Water


Researchers Discover A Way to Simultaneously Desalinate Water, Produce Hydrogen and Treat Wastewater

Water purification requires a lot of energy, while utility companies need large amounts of water for energy production. Their goal is to find a low-energy-required treatment technology. Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver College of Engineering and Applied Science may have discovered an answer.

Groups to Study Effects of Water Efficient Plumbing

The Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition and the Australasian Scientific Review of Reduction of Flows on Plumbing and Drainage Systems will collaborate on the research.

WHOI Website Takes Viewers Deep into the Gulf

Underwater vehicles will be used by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and other university scientists to learn if the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected animals in the Gulf of Mexico; the public is invited to take a look via the Dive and Discover website.

Agency Encourages Users to Take NPDES Tool for a Spin

The web-based tool that helps identify details on wastewater discharges is now available in a beta version.

Vessel General Permit Session Set for Dec. 15

EPA is beginning to develop requirements for the permit covering incidental discharges from vessels.

EPA Orders Natural Gas Driller to Stop Endangering Nearby Homeowners

Flammable and bubbling drinking water was coming out of taps at two residences near Fort Worth, Texas; EPA testing found methane and benzene.

OPIC Offers $300M in Financing to Spur Eco-Friendly Investment in Emerging Markets

The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation will provide at least $300 million in financing for new private equity investment funds that could ultimately invest more than $1 billion in renewable resources projects in emerging markets.

Duke graduate student Laura Ruhl collected samples more than 1 year ago from a site affected by the TVA coal sludge spill. Photo by Avner Vengosh

Duke Scientists Find More Coal Ash Hazards 'Under the Rug'

Current water quality monitoring looks only at the surface, according to Avner Vengosh, Duke professor of geochemistry and water quality.



Microwave Cooking May be Most Efficient, EPRI Says

The Electric Power Research Institute compared the energy use of frozen food cooking in microwaves, toaster ovens, and conventional ovens.

Cancun Survey Reveals Knowledge Gap from Critical Sector

According to a Mexico government and Pew Center survey of more than 500 COP16 attendees, action against climate change requires the support of the public, whose members may not even understand the problem.

Vapor intrusion screening may become standard operating procedure for environmental site assessments.

Vapor Intrusion and ASTM's Revised Vapor Encroachment Standard

The experts answer why the topic is so hot now and the best way you can protect your clients and yourself from liability.

More-Durable Sensor Technology Could Limit Toxic Runoff from Mining Operations

United Science, a Minnesota startup company, has licensed sensor technology developed at the University of Minnesota that could limit the amount of toxic byproducts from mining and other industries that end up in the environment and improve productivity at the same time.

Small-Scale Generator Runs on Used Motor Oil – With Low Emissions

Preliminary emissions testing of a small-scale waste-oil power generator have found that the system generates low emissions.

The Plum Island Estuary

USGS: Some Significant Wetlands May Disappear by End of 21st Century

Many coastal wetlands worldwide — including several on the U.S. Atlantic coast — may be more sensitive than previously thought to sea-level rise projections for the 21st century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

ATSDR Issues 21st Toxicological Profiles Set

One new final toxicological profile for chlorine and six updated ones of priority hazardous substances are in this new set.

Senate and House Work on Reauthorizing DERA

Passage of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act is being supported by more than 500 environmental, health, industry and government organizations, according to the Diesel Technology Forum.

Watershed Academy Sets Webcast on Low Impact Development

North Carolina's LID certification program, which will be discussed in the webcast, may be replicated nationally.

Beazer Homes

Homebuilder Settles Clean Water Act Violations in 21 States

Site inspections and company documentation revealed that Beazer Homes allegedly failed to obtain stormwater permits or, if the company did get them, it did so after construction began.

NREL Certifies Commercial Thin-Film Solar Modules at 15.7 Percent Efficiency

MiaSolé, which manufactures copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) independently confirmed the 15.7 percent efficiency of its large-area production modules, which are one square meter in size.

Pace of Amazon Deforestation Reaches Lowest Rate Ever Recorded

Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon declined 14 percent from August 2009 to July 2010, reaching the lowest rates ever recorded for the second consecutive year.