“Bottled Water! I have had enough! You have got to tell me what is going on! Where are we?? Why am I SUPPOSE TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN??! WHO ISN’T SUPPOSE TO HEAR US?? Where is Bamboo???” exclaimed Miss Evian with a very loud and impatient tone of voice.  Well, to tell you the truth, despite all the bad things that have happened to us I am happy Bamboo is out of the picture!! I decided I wasn’t going to tell her the complete truth but I had to tell her something: “Miss Evian, we are hiding in the back store of the superstore, because we are playing a game and the other bottles are not suppose to find us!”. I wonder if she is actually going to buy this lie! Knowing her I doubt it!

Miss Evian replied with an annoyed tone of voice: “First of all stop calling it the “superstore” it is a SU-PER MAR-KET!! It is not such a hard word to remember! Second of all, this game is ridiculously silly! I don’t want to be hiding out in the back store with those annoying bags of flour! I want to be out in the supermarket with mr Bamboo and you have NO RIGHT to keep me away from him!!!! If you don’t let me go right now, I will call the police of the supermarket! Frank the security guard that has arrested that little boy that one time tried to steal a chocolate bar…remember?”

I told Miss Evian to calm down and I decided to tell her the truth. The whole truth! Here I go! Miss Evian, I have got some bad news for you. They took over the shelf. All the rest of us are gone. This is why you have got to keep your voice down, we are the only two plastic bottled water left. If they found us it is over! We need to stay out here until I come up with some sort of plan.

“Bottled Water! WHO TOOK OVER THE STORE?!! WHERE ARE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS? SHOULD I BE AFRAID? replied Miss Evian with an alarmed tone!

TO BE CONTINUED…

This eco-friendly way to produce vegetables for home or sale consumption has seen a revival in the past years amongst a growing rate of Americans who want to grown their own greens. In this process, the waste produced by the fish becomes an automatic recycled form of nutrients for the plants. The water from the fish tank, rich in nutrients is pumped into the area where the plants are grown. “The plants clean the water of excess nutrients, the water is then oxygenated by simple means and is reused again and again in the fish rearing tanks” (Source: http://www.northernaquafarms.com/aquaphonics.html). Lettuce, chives, tomatoes and cucumbers all have successfully been raised in aquaponics; in addition to flowers such as rose or lilies. This simple process permits the recycling of water that would otherwise be considered useless waste. The functionally of this system is based on a mutual exchange: the plants purify the water while they get extra nutriments in exchange from the fish. This approach is totally eco-friendly since not only water is recycled, but also the usually chemical fertilizers are not need and cannot be used since they are harmful to the integration of the plants and fish. This system is revolutionary insofar a well operated structure uses “about one tenth of the water required for normal vegetable growing and reduces the water needed for single usage fish farming by 95% or greater” (Source: http://www.northernaquafarms.com/aquaphonics.html). This year long sustainable method of agriculture is particularly popular in Australia a country that has suffered numerous draughts.

In the United States, aquaponics seems to be at a early flourishing stage with a gradual increase in sales and demand. Rebbeca Nelson part of the Nelson & Pade company, publishes the Aquaponics Journal ( http://www.aquaponicsjournal.com/) and sells aquaponics systems in the USA. She has stated that subscriptions have doubled in the past years and she “estimates that there may be 800 to 1,200 aquaponics set-ups in American homes and yards and perhaps another 1,000 bubbling away in school science classrooms” (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/garden/18aqua.html?_r=1).  If you are intrigued by aquaponics but have long-term commitment issues, an Atlanta based company called Earth Solution sells kits on the internet called “ farm in a box” that range from a price of 300$  to 3, 000$.  According to experts, aquaponics will replace hydroponics on the long term considering that it has considerable advantages over the practice of hydroponics: first of all the nutrient source is organic since it derives from fish waste and second of all, aquaponics provides a protein crop that is lacking in hydroponics.

This environmental friendly system is quickly developing in the United States and soon enough the industry will develop for both salt and fresh water fish. The product seems to be the future of gardening at a time where the world is suffering from a world crisis and where every single drop of water can make the difference.  This system is totally organic and recycles water that maintains the fish alive and enables plants to grow. For countries that suffer from droughts this might be a revolutionary method.

Oh! You scared me Mrs. Goldendiamondy!! I feel like you are always sneaking up on me…Or maybe you just like playing hide in seek…? Well, Mrs. G. today is not a good day for me to play and have fun. I am sad and I don’t feel like listening to your usual advice.  Of course, you know her now, she just wouldn’t have and decided to tell me everything she knew about Miss E. Let’s call her Miss E. for now, it is less painful and it also has a sort of secret agent feel to it.  Anyways, Mrs. Goldendiamondy that the world on the aisle 5 of the superstore is that Miss E. has fallen madly in love with Bamboo B. ! Isn’t that name SO ridiculous?!!

What does Bamboo B. have that I don’t have?!? Maybe, he is older, maybe he is one of those new and hip bottles made of 100% recyclable plastic?

“No my poor child, the Bamboo water bottle is fresh, innovative and most importantly environment friendly” said Mrs. Goldendiamondy with a shrug. She went on and even told me that the Bamboo has a cool modern design with an exterior made out of wood as an outside shell protecting the inside element of the bottle that is made out of glass. The bamboo exterior protects the bottle from breaking up into a million pieces if it falls. Well what is a regular plastic bottled water suppose to do against the superman of bottles???! I have lost my battle!!  The Bamboo B. is invincible! You can reuse it as many times as you like! All the other bottles seem to be talking only about Bamboo! Apparently a customer that came to visit the superstore even dropped Bamboo B. on the hardwood floor and Bamboo B. survived without a single scratch! That is not fair! I can’t compete against a glass water bottled, let along a super bamboo glass bottle!  Bamboo B is like the Batman of bottles!!! This is not fair! Miss E. is a traitor! She replaced me so quickly with the next best thing! The other thing that truly worries me is that all customers seem to have fallen in love with Bamboo! They point and stare and keep on saying: “Look at this new bottle!! It is SO eco-chic! I need to buy one! Plus who needs plastic bottles anyways?!! They are SO not trendy anymore, a plastic bottled water is so 1995!”.

This is ridiculous!!! I am as much “ECO- CHIC” as Bamboo! Actually, I am super CHIC! Whatever that means…!

I need to come up with a master plan… A secret plan to get rid of Bamboo B! Muhahahaha!

TO BE CONTINUED.

Source: http://inventorspot.com/articles/sporty_and_green_bamboo_water_bottle

In 1993, Deckers Outdoor Corporation acquired Simple Shoes: shoes for a happy planet, founded by Eric Meyer.  Aware of the need to protect the environment, this company is working hard at combining business prerogatives with the creation of shoes using recycled materials. They are strong believers in the fact that business can be done in a sustainable way, on their website the company declares: “HOW we make our shoes is just as important as WHY we make them. That means finding more sustainable ways of doing business so we can make a gazillion more” (Source: http://www.deckers.com/Brands/simpleshoes.aspx). This company seems to declare the need to be coherent by putting into practices the environmental friendly they pretend to embody. The Simple Shoes brand was born in 1991, as a response to a generation of  “over-hyped, over-marketed, and over-teched sneakers” (Source: http://www.simpleshoes.com/info/history.aspx?g=info). After having launched the Green Toe collection, shoes made of natural materials, the company realized that working with raw materials wasn’t enough considering all the waste and pollution that was out there.  For this reason, in 2007, the company decided to introduce recycled products such as plastic bottles and care tires in the manufacturing process of their shoes. In 2008, Simple Shoes decided to introduce brand new materials like hemp, recycled bicycle tires and car tire inner tubes.

The company’s website as a list of all the materials they use for they making of their simple shoes. They use PET (polyethylene terephthalate) the plastic used for water bottles, in order to make some of their shoelaces and in order to make the wrapping around the latex elastic. With a single used care tire they manage to “make the outsoles for six pairs of men’s size 9 shoes, by using recycled car tires” (Source: http://www.simpleshoes.com/info/materials.aspx?g=info). This is an innovative way to give a new life to materials and resources that are considered “dead” and are harmful for the environment. Moreover, the cotton they used is herbicides, pesticides and or chemical fertilizers free. They are proud to use cotton that hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals substances that too often end up in the water that citizens use for their daily choirs and even more dangerously the water they drink. One of their most innovative materials they use for their shoes is bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants on the face of earth.

These eco-green shoes are working and sales seem to demonstrate it. Yet, according to Brad Little, national sales manager, seems to think that there is much more than eco-friendly materials behind the company’s success. Brad Little says that “only 10% to 15% of its customers are green buyers” and adds that the shoes are “sufficiently good-looking that customers will pull them off a store shelf to begin with” (Source: http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/sep2009/id20090928_302174.htm). The shoes are competing against standard shoes that are over-marketed over-technological and often anything but simple. Being green, has become a trend in most States, yet the shoes sell also thanks to their young and fresh esthetics and their comfort value. The timing is perfect, Simple Shoes has started to get noticed at a time where there is a growing important share in the fashion market for eco-friendly clothing and accessories.

Part of its 2010 collection, Simple has also launched bold new bags, sporty and made of Recycled PET ripstop nylon. The bags are light, ready for a life on the go, they also have a custom made space for your mp3 player or ipod. The latest shoe collection has introduced the trendiest styles with leopard prints and light pastel colors in order to catch the heart and the eye of even the trendiest customers.

Reviews have been great and the shoes seem to be a crowd pleaser amongst customers from all ages. In 2005, eco-friendly fashion debuted at the New York fashion week. This marked the beginning of a new era and signaled the need to stop ignoring environmental problems. Fashion designers launch clothing trends and lifestyles that are followed by thousands. Mixing style, elegance and innovation with recycled materials and a greener lifestyle is a trend that will and needs to come back every season.

Under this brand new initiative, the governments are fully committing to “prepare water plans with provision for the environment, to deal with over-allocated or stressed water systems, to introduce registers of water rights and standards without forgetting the need to expand in the trade of water in order to improve pricing for water storage and delivery” (Source: http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/117-national-water-initiative.asp?intSiteID=1).  This plan of action that has been launched a couple of years ago, has forced concrete action, seeing citizens respecting the water use limits and farmers installing drip irrigation systems. Moreover, Australia recognizes the connection between surface and groundwater resources and has pushed forward the need to develop a single management system that connects these two water supplies.  The country desperately needs a common definition of sustainable groundwater extraction rates in order to avoid a situation of over-exploitation that could be disastrous in the near future.  With the recent long running droughts, the need to manage groundwater could be crucial to the survival of ecosystems and human beings. Recent assessments and studies seem to believe that a system that manages the connection between surface and groundwater trading regimes could offer increase results when it comes to water management issues. Only time will tell, if such system will effectively be implemented in this arid yet gorgeous continent.

Governments need to put together a common water management registry database in order to accelerate results and unify all the working resources. With the growth of water trade between states like Tasmania, South Australia or Victoria, these stakeholders have introduced “statutory registers to handle the registration and trade of water access entitlements consistent with the NWI” (Source: http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/121-water-markets-and-trading.asp?intSiteID=1).  The National Water Initiative has launched a real urban water reform in order to ameliorate water supplies, encourage trade between the urban and rural sector, encourage and prompt water supply innovation and research and finally reach improved water prices. A considerable proportion of water in urban areas is provided thanks to rainwater harvesting techniques; rainfall is collected and stored in reservoirs where it get purified.  While the rainy season seems to have been taking a break, other option such as re-use, recycling or desalination have been explored. Recycling for non-drinking purposes has been adopted all over Australia and “household recycling of greywater is also increasingly being adopted by Australian residents to provide a constant source during times of drought and water restriction” (Source: http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/194-supply-options.asp).

Without those strict measures and innovative research, Melbourne risk to have been completely dry today. The country exemplary forward-looking and efficient attitude has been an inspiration to other areas around the globe suffering from similar problems such as the state of California. This American state is one of the fastest growing in the country, and its residents depend on the Colorado River for potable water supplies. With the population continuously growing, state officials have decided to meet up with experts from Australia in order to gather advice and opinions about launching a similar water initiative.

According to the company’s official website, the Poland Spring Brand history goes back        13 000 years ago when a glacier retreated in what is today the region of Maine. Their water is collected from several spring water sources in Maine, water that has been in the homes of Americans through the great depressions, the passing of war and the hippy movement. This bottled water’s marketing strategy stands strong on its historical longevity, following the country and the passing of generations. This notion of time evolution and continuity of the bottle renders this element indispensable to the eyes of its buyers.  Citizens have even forgotten to ask themselves how truly essential is that water plastic bottle. It seems like this brand has managed to transform an essential good, water into a product, a commodity, a beverage that is to be requested with precision by costumers.  On the Poland Spring Water website, the company adopts a proactive approach with a page entitled “Please Recycle” that is a message directed to their customers. The corporation tackles the problems of plastic pollution directly by stating that: “the Container Recycling Institute estimates that 75 to 80% of plastic bottles end up in landfills or incinerators. We want to be part of the solution” (Source: http://www.polandspring.com/KnowH2O/Be-Green.aspx). They expose their concrete effort by producing bottles with less plastic and a smaller label in order to save trees.  It appears to be that their website is not only about promoting their green initiatives but they have also decided to inform readers about environmental facts like reminding us that “ it takes 6 trees to make one ton of paper” (Source: http://www.polandspring.com/KnowH2O/Be-Green.aspx). By informing customers about environmental issues and statistics, it appears that the company is trying to give us the impression that they stand on the side of environmentalist groups and green NGOs.  In addition their website has a special section entitled “Be healthy”, a section that gives general tips about being healthy and staying hydrated.

Their newest bottle, the Eco-Shape bottle is “lighter than most half-liter beverage bottles because it contains an average of 30% less plastic.” (Source: http://www.polandspring.com/KnowH2O/Be-Green.aspx).  The company also reminds us that in the last ten years they have saved about 30% for every liter produced, saving around 245 million pounds of plastic resin.  Yet, on the corporate citizenship section of their website, on the category of “Recycling” it seems that the company has a pretty scarce strategy or informative text as they simple say “we encourage you to recycle all of our products” (Source: http://www.polandspring.com/DoingOurPart/WhatWereDoing.aspx).

A few years back Poland water faced a controversy as it was accused of bottling water that did not come directly from the spring. “When Perrier took over the Poland spring site, it was drawing water not from the original spring at the top of Ricker Hill but from boreholes a couple of thousand feet away, near a pond base on the hill” (Source: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/02/09/360105/index.htm).  This controversy was somewhat concluded with the fact that the springs were somewhat linked to the borehole. This was the loophole that permitted Poland water to continue marketing their bottles as “spring water”.

On their website the company tells us that they believe that “the greatest impact we can have today to protect our environment is to design lighter bottles that use less plastic” (Source: http://www.polandspring.com/KnowH2O/Be-Green.aspx). This seems like a somewhat light and superficial statement considering the amount of plastic that is dumped in nature running the natural habitat of animals and human beings. The United States has the privilege of having access to free tap water, individuals are uphold at the potential privatization of water as they argue it should be a fundamental human right. Yet, paradoxically they fell to be coherent with their arguments since most citizens after arguing against water privatization, frown at tap water and go out and buy bottled water. This is something worth reflecting upon.

Plastic bottles are made from oil, a nonrenewable source and in most cases these bottles are not recycled and are vulgarly thrown in landfill where they can take more than two hundred years to decompose.  Alternative technologies such as bioplastics like Polylactic acid (PLA), a or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), yet the problem is that these new technologies are too costly and are often too slow to decompose. Martin Myerscough, an English inventor and engineer, has come up with a much greener and efficient solution in order to replace milk plastic bottles: a milk bottle that is made from paper, also known as the GreenBottle. “The outer shell is made from paper which can then be recycled, or if left it will just decompose within a matter of weeks. The inner liner, which takes up less than 0.5% of the space of a plastic bottle if dumped in a landfill, prevents liquid from contaminating the paper outer” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/about-us/ ). Myersough claims to have had this brilliant idea after his son came home from school one day with a papier-mâché  balloon. He constructed the milk bottle with on outer shell made of recycled paper and implemented a plastic bag to hold the milk. The plastic bag is meant to be recycled and in case it isn’t it still has less plastic than your average plastic bottle, in addition to also holding up less space. The outer shell made out of recycled paper can be recycled once again. The plastic bag needs to be seperated from the bottled in order to be recycled properly. “The manufacturers claim that it has a carbon footprint 48 per cent lower than that of a plastic milk jug” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/documents/news/the_times.pdf). This is a simple alternative that every citizen should put into practice to lower their daily water footprint. Retailers and businesses all over Europe have been pressured by the European Union and the Department for Environment, food and rural affairs in order to diminish packaging and therefore the quantity of waste that is produced.  The first 50 bottles put on the shelves of a Lowestoft store where sold in one hour on their first day in the store.  Customers all over the world have an increased awareness to environmental issues and the numerous damages caused by plastic bottles. The GreenBottle alternative works because it is a simple alternative that isn’t forcing customers to comply with many compromises or switching costs. Indeed, after having reached an agreement with Asda (british supermarket chain retailer), for Lowestoft stores, to sell the milk paper bottles at the same price as conventional bottles. Even the cardboard bottles cost “around 30% more to produce than plastic bottles, Mr Myerscough believes the price will even out when they get to higher production runs” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/documents/news/independent.pdf ). If this new paper milk bottle is as popular as they hope, Asda is hoping to launch them nationwide “in an attempt to cut the three-million tons of plastic that is thrown away in the UK annually” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/documents/news/independent.pdf).

The GreenBottle is a long-term sustainable green alternative that will hopefully spread all over Europe and eventually in the United States. This is a simple alternative in order to large quantity of un-recycled plastic bottles. The bottle has been designed in a simple way in order to be torn apart so that you can easily and quickly separate the paper to be recycled and quickly place it in the bin. This environmental friendly milk bottle is compostable and biodegradable and the hope for the future is that such similar invention should be applied to water bottles and all other sorts of plastic containers.

The first kayaks date as far as 1900, they were constructed from driftwood and animal skins and used by the Inuits and other native tribes. ”Lashed together with animal sinews, these early boats used seal bladders filled with air to make the them buoyant and nearly unsinkable” (Source: http://www.kayakingjournal.com/kayak-history.html ). Caribou skins are soaked in water and once they are dried stretched as much as possible. Caribou fat was their secret to render to kayak waterproof. With the European colonization of North America, these practical means of transportation quickly conquered the heart and minds of the European people who quickly imported this invention in their homelands. Kayaks quickly became a recreational activity that capture water lover from France to Germany.  Around 1900, a German scholar, inspired by a Inuit design decided to build his own version of a collapsible kayak.  This “foldable” kayak could be carried around in a bag and quickly be assembled on the shore of a wetland.  This ancestor of the kayak became a favorite in Europe, being more practical to ride rivers than the large open boats previously used.

In 1936, kayak races became an official sport at the Olympics on 1936 in Berlin. Today the sport has evolved greatly and kayaks are now “built from covered frames or from shells of fiberglass or plastic. Durable marine or exterior-grade plywood is used for the frame while waterproof glue and mechanical fasteners join the wooden pieces” (Source: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Kayak.html). Today, kayaks can now be build with an eco-green perspective in order to respect the environmental that is so fundamental to this sport. Environmentalists can be thrilled at the idea that a kayak sheel can be constructed from recycled plastics. The central element to a plastic kayak is polyethylene. This waterproof material can be easily manipulated through simple heating or cooling procedures that render this material very useful for the construction of kayaks. “Adequate supplies of polyethylene recycled from plastic beverage bottles are now available with sufficient durability and strength for use in making kayaks. This is a valid alternative to the recycling of plastic bottles that will sure please all nature lovers.

Kayak is continuously growing in terms of popularity and the increasing curiosity for this sport is also driving continuous evolution from the technological and design point of view. The USA team put together a great performance at the Junior Sprint Tour. At the Nova Scotia regatta, team USA “reaching the podium 11 times against Team Ontario and six clubs from Nova Scotia” (Source: http://usack.org/news/2010/07/22/kahookele-nurmia-rack-up-the-medals-in-canada/37428). This sprint tour took off with stops in Lake Placid, N.Y. and Bochum in Germany. Today, the Olympic Games feature more than 10 different kayak events and it seems like the number will only grow in the future.

On the United States’ version of the website, Yves Rocher clearly states its five of Botanical Beauty, principles that are according to them the outcome of their researching and investing in plan research. Their first active principle consists in basing their behaviour on the plant world while always putting plants at the centre of all their products. The cosmetic company reminds us that they “select amongst 1, 100 ingredients of plant origin, those that are best adapted to the cosmetic benefit of each product” (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/dynpage/~struct=about/~page=botanical_beauty/).  Considering that the flora is the crucial element at the centre of Yves Rocher’s production, the international firm seems to have quickly realized that nature is a golden mine that needs to be protect and conserved.  Endangered species and the destruction of the flora could have direct repercussions on the financial balance of the company. In coherence with this mental framework, the forth active principle of the Botanical Beauty guideline is to protect the planet world by what they call “Actively defending the environment” (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/dynpage/~struct=about/~page=botanical_beauty/).  On the website, Yves Rocher states the importance of verifying the status of a plant before using it, in order to avoid using endangered species. In order to limit their impact on the environment, the company declares that they have committed to planting 3 million trees in five years.  For instance, the company realized the scarcity of Arnica Montana, in order to protect the specie; they have decided to replace it with Arnica Chamissonis, cultivated directly on Yves Rocher’s fields.  The firm’s plant Charter also specifies that they forbid the use of GMO botanical ingredients, forbid animal testing and refuse to use animal ingredients, favor cultivated plants and give priority to organic supplies (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/images/templates/article/cosmetique_vegetale/GUIDE-COSM-GB.pdf). In addition, Yves Rocher also created the Vegetarium, the first museum in Europe totally dedicated to the world of plants. This museum located at La Gacilly (France), is a valid initiative in order to inform public and raise awareness about the need to protect nature.

In order to bring their environmental commitment to the next step and testify their long-term commitment to green causes, in 1991, Yves Rocher founded the Yves Rocher Foundation, under the wing of “Institut de France”, the foundation is “committed to nurturing and protecting nature and humanity” (Source: http://www.yves-rocher-fondation.org/ca/en/foundation/mission/). In order to directly instigate citizens to launch sustainable initiatives at the local level, since 2001, the foundation launched the Women of the Earth Award who celebrates women in 11 countries who are striving to protect nature. The winning recipients receive consistent bursaries that can amount up to seven thousand dollars. In addition to this award, the foundation also directly supports other green initiatives like the restoration of historical gardens or activities to raise awareness on environmentalist issues in schools. In 2007, the Kai Makana project (which can be translated into ”Gift from the Sea”) was awarded $ 7,000, a project “dedicated to the education of the local population to preserve the ocean and marine life” (Source: http://www.kaimakana.org/docs/02282007.pdf).

Based on the firm’s self-corporate presentation, Yves Rocher pushes forward the importance of giving back to the nature constructing “a beauty that uses the regenerative power of plants its vital energy, resistance and longevity” (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/dynpage/~struct=about/~page=50_years/). This cosmetic leader firm has focused its brand identity and marketing strategy on the production of natural botanic products that reflect the natural beauty of nature. It is logical for this corporation to try to preserve and conserve nature, the most important resource and centre piece of their whole business. The seem to demand an ethical respect towards beauty in all its facets: the beauty of a woman should be praised and respected just as much as the beauty of nature!

From the 1980’s to 1990s the quantity of pathogens, disease-causing organisms, has grown in an exponential fashion. In countries where real health facilities are lacking, water-borne pathogens become a deadly weapon, especially for young children. According to a recent report, “high levels of bacteria and viruses can be found in waters contaminated with untreated human sewage. Disinfection can reduce these levels by as much as 99.99% for viruses and 99.9999% for bacteria. However, many newly recognized pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora or Toxoplasma have shown increased resistance to conventional disinfection methods” (Source: http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacg/i/fulltext/emerge/emerge.pdf). Various other pathogens are still being studied, while other remain unknown to scientists. Only time will tell the actual impact they have human beings. Yet, the increase number of outbreaks speaks for itself and demonstrates that this problem is far from being solved. The increasing number of cases signals the urgent necessity to review sewage infrastructures. “Pathogenic bacteria can occur in surface water in larger numbers, either being excreted in faeces or occurring naturally in the environment. Bacteria typically range in size between 0.5 and 2 micrometers” (Source: http://hsc.sca.nsw.gov.au/biology/water-pathogens). Culture techniques are fundamental in order to evaluate the microbial quality of drinking water. Such studies do not identify specific pathogens but rely on the analysis of indicator bacteria such as coliforms and enterococci, revealing the possible existence of microbial pathogens of faecal origins.  Coliforms and E. Coli are pathogens that survive inside the intestines of animals and human beings, and are eliminated from the human body through faeces. If those excrements are not treated in the right manner, they end up being dumped into our water lands causing great illness and diseases to fish and local swimmers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put together a guidance document with comprehensive advice and emergency-case analysis providing also methods for assessment of source-water quality. “Risk management can no longer be confined to a single organization or agency; national, regional and local governments, water authorities, water supply agencies and public health authorities all play a role” (Source: http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/938/The_science_of_clean_water.htm). While conventional methods to detect viruses are constructed on tissue-culture techniques that are daunting and time consuming. Thankfully, to the latest research developments, an apparel of new immunological tools are now available. These new techniques provide faster and more accurate results in order to better identify the origin of microbial contaminants. E. coli one of the most world-know pathogens causes severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and can create other complications such as kidney failure and other serious illnesses. Last year, over 200 visitors were taken away by a tremendous virus of diarrhea due to the contamination of potable water in Bermuda, caused by “an overflow of the sewerage system” (Source: http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacg/i/fulltext/emerge/emerge.pdf).

A thousand years ago, nobody had the fear that swimming in a lake could cause terrible diseases or health complication. The human race has taken for granted the precious nature of water and people and business often forget that water is not a mere commodity to be exploited in a brutal and careless way; especially because the survival of the human race depends on the quantity of quality water available for consumption. The World Health Organization needs to work more closely with local and federal governments in order to implant strict legislations that will serve to protect water and sanction careless individuals or firms that pollute water in reckless manner.