The following is a transcript of the WaterWorld Weekly Newscast for October 31, 2016.
Hi, I'm Angela Godwin for WaterWorld magazine, bringing you water and wastewater news headlines for the week of October 31st. Coming up...
PFC-contaminated water leaks from Air Force base
Ford to slash water usage in manufacturing process
Flint water committee issues report
Traverse City renews $2.5M wastewater treatment contract with CH2M
A leaky retention tank at Colorado's Peterson Air Force Base is to blame for 150,000 gallons of PFC-contaminated water that spilled into the local sewer system.
The perfluorinated compounds came from fire-fighting foam used at a training area on the base.
The leak was discovered on October 12th and reported to Colorado Springs Utilities within 24 hours.
But the contaminated water has already made its way through the wastewater treatment plant and was discharged to a nearby creek.
The spill -- and any residual impact -- is under investigation.
Ford Motor Company said it plans to reduce its water usage by nearly three-fourths as it strives for zero potable water in its vehicle manufacturing process.
By 2020, Ford aims to have reduced its water usage per vehicle by 72 percent and will have saved more than 10 billion gallons of water since 2000.
Ford has achieved its reductions to date by implementing new technologies such as its 3-wet paint process and minimum quantity lubrication -- saving hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per year.
The company said it will continue to roll out real-time water metering using innovative technologies to aggressively manage water use.
The company also conducts ongoing water assessments to determine where new water-saving processes can be implemented.
A state committee, established to investigate the water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, released its findings on October 19.
In its report, the committee outlines more than 30 policy proposals for consideration by the state legislature, some of which are short-term recommendations like re-establishing the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Commission, which was allowed to sunset in 2010.
Longer term proposals include reforming the emergency manager law. The committee recommended the legislature consider replacing the single-person emergency management structure with a three-person Financial Management Team.
To read the full report, visit flintwatercommittee.com.
The City of Traverse City, Michigan, will renew its 26-year partnership with CH2M under a 5-year, $2.5M contract for operation and maintenance of the city's 8.5 MGD regional wastewater treatment plant.
CH2M also maintains and operates the city's lift stations and eight township autosamplers.
Traverse City's Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant serves 50,000 residents, plus local industries.
Over the next four years, the CH2M team will see the city through a replacement of its advanced membrane treatment system.
For WaterWorld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin. Thanks for watching.
