INTERNATIONAL NEWS
European water-search
satellite launches
A satellite dedicated to looking for ‘lucky strike’ that will provide Europe
water and monitoring climate change with new tools to better understand
Vietnam is becoming
more urbanised
was successfully launched from our planet and climate change, as
northern Russia on 2 November. well as new technology break-
The European Space Agency's Soil throughs that will enhance the com-
Improved infrastructure for Danang
Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) petitiveness of European industry on Vietnam is experiencing large-scale and supervise construction of the
mission was one of two launches the world-wide market, thus con- economic growth and urbanisation new infrastructure projects, and the
from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome tributing to the global economy." as it transforms from an agricultural company will also work with the city
launch pad at 1:50am local time. SMOS is a 658kg satellite devel- to a market economy. As a result, to improve the effectiveness of
It is the first ever satellite designed oped by ESA together with France’s Danang, one of the country’s four organisations responsible for invest-
to map sea-surface salinity and mon- CNES and Spain’s Centro para el major cities, is rapidly expanding. ment planning, land management
itor soil moisture on a global scale, Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial. It is The recently announced Danang and housing across the city. Nearly
featuring a unique ‘interferometric based on the Proteus small satellite Priority Infrastructure Investment 800,000 people will enjoy an
radiometer’ for passive surveying of platform designed and built by Project, funded by the World Bank, enhanced quality of life by 2013.
the water cycle between oceans, the Thales Alenia Space, and its payload will improve sanitation and waste- “The existing urban infrastructure
atmosphere and land. comprises a single instrument, the water infrastructure and reduce pollu- is under stress,” said Dan McCarthy,
The ESA’s director general, Jean- Microwave Imaging Radiometer tion in the city’s water ways. It will president and CEO of Black &
Jacques Dordain, said: "We are using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) also improve flood prevention meas- Veatch’s global water business.
extremely pleased with this double developed by EADS CASA Espacio. ures for communities in low-lying “Infrastructure improvements are
areas, as well as essential roadways. essential to sustaining a city’s growth
Danang’s People’s Committee as well as improving the quality of life
Ireland has a large rural community
selected Black & Veatch to manage for all who reside and visit.”
Sharing LIFE experience
More than 150 delegates attended Senior European Commission
the European Commission’s LIFE personnel also addressed the LIFE
Environment conference Water for conference, including Mr Gustaaf
life – LIFE for Water, held in Brussels Borchardt, director of the Water,
Ireland fails on wastewater
on 15 October, providing a success- Chemicals and Biotechnology
ful platform for transferring experi- Directorate; Mrs Soledad Blanco,
ence in EU water management. director of the International affairs
The European Court of Justice has this administrations ‘green’ creden- The conference disseminated Directorate; and Mr Hervé Martin,
ruled against the Irish Government in tials. I believe this judgment is all the results of LIFE projects, illustrating head of the LIFE Environment and
a case brought by the European more embarrassing for the Green how the EU programme supports Eco-Innovation Unit.
Commission on wastewater laws. Party given the fact that the minister the implementation of the EU Water Other speakers included Dr Anna-
It found that Ireland had failed to for the environment John Gormley Framework Directive and the Marine Stiina Heiskanen, research manager
make adequate legislation for dealing has spent the last year effectively Strategy Framework Directive. Good at the Finnish Environment Institute,
with domestic wastewater from sep- arguing on the basis of technicalities practices and experiences from 12 SYKE, who highlighted gaps in policy
tic tanks and other on-site waste- before the European Court of Justice LIFE projects targeting water scarcity, and policy implementation and
water treatment. that Ireland was acting in full compli- river engineering, eutrophication and defined important actions and proj-
Ireland, mainly due to its rural ance with the EU Waste Water the recently adopted Marine Strategy ects aiming to achieve WFD targets
communities, has more septic tanks Directive, when it was manifestly not.” were presented and discussed. in relation to eutrophication; and Mr
than average compared with other Irish minister for the environment, Issues these addressed included: Phillip Weller, executive secretary of
European nations, with a total of heritage and local government John integrated water management at the the International Commission for
about 440,000. Scotland has an esti- Gormley hit back saying he was river basin level; the application of the Protection of the Danube River
mated 100,000 and about 800,000 looking at introducing a licensing almond trees in protecting soil; the (ICPDR), who stressed the impor-
are thought to be in use in England. and inspection system for septic role of water engineering in river tance of adopting integrated plan-
Irish Labour MEP Nessa Childers, tanks. He said: “Earlier this year I restoration; floodplain restoration; ning processes to improve hydro-
who sits on Europe’s environmental brought a memo to government integrated management of coastal morphological management.
committee, said: “This ruling against identifying the need for a licensing areas; the assessment of pollution Closing the conference, Mrs
Ireland slams the government’s and inspection system for septic risks from wastewater discharges in Soledad Blanco said: “The goal is that
abject failure to comply with EU law tanks. I will be asking the public to coastal areas; and reducing pollution dissemination efforts become more
regarding the operation of septic contribute to the debate on how this in surface and groundwater through effective so that good practices can
tanks, and is a damning indictment of ruling can be addressed.” good agricultural practices. be replicated around Europe.”
10 Water & Wastewater Treatment November 2009
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