July 2009 Vol. 64 No. 7
WaterWorks
July Water Works News: New Curriculum at Marquette Law; Loma Linda Adopts Neutrality in LAFCO 3076 Consolidation
Marquette Law School launches water law curriculum
Loma Linda makes decision on consolidation
UN Global Compact Cities Programme welcomes Milwaukee, taps region’s freshwater expertise
PERC and Alinda recipients of 2009 Global Water Award
Black & Veatch to assist Georgia with sustainable water planning
Marquette Law School launches water law curriculum
Marquette University Law School will launch a new curriculum in water law for the 2009 – 2010 academic year. The curriculum is another step in solidifying Milwaukee as a global leader in water research and policy and will address the ongoing and emerging legal issues posed by the water industry.
The Law School will offer a new water law course stream for students interested in pursuing a career in the area. This curriculum will include a course specializing in the legal principles involved in securing, allocating, transferring, managing and adjudicating water rights for public and private uses. It will also include courses on administrative law, patent and trade secret law, environmental policy and philosophy, land use planning, natural resources law and agriculture law, among others.
“Establishing a specific water law program for students is another piece to the larger puzzle of positioning the Milwaukee region as the worldwide destination for water policy and research,” said Joseph D. Kearney, dean of the Marquette University Law School. “Marquette University Law School will be poised to train the next generation of lawyers to serve the water industry here and around the world.”
Loma Linda makes decision on consolidation
At its regular city council meeting in May, the city of Loma Linda voted unanimously to adopt a “Neutral” position on the proposed consolidation between the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (SBVWCD) and the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (MUNI). By formalizing their position as “neutral” on the consolidation process, known as LAFCO 3076, Loma Linda joins the city of Redlands, the city of Highland, East Valley Water District, and the city of San Bernardino Municipal Water Departments in taking a position on LAFCO’s proposal.
“We are pleased that Loma Linda realizes how important the existence of SBVWCD is to their residents,” says SBVWCD Board President Melody McDonald. “Part of our job at the district is to recharge the Bunker Hill Basin, which allows the city of Loma Linda to pump water to supply their constituents.” In addition, the District manages environmental habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species on a majority of its 2,600 acres of property.
Other cities and agencies that will be affected by the consolidation proposal have recently taken action on the consolidation or are currently reviewing their stance on the issue. “We are anticipating widespread support for the Conservation District. We know there are many cities and public agencies who would suffer if we cease to exist,” stated General Manager Robert Neufeld.
The Local Agency Formation Commission of San Bernardino County regulates the boundaries of cities and most local districts, including annexations of territory, consolidations and other changes and formations. In addition, LAFCO reviews ways to reorganize, simplify and streamline governmental structures and services. Since 2006, LAFCO of San Bernardino County has been reviewing a proposal to consolidate SBVWCD and MUNI. LAFCO has placed the item for consolidation on its July 15 agenda.
UN Global Compact Cities Programme welcomes Milwaukee, taps region’s freshwater expertise
The city of Milwaukee joined an elite list of only 13 cities worldwide, gaining admission into the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme (UNGCCP). With this admission, Milwaukee achieves UN recognition of the area’s expertise and global leadership in freshwater science and technology. Milwaukee and San Francisco are the only two North American cities in the Programme.
Cities accepted into the program submitted proposals to address complex challenges common to most urban areas such as housing, health care and sanitation. Milwaukee’s proposal focuses on managing limited freshwater resources. It’s a plan that prioritizes, implements, and monitors the activities of a number of integrated sub-projects that make a difference in water quality for the Milwaukee and the surrounding region.
Admission into the UNGCCP is the latest evidence of Milwaukee’s emergence as a global hub for freshwater expertise and industry. The area is home to 120 businesses that serve some aspect of the water industry. Five of the world’s largest water companies have headquarters or other major operations in the area. In March, the Milwaukee area further increased its stature as a global freshwater hub with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle’s commitment of $240 million to fund education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, including support for the School of Freshwater Sciences – the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
PERC and Alinda recipients of 2009 Global Water Award
Pacific Environmental Resources Corp. (PERC) and Alinda Capital Partners LLC were presented the Global Water Awards 2009 “Water Deal of the Year” Award of Distinction for their contribution to the advancement of public-private partnerships in the international water sector specific to their contract to design, build, operate and finance the Santa Paula Water Recycling Facility.
The award was given to PERC and Alinda by Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and Nobel laureate, at an awards banquet on April 27 in Zurich, Switzerland. The prizes were awarded on the basis of votes cast by readers of Global Water Intelligence, and members of the International Private Water Association and the International Desalination Association.
PERC was chosen from among three other projects from the Middle East and Russia respectively.
The Santa Paula Water Recycling Facility, located in Ventura County, CA, will be a new 4.2 mg/d facility for the city of Santa Paula. PERC and Alinda were awarded the contract in May 2008; engineering commenced immediately and construction was initiated in July 2008. Operations will begin no later than Dec. 15, 2010. PERC will operate the new facility under a 30-year concession with Santa Paula Water. This will be the first facility of its type to be built under California’s new regulations encouraging private investment to meet public infrastructure needs.
For information on the Global Water Awards 2009, visit: www.globalwaterawards.com.
To learn more about this project, visit: www.santapaulawater.com.
Black & Veatch to assist Georgia with sustainable water planning
Black & Veatch, a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company, has been selected by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to assist in preparing water development and conservation plans for three of the state’s regional water planning councils. The project is part of Georgia’s Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan.
Georgia’s Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan hinges on the development of the water plans for the state’s 10 regions. When complete, the plans will improve the quality of life for citizens by providing a proactive, sustainable strategy for water resource management with the growing state’s long-term needs at the forefront. The plans will also support the economy of the state and region and protect public health and natural systems.
“This type of water planning is the foundation for providing sustainable solutions to effectively, prudently and proactively manage water resources today while accounting for future needs,” said Dan McCarthy, president and CEO of Black & Veatch’s global water business.”
Black & Veatch will work with the Middle Chattahoochee, Upper Flint and Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Planning Councils in using water resource assessments and population projections up to 40 years into the future to develop realistic estimates of future water use. To identify the gap between need and availability, those estimates will be compared to the availability of water resources. Black & Veatch will work with the councils to identify the right mix of new water source development and implementation of water conservation practices in the region to accommodate needs within the available resources.
The Middle Chattahoochee, Upper Flint and Lower Flint-Ochlockonee regions are located adjacently in the west and southwest portions of the state, and they include 38 of Georgia’s 159 counties – approximately 24 percent – and two of the state’s largest metropolitan areas: Columbus and Albany. The regions also include three of the state’s 14 major river systems, four lakes or reservoirs and several groundwater aquifer systems.
Quarterly drafts of the WDCPs will be prepared later this year followed by a review of water management practices. By mid-2011, the Georgia EPD will seek to adopt the finalized regional plans for implementation.
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