Latest news with #DrinkingWater
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Billion Dollar Lead Service Line Replacement Tool Featured in Leading Civic and Educational Directories
Free tool designed to help save billions in drinking water infrastructure costs earns listings in MERLOT and the Civic Tech Field Guide, signaling growing national recognition CHICAGO, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Environmental & Public Health International (EPHI), a leader in Flint Water Crisis–focused drinking water training led by the former EPA Flint Emergency Coordinator, announced today that its Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator (LSLRCC) has been officially listed in MERLOT and the Civic Tech Field Guide—two of the nation's most respected directories for civic innovation and educational tools. The free browser-based tool helps utilities, municipalities, engineers, and public health professionals model and estimate the cost of lead service line replacement—a critical step in protecting public health and complying with federal regulations. Since its launch in April 2025, the calculator has been used to estimate over $3 billion in lead service line replacement costs, based on anonymized analytics data. These listings reflect growing national recognition of EPHI's broader impact—including its Flint Water Crisis: Drinking Water Training courses, which are also listed in MERLOT and the Civic Tech Field Guide—as trusted resources supporting public health and drinking water infrastructure transparency. 'Being listed in MERLOT and the Civic Tech Field Guide validates what we've known from the beginning—that this tool fills a vital gap,' said Anthony Ross, founder of EPHI and former EPA Flint Emergency Coordinator. 'It helps communities take control of their lead service line replacement planning.' The MERLOT listing affirms its instructional value in environmental science, engineering, and public health education, while the Civic Tech Field Guide placement highlights its broader role in civic technology and infrastructure transparency. With thousands of communities preparing to replace lead service lines nationwide, the need for accessible, no-cost planning tools is more urgent than ever. To support this effort, EPHI is offering sponsorship opportunities to mission-aligned public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations. Sponsorship OpportunitiesSupport the Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator and help advance safe drinking water and public health. We welcome mission-aligned public agencies, nonprofits, and private sector sponsors include: Government agencies focused on health, environment, and infrastructure Nonprofits advocating for safe drinking water and stronger policies Companies in water, construction, engineering, or environmental services Sponsors receive logo placement and national recognition. Visit our Sponsorship Opportunities: Support Drinking Water Infrastructure Today page. Insights From Leadership: 'We're very encouraged by the strong early adoption and engagement with the Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator. The tool is becoming an essential resource for informed planning, budgeting, and protecting public health.' — Anthony Ross, EPHI Director and Former EPA Flint Emergency Coordinator Flint Water Crisis Training UpdatesExplore our Flint Water Crisis: Drinking Water Training Course page to discover upcoming sessions covering lessons learned from the Flint Water Crisis. These trainings cover critical missteps, Flint's ongoing recovery efforts, and strategies to prevent future public health failures. Gain firsthand insights, learn from past mistakes, and equip yourself with essential tools to safeguard communities. Learn more and register for upcoming sessions. About EPHI:Environmental & Public Health International provides experience-based drinking water training shaped by the Flint Water Crisis. Our mission is to support regulators and public water systems in their efforts to safeguard public health and prevent future catastrophic drinking water failures. Learn how we're advancing the goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and helping to save billions in drinking water infrastructure costs more information on our terms, privacy policy, or training evaluation surveys, please contact us. You can access the original press release in the News Section of EPHI's website. CONTACT: Media Contact: Anthony Ross Environmental & Public Health International Email: Phone: 312.248.1416 Website:
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Chief Secy visits Nagada, asks admin to boost development
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja visited Nagada village in Jajpur district and talked to Juang tribal families to know about the progress of the development initiatives undertaken by the government in the area, officials said on Tuesday. At least 19 children had died due to malnutrition in the hilltop village in July 2016. Ahuja, then as the nodal officer of a task force, had visited the village. Accompanied by senior officials from various departments, including Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Secretary Girish SN and Jajpur District Collector P Anvesha Reddy, the Chief Secretary visited the village on Monday and talked to villagers and inspected key development initiatives. Though a lot of development has been achieved since 2016, still a lot many needs urgent attention, an official accompanying Ahuja said, adding that the Chief Secretary has issued directions to the district administration to expedite completion of house construction under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. 'As only 60 per cent of the houses were completed in a span of three years, Ahuja issued directions to officials concerned to ensure early completion of housing units,' an official statement said. Information and Public Relations department, in a post on X, said: 'Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, during his visit to Jajpur district, visited Nagada under Sukinda block to review the actual situation and developmental works. He inspected the under-construction Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, health services, women and child development and drinking water supply projects. He visited the Upper Nagada Anganwadi centre and reviewed the ground zero situation.' During interactions with beneficiaries of 'Mamata Yojana' (a programme for pregnant and lactating women), the Chief Secretary asked officials to include all eligible individuals who were previously left out. The Chief Secretary also inspected drinking water tanks and found their poor maintenance and asked the officials to stress on water conservation for the use of villagers during the summer. Ahuja also asked the officials to expedite empowering farmers by allocating land ownership certificates under the Forest Rights Act. Similarly, he found very few students attending schools and asked the officials to improve student attendance rates. The Chief Secretary, during the visit, found the village's tribal hostel closed for the last three years. He asked the District Welfare Officer (DWO) to make immediate arrangements for its reopening.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Odisha CS visits Nagada village, asks administration to gear up development
Bhubaneswar, Odisha chief secretary Manoj Ahuja visited Nagada village in Jajpur district and talked to Juang tribal families to know about the progress of the development initiatives undertaken by the government in the area, officials said on Tuesday. At least 19 children had died due to malnutrition in the hilltop village in July 2016. Ahuja, then as the nodal officer of a task force, had visited the village. Accompanied by senior officials from various departments, including Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water secretary Girish SN and Jajpur district collector P Anvesha Reddy, the chief secretary visited the village on Monday and talked to villagers and inspected key development initiatives. Though a lot of development has been achieved since 2016, still a lot many needs urgent attention, an official accompanying Ahuja said, adding that the chief secretary has issued directions to the district administration to expedite completion of house construction under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. "As only sixty per cent of the houses were completed in a span of three years, Ahuja issued directions to concerned officials to ensure early completion of housing units," an official statement said. Information and Public Relations department in a post on X said: "Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, during his visit to Jajpur district, visited Nagada under Sukinda block to review the actual situation and developmental works. He inspected the under-construction Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, health services, women and child development, and drinking water supply projects. He visited the Upper Nagada Anganwadi centre and reviewed the ground zero situation." During interactions with beneficiaries of the 'Mamata Yojana' , the chief secretary asked officials to include all eligible individuals who were previously left out. The chief secretary also inspected drinking water tanks and found their poor maintenance and asked the officials to stress on water conservation for the use of villagers during the summer. Ahuja also asked the officials to expedite empowering farmers by allocating land ownership certificates under the Forest Rights Act. Similarly, found very few students attending schools and asked the officials to improve student attendance rates. The chief secretary during the visit found the village's tribal hostel closed for the last three years. He asked the District Welfare Officer to make immediate arrangements for its reopening.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mosaic, Inc. exploring underground wastewater well, raising concerns amongst environmental group
The Brief Mosaic Inc., which owns many of the state's current phosphate stacks, applied for a permit to construct a well in Plant City to inject treated wastewater into the ground. The well would test whether the subsurface is suitable for injecting treated phosphate gypsum wastewater. Opponents of the proposal say there are more effective ways to test the subsurface, but Mosaic does not want to use them because they are more expensive than the proposed well. PLANT CITY, Fla. - Mosaic Inc., which owns many of the state's current phosphate stacks, is exploring injecting treated wastewater into an underground well. If approved, the well would be constructed at their Plant City facility at Paul S. Buchman Highway in Hillsborough County near the Pasco County line. The company is currently applying for a permit to construct the well at a depth of 8,000 ft. below the surface. The other side READ: Florida man breaks essentially every bone in nurse's face during brutal hospital attack: Affidavit The well would test whether the subsurface is suitable for injecting treated phosphate gypsum wastewater. "The only reason this is being proposed is because the water is so polluted that they can't get a permit to discharge it to the surface," said Glenn Compton, the Director of a non-profit environmental organization called ManaSota-88. Compton believes this is a cost-saving proposal by the industry. One of the alternatives, reverse osmosis, is expensive, and he says the public's groundwater will be the expense. "Over time, all wells are going to leak, and whether or not you can detect a leak through monitoring is a hit-and-miss scenario," said Compton. "So, by the time you find out there's something wrong with a well, it's too late to do anything about it, so you end up polluting the groundwater forever cause there's no good way to clean it up." The backstory In 2021, Piney Point in Manatee County had a gypsum stack pond leak over 200 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay and cause massive fish kills. READ: Piney Point settlement reached between environmental groups, state The facility was closed, and a permit was issued for a deep well injection—the first in the state. Compton suspects Mosaic Inc. and companies like them will propose more permits at other phosphate mining sites in the future, and he hopes it will not be approved. READ: 7 charged in $2M theft ring targeting pro athletes' homes, Bucs player among victims: DOJ "This is an industry problem in terms of what they're trying to do with their polluted water.," said Compton. "It should be an industry solution and the public should not have to pay for it with having their groundwater polluted forever." What's next The open house public meeting will be held at 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Plant City on Tuesday, March 11, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Representatives of The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Drinking Water and Aquifer Protection Program and Mosaic, Inc. will be available to answer the public's questions. FOX 13 reached out to Mosaic, Inc. for comment but did not receive a response. For more information on the public meeting, click here. The Source FOX 13's Carla Bayron collected the information in this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
