AlterNet.org: Water

Will More Enforcement Staff Overseeing Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania Be Enough to Ensure Safety?

Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:01 PST

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection will double its enforcement staff, open a new office closer to the drilling action and release new drilling regulations.

The War on Tap: Stadium Where Cleveland Cavaliers Play Has Removed Water Fountains

Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:00:01 PST

The only way for thirsty fans to get water now is to wait in line at the concessions counter for a free small cup or pay $4 for bottled water.

Coca-Cola Puts on Green Guise for the Winter Olympics

Stephanie Rogers, EcoSalon — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:00:01 PST

Critics point out inconsistencies in Cokeâ€™s approach to the environment including its opposition to city efforts to support public water and to bottle recycling bills.

Keep Fish Off Drugs: Don't Flush Your Pills

Brian Merchant, Planet Green — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:00:01 PST

Around the country, chemists have discovered that fish in the water downstream from water treatment plants absorb chemicals found in antidepressant drugs into their bodies.

Los Angeles May Get Mandatory Rainwater Harvesting Law

TreeHugger — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:00:01 PST

Does this mean LA is becoming water wise?

Orland, California Group Gets Ready to Ward off Water Bottling Plant

Christine G.K. LaPado, Chico News and Review — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:00:01 PST

Crystal Geyser is seeking approval for a bottling plant on an industrial-zoned parcel that is bordered on three sides by bucolic agricultural-residential land.

Coal Ash Industry Manipulated EPA Data, Ghost-Wrote Agency Reports for a Decade

Joshua Frank, TruthOut.org — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:00:01 PST

The industry "watered down official reports, brochures and fact-sheets to remove references to potential dangers." So-called "environmental benefits" were aggrandized.

Water Heist: Corporations Are Targeting Cash-Strapped Cities for Control of Their Public Water

Jon Keesecker, AlterNet — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:00:01 PST

From wastewater to drinking water, big business is looking to cash in on public water systems and they've got a new tactic.

Where To Find 1 Million Acre-feet of Water for California

Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:01 PST

A new report by the Pacific Institute points the way to how urban and agricultural users can save water.

Pennsylvania Gas Wells Booming, But So Are Spills

Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:00:01 PST

Reports of toxic spills are coming on the heels of a string of other incidents that have killed fish in one of the state's most prized recreational lakes.

What Should Be in Obama's State of the Union

AlterNet — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:01 PST

Obama has the next 10 months to demonstrate some progress or face a shellacking in the midterm elections this November. Here's what his speech should outline.

Study: Algae Biofuels Enviro-Impact Worse Than Corn Ethanol

Matthew McDermott, TreeHugger — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:00:01 PST

Using algae as a new fuel source may mean taking more steps than anticipated to ensure its environmental sustainability.

Glacier National Park May Need a Name Change Soon

Joshua Frank, AlterNet — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:01 PST

Glacial retreat in the the U.S: One of Montana's most majestic places will be gone in a little over two decades, and 99% of Alaska's glaciers are shrinking.

What to Make of the Latest Article Warning of Scary Tap Water

Robin Madel, Green Fork Blog — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:01 PST

As scary as tap can be in certain places, there even more reason to be concerned with bottled water.

Is New York's Budget Deficit Leading it to Adopt Natural Gas Drilling Practices That Threaten Drinking Water?

Byard Duncan, AlterNet — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:00:01 PST

The state's environmental regulations are supposed to ensure that drilling in the Marcellus Shale proceeds smoothly; they don't even come close.

Is Schwarzenegger's Big Drought Over?

Dan Bacher, AlterNet — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:00:01 PST

Don't be surprised if Schwarzenegger will now use the threat of catastrophic flooding of Biblical proportions to promote the $11.1 water bond on the November ballot.

Colbert Report Takes Down Big Coal: Save the Endangered Hillbilly (VIDEO)

Jeff Biggers, AlterNet — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:00:01 PST

Stephen Colbert hosted scientist Margaret Palmer in a brilliant takedown of the Obama administration's recent decision to green light more mountaintop removal permits.

10 Million Tons of Chemical Fertilizer Discharged into China's Water Every Year

Brian Merchant, TreeHugger — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:00:01 PST

A new report finds that Chinese farmers used a stunning 40 percent more fertilizer than necessary.

Water For Haiti, Now

Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:00:01 PST

In any disaster like this, after search, rescue, and immediate medical care, clean and safe water becomes a critical need.

Why Are Exxon Mobil and XTO Energy Meeting With Congress? (Hint: It May Be About Drilling in the Marcellus Shale)

Adam Federman, Earth Island Journal — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:01 PST

As Congress reviews the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, that could have big impacts on Exxon's acquisition of XTO Energy.