US Poll: more would give clean water to world than accept US$ 1 million for themselves

A poll of 1,013 adults found that more Americans would choose providing clean water for the world than accepting US$ 1 million for themselves. More Americans, however, would take the US$ 1 million rather than single-handedly stopping global warming, rescuing the world’s rainforests or saving the world’s endangered species.

The main intention of the poll was to test the effectiveness of a national water conservation campaign called “Wasting Water is Weird” run by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense® program. The main conclusion of the poll, conducted by the Shelton Group, was that most Americans were aware of the need to conserve water but the few actually implemented water conservation measures.

The poll, which surveyed 1,013 adults, found only 26 percent had replaced toilets or showerheads with low-flow alternatives, and only 6 percent had planted low-water landscaping. As for Americans’ daily habits: Only 61 percent turn off the water when brushing their teeth, and just 53 percent run their dishwasher only when it’s completely full.

Related web sites:

• Wasting Water is Weird
• EPA – WaterSense
• Shelton Group – Wasting Water is Weird

Source: Business Wire, 12 Sep 2011

USA: proposal to establish Bureau for Global Water Aid

New US legislation proposes to appoint an International Water Issues Diplomatic Coordinator and to set up a Bureau for Global Water Aid at USAID.

Democratic representative from Texas Sheila Jackson-Lee introduced the Global Water Access and Equity Act (H.R.6565) in Congress on 21 December 2010. It has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Among other things, the proposed bill would create the position of “Coordinator of United States Government Diplomatic Initiatives to Provide Safe Water and Sanitation Globally” at the State Department with the responsibility of advising the Secretary of State on U.S. efforts to improve water and sanitation access in developing countries. The bill also establishes the “Bureau for Global Water Aid” at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) headed by an Assistant Administrator who will “be responsible for the oversight and coordination of all United States Government activities to provide safe water and sanitation to developing countries” including those requirements as outlined in the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-121). Finally, the bill authorizes appropriations in the amount that “may be necessary to carry out this Act.”

Read the full details of the bill and its status on Thomas

Source: Kaiser Global Health, 21 Dec 2010

Wikileaks: US political interests in water issues

Wikileaks logo

Leaked diplomatic cables from US embassies published to date by Wikileaks give an indication of US political interests in international water issues. These generally relate to transboundary water disputes and terrorism, corruption, political instability, and US business interests.

Transboundary water disputes and terrorism

When US Senator John Kerry spoke to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on 16 February 2010, he suggested that “cooperation on counter terrorism with the Indians could lead to Indian compromises on key Pakistani issues such as Kashmir and water use” [1]. Pakistan claims that the Baglihar Dam in the Indian-administered part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir is obstructing the flow of the Chenab river into their country [2].

A 2006 cable on the bioterror threat in India, quoted experts saying that biological warfare agents would be diluted in municipal water supplies, but could threaten smaller bodies of water such as apartment water tanks, urban water trucks and rural wells [3].

Water Tops Climate Change as Global Priority

International survey finds fresh water pollution, scarcity drive public concern.

Valentin Pérez Hernandez, a young gardener from Mexico City, moves daily between the two water realities of the nation’s capital: though the immense city is roiled by fierce water shortages, fecal contamination, industrial pollution, and old infrastructure that too often fails, the posh Jardines del Pedregal section where he works is a green and colorful oasis supplied with unusual water abundance. Photo: Circle of Blue

A comprehensive Circle of Blue | GlobeScan international public opinion survey on attitudes about fresh water sustainability, management and conservation finds that people around the world view water issues as the planet’s top environmental problem, greater than air pollution, depletion of natural resources, loss of habitat and even climate change.

The poll, funded by the Molson Coors Brewing Company, surveyed 1,000 people in each of 15 countries, and probed 500 in each of the following countries on specific questions: Canada, China, India, Mexico, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The survey was made public in Stockholm, Sweden, on 18 August 2009 during World Water Week.

The fierce impediments to clean water and sanitation, and the millions of premature deaths from water-related disease are seen as having a greater influence on quality of life and the planet than air pollution, species extinction, depletion of natural resources, loss of habitat and climate change.

More than 90 percent of those polled expressed a conviction that access to clean, fresh water is fundamental, not only for themselves but for all people. Across the globe, respondents to the survey also said education was essential to help people understand the dimensions and the urgency of the crisis.

In response to the survey data, Circle of Blue commissioned some of the world’s best photojournalists to document in pictures and words various facets of the conclusions in seven countries.

A close look at the survey results found considerable consistency, as well as significant variability, in how people view the global fresh water crisis. Among the other consequential findings:

• People around the world view water pollution as the most important facet of the fresh water crisis; shortages of fresh water are very close behind. Concern about both issues tended to be higher in developing countries than in developed nations.
• People in Mexico and India, which are growing rapidly and rely heavily on agriculture for jobs and economic development, expressed the highest level of concern about water shortages in the farm sector.
• In all seven countries, respondents consistently said that governments were the most responsible for ensuring clean water.
• The respondents said that large companies were nearly as responsible as governments for ensuring clean water; nearly eight of 10 respondents from the seven nations said that solving drinking water problems “will require significant help from companies.”
• In an expression of the results of $1 trillion dollars invested in regulations and water delivery and treatment infrastructure in the last two decades, Americans said they were less worried about safe drinking water and pollution than people in most of the other countries, though more than half still expressed concerns.
• Except for India, where 60 percent of respondents said they were “very concerned,” well under half of the respondents in the six other nations surveyed said they were not terribly worried about the “high cost” of water.

Download the complete GlobeScan/Circle of Blue Report [pdf]

Visit the Water Views page with graphics, a feature story, country profiles, photo stories and videos.

USA: Water for the World Act aims to provide 100 million people with safe water and sanitation by 2015

On 22 April 2009, Earth Day, Members of the US House of Representatives, Earl Blumenauer and Donald Payne introduced the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009. Building upon the landmark Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, this bill sets a goal of providing 100 million of the world’s poorest with sustainable drinking water and sanitation by 2015.

The legislation had previously been introduced to the US Senate on 17 March 2009 by Senators Dick Durbin, Patty Murray and Bob Corker.

The Water for the World Act would establish an Office of Water within USAID to implement country-specific water strategies. It would also create a Special Coordinator for International Water within the State Department to coordinate the diplomatic policy of the US with respect to global freshwater issues, and establish programs in countries of greatest need that build local capacity, collaboration across borders and disciplines and promotes full utilization of low-cost technologies, such as hand washing stations and latrines.

The Water for the World Act is endorsed by a number of global health and environment advocates, including Water Advocates, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and CARE.

“No other country has set out to reach as many people in need of safe drinking water and basic sanitation in this period of time,” said David Douglas, President of Water Advocates. “This is one of the most effective actions the United States can take to improve health worldwide.”

Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter was more critical of the bill. She called it “well-intended” but “deeply flawed”. ‘It will further enable the role of private investment in public drinking and waste water infrastructure in developing nations [...]. Reinforcing the role of private investment in the water infrastructure systems of developing countries will only perpetuate the problems that this well-intended act is designed to solve. Instead, we must work with developing countries to implement sound water policies based on public management of this essential resource,” Ms Hauter concluded.

View the full text and other related information about the Water for the World Act here.

Read the June 2009 Report to Congress of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act for more information.

Sources: Congressman Earl Blumenauer press release, 22 Apr 2009 ; Water Advocates / Earth Times, 27 Apr 2009 ; Food & Water Watch, 23 Apr 2009

Congressman Earl Blumenauer introduces Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009. Click on image to see video clip.

USA: cyberspies from Russia and China target electricity and water infrastructure

Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, according to current and former national-security officials. [W]ater, sewage and other infrastructure systems also were at risk.

The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, these officials said, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls. The intruders haven’t sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure, but officials warned they could try during a crisis or war.

[...] Overseas examples show the potential havoc. In 2000, a disgruntled employee rigged a computerized control system at a water-treatment plant in Australia, releasing more than 200,000 gallons of sewage into parks, rivers and the grounds of a Hyatt hotel.

[...] Russian and Chinese officials have denied any wrongdoing.

Read more: Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal, 08 Apr 2009

Climate change: study on abondoned mines shows effect on water quality

The water supply in the American west could become more toxic as a result of climate change, according to a new study, thanks in large part to run-off from thousands of abandoned mine sites that pepper the region. “There’s been a lot of work done on the impacts of climate change on water water resources, but not so much on water quality,” Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California said. “If this study is right, it suggests there are additional risks associated with climate change, other than flood and drought.”

In an examination of three sites in the US and sites outside the US, the study found that acidity and dissolved metals in water skyrocket after rain hits an area that had been dry for months. Much of that water runs off into streams and rivers. A small fraction also seeps into the ground, though, where it often remains for decades before trickling back out into surface waters.

Over time, continuous precipitation will dilute the ‘first flush’ of surface contaminants. And as the trickle of acidic ground water meets fresh rain and snow melts, it can dilute that, too. The problems come as rain spells become less frequent but heavier when they do occur as a result of climate change.

Source: Michael Reilly, Discovery News,17 Feb 2009

USA: resolution in support of International Year of Sanitation takes effect

On August 1st, 2008, the United States Senate passed H.Con.Res 318, supporting the goals and ideals of the United Nations’ declaration of 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation. Introduced by Congressman Donald M. Payne and Senator Richard J. Durbin [D-IL], the concurrent resolution encourages the US government and other relevant stakeholders to recommit to helping developing countries obtain access to basic sanitation and safe drinking water.

Following its introduction on 14 March 2008, the resolution has passed in both the House of Representatives (10 June 2008) and in the Senate, and now takes effect. It does not require the signature of the President and does not have the force of law.

Source: U.S. Congress / allAfrica.com, 01 Aug 2008