Water pollution can reduce economic growth by a third: World Bank

WASHINGTON -- Heavily polluted water is reducing economic growth by up to a third in some countries, a World Bank report said Tuesday, calling for action to address human and environmental harm.

The report relied on what the Bank said was the biggest-ever database assembled on global water quality using monitoring stations, satellite data and machine learning models.

"Clean water is a key factor for economic growth. Deteriorating water quality is stalling economic growth, worsening health conditions, reducing food production, and exacerbating poverty in many countries," said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

The report found that when Biological Oxygen Demand -- an index of the degree of organic pollution and a proxy for overall water pollution -- crosses a threshold of 8 milligrams per liter, GDP growth in downstream regions drops by 0.83 percentage points, about a third for the mean growth rate of 2.33 percent used in the study.

This is because of impacts on health, agriculture, and ecosystems and a "stark indication that there often trade-offs between benefits of economic production and environmental quality, and that the externalities... can be circular," the report said.

A key contributor to poor water quality is nitrogen, essential for agricultural production but which leaches into rivers and oceans where it creates hypoxia and dead zones, and in the air where it forms nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.

The report said that early exposure of children to nitrates affects their growth and brain development, reducing their health and earning potential.

For every additional kilogram of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare, yields may rise up to five percent, but childhood stunting increases as much as 19 percent and future adult earnings fall by up to two percent compared to those not affected.

And increased salinity as a result of man-made pressures such as irrigation, storm water runoff, leaching of fertilizer, and urban wastewater discharge is pushing down agricultural yields.

The report estimated enough food is lost to saline water each year to feed 170 million people, about the population of Bangladesh.

The authors divided their recommendations into three main areas: information campaigns to raise awareness, prevention efforts to stem some of the worst problems and investments to treat pollution once it has occurred, with more modern technologies like reverse-osmosis offering new pathways.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Sydney's water supply falling at fastest rate on record due to drought

SYDNEY- Australia's biggest city Sydney is running down its water supply at the fastest rate on record with dams expected to fall below half maximum capacity due to the worst drought on record, the government said on Friday.

Warragamba Dam, the city's main water supply, was sitting at 51.4 percent capacity, down 17.8 percent in a year and little more than half its level just two years earlier. The amount of water flowing into the dam was just 10 percent of what it was a year ago, according to the New South Wales (NSW) state regulator WaterNSW.

The total water level in Sydney's 11 dams was 50.1 percent, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions in recent months.

"We have never seen this kind of inflows," said NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey.

"Catchments that have been historically reliable ... are now facing a critical shortage of water," she added.

At the current rate of decline, discounting rainfall, Sydney dams would only have enough water reserves for another two years, according to figures provided by WaterNSW.

Pavey said "major (inland) cities... run the risk of running out of freshwater in the next 12 months." "That is the stark reality for our regional communities," she added.

Sydney has resorted to water-saving methods in recent months including enforced water restrictions, which limit the amount of water people are allowed to use outdoors.

In March, Sydney's desalination plant started working at full capacity to process seawater, with the aim to lift the city's water reserves to 70 percent. The state government said this week it plans to expand the plant.

In April, researcher Kantar Public surveyed 1,000 Sydney residents and found that despite the dry conditions and declining water supply, 47 percent of people did not realize there was a drought. 

soure: news.abs-cbn.com

US faces fresh water shortages due to climate change, research says

NEW YORK - The pressures of climate change and population growth could cause water shortages in most of the United States, preliminary government-backed research said on Thursday.

As many as 96 water basins out of the 204 supplying most of the country with freshwater could fail to meet monthly demand starting in 2071, a team of scientists said in the journal Earth's Future.

A water basin is a portion of land where water from rainfall flows downhill toward a river and its tributaries.

"There's a lot of the US over time that will have less water," said co-author Thomas Brown, a researcher with the US Forest Service, in a phone interview.

"We'll be seeing some changes."

The basins affected cover the country's central and southern Great Plains, the Southwest and central Rocky Mountain states, as well as parts of California, the South and the Midwest, said Brown.

Water shortages would result from increased demand by a growing population, as well shrinking rainfall totals and greater evaporation caused by global warming.

One way to alleviate pressure on water basins would be to reduce irrigation for farming, the scientists said.

The agricultural sector can consume more than 75 percent of water in the United States, they said.

Specifically, the scientists say farmers could cut their irrigation of industrial crops used primarily for animal feed and biofuels, such as hay, field corn, soybeans, sorghum, millet, rapeseed and switchgrass.

The authors based their findings on computer model projections.

The study is part of research conducted to produce the Resources Planning Act Assessment, a report on the status of the nation's renewable resources that must be published every 10 years following a 1974 act of Congress, said Brown.

The preliminary report's findings contrast with US President Donald Trump's skepticism towards climate change.

Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change. He has also rolled back Obama-era environmental and climate protections to boost production of domestic fossil fuels.

At the present rate of warming, the world's temperatures would likely reach 1.5 degrees Celsius.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Hundreds of thousands without water after US chemical spill

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of thousands of people in the US state of West Virginia have been left without water after a chemical leak into a key river, officials said Friday.

West Virginia American Water said it had ordered residents across a wide region not to use water after chemicals from a plant were pumped into the Elk River.

"Do not use the water," the firm said, in an advisory to customers. "Due to the nature of the contamination, the water should not be used for any purpose other than toilet flushing and firefighting."

According to the Charleston Daily Mail local newspaper, some 300,000 people were affected by the restrictions.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said authorities were working to restore the water supply after the contamination.

"Our efforts will continue until we have a resolution," he said. "Our main focus continues to center around our hospitals, nursing homes and those most vulnerable."

The substance inadvertently pumped into the river -- methylcyclohexane -- is commonly used to clear coal of impurities.

West Virginia American Water chief Jeff McIntyre told the Charleston Daily Mail that the chemical may have contaminated up to 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) of pipelines.

He said officials were still working to assess the exact nature of the threat the chemical may pose to humans.

The chemical was not thought to have a "high lethality" but officials would not take any chances, he said.

"We haven't had a situation like this where we've had a 'do-not-use' (advisory) of this magnitude," McIntyre said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Stay cool at Ace Water Spa

Among the four basic elements of the universe that ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles has conceived, it is water that bore the most importance in many cultures and traditions across the world. Such was it revered for its therapeutic and sometimes medical effects. Greeks and Romans performed bathing practices, with the latter investing in it more—building bathhouses due the accessibility of aqueducts and cement.

Over time, Europe, Japan, and the United States also maintained a good share of hot springs and thermal lakes.

It has also become a trend in the Philippines, most recently, with Filipino families who spend time together in spas.

Water to help cleanse, relax, and heal—it is within this resolve that local water spa Ace Water Spa sprang from. A brainchild of those behind Ace Hotel & Suites, a hotel chain that prides itself for its plush design and deluxe service wrapped around Filipino creativity and hospitality, Ace Water Spa is more than an emerging name in the city scene.

Convenient in terms of proximity as it’s near the city’s major business districts, it is located at the heart of Kapitolyo in Pasig City. Apart from the spa center, it includes other superb facilities, such as restaurants, conference rooms and round-the-clock concierge.


To celebrate its first year in the business, Ace Water Spa aims to take the summer heat to a whole new, sizzling level. This coming May 24 and May 25, it’s set to stage a luau-themed party to the wild beat of party music.

Call +632-3307776, +632-4049995 or +632-4628222 to 23, or visit www.acewaterspa.com.ph.

For more details, checkout METRO magazine May 2013 issue, now available in newsstands and bookstores nationwide.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

5 ‘healthy’ habits that can make you fat

When trying to lose weight, some of the first things we do – such as cutting down on fat, drinking more water and eating more fruit – can also be the things that cause us to struggle to lose weight or even pile on the pounds. Check out the 5 "healthy" habits that could be making you gain weight, as well as how to make them more diet-friendly.








1. Cutting fat from your diet

Hands up who’s ever checked a packet and then rejected your food choice based on the fat content? If you’ve ever been on a diet, we’re guessing your hand is probably up. For many dieters, fat seems like the ultimate enemy. However, opting for low-fat products can be much more of a diet disaster than opting for those that contain moderate amounts of fat.

Firstly, many low-fat meals are packed with sugar to compensate, meaning that they can still inevitably lead to weight gain. Furthermore, contrary to what you may think, not all fats are bad for you, and studies have found that eating good monounsaturated fats – found in olives, nuts and avocados – can actually help to promote weight loss.

2. Drinking water

Drinking plenty of water is undoubtedly good for you; helping you to stay hydrated and energized and to keep your organs and digestive system in good condition. However, studies have shown that the chemicals found in water could also be making you fat.

Not only have research results published in PLoS ONE shown that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) found in plastic water bottles encourages the body to create more fat, our drinking water can also contain the hormone estrogen, which affects the way our bodies store fat. The more we are exposed to these chemicals, the harder it becomes to lose weight. However, there’s no need to panic just yet – while ditching water clearly isn’t an option, experts suggest that filtering your water or using a reverse osmosis purification system can limit the chemicals you are exposed to.

3. Exercise

While exercise is essential for good health and, when approached correctly, can help you to shed excess pounds, many exercisers make vital mistakes that can lead to them gaining weight. Firstly, research has found that relying solely on exercise to manage your weight can actually be ineffective. Studies have shown that exercise, when not combined with dietary changes, does very little in respect to losing weight.

Additionally, many of us overestimate the amount of calories burned through exercise and adhere to the myth that exercise continues to boost the body’s ability to burn fat well after our workout is over. Therefore, we often end up overcompensating for workouts with pre- or post-workout snacks, leading to weight gain. For maximum weight loss benefits, try to incorporate both exercise and dietary changes into your day.

4. Looking on the bright side

While impulsive and optimistic people may be happier (and therefore have stronger immune systems) than their more anxious and pessimistic counterparts, research suggests that they could also have more trouble losing weight.

According to research by America's National Institute on Ageing, impulsivity is the strongest predictor of who will become overweight. Furthermore, researchers from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan studied obese women and men partaking in a six-month weight loss program and found that those who were more positive and optimistic in their outlook lost the least weight. It is believed that positivity may cause weight gain by causing optimists not to worry enough about their weight to resist temptation and stick to a strict healthy eating and fitness regime.

5. Snacking on fruit

Fruit is undoubtedly nutritious, being packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. However, due to its healthy properties, many people overindulge on fresh fruit, juices and smoothies, forgetting about the fact that many fruits are also high in calories and sugar.

Although fruit is healthy, remember that a calorie is still a calorie, and the ones in fruit are as likely to make you overweight as the ones in any other food.

Furthermore, research results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that fructose (the sugar found in fruit) can help to trigger overeating, as after consuming fructose the brain doesn’t register feelings of fullness and satiety as it does when we consume glucose. While it is still important we feed our bodies with the nutrients found in fruit, those struggling with their weight should ensure they don’t go overboard. You should also try to obtain some of these nutrients and fiber through vegetables, which are lower in sugar and calories. Read more at www.realbuzz.com.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Manila Water to raise rates

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala led-Manila Water on Friday said it will raise water rates by P0.08 per cubic meter.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Manila Water said it is increasing water rates due to the foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA). The FCDA of the water bill will be adjusted from 3.19% to 3.49% of the basic charge.



The price increase will take effect in 15 days.

"The tariff adjustment has no impact on the projected net income of the company," said Manila Water, the concessionaire for the East Zone.



The FDCA is as a tariff mechanism formulated to account for foreign exchange loses or gains arising from the payment of concessional loans and foreign currency-denominated borrowings of the Metro Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) as well as loans of the companies for service expansion and improvement of its services.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Want to lose weight? Trade sugary drinks for water

NEW YORK -- Swapping your soda for water -- or at least diet soda -- really can help you shed a few pounds, a new clinical trial finds.

A common piece of advice in the battle of the bulge is to replace sugar-sweetened drinks with water or other calorie-free thirst quenchers.

But while that advice is logical, there hasn't been research to show whether changing your drinking habits alone actually works.

So for the new study, researchers randomly assigned 318 overweight adults to one of three groups: one that replaced sugary drinks with water; one that substituted with diet beverages; and one that was given weight-loss advice and could make diet changes of their choice.

After six months, all three groups lost four or five pounds, on average.

But the two groups that cut sugary drinks were more likely to shed at least five percent of their starting weight: 20 percent did, versus 11 percent of the comparison group.

A five-percent weight loss is considered "clinically meaningful" -- or enough to see health benefits like a drop in blood pressure, said lead researcher Deborah F. Tate, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

People who need to lose weight often find a diet overhaul too daunting. But swapping a couple sweet drinks for sugar-free alternatives may seem relatively easy, according to Tate.

"This is a simple thing you can do consistently each day," she said in an interview.

On average, people in this study lost around two percent of their body weight. That's not huge, but it's a move in the right direction, the researchers say.

"It might be a good first step," Tate said. After getting used to calorie-free drinks, she said, you can add changes to your eating habits.

The findings, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are based on adults who were significantly obese, on average, and were downing at least 280 liquid calories each day (excluding milk).

The two beverage groups were told to replace two of those daily drinks with water or diet beverages. The third group was given general weight-loss information, but could make their own diet decisions. All three groups had monthly meetings and access to a group website.

After six months, all three groups had a similar average weight loss.

The water group, however, shaved several points off their blood sugar and blood pressure levels -- more than the diet beverage group.

It's not clear why that is, Tate said. But the water group had better hydration levels, which might help explain the improved blood pressure.

"For other health reasons, water might be better" than diet drinks, Tate said. She added, though, that diet versions of people's favorite drinks might be easier to stick with for the long haul.

Some past studies have found that people who regularly drink diet soda actually have a higher diabetes risk than folks who steer clear of artificially-sweetened drinks.

But the reasons for that connection are unknown, and it might not be anything about diet drinks per se.

Tate said that longer-term follow-up of the people in this study will offer a way to look at that question. By and large, participants had not been drinking diet beverages before the study; so the researchers can look at whether switching to diet has any negative effects on blood sugar or other health markers.

The study was funded by Nestle Waters USA.

source: interaksyon.com