Comments for Circle of Blue | WaterNews http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews Reporting the Global Water Crisis Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:26:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on The Forgotten South Caucasus: Where Oil and Water Mix by Federico Bordonaro :: The Forgotten South Caucasus :: July :: 2009 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/the-forgotten-south-caucasus-where-oil-and-water-mix/comment-page-1/#comment-5932 Federico Bordonaro :: The Forgotten South Caucasus :: July :: 2009 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:06:13 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=3915#comment-5932 [...] A “New Great Game” of Geopolitical Control Surfaces in Russia’s Old Backyard. An analysis written by Nadya Ivanova for Circle of Blue, with bits of my interview on the energy issues of the South Caucasus and Caspian regions. [...] [...] A “New Great Game” of Geopolitical Control Surfaces in Russia’s Old Backyard. An analysis written by Nadya Ivanova for Circle of Blue, with bits of my interview on the energy issues of the South Caucasus and Caspian regions. [...]

]]> Comment on Drinking from the Sea by BeWaterWise Rep http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/drinking-from-the-sea-demand-for-desalination-plants-increases-worldwide/comment-page-1/#comment-5921 BeWaterWise Rep Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:47:22 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=3423#comment-5921 The large number of desalination plants springing up world-wide only goes to indicate that all over the world people are hard pressed for fresh water. 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, but only 3% of it is fresh water. Most of this fresh water is trapped in glaciers and icebergs and only 1% of it is available to us for drinking, washing, cleaning etc. While desalination is becoming extremely population, it is important to note that it is an expensive process and the answer to the fresh water shortage lies in Conservation. The Metropolitan Water District of SoCal has an excellent website called BeWaterWise.Com which gives tips on how to conserve water at home, in the garden and in office. For details please visit http://tr.im/qJQO The large number of desalination plants springing up world-wide only goes to indicate that all over the world people are hard pressed for fresh water. 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, but only 3% of it is fresh water. Most of this fresh water is trapped in glaciers and icebergs and only 1% of it is available to us for drinking, washing, cleaning etc.

While desalination is becoming extremely population, it is important to note that it is an expensive process and the answer to the fresh water shortage lies in Conservation.

The Metropolitan Water District of SoCal has an excellent website called BeWaterWise.Com which gives tips on how to conserve water at home, in the garden and in office. For details please visit http://tr.im/qJQO

]]> Comment on Peter Gleick: Truth Drought, California’s Real Shortfall by Rebecca Burgess http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/peter-gleick-truth-drought-californias-real-shortfall/comment-page-1/#comment-5916 Rebecca Burgess Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:39:54 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=3785#comment-5916 Hi Peter, Thank you so much for this succinct clarification. I'm concerned Ken Salazar left California with so much misinformation. If you have suggestions for how to get him the truth- let your readers know. We are here to help. In California, I'm wondering if you've heard about the Marin Carbon Project? A team from UC Berkeley, the local RCD, and NRCS are all involved in monitoring the soils of over 30 some odd ranches in Marin and Sonoma Counties. These ranches suffered hugely last year, due to drought, as grasses were poor, and herds had to be sold to afford feed for remaining cattle. The team is testing the effects of keyline, compost, rotational grazing, and (we hope) at some point biochar, to understand how carbon might be sequestered into the soil. Increasing carbon stock, increases the capacity for the soil to hold water- how much so, is being tested. One rancher I am familiar with is seeing increased grazing capacity in soils with these treatments, and he observes the grasses as more vibrant, and the soil remaining saturated longer into the dry season than in previous years. Just thought this study might be of interest. The life cycle of water and carbon are completely intertwined as you well know! Sincerely, Rebecca Burgess Hi Peter,

Thank you so much for this succinct clarification. I’m concerned Ken Salazar left California with so much misinformation. If you have suggestions for how to get him the truth- let your readers know. We are here to help.

In California, I’m wondering if you’ve heard about the Marin Carbon Project? A team from UC Berkeley, the local RCD, and NRCS are all involved in monitoring the soils of over 30 some odd ranches in Marin and Sonoma Counties. These ranches suffered hugely last year, due to drought, as grasses were poor, and herds had to be sold to afford feed for remaining cattle.

The team is testing the effects of keyline, compost, rotational grazing, and (we hope) at some point biochar, to understand how carbon might be sequestered into the soil.

Increasing carbon stock, increases the capacity for the soil to hold water- how much so, is being tested. One rancher I am familiar with is seeing increased grazing capacity in soils with these treatments, and he observes the grasses as more vibrant, and the soil remaining saturated longer into the dry season than in previous years.

Just thought this study might be of interest. The life cycle of water and carbon are completely intertwined as you well know!

Sincerely,
Rebecca Burgess

]]> Comment on Peter Gleick: Truth Drought, California’s Real Shortfall by Marianne Harismendy http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/peter-gleick-truth-drought-californias-real-shortfall/comment-page-1/#comment-5907 Marianne Harismendy Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:12:07 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=3785#comment-5907 As a third generation and life long resident of California I am alarmed that "people in power" are not receiving or accepting the truth that Peter Gleick is is providing to us. What are we to do? Who is benefiting by believing the party line? I believe this is about money and power, as usual. What can I do, what can anyone do to make a difference? As a third generation and life long resident of California I am alarmed that “people in power” are not receiving or accepting the truth that Peter Gleick is is providing to us.
What are we to do? Who is benefiting by believing the party line? I believe this is about money and power, as usual. What can I do, what can anyone do to make a difference?

]]> Comment on Vanishing Lake Chad — A Water Crisis in Central Africa by Stephen Klaber http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2008/world/vanishing-lake-chad-a-water-crisis-in-central-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-5906 Stephen Klaber Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:03:14 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=549#comment-5906 The unmentioned factor in Lake Chad's demise is the gigantic infestation of Typha Australis that is sucking out all the water from the lake and its tributaries. There are literally millions of hectares of this plant, raising the evapotranspiration rate by a factor of more than 4, and silting up lakes and streams until they no longer function. Worldwide, aquatic weeds are a major factor in desertification. Their clearance in Africa would solve many other problems as well (malaria, flooding, Quelea...). The resilience of these weeds makes their control a never ending task. A never ending task requires a profit to sustain it. That profit is available in energy. Typha is an excellent biofuel feedstock, and harvesting it makes an immediate improvement in your water picture. The silt it has built up must also be harvested, and used for soil rehabilitation or to fight coastal erosion. Otherwise, the cleared streams and lakes will still not be really viable. This is a terrifyingly renewable resource that is causing trouble everywhere. When time and money permit, what is being harvested should be checked for fitness for human consumption. Aquatic weeds collect toxins. Otherwise, the infestation in Lake Chad could feed every African a loaf of bread every day. Help me save the world From and With (With and From) cattails. The unmentioned factor in Lake Chad’s demise is the gigantic infestation of Typha Australis that is sucking out all the water from the lake and its tributaries. There are literally millions of hectares of this plant, raising the evapotranspiration rate by a factor of more than 4, and silting up lakes and streams until they no longer function. Worldwide, aquatic weeds are a major factor in desertification. Their clearance in Africa would solve many other problems as well (malaria, flooding, Quelea…). The resilience of these weeds makes their control a never ending task. A never ending task requires a profit to sustain it. That profit is available in energy. Typha is an excellent biofuel feedstock, and harvesting it makes an immediate improvement in your water picture. The silt it has built up must also be harvested, and used for soil rehabilitation or to fight coastal erosion. Otherwise, the cleared streams and lakes will still not be really viable. This is a terrifyingly renewable resource that is causing trouble everywhere. When time and money permit, what is being harvested should be checked for fitness for human consumption. Aquatic weeds collect toxins. Otherwise, the infestation in Lake Chad could feed every African a loaf of bread every day. Help me save the world From and With (With and From) cattails.

]]> Comment on Peter Gleick: Water for Energy, the Bad Bet for Biofuels by John Trotti http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/peter-gleick-water-for-energy-the-bad-bet-for-biofuels/comment-page-1/#comment-5898 John Trotti Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:13:59 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=3486#comment-5898 Have you done any comparative studies on water use in the conversion of organic wastes into energy via non-thermal means (anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, etc.)? I suspect the issue here has more to do with location than method, and while the energy budget is probably fairly similar to corn-to-ethanol practices, there would seem to be two significant differences: (1) the impact on the land is nowhere near as catastrophic and (2) in most cases, the collection, transport, and delivery of wastes pre-exists the conversion process and is caught in other budgets...i.e. they would exist whether or not there was any sort of value-added process involved John Trotti, Editor, MSW Management Have you done any comparative studies on water use in the conversion of organic wastes into energy via non-thermal means (anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, etc.)? I suspect the issue here has more to do with location than method, and while the energy budget is probably fairly similar to corn-to-ethanol practices, there would seem to be two significant differences: (1) the impact on the land is nowhere near as catastrophic and (2) in most cases, the collection, transport, and delivery of wastes pre-exists the conversion process and is caught in other budgets…i.e. they would exist whether or not there was any sort of value-added process involved
John Trotti, Editor, MSW Management

]]> Comment on Google Brings Water Data to Life by Minakshi Arora http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/google-brings-water-data-to-life/comment-page-1/#comment-5866 Minakshi Arora Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:56:02 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=2891#comment-5866 Interesting and useful information, Hindi Indiawaterportal is a water knowledge portal in Hindi, the information of Water Data to life can be read here in hindi http://hindi.indiawaterportal.org/content/वाटर-डाटा-टू-लाइफ़ Interesting and useful information, Hindi Indiawaterportal is a water knowledge portal in Hindi, the information of Water Data to life can be read here in hindi
http://hindi.indiawaterportal.org/content/वाटर-डाटा-टू-लाइफ़

]]> Comment on Google Brings Water Data to Life by Brian Mc Fadden http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/google-brings-water-data-to-life/comment-page-1/#comment-5863 Brian Mc Fadden Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:59:48 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=2891#comment-5863 Fascinating article. However, I was hoping to play around with the fusion tables but unfortunately the google gadgets don't load in internet explorer or firefox. Can you get one of your techies to take a look? Keep up the great work. Brian McFadden http://www.watersanitationhygiene.org Fascinating article. However, I was hoping to play around with the fusion tables but unfortunately the google gadgets don’t load in internet explorer or firefox. Can you get one of your techies to take a look? Keep up the great work.

Brian McFadden
http://www.watersanitationhygiene.org

]]> Comment on Google Brings Water Data to Life by www.WaterSanitationHygiene.org http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/google-brings-water-data-to-life/comment-page-1/#comment-5862 www.WaterSanitationHygiene.org Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:52:55 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=2891#comment-5862 Fascinating article. However, I was hoping to play around with the fuson tables and for some reason the google gadgets don't seem to load up. Can you get one of your technies to take a look? Keep up the great work. Brian Mc Fadden http://www.watersanitationhygiene.org Fascinating article. However, I was hoping to play around with the fuson tables and for some reason the google gadgets don’t seem to load up. Can you get one of your technies to take a look? Keep up the great work.

Brian Mc Fadden
http://www.watersanitationhygiene.org

]]> Comment on World Leaders Link Water to Economy at Singapore International Water Week by World Leaders Link Water to Economy at Singapore International … http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/world-leaders-link-water-to-economy-at-singapore-international-water-week/comment-page-1/#comment-5858 World Leaders Link Water to Economy at Singapore International … Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:56:01 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=3543#comment-5858 [...] Read the rest here:  World Leaders Link Water to Economy at Singapore International … [...] [...] Read the rest here:  World Leaders Link Water to Economy at Singapore International … [...]

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