Latest Groundwater Stories

By Anonymous WATER ENGINEERING THE SECURITY AND QUALITY of the water supply is a major issue facing every South African community. From tiny dorps to big cities, the demands for potable and industrial or agricultural usage water are ever increasing. Some areas are fortunate to have either or both consistent rainfall and sufficient river and dam capacity, but many municipalities are subject to seasonally distorted rainfall patterns and some face radical demand spikes (for example Plettenberg...

By Sarah Watson, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va. Aug. 6--Increased demand and a lowering Pedlar Reservoir are why Lynchburg has started tapping the James River for water, weeks earlier than usual. The city began drawing river water for 24 percent of its supply Monday. City Utilities Director Tim Mitchell said he expects half the water supply will come from the river by the end of this week. "It's earlier than normal," Mitchell said. "Typically it's September or early October before we...

By Vichaya Pitsuwan, Bangkok Post, Thailand Aug. 2--Local industrialists have called for a groundwater surcharge reduction in order to increase the industrial sector's competitiveness. An appropriate rate for the surcharge would be four baht per cubic metre, said Santi Vilassakdanont, the chairman of the The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Mr Santi said that industries in high-consumption areas were currently paying 8.50 baht per cubic metre, while those in non-crisis areas were...

By Joseph M. Dougherty Deseret News WOODS CROSS -- A recent environmental study that evaluated the impacts of a new culinary water well in Woods Cross appears to give the go-ahead for the city to begin designing a $5 million well. The report, completed by JUB Engineers, investigated potential impacts of a new well, but found no impacts that could keep a new well from being drilled. Woods Cross expects to need at least seven wells to accommodate drinking water needs for its expected...

By Lynn Arave Deseret News SOUTH WEBER -- Two large gravel pits in town are ever-growing icons in an otherwise bedroom community. However, that may change one day. The gravel pits have limited life spans and could one day be filled with water, making them vital to the water needs of South Weber and more than a dozen communities to the west. "We certainly understand these gravel pits are in operation," said Matthew Dixon, South Weber city manager. "We're not trying to stop their operations...

Apex Oil Co. is to clean up extensive contamination at its former refinery in Hartford, Ill., an effort that could cost $150 million, officials said Tuesday. Apex was ordered to clean up the soil and groundwater contamination Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Herndon Monday, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement. This court ruling represents a victory for the environment and for the people of Hartford, said Ronald Tenpas, assistant attorney general for the Justice...

By Sarah Watson, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va. Jul. 29--Today: An ambitious state-mandated study of the region's water needs for the next several decades says regionalism will be the key to managing the area's water resources. Sunday: We live in an area where we seemingly have a wealth of water -- lakes, rivers, reservoirs and groundwater. Yet, as the region's thirst grows and our resources are affected by increased demand and weather fluctuations, there are questions in some...

By Ron Seely, The Wisconsin State Journal Jul. 27--The state Department of Natural Resources has been swamped by a dramatic increase in applications for high-capacity irrigation wells throughout the state, including many in areas where drought and irrigation continue to affect the levels of some streams and lakes. Last year, between January and July, the agency approved 66 of the high-capacity agricultural wells statewide. This year, during the same period, the agency has approved 116 of...

By Matt Hildner, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Jul. 27--ALAMOSA -- The federal government will try to secure its right to groundwater beneath the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on Wednesday, when a three-week trial is scheduled to open in the Water Court for Division 3. Attorneys with the Department of Justice filed a claim to a right that would entitle it to all unappropriated water in the unconfined aquifer needed to maintain ground water levels in the park. The "in-place" use...

By Sarah Watson, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va. Jul. 27--Most of us take water for granted -- turn on the faucet and out it comes. But beyond the tap, the picture is more complex. We live in an area where we seemingly have a wealth of water -- lakes, rivers, reservoirs and groundwater. Yet, as the region's thirst grows and our resources are affected by increased demand and weather fluctuations, there are questions in some localities about whether that wealth will remain. The summer...