The following is a transcript of the Jan. 25, 2016, edition of the WaterWorld Weekly Newscast.
Hi, I'm Angela Godwin for WaterWorld magazine, bringing you water and wastewater news headlines for the week of January 25th.
Coming up...
- National Guard helps Flint during water crisis
- Clean Water Rule dodges veto override
- Vandals disrupt water service in Flagler County
- Study suggests blue-green algae toxin could increase Alzheimer's risk
[story1]
As the nations watches the water contamination disaster unfold in Flint, Michigan, members of the state's National Guard are helping volunteers pass out drinking water, testing kits, filters and other supplies to residents.
AP's Sandy Kozel has more.
[insert news package]
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder apologized for the Flint water crisis in his State of the State address last week, vowing to fix the lead contamination problem.
The Governor's request for federal disaster aid -- which would have freed up $96 million -- was denied, but he is appealing the Obama Administration's decision.
Meanwhile, Snyder is requesting $28 million from state legislators to fund immediate actions.
[story2]
Last week, President Obama vetoed the Joint Resolution aimed at preventing implementation of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers' Clean Water Rule.
The contentious rule went into effect in August before being stayed in November pending legal review.
Following the President's veto of the measure, the Senate voted to override the veto but fell 8 votes short of the 60 it needed.
In the President's veto message, he said he could not support the legislation because it denied "businesses and communities the regulatory certainty and clarity needed to invest in projects that rely on clean water."
[story3]
Last week, officials in Flagler County, Florida, issued a boil water notice to 1,700 customers after vandals opened several valves, draining 400,000 gallons of water from the Plantation Bay water system.
The incident will cost the county around $2,500 for the water and associated treatment.
The person -- or persons -- responsible have not been identified.
[story4]
A new study published in the journal "Royal Society Proceedings B" finds that long-term dietary exposure to a cyanobacterial toxin called BMAA could increase the risk of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
The researchers found that chronic exposure to BMAA triggered "brain tangles" in primates. These tangles are very similar to those seen in Alzheimer's patients.
An interesting side note: the scientists saw a reduction in brain tangles in animals who received the amino acid supplement L-serine, but say that much more research is needed into the safety and effectiveness of that treatment.
For WaterWorld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin. Thanks for watching.
