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Oct. 26, 2005

Quote of the Week
"If a man harbors any sort of fear, it makes him landlord to a ghost."
Lloyd Douglas

Born Today
Bob Hoskins, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ivan Reitman, Jaclyn Smith,
Bootsy Collins, Dylan McDermott, Cary Elwes, Natalie Merchant.

On this day in 1825:
The Erie Canal opens, connecting the Great Lakes
with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River.

Sent daily to more than 19,000 readers nationwide…
and thousands more via our lineup of online ads
like the one above that appears on watertechonline.com

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Pic of the Week

Smolt passage flumes at Chittenden Locks

Smolt passage flumes pass smolts safely out to sea
at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle.

(Photo by Patricia Graesser, 2001; compliments of USACE)

Do you have a photo you'd like to submit? Send us an e-mail.

WASHINGTON LINKS

State of Washington

Counties
Benton
Chelan
Clallam
Clark
Cowlitz
Grant
Grays Harbor
Island
King
Kitsap
Lewis
Mason
Pierce
Skagit
Snohomish
Spokane
Thurston
Walla Walla
Whatcom
Yakima

Cities
Aberdeen
Auburn
Bellevue
Bellingham
Everett
Federal Way
Kennewick
Kent
Kirkland
Lakewood
Olympia
Redmond
Renton
Richland
Seattle
Shoreline
Spokane
Tacoma
Vancouver
Yakima

Dept. of Health, Division of Environmental Health: Office of Drinking Water

Dept. Of Ecology Water Quality Program

Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Dept. of Natural Resources

Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team

Water Resources of Washington

Washington

— Water Supply

New supply line of water is turned on
(Federal Way Mirror, 10/23) "A $220 million water supply involving Federal Way began flowing this week. Full operation of the Second Supply Project pipeline was scheduled to begin Thursday, according to Tacoma Water, the utility that led the pipeline’s construction."
Spokane Valley boil order lifted
(KXLY Spokane, 10/23) "A boil order issued for the Greenacres section of the City of Spokane Valley has been lifted."
Grays Harbor County, Ocean Shores to work on water rights
(Grays Harbor Daily World, 10/20) "Opting for cooperation rather than confrontation, the Ocean Shores City Council voted 4-0 Wednesday night to not appeal water rights recently granted to Grays Harbor County."

— Water Resources

Researchers to study Puget Sound hypoxia
(Seattle Times, 10/25) "Researchers will spend two years and $500,000 studying Puget Sound sediment to reconstruct the history and causes of low oxygen levels that have led to fish die-offs in areas such as Hood Canal."
Port of Olympia prepares legal challenge
(Olympian, 10/22) "Port of Olympia lawyers prepared commissioners on Friday for an environmental challenge of their decision to move Weyerhaeuser's log export business from Tacoma to Olympia by spring."
Hood Canal recovery a top priority
(Kitsap Sun, 10/21) "Nursing Hood Canal back to health is one of the state's top environmental priorities, according to the Puget Sound Action Team, a group representing 10 state agencies as well as local and tribal governments."
Sunken tug spills fuel in Hood Canal
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/19) "The pungent smell of diesel fuel and ribbons of pink-stained beach marked the spread of a spill near the Hood Canal Bridge Monday. Tribal officials said the fuel hit two miles of shoreline that support a multimillion-dollar annual harvest of clams and oysters."

— Wastewater

Sewage treatment plant moves into Maltby
(Everett Herald, 10/21) "In south Snohomish County, residents who live in the unincorporated area near the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 522 will soon have a new neighbor — a 114-acre sewage plant that goes by the optimistic name Brightwater."

— Hazardous/Toxic Waste

Federal board says Hanford waste plant moving forward
(Seattle Post Intelligencer, 10/19) "The U.S. Department of Energy is resolving safety issues on a multibillion-dollar waste treatment plant at the Hanford nuclear reservation and could continue with design and construction of the plant, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board said."

OREGON LINKS

State of Oregon

Counties
Benton
Clackamas
Deschutes
Douglas
Jackson
Josephine
Klamath
Lane
Linn
Marion
Multnomah
Polk
Umatilla
Washington
Yamhill

Cities
Albany
Beaverton
Bend
Corvallis
Eugene
Grants Pass
Gresham
Hillsboro
Keizer
Lake Oswego
McMinnville
Medford
Oregon City
Portland
Salem
Springfield
Tigard
West Linn
Woodburn

City of Portland: Environmental Services

City of Portland: Water Bureau

Columbia River Gorge Commission

Dept.of Agriculture

Dept. of Energy

Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Dept. of State Lands

Fish And Wildlife Department

Forestry Department

Geology And Mineral Industries

Land Conservation/ Development Dept.

Marine Board

Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council

Oregon Water Resources Dept.

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Parks And Recreation Dept.

USGS Water Resources of Oregon

Water Resources Dept.

Pacific Northwest Hydrological Observatory

Watershed Enhancement Board

Clean Water Services

Oregon

— Water Supply

Salmon, ranchers win in deal
(Oregonian, 10/23) "Zigzagging between jagged Wallowa Mountain peaks, the Lostine River beckons salmon with some of the finest habitat in Oregon. But in dry summers, ranch irrigators reduce miles of the river to a trickle."
Water 2025 grants target hot spots in shifting Oregon landscape
(Salem Capital Press, 10/21) "When agricultural landscapes, urban landscapes and natural landscapes rub up against one-another, there’s bound to be some friction. More than three dozen Water 2025 grants awarded this year are intended as salve to prevent soreness at those points of friction."

— Water Resources

Williams grazing area raises contaminant concerns
(Medford Mail Tribune, 10/24) "The planned expansion of a federal cattle grazing allotment 10 miles south of Williams has fueled concerns about fecal contamination in waterways, including one that supplies water to the Oregon Caves National Monument."
New Zealand mud snail has foothold in Deschutes River
(Medford News, 10/24) "New reports from the lower Deschutes River and the Oregon coast show that the tiny but highly invasive New Zealand mudsnail, also known as Potamopyrgus antipodarum, continues to increase its foothold in Oregon."
Researchers measure logging impact on fish, wetlands
(Salem Capital Press, 10/21) "The screen was filled with data on fish before and after loggers cut right to the streambanks. Then Mike Newton, the retired Oregon State University forestry professor, announced he wasn’t going to include those numbers in the publicly-released first report of the Hinkle Creek watershed studies."
DEQ extends comment period on water bodies
(Bend News, 10/21) "The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has extended the deadline for public comment on an updated list of Oregon water bodies that do not meet state water quality standards."
Environmentalists claim victory in Klamath River water ruling
(Siskiyou Daily News, 10/20) "Environmentalists are claiming a victory for their position following the Oct. 18 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that rejects the Bush administration's water diversion plan for the Klamath River because 'it fails to protect threatened Klamath River coho salmon.'"
DEQ opens public comment on water quality rule changes
(Oregonian, 10/20) "The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing to revise the state’s rules for water quality criteria for turbidity and other standards, and is seeking public comments on the proposed revisions through Wednesday, Dec. 7."

— Wastewater

Rivergate Farms pays penalty to state
(East Oregonian, 10/23) "Rivergate Farms, which provides fresh onions to customers in the United States and Canada, has paid a $9,910 penalty to the state for violating state law regarding discharge of wastewater."
Sewage plant wins national award
(The Oregonian, 10/21) "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged the Durham Wastewater Treatment Facility near Cook Park with a first-place award for operations and maintenance."

— Everything Else

Hurricanes trigger plastic pipe shortage
(KOIN Portland, 10/21) "Northwest farmers and landscapers are struggling with a nationwide shortage of PVC pipes. Contractors in Oregon are saying it's taking as long as six weeks to fill orders for the large-diameter pipes used in water and sewer projects."

IDAHO LINKS

State of Idaho

Counties
Ada
Bannock
Bingham
Blaine
Bonner
Bonneville
Canyon
Cassia
Elmore
Kootenai
Latah
Madison
Nez Perce
Payette
Twin Falls

Cities
Blackfoot
Boise
Caldwell
Coeur d' Alene
Eagle
Garden City
Idaho Falls
Jerome
Lewiston
Mackay
Meridian
Moscow
Mountain Home
Nampa
Pocatello
Post Falls
Rexburg
Twin Falls

Falls Water Co.

Idaho Conservation League

Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality

Idaho Dept. of Water Resources

Idaho Fish and Game

Idaho Ground Water Association

Idaho Operator Certification and Training

Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Idaho Rivers United

Idaho Rural Water Association

Idaho Soil Conservation Commission

Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

United Water Idaho

University of Idaho Water Quality

USGS Water Resources of Idaho

Idaho

— Water Supply

Twin Falls could run out of water in next five years
(Pocatello State Journal, 10/21) "Declining aquifer water levels in southern Idaho means Twin Falls will run out of water in five years unless new drinking supplies are secured, a study has found."
Gooding water users await judge's decision
(Twin Falls Times-News, 10/19) "Somebody is going to get the short end of the stick — no matter what a judge decides in a case over water rights and law."
Twin Falls wells exceed new arsenic standard
(Twin Falls Times-News, 10/19) "Half the wells that provide drinking water to the city of Twin Falls have arsenic levels that exceed a new federal standard that becomes law in January."

— Water Resources

Petition filed for Snake River load limit review
(Twin Falls Times-News, 10/24) "A south-central Idaho aquaculture facility has petitioned the Idaho Board of Environmental Quality to review a water quality improvement plan establishing load limits on the Mid-Snake River."
Lake*A*Syst aims to protect Lake Pend Oreille water quality
(Bonner County Daily Bee, 10/23) "Water quality watchdogs are launching an ambitious effort aimed at encouraging waterfront landowners to take an active roll in protecting Lake Pend Oreille from pollution."
Data show efforts to protect cutthroat trout are working
(Upper Valley Free Press, 10/22) "When you mix 200 volts of electricity with water you’re setting the stage for some shocking results and that is just what Fisheries biologists with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game found during their recent population surveys on the South Fork of the Snake River."

— Wastewater

Sandpoint's wastewater plant needs major overhaul
(Bonner County Daily Bee, 10/21) "Built in the late 1940s and equipped to handle a capacity of about 3 million gallons per day, Sandpoint's wastewater treatment plant on Ella Street is in need of a major overhaul."
Canadian mine, Idaho group settle complaint over discharge
(KTVB Boise, 10/20) "Mine water running from a World War I-era shaft in the mountains above Boise will soon be treated by a new filtration system."

— Toxic Waste

Superfund cleanup topic of 'Dialogue'
(Pocatello State Journal, 10/21) " 'Dialogue' Sunday continues its discussion begun on 'Outdoor Idaho' with a look at north Idaho's consideration of becoming a Superfund cleanup site. The program airs at 5:30 p.m. locally on KISU Channel 10."

International and National News

— Water Security

EPA, DHS announce research on microbial risk assessment
(EPA, 10/24) "E. Timothy Oppelt, EPA acting assistant administrator for Research and Development, said 'Michigan State University and its collaborating institutions have assembled an exceptionally well-qualified team of researchers, and we know that the microbial risk assessments they will develop are essential for government agencies at all levels to be able to rapidly evaluate and communicate known and potential risks for biological threats in our air, buildings, and water distribution systems.'"

— Water Supply

The California water wars
(San Francisco Chronicle, 10/23) "After 50 years of legal infighting, a victor has emerged in California's water wars — agriculture."
Proposed sewage pipe near Toronto water source
(London Free Press, 10/21) "Critics say drinking water for millions of people could be contaminated if part of a 62-mile sewer system is built between two lakes that are used for drinking water."

— Water Quality

Water mistakenly tainted in California
(Sacramento Bee, 10/24) "Occupants of 9,000 homes, schools and businesses in the El Dorado Hills area received 4 million gallons of contaminated tap water for about 21 hours before the problem was discovered last week."
Study warns of bottled water containing uranium
(UK Daily Mail, 10/24) "English parents who use bottled water to make up baby milk could be hurting their children because some brands contain levels of uranium that could harm a developing child."
EPA: New rules for water on planes
(EPA, 10/20) "The Environmental Protection Agency has reached settlements with 11 major domestic airlines and 13 smaller airlines to ensure the safety of the drinking water used by their passengers and crew."

— Water Resources

Researcher says frog deformities increase with use of fertilizers
(MPR News, 10/19) "Ten years ago Minnesota attracted national attention when severely deformed leopard frogs with oddly shaped and missing limbs were discovered in a Twin Cities wetland. Before long several other states reported similar discoveries."
Poultry farmers face search warrant for soil tests
(Springdale Morning News, 10/19) "A few search warrants were issued to farmers in eastern Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry on Tuesday to allow a private company and state officials to take extensive soil tests on their property. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson claims the poultry companies have polluted the Illinois River watershed and should bear the cost to clean it up."

— Ocean News

Red tide poisoning Gulf of Mexico beaches
(Seattle Times, 10/25) "Since January, red tide has killed tens of thousands of fish, crabs, birds and other small creatures. It has killed at least 66 manatees and 34 dolphins, and sickened almost 180 sea turtles, most of which have died."
Warm oceans threaten Caribbean coral reefs
(Los Angeles Times, 10/25) "The extremely warm ocean waters fueling this season's record hurricane season are stressing coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and may kill 80 percent to 90 percent of the structures in some areas, scientists reported Monday."
Europe launches plan to protect marine environment
(ENN, 10/25) "The European Union head office on Monday launched a plan to make all of the EU's marine waters 'environmentally healthy' by 2021."
Rapid ice sheet melting causes concern
(United Press International, 10/20) "Oregon State University scientists say the rapid breakdown of some parts of the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets is disturbing."

— Mercury

EPA seeks additional comments on mercury rule
(EPA, 10/21) "EPA is granting requests for additional comment on the first-ever rule to regulate mercury emissions from power plants. Finalized in March, 2005, these rules will result in approximately 70 percent reductions in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants when fully implemented."
High mercury levels in Utah under scrutiny
(Salt Lake Tribune, 10/21) "David Naftz and Terry Kenney are searching the brackish water for clues about a potent poison. Their white jumpsuits might make you mistake the two for hazmat responders or astronauts. But they are scientists probing how toxic mercury is getting into the lake and morphing into a dangerous neurotoxin."
Mercury madness: How safe is a seafood diet?
(ABC News, 10/21) "Millions of people make fish — a low-fat, vitamin-rich source of protein — part of their diet for nutritional reasons, or simply because they enjoy the taste. But eating a diet high in fish is becoming increasingly controversial, as some studies tout the benefits of seafood while others argue that the toxic mercury found in some fish outweighs any potential benefits."

— Wastewater

$85 million Manila wastewater project to serve millions
(Water Tech Online, 10/20) "Manila Water Company Inc. launched an $85 million wastewater project that will serve an estimated 3.3 million residents."

— Toxic Waste

Critics rip plan to relax chemical release rules
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/22) "The Bush administration is proposing to relax requirements for factories, shipyards and other businesses to inform the public about their releases of more than 600 toxic chemicals."
E-waste proliferating
(ENN, 10/19) "The 16,000 square-foot warehouse at 401 NE Rock Island Avenue in Peoria is piled high with computers and televisions — all used. It's the place where Recycling for Illinois, a not-for-profit recycling company, seeks to stem the tide of an onrushing sea of electronic appliances."

— Events

11 international delegations to attend WEFTEC.05
(Water World, 10/19) "Trade delegations from eleven countries, the largest from Iraq, will gather in Washington, D.C., to conduct business with and gather information from over 850 water and wastewater companies at WEFTEC®.05, the largest water quality conference of its kind in North America."

— Everything Else

Legislation to create emergency warning system
(AWWA, 10/24) "A Senate committee last week approved legislation creating the National Alert System that would notify the public of all public health and safety hazards using wireless and cell phone technology."
World Water Monitoring Day garners global response
(Water World, 10/24) "Event created by America's Clean Water Foundation and supported by EPA. International Water Association and Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators expected to draw support from as many as 80 nations to celebrate Oct. 18 international waterways monitoring program."
Nanotechnology's big question: Safety
(Washington Post, 10/23) "With little fanfare, the Environmental Protection Agency has for the first time ruled on a manufacturer's application to make a product composed of nanomaterials, the new and invisibly small particles that could transform the nation's engineering, industrial and medical sectors."
Environmental groups sue Navy over sonar
(Cape Cod Times, 10/22) "A coalition of conservation and animal welfare organizations is suing the U.S. Navy because they say mid-frequency sonar used during Navy testing and training is harmful to whales and is in violation of environmental laws."
Carcinogen linked to antimicrobial soap in water
(Water Tech Online, 10/19) "Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered that when the chemical triclosan, present in many antimicrobial soaps, reacts with chlorine in tap water, chloroform, a probable human carcinogen, is produced, the report said."

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Mike Milne
Brown and Caldwell
Suite 1200, One Convention Place, 701 Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 749-2284
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