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Breaking NewsArid Australia Sips Seawater, but at a Cost DATE: 17-Aug-2010 In one of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects in its history, Australia’s five largest cities are spending $13.2 billion on desalination plants capable of sucking millions of gallons of seawater from the surrounding oceans every day, removing the salt and yielding potable water. In two years, when the last plant is scheduled to be up and running, Australia’s major cities will draw up to 30 percent of their water from the sea. Australia is still recovering from its worst drought ever, a decade-long parching that the government says was deepened by climate change. With water shortages looming, other countries, including the United States and China, are also looking to the sea. But desalination is also drawing fierce criticism and civic protests. Many homeowners, angry about rising water bills, and environmentalists, wary of the plants’ effect on the climate, call the projects energy-hungry white elephants. Stricter conservation measures, like mandating more efficient washing machines, would easily wring more water from existing supplies. “Big waste of money,” said Helen Meyer, 65, a retired midwife in Tugun, the town where the northeastern state of Queensland opened a $1 billion desalination plant last year. “It cost a lot of money to build, and it uses a lot of power. Australia is a dry country. I think we just have enough water for 22 million people. What are we going to do when we’re up to 36 million?” The plant, sprawling across 15 acres next to an airport and near residential neighborhoods, provides water to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, and other areas of southeastern Queensland, the nation’s fastest-growing region.  Besides restricting water use and subsidizing the purchase of home water tanks to capture rainwater, the state spent nearly $8 billion to create the country’s most sophisticated water supply network. It fashioned dams and a web of pipelines to connect 18 independent water utilities in a single grid. To “drought proof” the region, it built facilities for manufacturing water, by recycling wastewater, to use for industrial purposes, and by desalinating seawater. Other cities are making the same bet. Perth, which opened the nation’s first desalination plant in 2006, is building a second one. Sydney’s plant started operating early this year, and plants near Melbourne and Adelaide are under construction. Many environmentalists and economists oppose any further expansion of desalination because of its price and contribution to global warming. The power needed to remove the salt from seawater accounts for up to 50 percent of the cost of desalination, and Australia relies on coal, a major emitter of greenhouse gases, to generate most of its electricity. Critics say desalination will add to the very climate change that is aggravating the country’s water shortage. and that there are cheaper alternatives. They advocate conservation measures, as well as better management of groundwater reserves and water catchments. For more information visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/world/asia/
Freshwater national parks? DATE: 23-Apr-2010
We have national parks to protect sensitive areas of land, and marine parks to protect sensitive sections of ocean. But what about the freshwater areas? One Riverina academic is worried that if we don't do something now to protect the fresh water systems in the same way as we've protected land and coastal waters, it will be too late and the damage will be permanent.  The nation has been consumed by water management discussions over the past few years, including the major issues around the Murray Darling Basin. Charles Sturt University river ecologist, Dr Paul Humphries reckons it's time for freshwater parks. "We've actually seen the ecological collapse of most of the river systems in the Murray Darling Basin. We've seen a huge loss if species over the past couple of hundred years and the rise of introduced species like carp, redfin, trout and other smaller species we don't see so much. We've seen the ecological extinction of native species like Murray Cod, algal blooms have become more prominent as have fish kills." Dr Humphries says there's huge pressure on the basin system because of drought, climate change and increasing demand for water by populations. He doesn't believe water trading or buybacks of small amounts will solve the problems, but rather creating the freshwater or river version of a national park. The idea is based around conserving biodiversity in the system where hasn't already been severely impacted, creating areas for species to breed up then move out and effectively re-seed places where those species have been lost. Dr Humphries also says there's a need to manage the water and rehabilitate the physical habitat as well, in a coordinated way, not just in random chunks along the system in isolation. For more information visit: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/01/28/2803546.htm
Queensland drought unlikely to be over soon DATE: 23-Apr-2009 South-east Queensland's dam levels are unlikely to reach the drought-breaking 60 per cent mark despite being agonisingly close. The combined dam levels of south-east Queensland's three major dams increased by 0.42 per cent over the weekend to stop at 59.47 per cent. South-east Queensland will no longer be classified in drought if dam levels reach 60 per cent. SEQ Water spokesman Chris Zipf said it was unlikely to happen soon, as rain had eased.  For more information visit: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/
Murray flows lowest in a century DATE: 09-Apr-2009 The amount of water flowing into the stricken Murray River between January and March was the lowest for that quarter in the 117 years that records have been kept. An unprecedented drought has thrown the river system into decline, according to the guardian for the river. "We've had big droughts before and big floods before, but what we didn't have was climate change," said Rob Freeman, the chief executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. A second record has been smashed too - for a three-year period. Water flowing into the system in the three years to March totalled 5160 gigalitres, less than half the previous 11,300 gigalitre minimum during the 1943-46 drought, according to the authority's update.  The situation is not expected to improve until there is a very significant and sustained improvement in rainfall, system inflows and water storage levels. The government purchase of Toorale station for its water entitlements had resulted in an extra 11 gigalitres of water reaching the Darling River after heavy rains in February. For more information visit: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/
Govt can buy water and properties in the Darling Basin DATE: 08-Aug-2008 The Inland Rivers Network and the Australian Conservation Foundation have identified six properties with big water storages in the Darling Basin that could be purchased by Federal or state governments to help revive the struggling Murray-Darling system. Several of these properties are already on the market. Combined they would provide at least 300 gigalitres to address the immediate crisis in the Lower Lakes and the Coorong.  Photo: The Coorong and lower lakes Ramsar site, around Goolwa Photo Courtesy of: National Museum of Austrlia, Canberra http://www.nma.gov.au/ For more information visit: http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=1877
Carbon Filter Warning DATE: 29-Dec-2007 Results have revealed that one of Australia's most widely sold carbon filter cartridge exceeds the World Health Organizations safety limit for iron in a filtration product. Widely sold at market stalls and discount filter websites,the cartridge can easily be identified with the use of the following on the label 1 USA flag 2 Wording "USA Design" The filter cartridge is made in central China under the guise of a USA made filter and is selling in the marketplace for anywhere between $19 o $60 dollars Consumers are urged to verify the origin of manufacture of the product.Brownish spotting on the exterior of the cartridge is a telltale sign that this filter cartridge is in use. All Freshly Squeezed Water Filter customers need not be concerned,as this cartridge has never been sold or marketed by the company. This advice has been bought to you as another Freshly Squeezed Water consumer service bulletin pursuant to its role as a responsible and ethical water filter manufacturer. 
Crypto.. Its Back DATE: 19-Oct-2007 Sydney Water Catchment Authority has reported that levels of cryptosporidium have been detected in a drinking water supply canal to Warragamba Dam. 21 cysts of Cryptosporidium were detected in a very small sample of water. At this stage no health alert has been issued and the canal has been shut down as a precaution with authorities attempting to trace the source of the parasite. We have put together a cryptosporidium section within our water filter product range for easy system comparison regarding cryptosporidium elimination. Ensure you have a AS/NZ 4348 approved system for complete protection  We are also advising all existing clients to contact the Five Dock offfice to check on the suitability and remaining lifespan of their existing systems filter cartridges.
100% algae effective filters DATE: 27-Sep-2007 In our products section, view dedicated blue green algae section for 100% effective water filter systems to protect your family against this sometimes deadly toxin. Sydney Water has advised that over 75% of Warragamba Dam has now been covered with blue green algae.Already several toxic blooms have been discovered. 2 filter systems we manufacture are guaranteed to eliminate all blue green algae and all blue green algae toxic blooms from drinking water . Our undersink snapseal system will eliminate the toxins Our premium benchtop will also eliminate the toxins Phone our Five Dock shop on 0297121022 for wholesale direct prices to you today.
 Beware of inferior imported asian filter systems Both systems are quality assured and exceed all Australian Standards For more information visit: http://www.freshlysqueezed.com.au/filterrange.php?r=29
Blue Green Algae Update DATE: 20-Sep-2007 Australias ongoing drought has escalated toxic bluegreen algae from a naturally occurring substance to one of the nations most critical water quality issues. Blue green algae is cyanobacteria , quite toxic to humans and animals. Boiling water will not make water contaminated with blue green algae toxins safe for drinking.The boiling of water will release the cell bound toxins into the water supply. The four most common toxins produced by blue green algae in australia include
Microcystins damage liver cells which cause pooling of blood and finally liver failure. Saxitoxins interfere with the function of the nervous system and cause paralysis of the respiratory system as a result of muscle failure. Cylidrospermopsin is a slow acting toxin that damages a number of organs including the liver,kidney and thymus. Lipopolysachharides is associated with gastroenteritis,skin infection,hayfever and eye irritations.  The occurance and severity of the health problems associated with these toxins depend on:
WATER TREATMENT FOR DRINKING AFFECTED SUPPLY Our range of premium plus,platinum and snapseal filter systems will remove these toxins. BEWARE low grade carbon filters cannot effectively remove these toxins, as the carbons absorption qualities in these systems are inferior in performance and contact time. Details on the four most common toxins produced by blue-green algae in Australia are given below:
For more information visit: http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au
lead found in schools drinking water DATE: 16-Sep-2007 over 36 schools were advised to stop supplying drinking water from their rainwater tanks to school children today as excessive lead levels were found in them. Affected schools will now supply bottled water to students until further notice. Authorities have started investigations into the source of the dissolved lead found and are conducting further tests. High lead levels in young children have a well known link with reduced IQ levels and lead can adversely affect the central nervous system and liver. Filtration required to totally eliminate soluble lead from drinking water is very specialised, with most filter systems merely reducing soluble lead.Most filtration advertising material claiming lead removal is deceptive , with the impression given that soluble lead is removed, ie lead totally sissolved in the water, whereas the systems merely remove insoluble lead, ie bits of lead falling from flashing or guttering. These types of systems cannot remove dissolved lead, the issue at hand. Consumers should always insist on certified filtration systems to deal with this dangerous metal.  We strongly recommend the use of our snapseal range of filtration systems for total soluble lead removal and peace of mind. Soluble lead in water cannot be removed by carbon filtration alone and requires the impregnation of selective filtration mediums to eliminate it. Our snapseal range of systems and our premium countertop system are certified to all the Australian Standards to eliminmate, not merely reduce over 94% soluble lead in drinking water as a minimum. Plumbing for these systems is quick and simple . Systems tailored for school drinking troughs etc with high rates and no drop off in lead removal are our specialty. Parents should also consider the snapseal system for home use as well, as lead is commonly found in rainwater tank drinking water. For further information please call us on 02 97121022 or fax us on 02 97121540.Email sales@fswc.com.au As filter manufacturers. we specialise in lead removal drinking water systems.
For more information visit: http://www.abc.net.au
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Check out our online product catalogue! "Disease outbreaks from drinking water are almost invariably linked to changes in measurable water quality parameters or to the failure of treatment processes to cope with extreme weather events such as high rainfall and flooding. Water treatment processes generally function best under steady state conditions, and performance can seriously deteriorate when there are major fluctuations in quality or flow." |
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