Water


Pa. DEP Levies Biggest Gas Drilling Fine Ever on Chesapeake Energy

Chesapeake Energy agreed to pay the penalty for using faulty well casings that allowed natural gas to seep into the water supply and for improper handling of a wet gas that resulted in a fire.

Potentially Toxic Flame Retardants Detected in Baby Products

Scientists have detected potentially toxic flame retardants in car seats, bassinet mattresses, nursing pillows, high chairs, strollers, and other products that contain polyurethane foam and are designed for newborns, infants, and toddlers.

Sewage-derived Nitrogen Increasingly Polluting Caribbean Ecosystems

Nitrogen pollution in our coastal ecosystems, the result of widespread use of synthetic agricultural fertilizers and of human sewage, leads to decreased water transparency, the loss of desirable fish species, and the emergence of toxic phytoplankton species—such as the algae behind the renowned "red tides" that kill fish.

App Allows Beachgoers to Report Marine Debris

NOAA and the University of Georgia have teamed up to create a new, innovative cell phone reporting mechanism to combat the marine debris problem.

“Biochar” More Effective, Cheaper at Removing Phosphate from Water

A process developed by University of Florida researchers using partially burned organic matter called biochar could provide an affordable solution to the problem of abundant phosphate in the water.

Russian Power Plant's Capacity-Expanding Upgrades Include GE Technology

The project is part of the Russian government’s development plan for St. Petersburg and also supports the country’s overall strategy to expand and continue to modernize its energy infrastructure.

PepsiCo Rolls Out Ecofriendly Recyclable and Compostable Cups (With Video)

PepsiCo has begun offering five options of eco-friendly, recyclable and compostable cups to Foodservice customers in the United States through company-owned and independent bottler distribution systems.

Budweiser Asks Guys to Help Save a Million Gallons of Water by Not Shaving

Budweiser is asking adult men across America to help save one million gallons of water by not shaving in the days and weeks leading up to World Environment Day on June 5.



New Solar Product Captures up to 95 Percent of Light Energy

A University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 percent of available light, and he plans to make prototypes available to consumers within the next five years.

Using Salty Water in Crop Irrigation Without Energy-intensive Water Treatment (With Video)

ROSDI uses pipes made from reverse-osmosis membrane, like that used in desalination plants, to filter salt from brackish groundwater for crop irrigation in times of drought or low water availability.

When is Remanufacturing Worth it?

It seems like a no-brainer: Remanufacturing products rather than making new ones from scratch — widely done with everything from retread tires to refilled inkjet cartridges to remanufactured engines — should save a lot of energy, right? Not so fast, says a new study by researchers at MIT.

Energy Harvesters Transform Waste into Electricity

Billions of dollars lost each year as waste heat from industrial processes can be converted into electricity with a technology being developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Top Scientists Say Obama's Forest Rules Leave Water, Wildlife at Risk

More than 400 scientists, lawmakers and the nation's top conservation leaders asked the Obama administration to set clear standards for water and wildlife protection in sweeping new rules that would apply to 193 million acres of national forest lands.

EPA Releases Searchable Website for Drinking Water Violations

EPA announced improvements to the availability and usability of drinking water data in the Enforcement and Compliance History Online tool.

Smoke-related Chemical Discovered in the Atmosphere Could Have Health Implications

Cigarette smoking, forest fires and woodburning can release a chemical that may be at least partly responsible for human health problems related to smoke exposure, according to a new study by NOAA researchers and their colleagues.

U.S. Silver Corp. Pays EPA $87,000 to Settle Clean Water Act Violations

The agreement resolves the company’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit violations and unpermitted discharges at the mines and mills that occurred from 2008 to 2010.

Endangered Barred Owls Perhaps More Abundant Than Previously Thought

Barred owls may be more abundant in coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest than previously recognized, according to research published in the Journal of Wildlife Management.

Calif. Students Vie for Top Awards in Solar-Powered Boat Races

Solar-powered boats built and raced by students from California high schools captured the top awards at the ninth annual Solar Cup competition sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and local water agencies.

Researchers Identify Extensive Methane Leaks Under Streets of Boston

Earlier this year, Boston University researchers and collaborators conducted a mobile greenhouse gas audit in Boston and found hundreds of natural gas leaks under the streets and sidewalks of greater Boston.

Distant Earthquakes Can Trigger Deep, Slow Fault Slip

Researchers examining the San Andreas Fault in central California have found evidence that distant earthquakes can trigger episodes of accelerated, but still quite slow, slip motion, deep on the fault.