Tag: clean water

DC Water takes big step forward in Potomac River Tunnel project – WTOP News

D.C. Water is making progress with an initiative that aims to clean up the District’s waterways — the Potomac River tunnel project.

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DC Water takes a big step forward in its Potomac River Tunnel Project

D.C. Water is making progress with an initiative that aims to clean up the District’s waterways — the Potomac River tunnel project.

On Tuesday, a multiton cutter head was lowered to the bottom of a 100-foot shaft at West Potomac Park to attach to a tunnel-boring machine.

It’s one of two machines that will mine through soil to construct the 5.5-mile long tunnel from the Georgetown waterfront to the Blue Plains water treatment facility in Southwest.

“We are basically lifting and lowering down in the shaft the very front section of the machine that is actually able to mine through rock,” said Potomac River Tunnel Project Manager Martino Scialpi, who explained the cutter head is designed specifically to cut through rock, which makes up most of the terrain in Georgetown.

The first machine is named “Mary” in honor of Mary Edmonson, an abolitionist from Maryland who alongside her sister, Emily, attempted to escape slavery aboard the vessel Pearl in 1848.

The West Potomac Park shaft is just one of several construction sites to serve the Potomac River Tunnel during its construction.

Mary will mine north to the Georgetown waterfront, the other machine, named after Emily, will mine south to D.C. Water’s treatment facility in Blue Plains.

The project is expected to be reach its substantial completion phase in 2028, when it can likely be put into use but may require some finishing touches by crews. Construction is set to be fully complete in February 2030, the date set by a consent decree between the federal government, D.C. government and D.C. Water.

D.C. Water’s Clean Rivers Project is a $3.1 billion program to establish a series of tunnels to collect billions of gallons of combined sewer and storm drain runoff during periods of heavy rain.

The project, which has already produced three similar tunnels, is credited with significantly cleaning the Anacostia River. The Potomac River Tunnel is aimed at keeping sewer runoff from reaching the Potomac.

A multiton cutter head was lowered to the bottom of a 100-foot shaft at West Potomac Park to attach to a tunnel boring machine.
(WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter

It’s part of an initiative that aims to clean up the District’s waterways — D.C. Water’s Potomac River Tunnel Project.
(WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter

Two machines will mine through soil to construct the 5.5-mile long tunnel from the Georgetown waterfront to the Blue Plains water treatment facility in Southwest.
(WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter

D.C. Water’s Clean Rivers Project is a $3.1 billion program to establish a series of tunnels to collect billions of gallons of combined sewer and storm drain runoff during periods of heavy rain.
(WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter

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Alan Etter

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January 13, 2026
Black water with ‘rotten eggs’ smell plagues Beaverville, Ill. residents for 6 months and counting

BEAVERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — What if the water coming out of your faucet was black and smelled?

For the last six months, some residents in one local village say black or discolored water has been disgusting them. They turned to the ABC7 I-Team, because, they say, they want a permanent solution.

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Tonja Galderio of Beaverville showed ABC7 her samples and the water coming out of her faucets.

“This is what came out of my hot water heater,” Galderio said.

She continued, “It’s kind of like a slime… That’s kitchen water. Make some pasta with that.”

She says the water smells like rotten eggs, and it has destroyed her sink and clothing.

Galderio and Kathleen Butron say it all started in late May in the village of Beaverville, which is about an hour-and-a-half south of downtown Chicago.

“I have diabetes; I have to make sure my feet are very clean,” Butron said.

“Me, black water. The neighbor on the other side of me, black water,” Galderio said.

In mid-June, the village started distributing bottles of water, but that stopped in early October. Water bills were also paused but have recently resumed. But these women say they are still seeing dark water.

ABC7 emailed the village and Beaverville Mayor Gary Martell several times. When we did not hear back, ABC7 I-Team Consumer Investigator Jason Knowles went to Martell’s door.

Martell did not answer the door, but the Village Water Operator Perry Regnier answered did.

“It’s been taken care of. You need to talk to the board. I don’t have anything to do with talking to the media,” Regnier said.

When Knowles pointed out that Regnier is the water operator, he said, “I’m water operator,” and closed the door.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency told the I-Team that too much manganese is the cause of the discoloration.

The IEPA says the village flushed the system at the end of August and that “a large part of the filter media was missing,” and another filter was not properly operating, possibly increasing the presence of manganese. The IEPA said the filter was recently replaced.

Officials addressed the ongoing concerns in a public meeting about one week ago Monday.

When asked what it is like to have black water coming out of her faucet, Galderio became emotional, saying, “It’s hard.”

The IEPA says while the water is not aesthetically pleasing, the levels of manganese are within range and safe to drink.

The I-Team analyzed 33 IEPA drinking water reports for Beaverville from the last two years and found that the village’s water system contained more than the federal EPA’s aesthetic standard of 50 parts per billion, for manganese, in three tests. One report found manganese levels above 90 parts per billion, nearly twice the federal aesthetic standard.

None of the tests were over 100 parts per billion, but Dr. Tasha Stoiber from the Environmental Working Group says if manganese levels ever went above that 100 ppb number, then babies drinking formula prepared with water could be at risk.

“You would flag those tests of that critical population during those critical stages of development,” Stoiber said.

Stoiber also says dark sediments can be concerning.

“It could spike those concentrations. It doesn’t look good, doesn’t taste good. How do you wash your dishes? How do you wash your clothes? It becomes unusable,” Stoiber said.

A September private analysis of the two residents’ homes in our story found manganese levels at 40 parts per billion, just below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s aesthetic standard. But it also found that the water system’s iron concentration is more than six times the EPA standard. Experts say that it is not inherently dangerous, but it is also contributing to the discolored water and unusual taste.

“And I don’t think anybody would want to drink it, to be honest with you, and even just to bathe in it,” Butron said. “It’s just not right. I mean, I just feel like we’re all due clean water.”

The IEPA says it is committed to working with Beaverville officials to address issues. The village has also faced two recent violations: one related to sample monitoring, and another on a failure to install a “corrosion control treatment,” used to address and/or in copper within the system.

The IEPA says it is working to fix these violations and that testing has shown the water is safe.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Jason Knowles

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November 17, 2025
Families demand action after toxic threat from US Army base impacts community: ‘I’m just tired of being lied to’

For years, families in one Washington community have been fighting for clean water after toxic “forever chemicals” were found in their wells, stemming from a nearby U.S. Army base, according to a report from The Seattle Times. The situation highlights a frustrating battle for accountability and the health risks communities can face from pollution.

What happened?

Washington state officials are increasing pressure on the U.S. Army over its handling of PFAS contamination in the groundwater near the Yakima Training Center. The pollution is the result of decades of using firefighting foams containing the chemicals. A flyer for a recent community meeting summed up the state’s demands: “We have repeatedly asked the Army to share its data, create a thorough cleanup plan, and provide clean drinking water to everyone affected.”

Residents say they have faced years of delays, with some still waiting on filtration systems. The frustration is clear. “I’m just tired of being lied to and stonewalled,” said Charles Currier, a resident who has lived in the area for decades.

So, why is this contamination so concerning?

It comes down to a nasty group of substances called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

They’re known as “forever chemicals.” The reason is simple: They don’t break down easily in our bodies or the environment. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is clear about the risks. These chemicals can damage our immune and reproductive systems. They can also mess with our hormones and increase the risk of high blood pressure and even cancer.

And here’s the kicker. These forever chemicals are in a lot more than just contaminated water. They show up in many everyday products, from food packaging to clothing, which is a troubling fact highlighted by another report that connected fluorine in common pesticides to harmful health effects.

What’s being done about it?

The Washington Department of Ecology is now demanding a thorough cleanup plan and full transparency from the Army. After the community meeting, officials are hopeful that new senior-level leadership from the Army will lead to a real plan of action.

“Transparency is super important when there’s broken trust, which exists here,” said Casey Sixkiller, the director of the state’s Department of Ecology. “It takes time to rebuild it, but one of the ways we do that is bring people in the conversation and have transparency so people can track our progress and hold us all accountable.” This growing awareness is crucial, as researchers in other studies are also raising alarms about endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in things such as pesticides.

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September 19, 2025
Saha Global Awarded $5 Million Grant From the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to Expand Safe Water Access in Rural Ghana

This grant is a critical step in expanding Saha’s efforts to reach vulnerable populations.

NEW YORK, September 11, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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Saha Global, a leading non-profit organization committed to ensuring safe and affordable water for rural communities, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $5-million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. This grant, extending over the next five years, marks a significant step in Saha’s mission to achieve universal, equitable, and affordable water access for underserved populations in Ghana.

Saha Global has spent over 15 years developing and refining an innovative, community-driven model that empowers local women as water entrepreneurs and provides affordable safe water to remote, rural villages. This grant will help the organization deepen its impact by expanding its water service to over 400,000 individuals living in some of Ghana’s most remote and vulnerable regions.

“We are deeply honored to receive this support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, so we can continue to make a lasting impact in communities that are the hardest to reach and often overlooked,” said Kate Cincotta, Executive Director of Saha Global. “This grant is a critical step in expanding our efforts to reach vulnerable populations. It will allow us to advocate for the unique needs of people living in last-mile villages and to ensure that everyone in Ghana has reliable access to safe water.”

This new grant from the Hilton Foundation kickstarts Saha’s broader ambitions: to make access to clean water a fundamental human right, not a privilege. Saha’s long-term goal is to support the Government of Ghana in achieving universal water access for all, particularly for the most marginalized and underserved communities.

“We are pleased to support Saha’s innovative, women-led, safe water enterprise in Ghana,” said Brett Gleitsmann, Program Officer, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. “We value Saha’s proven model to get professional water services to the most vulnerable populations living in remote, last-mile, rural communities and their long-standing commitment to work collaboratively with the Government of Ghana. We look forward to partnering together over the next five years to continue to expand safe water solutions for rural communities across Ghana.”

About Saha Global

Founded in 2008, Saha has been at the forefront of delivering affordable, clean water solutions to rural Ghanaian communities. The organization has trained over 1,260 women water entrepreneurs, providing safe water to over 138,816 people in 464 rural villages. Saha’s model ensures reliable, professional water services in remote villages where other solutions have failed. It achieves long-term impact by focusing on water quality and safe water consumption.

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, established in 1944, is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged individuals worldwide. Through its Safe Water Initiative, the Foundation has made significant investments in Ghana’s WASH sector, partnering with local governments and organizations to improve water infrastructure and access in rural communities. Their efforts support Ghana’s goal of universal access to safe water by 2030, with a focus on reaching marginalized, last-mile populations. The Foundation also prioritizes areas such as Homelessness, Foster Youth, Early Childhood Development, Catholic Sisters, and Disaster Relief.

Source: Saha Global

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September 11, 2024
Terra Global Launches ‘Terra Thrive’ E-Commerce Offering

Award Winning Portable Power Generation and Survival Solutions Now Available Globally

Press Release
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updated: Oct 24, 2017

Austin, Texas, October 24, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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Terra Global Solutions (www.terrags.com), a leading developer and integrator of renewable energy based Transportation, Power Generation, Lighting, Water Purification, Communications and Safety Solutions, today announced the launch of Terra Thrive (https://shopterrathrive.com), the Company’s online commerce and retail offering for portable solutions.

Featuring products which enable 24-7 off-grid access to Power, Lighting, Communications, Potable Water, and First-Aid Treatment, Terra Thrive’s solutions enable the Company’s unique and diverse clientele—from individual adventurists to seasoned security professionals—to complete their objectives using equipment that is adaptive and operational. Each Thrive Solution is targeted to meet and exceed the needs of an individual in some of the world’s most challenging terrains and environments.

My objective was to help Terra design a vest which would be useful to both professionals and adventurers operating in extreme environments.

Scott R. Snow, CEO, MCS Universal

Thrive packs and vests are developed in partnership with the Terra Ambassadors—an elite team of world-renowned adventurers, explorers and athletes—who submit them to rigorous, real-time testing all over the world. These specialized solutions range from Mark Fowler’s Expeditionary Safari Pack to Tiffany Nardico’s Canyoneering Pack to Stephen Hadik’s Alpine Hiking Solution, integrating products such as the Company’s Suture Solution First-Aid Kit, a 4-Stage Water Filter, a 60W Foldable Solar Blanket and other essential survival gear and equipment.

Commander (Ret.) Scott R. Snow, Navy Fighter Pilot, Afghanistan and Iraq combat veteran—and Terra Ambassador—is the inspiration for Terra’s MCS Pilot Survival Vest (http://shopterrathrive.com/thrive-solutions/mcs-universal-pilot-survival-vest/), a lightweight, flexible garment packed with 17 types of vital survival equipment.

“My objective was to help Terra design a vest which would be useful to both professionals and adventurers operating in extreme environments,” Commander Snow said. “The MCS Survival Vest is an innovative union of expertise gained from years of military operations, which has been improved, adapted and developed for a new generation of adventures and specialized professionals.”

“Together, Terra—and our Terra Ambassadors—are developing equipment and solutions which enable our clients to thrive and achieve,” said Tony Saxton, the CEO of Terra Solutions. “Terra Thrive’s range of solutions will continue to expand and we look forward to helping clients around the world prepare to take-on and achieve their most challenging objectives.”

ABOUT TERRA GLOBAL SOLUTIONS:

Terra Global Solutions is a Sustainable Integrated Solutions Company. Working with a highly selective portfolio of technology innovators, Terra specializes in the procurement and implementation of sustainable Energy Storage/Generation, Transportation, Water Purification, Lighting, Communications and Safety solutions. A significant number of Terra’s solutions utilize renewable sources of power. Terra’s solutions can be customized to meet the most complex requirements, and scaled to support the largest enterprise and manufacturing operations.

Learn more about Terra’s Energy, Transportation, Life, Safety, Security and Expeditionary solutions at: https://www.terrags.com/

Media Contact

LD Snow
210.862.6684
LSnow@TerraGS.com

Source: Terra Global Solutions

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October 24, 2017
Genesis Research & Technology Group Cleans the World With the WaterToken

WaterToken.io Splashes on the Blockchain Oct. 25, 2017

Press Release
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updated: Oct 21, 2017

DALLAS, October 21, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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The much-publicized WaterToken is scheduled to release on Oct. 25 and will operate in conjunction with IoT (Internet of Things) technology on the blockchain. The Genesis Research & Technology Group WaterToken will unveil, after years of research and testing, a revolutionary breakthrough in cleaning of water by a patented, chemical-free, green technology. The WaterToken ICO represents the Genesis Research & Technology Group process that relies on three patented and licensed purification methods: ultrafiltration, coagulation, and ozone (O3) generation. The oil and gas industry is all abuzz because this proprietary highly advanced system is portable and can even clean fracking water that is polluted during the oil extraction process. Jeff Soward, Chief Technology Officer of Genesis Research & Technology Group, states, “To produce one barrel of oil can take up to 10 barrels of water; which under the antiquated system used industrywide, toxic water is trucked and dumped into a disposal site. The Genesis System cleans the water at the actual drilling location and with green chemical-free technology the water is reused over and over again at one-tenth of the cost. This is a game changer.”

Erin Brockovich, the famous environmental advocate says, “I am an advocate for awareness, the truth, and a person’s right to know.” The Genesis WaterToken solves the serious issue of trust and verification of environmental monitoring with the use of the blockchain. Furthermore, Genesis Research & Technology Group will store the records of the system to the blockchain so that frack water results are identified in various parts of the world. The WaterToken.io white paper gives a roadmap as to the system and how it plans to use the cryptocurrency in expansion throughout the world. “Genesis Research & Technology Group has produced a scalable system that will work in conjunction with a secure IoT solution that is a win for the blockchain,” says Michael Lagow CAO of Genesis Research & Technology Group. Tracking the environmental impact of fracking and using the blockchain to protect this data from tampering enables companies and regulators to create financially rewarding incentives to encourage buyers to buy products that are more environmentally friendly, and therefore encourage companies to restructure their supply chains to meet the demand for such products. “I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?” states Academy Award-winning actor Robert Redford.

The WaterToken is an investment-grade ICO and because of that and its ‘green footprint’ we felt that everyone should be rewarded.

Ron Price, CEO of Genesis Research & Technology Group

The WaterToken merges clean water technology with the cryptocurrency and blockchain models. Darren McVean, CEO of MVP Asia Pacific states, “MVP has developed the IoT and blockchain platform for Genesis Research & Technology Group with an in-house electrical team that has worked closely with the Genesis R&TG technology department to test and simulate the extensive water readings from the Genesis System.” Once the data is entered into the public blockchain, it stays there forever. “Legal document storage on the blockchain could cut down on fraud and manipulation of the global carbon credits scheme. It is estimated that currently $979,000,000 USD is spent annually to administrate the global carbon credit scheme,” states McVean. Texas A&M University has also tested the water samples so that a third-party could conclusively back up the IoT for Genesis Research & Technology Group. As it pertains to the oil and gas industry, raw frack flowback water was injected into the Genesis System with amazing results. Total petroleum hydrocarbons were reduced by 99 percent, while metals, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, and selenium were reduced below detection limits.

Bounty programs are used in most ICOs but, because of the IoT and vast Genesis Research & Technology Group resources, the WaterToken is offering a staggering $12,500,000 USD equivalent in bounty rewards for marketing. “The WaterToken is an investment-grade ICO and because of that and its ‘green footprint’ we felt that everyone should be rewarded,” says Ron Price, CEO of Genesis Research & Technology Group. Digital marketers, journalists, bloggers, and even the general public can participate and share in the rewards from one of the largest ICOs ever to land on the blockchain.

About Genesis Research and Technology Group: Genesis Research and Technology Group is a U.S.-based company that has developed a patented, state-of-the-art technology that provides clean reusable water for the world’s population. The Company exploits its CHEMICAL-FREE technology as its efforts are being recognized by several leading government agencies developing and implementing Green technologies to protect and preserve our Earth’s resources.

Genesis Research and Technology Group provides custom built state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for all types of water. Years of research and development go into perfecting this technology that allows Genesis to offer its clients a sole source, reusable water filtering and cleansing technology that is totally chemical-free.

For more information: watertoken.io/genesis

Media Contact:
Patricia Almand
Phone: 855-8100UMG
Email: patricia@umgad.com

Source: Genesis Research & Technology Group

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October 21, 2017
Social Startup Global Empowers Announces Launch with First Product Vigor Aqua Advanced Water Purification Tablets to be Ready Soon

Press Release
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Oct 4, 2016

Perth, Australia, October 4, 2016 (Newswire.com)
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Global Empowers is a social startup with a powerful vision of helping the people of the world who need it most. Their first product, Vigor Aqua, is an advanced water purification tablet that also acts as a vitamin and food source. Something which, when produced and widely spread, could change the face of certain parts of the world for the better in a very dramatic and lasting way.

There’s no argument that lack of clean water and food is one of the most serious problems faced by large amounts of people in the world today. Few understand this better than the recently launched social startup Global Empowers, founded by passionate entrepreneur Joseph Mwansa born and raised in Zambia, who has personally seen the different standards of living people in the world face, and has positioned Global Empowers to help change it for the better. Global Empowers first product, the advanced water purification tablet Vigor Aqua, is close to being released and is expected to be able to help address the clean water and food problem faced by poor communities across the world in a way that is ethical, affordable and effective. Excitement surrounding the project is high.

“Global Empowers has a mission of offering help to people who are living in very dire circumstances who desperately need the things we often take for granted like clean water and adequate nutrition,” commented Mwansa. “We believe when we all work together we can make the world a better place. We’ve started by tackling the problem of having access to clean water, with our first product Vigor Aqua. This purifies water powerfully, removing germs and viruses and making it safe to drink. What this can do for the health of a community who formerly only had contaminated water to drink is amazing in all the best ways.”

According to Global Empowers, Vigor Aqua will address many important issues in a safe and effective way. Highlights include eliminating germs and viruses that cause water borne diseases. Also, treating and freeing water from Giardia, Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery and many other waterborne diseases including Hepatitis A & E and Salmonella. As a bonus, Vigor Aqua is also enhanced with vitamins and nutrients, making it a healthy food source as well as way to purify water addressing two very serious problems at the same time.

A crowdfunding campaign for Global Empowers has commenced with a release date for Vigor Aqua expected to be announced soon. Make your mark by helping Global Empowers reach their crowdfunding goal. Visit https://startsomegood.com/globalempowers

For more info:

For more information be sure to visit http://www.globalempowers.com.

Source: Global Empowers LLC

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October 4, 2016