There is Growing Sentiment in the UK That Companies that Produce Wet Wipes Should Pay for Their Removal from Wastewater

 

Water companies claim that wet wipes, which shed microplastic particles and also build up into major blockages, are the main cause of sewage pollution. John Penicud, Southern Water’s managing director for wastewater, said recently that “the majority of wastewater pollutants are caused by wet wipes, fats, oils and grease being flushed down toilets and sinks.”  He called for wet wipes to be banned.

To deal with wet wipes, the EU is introducing quaternary treatment, a more advanced method than that used in the UK. This has powerful filters that remove these trace chemicals from the water supply, but is expensive, so the bloc is looking at making the producers of these chemicals pay a levy that would then be used to create these treatment plants. Producers would be required to cover at least 80% of the costs associated with the sewage treatment upgrades necessary for removing these substances from wastewater.  Guardian.

Lead Service Lines in Connecticut

 

New data obtained by The Connecticut Mirror shows there could be as many as 8,000 lead service lines still in use in public water systems throughout the state — though that number is likely to change as water utilities continue to inspect basements, unearth pipes and comb through century-old records to verify how much lead remains in the ground.

The data provides the first public look at how many people in Connecticut could be consuming water that travels through lead lines. And it highlights how that aging infrastructure is not distributed equally throughout the state. CT Mirror.

 

By far the month’s most intense water story was the 4th of July Central Texas flood that killed almost 200 people, many of them children, and instigated speculation about the Trump administration’s failure to meet its obligation in supporting weather science and protection against climate change.  Here’s an example of opinion:

The deadly Texas floods could signal a new normal in the US, as Donald Trump and his allies dismantle crucial federal agencies that help states prepare and respond to extreme weather and other hazards, experts warn.

More than 100 are dead and dozens more remain missing after flash floods in the parched area known as the Texas Hill Country swept away entire holiday camps and homes, in what appears to have been another unremarkable storm that stalled before dumping huge quantities of rain over a short period of time, a phenomenon that has become increasingly common as the planet warms.

There is mounting concern that the chaos and cuts instigated by Trump and Elon Musk at the National Weather Service (NWS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) may have contributed to the death toll. The Guardian.

Historic Drought Hits England

 

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s Thames Water announced a temporary “hosepipe ban” on Monday, aimed at cutting water usage across large parts of southern England, following the country’s driest and warmest spring in over a century.

Thames Water, Britain’s biggest water supplier which has 16 million customers, said the ban would take effect on July 22, and apply to households across several counties including Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Berkshire, but not in London.

Under the ban, customers are prohibited from using hosepipes for activities such as washing cars, watering gardens or allotments, filling paddling or swimming pools, and cleaning windows.

Other water suppliers in England have also introduced bans this month, with Yorkshire Water and South East Water both announcing temporary restrictions last week.

More than 13 million people along lake shorelines in the U.S. were advised to “stay out of the water” on Thursday as weather conditions created a dangerous environment in the water for beachgoers. The Great Lakes consistently rank as a premier recreation destination in the U.S., especially during summer. Despite water temperatures that remain cold early in the season, recreational swimmers frequent the region’s beaches.

The beach hazards statement comes as the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has reported 38 Great Lakes drownings this year. Most drownings occur at Lake Michigan, but water-related injuries and deaths can also occur at the other Great Lakes.

More than 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools sold across the U.S. and Canada over the last two decades are being recalled after nine drowning deaths were reported.

The recall covers a range of Bestway, Intex Recreation and Polygroup pools that were sold by major retailers as far back as 2002. According to Monday notices published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, these pools have compression straps running along the outside of the product — which “may create a foothold” for small children and allow them to access the water unattended. MSN

Over 73 million people in the US are being exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals in their tap water, according to an analysis of data from a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water monitoring program. (Read the rest of the story here.)

Dams in parts of the country are now in serious need of repair. Their failure puts new areas at risk of serious flooding.  The Guardian explains:

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration had made investing in America’s ageing infrastructure over the course of many years a priority, with $10bn dedicated to flooding mitigation and drought relief. An additional $3bn was allocated in 2021 through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for dam safety, removal and related upgrades.

Since Donald Trump entered the White House in January, the administration has vowed to roll back much of those investments. Hundreds of dam safety and other staffers working at dams in 17 western states have been laid off in recent months. Before the 4 July flood disaster in Texas, the Trump administration had pledged to close the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). With more than 92,000 dams across the country, the Society of Civil Engineers estimates the cost of repairing the country’s non-federal dams at $165bn.  The Guardian 

At least 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces are now suffering a water crisis. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is reportedly not ruling out relocating the capital city of Tehran over the severe water shortage that has gripped the country, Der Spiegel reported on Thursday, citing Iranian media.  Critics of the regime blame the water crisis on the government’s failure to address climate change. Jerusalem Post

Several died in flash flooding events in New Mexico during July.  New York Times.

The U.S. has seen devastating flash floods throughout its history, but rising global temperatures today are increasing the risk of flooding.

As ocean and air temperatures rise, atmospheric water vapor increases. Higher ocean temperatures can produce more atmospheric water vapor through evaporation, and a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, fueling downpours. In some high-risk areas, meteorologists, aware of the risks, say they are becoming more proactive about warning communities.

Currently, evidence shows atmospheric water vapor is increasing in the overall global climate system as temperatures rise.  The Conversation.

 

“One of the worst marine disasters in living memory”

South Australia’s toxic algal bloom is twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory, has killed 13,800 animals and is filling even the experts with dread. Tory Shepherd and Lisa Cox, as well as our video team, explored the causes and impact of “one of the worst marine disasters in living memory”. Full story from The Guardian.