Water News for February 2025
As Usual, War Is Catastrophic to Water Infrastructure
Oxfam’s initial assessment of the damage to infrastructure after the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect in late January found:
More than 80% of water and sanitation infrastructure across the Gaza Strip has been partially or entirely destroyed by Israeli attacks, including all six major wastewater treatment plants.
85% of the sewage pumping stations (73 out of 84) and networks have been destroyed. Some have been repaired but urgently require fuel to operate.
85% of small desalination plants (85 out of 103) have been partially damaged or completely destroyed.
67% of the 368 municipal wells have been destroyed. Most of the private small wells cannot function due to lack of fuel or generators.
Zips Car Wash Chain Goes Under
Huge national car wash chain Zips Car Wash LLC and nine affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Zips cited increased competition as one of its main problems.
We at Pure Water Products sincerely hope that it wasn’t our garden hose filter with softening cartridge that brought Zips down because we always advise that the most environmentally friendly place to wash your car is not in your driveway but in a professional car wash establishment. Your neighborhood professional car wash business uses less water and disposes of chemicals much better than home car wash setups. See The Environmental Consequences of Having a Clean Car.
Water Preferences of Cut Flowers
Research indicates that most cut flowers prefer warm water over cold water and that water depth in the vase should be about half the length of the flowers’ stems.
Political Stunt Wastes Billions of Gallons of Water
Under orders from President Trump, billions of gallons of irrigation water were laid to waste in California’s thirsty agricultural hub this month, a move that left water experts shocked and local officials scrambling.
The water, stored in two reservoirs operated by the army corps of engineers, is a vital source for many farms and ranches in the state’s sprawling and productive San Joaquin Valley during the driest times of the year. It will be especially important in the coming months as the region braces for another brutally hot summer with sparse supplies.
The reservoirs California reservoirs in question are also among the few the US president can control directly.
Staged to give weight to Trump’s widely debunked claims that flows could have helped Los Angeles during last month’s devastating firestorm and to show that he holds some power over California’s water, he ordered the army corps to flood the channels. Less than an hour of notice was reportedly given to water authorities down-river who rushed to prepare for the unexpected release, which threatened to inundate nearby communities. Read the full report in The Guardian.
U.S. Water and Sewer Bill Has Increased 24% In Five Years
The costs of upgrading and maintaining infrastructure of water and sewer systems in the US are on the rise. Over the past five years, sewer costs have consistently accounted for the largest portion of household utility bills, representing approximately 59% of households’ monthly utility bills. Since 2019, sewer expenses have exceeded the costs of water provision by an average of US$19.33 per month. Water Online.
Cleanup of LA Fire Debris Is Controversial
The Palisades and Eaton fires generated a staggering amount of debris, estimated to be 4.5 million tonnes. In comparison, the devastating Maui fires of 2023 generated about 400,000 tonnes, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Those fires took three months of clean-up by the EPA, which is in charge of removing hazardous waste. But now the agency is hoping to finish their job in LA in just a month – by 25 February – after President Donald Trump signed an executive order demanding the EPA “expedite the bulk removal of contaminated and general debris”.
The decision to sort through the hazardous waste along the coast has prompted protests and as the clean-up of fire debris moves at unprecedented speeds, many are asking if and when the ocean water will be safe for swimming and surfing.
Troubled waters: New U.S. policies put Canada’s water security at risk
Canadian officials are voicing concerns about water quality of the Great Lakes and other shared water resources because of lowered US water quality standards under the new administration in Washington.
According to Gail Krantzberg, professor emeritus in McMaster’s W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, who has studied the remediation and protection of the Great Lakes for years:
“Donald Trump’s approach to regulation poses a serious threat to our waters. He believes less regulation is better. He believes in reducing regulations on industries like mining, oil exploration, and manufacturing, which often leads to higher discharge of pollutants being released into the environment. In our case, this could directly affect the Great Lakes and other water bodies in Canada. Under the Biden administration, there was a move to ban a class of substances known as PFAS. These are long-lasting synthetic chemicals that build up in our bodies and in aquatic life, leading to serious health issues like cancer, kidney and liver damage and reproductive impairment. Trump is rolling that back, allowing PFAS to remain in products, and therefore in our waters.” Brighter World.
Several States, Led by California, Are Moving to Lock In Federal PFAS Rules
Concerns are growing about the fate of a Biden-era rule to limit toxic PFAS chemicals in drinking water, with some states moving to introduce laws that would lock in place PFAS protections that could survive any potential rollback by the Trump Administration. Full story from New Lede.
