WEEKLY WATER NEWS

WES WEEK SIX: 15-19 October 2001

Water in the News

Ecosystem catastrophe could result from subtle environmental changes – In a recently released study, several environmental scientists suggest that various natural ecosystems, to include maritime coral reefs and mid latitude lakes, could undergo catastrophic changes as the result of subtle changes over several decades by humans. [EurekAlert!]
Deep-sea life could be sensitive to changes in the deep-sea sequestration of carbon compounds – Ocean scientists report in a recently released study that changes in deep-sea CO₂composition and pH as a result of sequestration of carbon compounds could drastically change the metabolic rates of various fish and invertebrates. [EurekAlert!]
Baby turtles navigate using the earth’s magnetic field – Scientists at the University of North Carolina report that baby loggerhead turtles use the earth’s magnetic field to make an 8,000 mile migratory trip around the Atlantic basin. [EurekAlert!]
Announcement of a marine conservation education program – The Caribbean Conservation Corporation and Volvo are teaming to develop curricula that will allow students to follow the around-the-world Volvo Ocean Race on the Internet. Marine conservation topics will be stressed. [ENN]
Earth diary - A summary of the week's major environmental events on Planet Earth. [CNN]

Concept of the Week: Bottled Water

During the 1990s, bottled water soared in popularity among Americans and is now a multi-billion dollar a year business. Although typically more than 700 times as costly as tap water, the demand for bottled water (especially in individualized containers) continues to increase for several reasons including convenience, health concerns, and dissatisfaction with the quality and taste of municipal tap water. Furthermore, clever ad campaigns persuaded consumers of the advantages of drinking bottled water.

Although enamored by bottled water, the U.S. consumer is confronted by a variety of different brands (more than 900), and a potentially confusing terminology on labels mostly having to do with the source of the water. According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), bottled water is defined as drinking water that is sugar-free, calorie-free, and contains no sweeteners or chemical additives other than small amounts of flavors or extracts. Bottled water may also have trace amounts of sodium. Beverages containing 1% or more by weight of flavors or extracts are classified as soft drinks. Soda water, seltzer water, and tonic water are considered soft drinks not bottled water because they may contain sugar and are not calorie-free.

About 75% of all bottled water comes from the subsurface. Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer under hydrologic pressure is artesian water or artesian well water. Mineral water is groundwater that contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids from natural sources (i.e., dissolved bedrock, sediment). Sparkling water contains dissolved carbon dioxide undiminished in concentration from its natural source. Spring water is groundwater that flows naturally to the surface of the Earth where an aquifer intercepts the ground. Well water is bottled water withdrawn from a hole drilled or bored into an aquifer. Collectively, all bottled water from subsurface sources is called natural water.

The quality of bottled water from the subsurface benefits from natural filtration as groundwater slowly seeps through permeable Earth materials. Nonetheless, in many cases bottlers employ additional purification steps such as applying ozone and/or ultraviolet light as disinfecting agents. Bottled water producers who use municipal sources (about 25% of the supply) typically reprocess the water for improved quality and taste through distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization, filtration, and/or ozonation. Labels on their products may include the terms purified water or distilled water.

While efforts at quality control of bottled water are designed to protect public health, a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) raised some questions about whether enough is being done. The NRDC tested the quality of 1000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water and found that not all the tested water was of high quality - some samples contained contaminants (http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.asp). Although the industry has strict standards and both federal and state governments regulate bottled water quality, the NRDC argues that existing regulations are not adequate. The NRDC recommends that the Food and Drug Administration set strict limits for contaminants in bottled water and that bottled water standards be at least as strict as those applicable to municipal (tap) water supplies.

Concept of the Week: Questions

By convention, bottled water is drinking water that is both sugar-free and calorie-free. [(True)(False)]
The source of most water in bottled water is [(subsurface)(surface)] reservoirs.

Historical Events

15 October 1947...A hurricane made a hairpin turn off the Georgia coast after being seeded with dry ice. The storm moved over Savannah and into Georgia. (Intellicast)
15 October 1954...Hurricane Hazel struck the Carolina coastline near Cape Fear, NC. The hurricane (a category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) demolished every pier along a 170 mile stretch from Myrtle Beach, SC to Cedar Island, NC, and obliterated entire lines of beach homes. At Long Beach, 300 homes vanished, no debris remained. Hurricane Hazel also destroyed 1500 homes as it moved inland with seventeen foot tides. Winds between Myrtle Beach, SC and Cape Fear, NC gusted to 150 mph. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
15 October 1965...Fort Lauderdale, FL was deluged with 25.28 inches of rain in a 48 hour period causing considerable road and street damage and inundating numerous recently planted vegetable fields and homes. (Intellicast)
15 October 1999...A waterspout (a tornado over water) moved onshore at Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL and blew out a plate glass window in a bar, injuring 8 patrons. The waterspout also overturned a vehicle and caused other significant damage on Los Olas Blvd. (Accord Weather Calendar)
16 October 1880...A blizzard struck eastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota blocking railroads. Snow drifts remained throughout the following very hard winter. (Intellicast)
18 October 1910...Northeasterly winds as high as 70 mph (from a hurricane moving northward up the Florida peninsula) carried water out of Tampa Bay and the Hillsboro River. The water level lowered to nine feet below mean low water. Forty ships were grounded. (The Weather Channel)
19 October 1844...The famous "Lower Great Lakes Storm" hit the Buffalo, NY and Toronto, Ontario area. Southwesterly winds were at hurricane force for five hours, driving lake waters into downtown Buffalo, NY. The storm drowned 200 persons. (David Ludlum)
20 October 1999...A flash flood roared down the normally placid Palikea Stream in Hawaii's Haleakala National Park, causing the stream to rise 15 to 20 feet in one minute. Twelve tourists swimming in Palikea's lower pools clung to cliff sides and were eventually rescued. (Accord Weather Calendar)