Water & Oceans

"Like oil in the 20th century, water could well be the essential commodity on which the 21st century will turn."

"COPPER BASIN, Tenn. — A decade ago, the Ocoee River was dead — devoid of any insect or fish life that normally signals clean water."

"NEW ORLEANS -- Federal regulators on Wednesday cited oil company BP PLC and two other companies – Transocean Ltd. and Halliburton – for alleged safety and environmental violations stemming from last year's rig explosion and massive Gulf oil spill.

The companies have 60 days to appeal the citations issued by the Interior Department's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

The bureau says the alleged regulatory violations could result in civil penalties once the appeal period has ended.

"DETROIT -- At a time when many government programs are fighting for survival, there's one place the money is still flowing for now: the Great Lakes."

"GENEVA -- The U.N. children's agency says almost 2,500 people have died in one of the biggest cholera outbreaks western Africa has ever seen."

"TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- A one-two punch of excessive nutrients and ravenous mussels is causing a sharp drop-off in Great Lakes fish populations and the worst outbreak of algae blooms in decades, says a report released Tuesday."

"Bryan and Kathleen Borres worried that Marcellus shale drilling near their Murrysville home might affect their well water. During the summer, the couple had a baseline test done. The results surprised them — the water they had been drinking from the well, drilled in 2005, contained coliform and E. coli bacteria."

"The effort to reduce the rising pollution levels in Silver Springs could become the model for improving the health of freshwater springs statewide. Recently, Marion County commissioners approved an agreement with state environmental regulators that permits the county to lead the process to determine the ceiling for contaminants at the fabled site."