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After UK’s hottest summer on record, Ardingly near Haywards Heath is just 19% full – and next-closest reservoir is unusable due to broken treatment works

Residents of Steyr’s Waldrandsiedlung settlement no longer need to boil drinking water after follow-up tests confirmed the water is safe, ORF reported. The drinking water authority of the Upper Austrian state government lifted the advisory in coordination with Steyr City Utilities. The tests conf…

This story was co-published with Rolling Stone. In Ohio’s rural southeastern corner, Marietta College geology professor David Jeffrey was among the residents worried that industry activity in America’s booming natural gas region could be polluting their drinking water. That’s “the biggest fear,” he said at an August meeting with top Ohio officials. When Jeffrey and residents from advocacy groups Buckeye Environmental Network and Washington County for Safe Drinking Water met with Ohio officials, those state officials repeatedly assured residents that despite the up to 1.4 billion gallons of oil and gas wastewater injected in underground wells in their county and across Ohio each year, the state was unaware of any resulting drinking water contamination there. “We would have heard about it,” Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which oversees both aspects of Ohio’s environment and its oil and gas industry, told residents in the August 17 virtual meeting. “No one has called us that I’m aware of,” said Eric Vendel, ODNR’s oil and gas division chief. “We have a water investigation form that can be filled out and we would have my team down there and investigate the water.” What officials did not tell the...

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Over 80 leading global health, environment, and food advocacy organisations including Greenpeace International, the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems and the World Organization of Family Doctors have issued an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) urging a review of international drinking water standards for nitrate to protect public health from the growing threat of agricultural pollution. Amanda Larsson, Global Project Lead for Agriculture at Greenpeace said: “Water should be life-giving, not life-threatening. We cannot protect human health without protecting the groundwater and rivers that sustain us. Governments must take decisive action to curb the growth of intensive livestock farming and actively support producers in transitioning to ecological farming practices – ensuring that clean, safe drinking water isn’t a luxury but a guarantee.” Timed to coincide with World One Health Day, marked by the WHO and three other UN bodies to highlight the interdependence between human, animal, and ecosystem health, the coalition is calling on the WHO Secretariat and its Guideline Development Group to formally prioritise nitrate for full evaluation in its upcoming review of global drinking water quality guidelines.[1] The letter argues that current guidelines are outdated and risk exposing the public...

With hand pumps submerged in stagnant floodwater, residents say that the few functioning tube wells are supplying potentially contaminated water, raising fears of outbreaks of water-borne diseases. “The biggest problem is drinking water. Rescue boats are the only means of reaching the main road,” said Santi Behera, 43, of Rajapur village in Ganjam district. Balabhadra Sahoo, 55, of Biripur village in the same district, said his family had lost its home and crops in the floods and was now struggling to obtain drinking water. Ranjan Sahoo, 63, of Badamadhapur village in Chatrapur block, Ganjam district, said polluted floodwater had left villagers with little choice but to avoid cooked meals. Meanwhile, the Housing and Urban Development Department has deployed teams from the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) and the Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) to oversee drinking-water supplies and sanitation arrangements in flood-affected areas. All water sources, including community water facilities, are to be cleaned and disinfected. Post-flood sanitation and the restoration of hygienic conditions are also being prioritised, said Anisha Kar, public relations officer with the Information and Public Relations Department of the Odisha government. Suresh Pujari, the revenue and disaster management minister, said the department was prepared to provide...

About 15,000 people in Pfaffenhofen district have been told to boil their drinking water again after contamination indicators were detected in a water reservoir. The district office announced the precaution, BR reported. Coliform bacteria and intestinal enterococci were found in follow-up samples…

Over 3,300 people in Ballyheigue in Co Kerry have been without safe drinking water for over three weeks - following a 'do not consume' notice issued by Uisce Éireann on 7 October. The notice was issued after saltwater was detected in the raw water source supplying Ballyheigue’s water treatment plant. It is believed to be the first major incident of saltwater intrusion into a deep underground aquifer in Ireland. Under the notice, affected residents have been advised not to use their water for drinking, food preparation, or brushing teeth, with a particular warning to children under 12 months. Neither domestic water filters or boiling the water will make it safe to drink, while it can still be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils. Yesterday, dozens of Ballyheigue residents picked up alternative water supplies in the form of bottles and a tanker, provided by Uisce Éireann. Many said they have been severely impacted by the long running notice. Geraldine Harris is the mother to two children with additional needs, including her daughter Emily who is autistic and non-verbal. For her, the past month has been "absolutely horrendous". "For example, Emily is just after learning how...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often informally referred to as 'forever chemicals' because they've soaked so deeply into the environment and take such a long time to break down. There are thousands of these PFAS in circulation, used extensively in manufacturing and product materials, and scientists are busy continuing to assess what exactly the health risks of all of them are – and to what extent we're exposed to them every day. In a new study in Cell Reports Sustainability, researchers from the US estimate that levels of PFAS in the drinking water of Americans could be twice as high as standard reporting suggests. The reason for the discrepancy is a matter of rounding. When the numbers have been crunched previously, there's usually a threshold below which PFAS levels are rounded down – and that's not what the study authors did here. "When the levels of these chemicals are below our reporting limit, it's often treated as zero when we calculate how widespread they are," says environmental scientist Gehendra Kharel, from Texas Christian University. "We set out to understand how treating those results as zero changes the picture of PFAS occurrence in drinking water." The researchers analyzed 1.86 million...

December 7 - What's In Your Glass? (Educators/Students) Explore Penn State Extension's hands-on drinking water curriculum and learn how to engage youth in water quality investigations, watershed science, and drinking water protection. Through inquiry-based activities, students model watersheds, simulate runoff and pollutant movement, use water testing kits, interpret laboratory reports, and examine water quality indicators, including pH, nitrates, and total dissolved solids. These activities help students understand potential threats to drinking water and the role of science in protecting this vital resource. The curriculum aligns with Pennsylvania's Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS) standards and supports the Chesapeake Bay Program's Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework. Activities guide students in asking questions, collecting and analyzing data, and making evidence-based decisions about water resources in their communities. Participants will gain hands-on experience and strategies for integrating the curriculum into standards-based lessons and using it to support authentic watershed investigations that connect science concepts to real-world stewardship. Who is this for? -- Classroom teachers -- Environmental educators -- Youth and environmental volunteers What will you learn? -- Youth engagement in water science, including the water cycle, watersheds, and drinking water threats -- Hands-on investigations using Foil the Flow, H2-Oh...

Chris Leonard often camps on a grassy patch of sidewalk along West Benson Boulevard near Tommy’s Burger Stop and the Captain Sparrow liquor store. Like other homeless residents of Anchorage, the self-described former halibut fisherman and father of four often struggles to quench his thirst. But Leonard has a workaround to access clean drinking water, an essential commodity often in short supply for unhoused people banned from stores or other private establishments with bathrooms. Leonard said he’s fortunate to know some Spenard apartment dwellers who understand his predicament. “They leave their outdoor tap on,” Leonard said in an interview Monday. Mickey Toorak, an Utqiagvik-based baleen artist currently unhoused in Anchorage, uses a similar approach. “We go to spigots,” said Toorak, standing next to Leonard, a sleeping bag under his arm and new winter jacket on his back. The jacket came from Project Homeless Connect, an annual event Toorak attended Monday that was sponsored by the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness and offers services to homeless individuals. Toorak was among more than 1,000 other homeless attendees at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center, according to the coalition. A man who was camping near Toorak and Leonard had developed his...

Over 3,300 people in Ballyheigue in Co Kerry have been without safe drinking water for over three weeks - following a 'do not consume' notice issued by Uisce Éireann on 7 October. The notice was issued after saltwater was detected in the raw water source supplying Ballyheigue’s water treatment plant. It is believed to be the first major incident of saltwater intrusion into a deep underground aquifer in Ireland. Under the notice, affected residents have been advised not to use their water for drinking, food preparation, or brushing teeth, with a particular warning to children under 12 months. Neither domestic water filters or boiling the water will make it safe to drink, while it can still be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils. Yesterday, dozens of Ballyheigue residents picked up alternative water supplies in the form of bottles and a tanker, provided by Uisce Éireann. Many said they have been severely impacted by the long running notice. Geraldine Harris is the mother to two children with additional needs, including her daughter Emily who is autistic and non-verbal. For her, the past month has been "absolutely horrendous". "For example, Emily is just after learning how...

December 7 - What's In Your Glass? (Educators/Students) Explore Penn State Extension's hands-on drinking water curriculum and learn how to engage youth in water quality investigations, watershed science, and drinking water protection. Through inquiry-based activities, students model watersheds, simulate runoff and pollutant movement, use water testing kits, interpret laboratory reports, and examine water quality indicators, including pH, nitrates, and total dissolved solids. These activities help students understand potential threats to drinking water and the role of science in protecting this vital resource. The curriculum aligns with Pennsylvania's Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS) standards and supports the Chesapeake Bay Program's Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework. Activities guide students in asking questions, collecting and analyzing data, and making evidence-based decisions about water resources in their communities. Participants will gain hands-on experience and strategies for integrating the curriculum into standards-based lessons and using it to support authentic watershed investigations that connect science concepts to real-world stewardship. Who is this for? -- Classroom teachers -- Environmental educators -- Youth and environmental volunteers What will you learn? -- Youth engagement in water science, including the water cycle, watersheds, and drinking water threats -- Hands-on investigations using Foil the Flow, H2-Oh...

Americans are clamoring for healthy and safe food, water, and other products to wear and use: A recent poll found that 80 percent of respondents prefer foods made with “simple, recognizable ingredients” over foods containing “artificial or unfamiliar ingredients.”1 In another poll, the majority of respondents expressed concern about exposure to chemicals in drinking water, food, food packaging, baby products, children’s toys, cosmetics, and personal care products.2 The food Americans eat, the water they drink, and the products they use affect health in various ways, with poor diets and nutrition, foodborne illnesses, and toxic chemicals contributing to disease, disability, and death. Yet federal regulatory gaps, corporate influence, and weak oversight have put Americans’ health at risk by allowing harmful chemicals and unsafe ingredients to enter the food system, drinking water, and consumer products. Furthermore, these risks are not evenly distributed, as long-standing inequities shape exposure to unsafe products and limit access to healthier, affordable options. At the same time, current policies and regulations fail to address underlying drivers of harm such as the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, inadequate premarket safety reviews, and lack of corporate accountability. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again...

Americans are clamoring for healthy and safe food, water, and other products to wear and use: A recent poll found that 80 percent of respondents prefer foods made with “simple, recognizable ingredients” over foods containing “artificial or unfamiliar ingredients.”1 In another poll, the majority of respondents expressed concern about exposure to chemicals in drinking water, food, food packaging, baby products, children’s toys, cosmetics, and personal care products.2 The food Americans eat, the water they drink, and the products they use affect health in various ways, with poor diets and nutrition, foodborne illnesses, and toxic chemicals contributing to disease, disability, and death. Yet federal regulatory gaps, corporate influence, and weak oversight have put Americans’ health at risk by allowing harmful chemicals and unsafe ingredients to enter the food system, drinking water, and consumer products. Furthermore, these risks are not evenly distributed, as long-standing inequities shape exposure to unsafe products and limit access to healthier, affordable options. At the same time, current policies and regulations fail to address underlying drivers of harm such as the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, inadequate premarket safety reviews, and lack of corporate accountability. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again...

The Ontario government’s continued refusal to adopt tough federal guidelines on lead in drinking water — guidelines accepted by eight other provinces — boils down to a question of cost, provincial documents show. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one...

The Ontario government’s continued refusal to adopt tough federal guidelines on lead in drinking water — guidelines accepted by eight other provinces — boils down to a question of cost, provincial documents show. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one...

Residents of Wiesfleck in Oberwart district must boil their drinking water before use after a pump failure disrupted supplies, ORF reports. Water is being brought in from other parts of the municipality and neighbouring municipalities. The broken pump serves a local well that supplies about 800 p…

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often informally referred to as 'forever chemicals' because they've soaked so deeply into the environment and take such a long time to break down. There are thousands of these PFAS in circulation, used extensively in manufacturing and product materials, and scientists are busy continuing to assess what exactly the health risks of all of them are – and to what extent we're exposed to them every day. In a new study in Cell Reports Sustainability, researchers from the US estimate that levels of PFAS in the drinking water of Americans could be twice as high as standard reporting suggests. The reason for the discrepancy is a matter of rounding. When the numbers have been crunched previously, there's usually a threshold below which PFAS levels are rounded down – and that's not what the study authors did here. "When the levels of these chemicals are below our reporting limit, it's often treated as zero when we calculate how widespread they are," says environmental scientist Gehendra Kharel, from Texas Christian University. "We set out to understand how treating those results as zero changes the picture of PFAS occurrence in drinking water." The researchers analyzed 1.86 million...

Despite EU water laws, the drinking water supply system shows serious cracks in several regions in the European Union. Good water governance and its enforcement are essential to safeguard the access to clean drinking water on our continent. The European Commission is stepping up its efforts to protect access to clean and healthy drinking water in the near future, but the road ahead will be winding. How can persistent drinking water problems remain while new ones are popping up everywhere in Europe, when appropriate European water laws are in place? After investigating real-life situations in several European Member States, the answers are obvious. There are shortcomings in governance and in the implementation and enforcement of existing legislation, alongside a significant investment challenge. There are also challenges in controlling pollution at source and applying the Polluter Pays Principle consistently. All these things can be addressed, but this needs to be done quickly, because reversing these kind of developments will be hard. Writing about the European water sector is like looking into a kaleidoscope with dazzling, different colours. Each Member State has its own landscape, from snowy mountains and green meadows to extensive deltas and near-deserts. Every country has its own water...

Common ways of reporting perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-the man-made, so-called forever chemicals that pose environmental and health threats-could underestimate the concentration of PFAS in United States drinking water by as much as half, finds a study publishing October 23 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports Sustainability. Using a model based on data from across the country, the researchers estimate that by counting PFAS levels that fall below minimum reporting levels as zero, current reports capture only 44% of the average concentration of 25 PFAS in community water systems. When the levels of these chemicals are below our reporting limit, it's often treated as zero when we calculate how widespread they are. We set out to understand how treating those results as zero changes the picture of PFAS occurrence in drinking water." Gehendra Kharel, first author of the study, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires public water systems to monitor the levels of 29 PFAS in drinking water. These chemicals can persist in the environment over a long time, and previous research has linked PFAS exposure to many health issues, including cancer, liver damage, and developmental problems in...

A federal district court denied a conservation group’s request for an injunction to prevent the National Park Service from building a road through a river bed in the remote mountains of Washington state. EPA proposes to grant Utah oversight authority for underground carbon dioxide sequestration in the state, except on tribal lands. EPA science advisers submit recommendations for improving one aspect of the drinking water regulatory process. USGS researchers show how water supply changes in an important Northern California basin after a wildfire. President Trump says a fast resolution to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water settlement is contingent on Republican victories in the midterms. And lastly, the interior secretary says that Arizona’s Colorado River cuts are manageable over the next two years. By the Numbers 16 Billion Bushels: Estimated U.S. corn production for 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistical service. That would be the second-highest annual output on record. News Briefs Roadbuilding in a River A federal district court denied a conservation group’s request for an injunction to pause a National Park Service plan to temporarily rebuild a flood-damaged road in remote Washington state in a river bed. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington...