Joliet Herald News, 01/26) "Mokena may soon have to help fund improvements to the system that brings Lake Michigan water to the southwest suburbs, village officials have learned."
  

—  Water Resources

• C-FAR seeks suitable nutrient standards for Illinois waters
  (Farm Week, 01/26) "Illinois researchers are working on suitable nutrient goals for the state’s rivers, streams, and lakes after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) suggested federal criteria may not be appropriate."
  
  

• Conservation Security Program signup available to farmers
  (Farm Week, 01/26) "Landowners in the Lower Kaskaskia and the Middle Wabash watersheds should be gathering documents to prepare for the conservation security program (CSP)." 
  
  

• Butler Lake work OK'd
  (Waukegan News Sun, 01/27) "It appears that Butler Lake will finally be restored just as promised nearly a decade ago by the Army Corps of Engineers."
  
  

• Forest Preserve hears plan for wetlands near Geneva mall
  (Aurora Beacon News, 01/28) "Kane County Forest Preserve commissioners like what they see so far from Rubloff Development Group's plan for a large strip mall in North Aurora that would include about 140 acres of wetlands."
  
  

• DuPage waste fouls Lake Calumet
  (Aurora Beacon News, 01/28) "DuPage County's name is on 30 barrels dumped at a former landfill that's leaking hazardous chemicals into wetlands on Chicago's southeast side, a county official revealed this week."
  

—  Wastewater

• Cortland to lease fields needed for irrigation with treated waste
  (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, 01/25) "The town board approved taking out a $1.1 million loan to purchase enough land to be irrigated with much of the treated sewage expected to be generated by a proposed sewage treatment plant."
  
  

• New Lenox to expand wastewater plant
  (Joliet Herald News, 01/26) "Planning ahead for the residential and commercial development south of Laraway Road, village officials Tuesday approved preliminary steps toward expanding the village's sewer capacity in the area."
  

—  Everything Else

• Canton to cut scope of water, sewer system upgrades
  (Canton Daily Ledger, 01/26) "A Canton alderman's recommendation to narrow the scope of a project to upgrade the water and sewer system was met with approval Tuesday at a meeting of the city council's Mechanical Committee."
  
  

• Paris embarks upon infrastructure projects
  (Paris Beacon News, 01/25) "Several major infrastructure projects may be in the city’s future following action Monday night by the Paris City Council."
  
  
• Buckner is $14,000 in arrears to RLCD for water bills
  (Southern Illinoisan, 01/26) "The financial pinch facing many Southern Illinois municipalities is currently being felt in the Franklin County village of Buckner."
  

Indiana

—  Water Supply

• Army Corps of Engineers siphons Wabash reservoirs' water
  (Indianapolis Star, 01/24) "The Army Corps of Engineers has begun siphoning water off three reservoirs in the upper Wabash River basin in northeastern Indiana."
  
  
• Martinsville to get water filter advice
  (Indianapolis Star, 01/25) "An Indianapolis firm with extensive expertise with the water contamination plaguing Martinsville will help city leaders choose a filter to clean the municipal well fields."
  
  
• Switz City Council approves water project bids
  (Linton Daily Citizen, 01/25) "The town of Switz City has moved a step closer toward making planned water project improvements a reality."
  
  
• Willing to pay a penny for cleaner water?
  (Indianapolis Star, 01/25) Opinion. "The legislature has the opportunity to create a dedicated fund for Clean Water Indiana. House Bill 1656, sponsored by Rep. Don Lehe, R-Brookston, would establish a l-cent per half-liter excise tax on bottled water."
  
  
• Agencies assess Vanderburgh County flooding, wells
  (Evansville Courier & Press, 01/26) "Specialists with the Federal Emergency Management Agency have arrived in Vanderburgh County. 'We're giving them cleanup kits and water because their wells have been contaminated.' said Kathy Schoettlin, Red Cross spokeswoman."
  

—  Water Resources

• State agency shares plan for Lower Eel, First Creek watersheds
  (Access Indiana, 01/22) "When stream samples showed E. coli bacteria above what the federal standard allows, local and state officials in the Lower Eel River Watershed came together to look for reasons."
  
  
• Berne's first stormwater budget offered
  (Decatur Daily Democrat, 01/25) "The chairman of Berne's storm water utility board on Monday submitted a budget for 2005 that features $433,000 in projected revenues and $416,000 in anticipated expenses."
  
  
• Dredging: Digging up problems
  (Fort Wayne News Sentinel, 01/26) Editorial. "After every flood, one suggestion is bound to come up again and again: If we dredge the rivers, they would carry more water and move it along faster, so that flood waters would pass through and not rise as high."
  
  
• Clean Water funds for state sought again
  (Muncie Star Press, 01/27) "For six years, state legislators have proposed taxing bottled water and packaged ice, increasing the tipping fees charged to dump trash in landfills, and other methods to fund the state's Clean Water Indiana program."
  

—  Wastewater

• Montgomery Co. sewer district receives engineering proposal
  (Journal Review, 01/25) "Montgomery County Regional Sewer Board will study a $40,000 contract proposal it received Tuesday from Indianapolis-based engineering firm American Consulting."
  
  
• Columbia City sewer rate hike passes first vote
  (Columbia City Post and Mail, 01/26) "Todd Samuelson of Umbaugh & Assoc. said the rate increase, which would begin with the March billing, would raise $180,000 per year to meet current requirements for the estimated $20.1 million sewer upgrades."
  

Michigan

—  Water Supply

• New plan developed for Northside water
  (Muskegon Chronicle, 01/27) "Muskegon County officials have been searching for money to develop a new industrial park at the former Cordova chemical plant site in Dalton Township. They've also been debating about the best way to finance an extension of the Northside Water System."
  
  
• Loss of water pressure affects thousands in New Haven
  (Detroit News, 01/27) "Word went out Thursday morning in New Haven that residents should start boiling their water."
  

—  Water Resources

• River erosion lowers water levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron
  (Detroit Free Press, 01/24) "Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are losing vast amounts of water because of erosion from a commercial navigation channel at the bottom of the St. Clair River, says a report issued Monday."
  
  
• Farmers work to limit Grand River pollution
  (Grand Rapids Press, 01/25) "While communities along the Grand River enjoy the quality of life it brings, many also are responsible for contributing to its pollution."
  
  
• Argentine Township pressures road commission to fix floodgate
  (Flint Journal, 01/25) "The Township Board on Monday authorized its attorney to sue the Genesee County Road Commission to force repairs to the broken Lobdell Lake dam."
  
  
• Dow to argue for reduced Saginaw watershed cleanup
  (Bay City Times, 01/27) "A recently unveiled framework for addressing dioxin contamination in the Saginaw River watershed leaves many unanswered questions."
  
  
• Cannon is first township to regulate wetlands
  (Grand Rapids Press, 01/27) "Before filling any wet, low spots on their property, Cannon Township residents now will have to check with the township first. his week, Cannon became the first township in Kent County to regulate wetlands."
  
  
• St. Clair river-monitoring program awaiting $1.2 million grant
  (Port Huron Times Herald, 01/27) "Because they can't stop chemical spills altogether, local water-quality leaders have a plan to quickly find out when potentially dangerous substances float down the St. Clair River."
  
  
• Scientists, activists say Muskegon Lake much cleaner now
  (Detroit Free Press, 01/27) "Twenty years after a joint U.S.-Canadian agency that oversees Great Lakes issues declared Muskegon Lake an area of concern, supporters say the lake is much healthier, although more cleanup work lies ahead."
  

—  Wastewater

• Developer asks to join Hartland sewer plan
  (Detroit News, 01/25) "Township officials are debating which should come first, sewer lines or development proposals."
  
  
• Davison Township sewer cleaning causes spill
  (Flint Journal, 01/26) "Crews cleaning and checking sewer lines for blockages Monday caused a minor spill in the Vassar Park subdivision."
  
  
• Developers to foot new Milan sewer tab
  (Ann Arbor News, 01/27) "New sewer trunk lines along Milan's southern border will be built at the expense of developers as the city continues to market its sewer capacity to neighboring townships."
  
  
• Cost of sewer collapse worries Macomb
  (Detroit News, 01/27) "Suburban officials said Wednesday they're concerned that only Macomb County customers of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department will bear the cost of repairing the sewer that collapsed in Sterling Heights."
  

—  Everything Else

• New Clayton water main, sewer spur lots of construction
  (Flint Journal, 01/23) "New houses and businesses will be popping up like well-watered flowers in one of the county's most rural townships, thanks in part to a new water main and the Genesee County Drain Commission's $6.7-million sewer extension project."
  
  
• Detroit suburbs beef about water rates
  (Detroit News, 01/27) "Suburban officials complained to the Detroit Water Board Wednesday that water and sewer rates were rising too fast and demanded they be consulted more on which construction projects are needed."
  
  
• Hurley has $6.2 million water, sewer problem
  (Ironwood Daily Globe, 01/27) "Sewer and water improvement repair projects totaling $6.2 million are recommended in a study presented to the Hurley City Council Wednesday."
  

Minnesota

—  Water Supply

• Oakdale's water contaminated
  (Minnesota Public Radio, 01/24) "Two potentially toxic compounds have been found in a Twin Cities suburb's municipal water supply. The City of Oakdale, just east of St. Paul, says five of its wells have low doses of perfluorochemicals."
  
  
• First year of Lewis and Clark water pipeline construction done
  (KTIV, 01/25) "Workers have pretty well finished the first year of major construction on the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. The project will tap water from wells south of Vermillion and pipe it to communities in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota."
  

—  Water Resources

• Conservation groups challenge Duluth-to-Wausau power line
  (Duluth News Tribune, 01/25) "Two conservation groups opposed to construction of a power line from Duluth to Wausau have challenged environmental permits issued for the project."
  
  
• Railway company cited for air, water violations
  (Duluth News Tribune, 01/26) "The Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Company has paid a $41,750 penalty and will comply with state environmental regulations at dock facilities in Duluth and Two Harbors after air and water violation citations by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency."
  
  
• Bonding bill has flood protection for Breckenridge
  (Wahpeton Today, 01/26) "The Minnesota Senate Monday passed a preliminary bonding bill that includes $3.25 million for Breckenridge flood control."
  
  
• Mendota Heights council listens to its stewards of water quality
  (Mendota Heights Sun Current, 01/27) "Unless you are active in city politics, you may not know who they are. But, if you enjoy wetlands or appreciate clean water, you have these strangers to thank. For 20 years the Gun Club Lake Watershed Management Organization (GCLWMO) has protected streams and lakes in Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights and Eagan."
  

—  Air Quality

• MPCA deals setback to tire burning plant
  (Minnesota Public Radio, 01/26) "In an unexpected move, the MPCA's Citizen Board overwhelmingly voted Tuesday night to require additional environmental testing for a controversial tire burning proposal."
  

—  Wastewater

• University of Minnesota plans garden to catch runoff
  (Duluth News Tribune, 01/24) "As the snow piles get higher and higher around the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth, campus officials say they're planning a new rain garden to help cool, clean and slow runoff and rain."
  
  
• Elm Creek wastewater proposal opens for comment
  (Bloomington Sun Current, 01/27) "An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposal to extend the Elm Creek wastewater interceptor in Maple Grove is available for public review and comment Jan. 17 through Feb. 16."
  

—  Everything Else

• Winona moves to extend water, sewer services
  (Winona Daily News, 01/26) "Although annexation of Jason Phillips' and Sweetwater Development's properties is less than certain, the city has moved ahead with plans to extend sewer and water services into Wilson Township."
  

Ohio

—  Water Supply

• Increased chemical levels in Little Hocking
  (Marietta Times, 01/26) "A recent spike in the amount of the DuPont chemical C8 detected in the Little Hocking water supply is likely the result of an abnormally wet summer and not an indication the levels will continue to rise, Ohio EPA officials said Tuesday."
  
  
• C8 suit settlement notices mailed
  (Parkersburg News and Sentinel, 01/27) "Customers of six area water districts who are part of a proposed settlement in the C8 lawsuit against DuPont Washington Works could receive $400 each if they participate in the blood testing offered as part of the settlement."
  
  
• Customers must decide on blood tests for C8
  (Marietta Times, 01/28) "Customers of six area water districts who are part of a proposed settlement in a lawsuit against DuPont Washington Works could receive $400 each if they participate in the blood testing offered as part of the settlement."
  

—  Water Resources

• Plants take temporary steps while Ohio River falls
  (Marietta Times, 01/27) "Businesses along the Ohio River are battling low water levels with costly water-pumping systems, but operations at some of the area's largest employers are still in danger of shutting down if the river level continues to drop."
  

—  Air Quality

• Dirtiest power plants in Ohio worsen
  (Akron Beacon Journal, 01/27) "Pollution from Ohio's dirtiest coal-burning power plants increased from 1995 to 2003, creating a growing health threat for Ohioans. That's the finding of a report released Wednesday by the Ohio Environmental Council, the Ohio Public Interest Research Group and the Ohio chapter of the Sierra Club."
  
  
• Chlorine plants' use of mercury is assailed
  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 01/27) "Move over, coal-burning power plants. When it comes to mercury pollution, you have company: chlorine plants. An ocean conservation group said Wednesday that each of nine chlorine plants in eight states, including ASHTA Chemicals Inc. in Ashtabula, releases more mercury into the air than a typical coal-burning power plant."
  

—  Wastewater

• Flooding puts strain on Zanesville's sewer system
  (Zanesville Times Recorder, 01/23) "The city's sewer system was not meant to take the sheer amount of volume from the flooding rains this month."
  
  
• Company fined $7,500 for dumping sewage into Kinnikinnick Creek
  (Chillicothe Gazette, 01/27) "After six years of inspections by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and no evidence of improvement, Elsea Inc., owner and operated of Carousel Mobile Home Park was slapped with a $7,500 fine for violation associated with the park's wastewater treatment plant."
  
  
• Belmont County enters into sewer accord
  (Martins Ferry Times Leader, 01/27) "Belmont County is continuing its efforts to help the Village of Belmont build its long-awaited sewer project. During Wednesday night's county commissioners' meeting, board members unanimously approved a motion to enter into an agreement with Belmont on behalf of the Belmont County Sanitary Sewer District No. 2."
  

—  Landfill/Solid Waste

• Ohio seeks details on owners of Envirosafe landfill in Oregon
  (Toledo Blade, 01/22) "The Ohio Attorney General's Office is using a secrecy provision to try to get more details about ownership of the Envirosafe hazardous waste landfill in Oregon."
  

—  Everything Else

• Ohio Development Dept. awards grants for sewer, water upgrages
  (ODOD News Release, 01/24) "Governor Bob Taft today announced that $3.97 million in Business and Roadwork Development grants have been awarded to four companies and nine communities in Ohio."
  
  
• Putnam Soil & Water Conservation District receives recognition
  (Delphos Herald, 01/27) "The Putnam Soil & Water Conservation District received a 'superior' rating for 2004 during the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) Annual Meeting."
  

Wisconsin

—  Water Supply

• Ripon to pay $4.9 million for water utility
  (Milwaukee Business Journal, 01/24) "The city of Ripon has agreed to pay $4.9 million to acquire the water utility serving the city from Wisconsin Power & Light Co., Madison."
  
  
• Green County UW-Extension Office offers testing
  (Monroe Times, 01/26) "The Green County UW-Extension Office and the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point are offering a drinking water testing and educational program for residents living in the Towns of Adams, Albany, Brooklyn, Exeter, Mt. Pleasant, New Glarus, Washington, and York and not serviced by public water."
  
  
• Water supply study aimed at finding sources
  (Duluth News Tribune, 01/27) "The seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin are chipping in to pay for the first regional water supply study aimed at determining reliable sources of water for growing populations in the next 30 years."
  
  
• Southeastern Wisconsin takes a step forward on supply
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/27) Opinion. "Waukesha County Executive Dan Finley got it right the other day when he said that the biggest issue facing southeastern Wisconsin over the next 20 years is water. How much is there? How clean or dangerous is it? Where should communities go to get it? What should residents do to make sure their grandchildren will have enough to meet their needs?"
  
  
• Comments on Brown County Water Authority pipeline due Feb. 4
  (Green Bay Press Gazette, 01/28) "Anyone wishing to comment on environmental aspects of the Central Brown County Water Authority’s planned pipeline route to Manitowoc has until Feb. 4 for the comments to be considered in an environmental assessment by the state Public Service Commission."
  
  
• Portage sues Mael over 'Well 6' groundwater contamination
  (Portage Daily Register, 01/28) "Several weeks after Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager filed a lawsuit against Gerald Mael for soil and groundwater contamination, the city of Portage has filed its own suit for the same contamination."
  

—  Water Resources

• Two groups challenge permits for line to protect wetlands
  (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 01/26) "Two conservation groups opposed to construction of a power line from Wausau to Duluth, Minn., have challenged environmental permits issued for the project."
  
  
• Wetlands conference looks at Green Bay
  (Green Bay News-Chronicle, 01/28) "The cloudy waters in the bay of Green Bay drew plenty of discussion at this year's 10th annual Wetland Science Forum in Green Bay hosted by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association and Wisconsin Coastal Management Program."
  
  
• Ocean group cites Wisconsin plant as part of mercury problem
  (Racine Journal Times, 01/28) "An environmental group on Wednesday announced a campaign to dry up sources of mercury pollution that contaminate ocean fish - which many people wind up eating."
  

—  Wastewater

• City of Milwaukee Water Department case sent to lower court
  (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 01/27) "The question of whether the City of Milwaukee Water Department was negligent when an 80-year-old water main burst and caused $690,000 damage to a sewer line has been sent back to circuit court by the Wisconsin Supreme Court."
  

—  Everything Else

• Rothschild proposes raising water rate
  (Wausau Daily Herald, 01/28) "The average village household soon could see its quarterly water bill go up more than $25. The village has requested a 50-percent water rate increase from the state Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates the village's water utility."