This Newsletter is published quarterly, March, June, September and December by the B. C. Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: Secretary Treasurer, Joan Perry, 1708 - 197 A Street, Langley, B. C. V2Z 1K2 Phone or Fax: 604-530-8934

Archived Newsletters:

BCGWA PLANNING SESSION SUMMARY REPORT - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

LOW STREAM FLOW ADVISORY - THOMPSON/NICOLA - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Click here for the BC Government Document: NEW STANDARDS TAKE EFFECT FOR PRIVATE WELL OWNERS
Click here for the BCGWA response to the MOE WATER ACT Modernization - Discussion Paper.
Click here for the BCGWA memo regarding the acquiring of Continuing Education Units (CEU) and related issues regarding current Provincial government regulations.

New! Download the Press Release for WORLD WATER DAY 2011

March 2011 Newsletter

This Newsletter is published quarterly, March, June, September and December by the B.C.
Ground Water Association. For more information please contact: Executive Secretary, Joan
Perry, 1708 – 197 A Street, Langley, B. C. V2Z 1K2. Phone or Fax: 604-530-8934.
BCGWA Website address: www.bcgwa.org
BCGWA e.mail address: secretary.bcgwa@shaw.ca
________________________________________________________________________

President’s Report

From the desk of the Managing Director……………………..

As we have just completed another highly successful Convention, Trade Show and Annual General Meeting and most of our members attended,  there is little new to comment on. However, that will not stop me from rambling on.
 
Just prior to the C/TS we hosted a two day training seminar “Determining Problems and Solutions Impacting Well Systems” at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey. The “Super Course” was a huge success with 77 attendees. We were especially impressed to see a large number of Environmental Operators attending to expand their knowledge and receive CEU credits to their EOCP.  The course was presented by Thom Hanna, (District Manager, Johnson Screens), Dr. John Schneiders and Michael Schneiders (Water Systems Engineering Inc.) and our own Remi Allard (Sustainable Subsurface Solutions Inc.[S3]. The large number of comment sheets returned and verbal renderings indicated the course was very well received and all in all a huge success. Kudos to all involved.
 
Our 2011 annual conference/trade show hosted a total of 166 attendees at the Executive Airport Plaza Hotel in Richmond. This was also another successful event with a good  cozy trade show, coupled with several very interesting trade and technical talks. Mike Wei presented another overview of the current situation of his ministry and particularly the status of the Water Act Modernization (WAM) process. Again kudos to all involved. 
 
Congratulations to our new President Mike Lamont of Precision Pumps and other new faces on the Board; Bill Tuytel (VP), Ryan Rhodes (Okanagan Director) and a special welcome back to Tim Oster (Well Drilling Director) and Keith Grimwade (M&S). Not to be left out, congratulations to all those Board members who are returning for another two year term, thanks so much for continuing to support the governance of our organization. Special thanks to Remi Allard for his three years as our President, well done.
 
During the recent Convention, Mike Wei, Vicki Carmichael and yours truly met with a group of three from the federal  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to discuss the possibility of BCGWA and the provincial Ministry of Environment and  Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations undertaking a travelling road show to familiarize well owners (especially farming) with how their wells work, construction, contamination and a basic explanation of how aquifers provide the water they use.
 
I encourage all to read over the Minutes of the recent AGM for more detail on where we are as an organization today and going tomorrow.
 
Best wishes for a productive and enjoyable spring and summer!
 
Bruce Ingimundson
 
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President’s Report – Remi’s Ramblings

Since my term as President of the BCGWA is now over, this may be my last article for our newsletter, so I have decided to go out with a bang.  In hindsight, I would have liked to have been opinionated on some of the issues that I touch on in this article, but my overall objective as President has been to foster overall cooperation and team building in our industry. Furthermore, I am happy to hand things over to Mike Lamont as I believe that some of the most important issues facing our organization relate to the Qualified Pump Installer (QPI) aspect of the industry, which is Mike’s line of business.  I am still around as past-president and will be very active (and vocal) as a hydrogeologist in BC.  Please note that my comments and opinions are not necessarily those of the BCGWA. I have also expressed these ideas in the most recent issue of BCWWA’s Watermark magazine.
 
Requirement for Treatment of Groundwater
 
Purveyors with water wells located in close proximity to surface water in BC designated as Groundwater Under The Direct Influence of Surface Water (GUDI, GWUDI or GWAROCP), are being directed by government to treat groundwater using filtration and UV to meet 43210 water quality objectives.  However, in many other parts of the world, water wells are deliberately located close to surface water to take advantage of the benefits of natural filtration, more specifically River Bank Filtration (RBF).  There is ample evidence to support that a properly designed and constructed well, placed close to surface water can provide extremely high quality water, with treatment similar to that of both conventional and membrane treatment plants.  Unfortunately in BC, if a water well is designated as being at risk, or potentially at risk of containing pathogens, the burden of proof resides with the water purveyor to prove otherwise, or incur substantial costs to install treatment for a water source that may never have been problematic. 
 
Granted, there is evidence to suggest that gastro-intestinal disorders are linked to turbidity events and that the effectiveness of disinfection processes, either chemical or physical (UV), are adversely affected by turbidity. Furthermore, an appropriate frequency for monitoring of microbial indicators and water quality treatment for many groundwater systems is prudent.  However, there is a difference between turbidity in surface water and turbidity in groundwater.  Whereas turbidity in surface water is typically associated with organic material and biological pathogens, the turbidity in groundwater may simply be the result of fine-grained aquifer material migrating through the screens in the base of the well.  Optimal well screen selection, appropriate “development” to remove fine-grained material from the aquifer surrounding the screens and regular maintenance to minimize the recurrence of sand migration, may reduce chlorine consumption, if not (in some cases) eliminate the need for disinfection altogether. 
 
With regards to biological pathogens in groundwater, I refer to a recent article in the technical journal Groundwater, which discusses the issue of the correlation between microbial indicators and the presence of pathogens in groundwater. In their paper, Payment and Locas (GW Vol. 49, No. 1:4-11) suggest that many pathogens of public health importance do not behave like fecal microbial indicators and there is still no absolute indicator of their presence, only a probability of their co-occurrence.  Many water quality issues with water wells can be related to poor well construction, the operational age of a well (casing and screen integrity) and impacts to source water quality within the capture zone for a well.  The take away point here is that it may be possible to mitigate water quality issues at the source well and within the source aquifer, as opposed to committing to water treatment.  
 
Geothermal Systems
 
Geothermal energy is a wonderful thing, especially when you consider the benefits of reducing green house gas emissions and the ever-increasing cost of energy.  Furthermore, the potential for long-term sustainable development of geothermal energy in BC is significant.  However, like other resources that come from the ground (precious metals, oil & gas, and groundwater); there are finite limits to the resource and potential harmful environmental impacts if the resource is not extracted appropriately. From a hydrogeologist’s perspective, the biggest potential downsides of geothermal systems are: 1) improper, or complete lack of grouting, of closed-loop boreholes, 2) poor location of extraction and injection wells with respect to aquifer hydraulics, 3) discharge of extracted groundwater at surface - rather than re-injection into the source aquifer, and 4) thermal impacts on shallow surface water.  At issue is the cross contamination of aquifers via un-grouted boreholes, the decline in efficiency of open loop (pump and dump) systems due to thermal breakthrough, the cumulative impacts within high density development areas, and finally, temperature impacts on aquatic habitat. In summary, there is need for more attention by government in terms of regulation, monitoring and enforcement, as well from industry to investigate and develop geothermal energy in a manner that has minimal impact on the environment.   
 
Qualified Pump Installers
 
In BC, there is nothing stopping a person from walking into Canadian Tire and purchasing a submersible pump, wire and drop pipe so he/she can equip a well with a pump as a weekend project.  Presumably, so long as you know how to tighten pipe couplings and how to twist wires together, anyone can, and does undertake such work.  The most common problems encountered include: 1) the well casing being cut below ground, which could allow surface drainage to contaminate the well and aquifer, 2) the pump intake being set in the screens, where cooling of the pump motor is substantially reduced, 3) improper gauge wire, resulting in bad pump performance, 4) improper piping.  There are even general contractors that complete more complex systems, with no knowledge of plumbing and electrical codes, nor (and this is my main point) the requirement that you must be a Qualified Pump Installer (QPI) as per the BC Groundwater Protection Regulation to install pumps in BC.  In my opinion, no pump equipment should be sold without proof of QPI status.  Furthermore, there should be a standardized form completed by the QPI that must be submitted to the Province and, for domestic water wells, to local government before building occupancy is permitted.  In summary, apart from well and pump failure, there is significant threat to public health due to improper pump installations.  There is need for more attention by government in terms of regulation, monitoring and enforcement.
 
Groundwater and the Pending Sustainable Water Management Act
 
Whereas surface water is licensed and consumption generally reported in BC, groundwater is currently not subject to the same scrutiny. It is very exciting to be involved in the Water Act Modernization (WAM) process, which ultimately will result in the new Water Sustainability Act.  One of the major goals of the WAM process relates to groundwater and we are keenly interested in what provisions will relate to groundwater registration or licensing, as well as the ability to regulate or manage both groundwater and surface water jointly in problematic areas.  You can’t manage a resource unless you measure and monitor it.
 
Remi Allard
 
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WOMEN floored by their spouses’ bad driving habits!
 
There is much MisCarmony between the sexes when it comes to partners assessing each other’s driving skills and behavior.
 
As reported here in the last Newsletter, a survey of male drivers in the U.K. found 10 per cent of men at some time have grabbed the wheel from their partner to avoid a crash.  One in 10 men admitted asking their sweetheart to pull over, so that they could take over.  One in five said they were never able to relax when their “better” half drives.
 
In response to that story, women readers here have turned the tables on their men-folk.  In the interests of preserving family Carmony, only the initials of the respondents are revealed.
 
RT rattled off a list of her partner’s sins:  “He drives very aggressively – everyone is an idiot – he cuts people off, flips the middle finger and yells.  He drives too fast and thinks that snow tires and ABS are the perfect cure for winter driving, so there’s no need to adjust for winter conditions.  He tailgates, corners too fast and consequently hits things like curbs and stop signs.  He stays in the ‘fast’ lane and when he needs to change lanes at the last second, then swears at the drivers who won’t let him in.  Being one of those drivers who never lets anyone in, he deliberately closes the gap between himself and the car in front!  He brakes too late and the stereo is so loud you can’t hear sirens.  He thinks he’s a race car superstar because he’s played many hours of racing video games.”
 
LS confesses:  “My husband scares the (expletive deleted) out of me.  He always seems to get in behind the wheel assuming he is driving unless I happen to get to the garage first.  As a passenger, I feel totally at his mercy.  We will be riding along in perfect peace, another driver will do something that makes him instantly mad, and he will hit the horn and hold it down with no warning, swerve toward the other vehicle with no warning, or speed up right behind that vehicle.
 
“I’ve explained to him how it affects me and the fact that he still does it tells me that he does not care how I feel (and) feels justified.  Oddly enough, he is a very nice guy.”
 
TC said: “Your article has my blood boiling.  I am a woman that by all accounts is a very good driver.  I haven’t had a speeding ticket in almost 10 years…I haven’t had an accident since 1996 and that one wasn’t even my fault.  I don’t brake too soon, I don’t brake too late.  I don’t tailgate.
 
“My husband tailgates, he brakes too fast and too late.  He lane-weaves, and even weaves around invisible cracks in the road, which ultimately frighten other drivers behind and around him.  He looks at the kids in the rearview mirror to see what they’re doing and how cute they are, completely ignoring the road ahead of him.  He texts and drives.  He emails and drives.”
 
LR protested: “Every one of those things that men complain about with women drivers, I complain about with my husband.  He drives 20 kms above the speed limit, he tailgates, he gets distracted, and he doesn’t seem to notice what’s going on around him, yet he constantly criticizes me!  Once when I was driving, he yelled, ‘Go, go!’ when I was at an intersection – I had a red light.  Another time, we were at an intersection and I told him he was in the turning lane (mistakenly).  To remedy it, he dashed across the intersection into oncoming  traffic!
 
“We have our own cars and I will do whatever I can to avoid being in a car with him.  Screw the carbon footprint.”
 
Does your hubby resemble those remarks? – If so, you may want to suggest he breathe deeply and chill.
 
Keith Morgan
The Vancouver Sun   

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Upcoming Events
 
AWWDA Convention & Trade Show
April 7–9, 2011
Mayfield Inn, Edmonton, Alberta
Ph: 780-386-2335
 
BCWWA Conference & Trade Show
April 16-20, 2011
Kelowna, B.C
Ph: 604-433-4389
contact@bcwwa.org
 
GeoExchange Conference & Trade Show
May 5th & 6th, 2011
SFU, Burnaby
Ph: 604-596-0595
 
OGWA Convention & Trade Show
May 26-28, 2011
Kingston, Ontario
Ph: 519-245-7194
 
Membership Dues!
 
Just a reminder that your membership dues should be paid by April 15th.  Please make sure you notify the office of any changes to your address, phone #, email etc.  We try and keep this information up-to-date.
 
The new membership booklets will be mailed out in the first week of May.

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Convention
 
We would like to thank the following companies for their donation to the Association to help with our convention costs. 
 
• A & H Drilling Ltd.
• Cenikin Enterprise
• Downrite Drilling Ltd.
• Eco Tech Laboratory
• Foremost Industries LP
• General Farm Supply Inc.
• Langley Welding & Machine Shop Ltd.
• Monashee Aquifer Testing
• Sego Industries Inc.
• Variperm Canada Ltd.
• Western Drilling Tools Inc. 
 
A Big Thank you to our Manufacturer’s and Suppliers
 
We want to thank all of the Manufacturers and Suppliers who displayed a booth at our March convention.  The room was definitely on the “cozy” side but you provided us with a full evening of food, beverages and entertainment.  Please show your support for these companies who always show support to help make our convention such a success.
 
• Absolute North Drilling Solutions Inc.
• Amcana Drilling Bits Inc.
• Andrew Sheret Ltd.
• Atlas Manufacturing Ltd.
• CARO Analytical Services
• Delta Irrigation Ltd.
• Dominion Pipe & Piling (BC)
• Eco Tech Laboratory
• Exova
• Flexcon Industries
• Foremost Industries LP
• Langley Welding & Machine Shop Ltd.
• Maxxam Analytics
• Merrill Mfg. Co.
• Ministry of Environment
• Monument Machine Shop Ltd.
• Performance Industrial Products
• Pinnacle Drilling Products Inc.
• Pump Systems Inc.
• Sego Industries Inc.
• Sphere Drilling Supplies
• Talik Industrial Services Inc.
• Tundra Sales Inc.
• Van Isle Water Services
• Variperm (Canada) Limited
• Wallace Control Systems Corp.
• Western Drilling Tools Inc.

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Most Canadians Have “No Concept” of the Real Value of Water: Study
 
While the majority of Canadians (55 percent) continue to believe that fresh water is the country’s most important natural resource and say they are trying reasonably hard to conserve it (78 percent), almost three quarters (72 per cent) admit to flushing items down the toilet that they could dispose of in another manner.  Left-over food, hair, bugs and cigarette butts lead the list of items discarded in toilets across the nation, wasting an average of six to 20 litres of fresh, clean water with each flush.
 
According to the fourth annual Canadian Water Attitudes Study, commissioned by RBC and Unilever and endorsed by the Canadian Partnership initiative of the United Nations Water for Life Decade, Albertans (83 per cent) are most likely to admit to flushing items they could dispose of in another manner, and Quebecers least likely (65 per cent).  And young Canadians, 18 to 34, are much more likely than those aged 55 plus to engage in the offending behavior (84 per cent vs. 63 per cent, respectively).
 
Yet, Canadians’ knowledge of the quality of the water in their toilet, and the volume wasted, is high.  Eight in 10 (80 per cent) know the water in their toilet is just as clean as the water coming out of their faucet, and three quarters (76 per cent) are aware that nearly half (45 per cent) of water used in the home is flushed down the toilet.
 
“This data highlights, once again, that Canadians are not making the connection between their personal water use and the true value of water,” says Bob Sandford, EPCOR Chair, Canadian Partnership Initiative of the UN Water for Life Decade.  “They claim to care about conserving it, yet knowingly engage in water wasting activities , including using fresh, clean water to dispose of garbage.  Canadians need to understand that water is a finite resource and there are significant social and economic implications related to wasting it.”
 
According to the study, Canadians are in the dark when it comes to the cost of water.  While six in 10 (61 per cent) admit they do not know how much their household currently pays for water, they actually have a strong opinion about its cost: seven in 10 (70 per cent) believe that the unknown price is high enough to ensure water is treated as a valuable resource.
 
“Water is a real bargain in Canada, which is another reason Canadians have no concept of its value,” says Sandford.  “Compared to other developed nations, Canadians pay very little to have water delivered to their homes.  In France, water costs four times more, and in Germany, almost seven times more.  Not surprisingly, average daily domestic water use in these countries is less than half of what it is in Canada.  Until Canadians make the connection between personal use of water and its true value, our water wasting habits will continue.”
 
The Droplet, Issue 50
 
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First Aid and Emergency Preparedness
 
Being prepared for emergencies and knowing how to respond in case of an emergency can save lives on a drill or mine site.  Preparing for emergency action can be done well in advance, and since most of us are caught unexpectedly when accidents occur, it is helpful to have a quick reference.
 
First, provide a well-equipped first aid kit and properly-maintained fire extinguisher on each rig and in each additional onsite vehicle.  Ensure proper training has been provided to all crew members (including the safety supervisor) so everyone is capable of using first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, and other safety devices and equipment.
 
Maintain a list of addresses and telephone numbers of emergency assistance units (ambulance services, police, hospitals, etc.) and ensure all crew members are aware of the list and its location.  Coordinate an emergency action plan for each site, ensure a means of communication (cellular telephone, two-way radio, etc.) is in place.  This is crucial in remote settings.
 
Items recommended for stocking a minimum first aid kit include:
• 1 pair of bandage scissors
• 1 pair of splinter forceps/tweezers
• 25 sterile adhesives
• 25 sterile gauze pads 4 inches
• 12 safety pins
• 4 rolls of bandages 2 inch
• 4 rolls of bandages 4 inch
• 6 triangular bandages
• 1 roll of adhesive tape
• 25 antiseptic towelettes
• 4 compressive bandages
• 4 pairs of disposable surgical gloves
• 1 artificial resuscitation barrier device with a one-way valve
• First aid manual
Add as required:
• 6 saline solution bottles 30 ml. (eyewash)
• 1 rescue blanket
• 2 face shields
• 2 elastic bandages
• 1 flashlight and batteries
• 100 adhesives dressings
• 1 waterproof waste bag
According to Canada’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, you must have a first aid kit on the worksite.          

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WorldWide Drilling Resource

Fascinating Facts About Geoexchange
 
The Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium has compiled a wealth of information on ground source heat pump systems that geothermal drilling contractors can use to help market this momentum-charged technology.  Here, we highlight some of the consortium’s findings; you can learn a lot more by visiting www.geoexchange.org.  The greening of our planet is shifting into a higher gear, so make sure you’re taking full advantage of this trend.
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified geothermal heat pumps as a technology that significantly reduces greenhouse gas and other air emissions associated with heating, cooling and water heating in residential buildings, while saving consumers money, when compared to conventional technologies.  For every 100,000 units of typically sized residential geothermal heat pumps installed, more than 37.5 trillion BTUs of energy used for space conditioning and water heating can be saved, corresponding to an emissions reduction of about 2.18 million metric tons of carbon equivalents, and cost-savings to consumers of about $750 million over the 20-year-life of the equipment.
 
Geothermal heat pump systems, also referred to as “geoexchange,” are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space-conditioning systems available, according to the EPA.
 
Geothermal heat pumps strengthen domestic energy security.  Every 100,000 homes with geothermal heat pump systems reduce foreign oil consumption by 2.15 million barrels annually, and reduce electricity consumption by 799 million kilowatt hours annually.
 
Geothermal heat pumps are efficient.  The use of geoexchange lowers electricity demand by approximately 1 kilowatt per ton of capacity.
 
Geothermal heat pumps are environmentally friendly.  They generate no on-site emissions, and have the lowest emissions among all heating and cooling technologies.
 
Geothermal heat pumps save money.  Schools now using geothermal heat pump systems save more than $25 million in energy costs – meaning more money for books, equipment and teachers.  Homeowners can save 25 percent to 50 percent on home electric bills compared to conventional heating and cooling systems.  Electric bills for a 2,000 square foot home can be reduced to as low as $1 a day using a geoexchange system.
 
Geoexchange systems represent a savings to homeowners of 30 percent to 70 percent in the heating mode, and 20 percent to 50 percent in the cooling mode, compared to conventional systems.
 
EPA found that geoexchange heating and cooling systems can reduce energy consumption – and corresponding emissions – by more than 40 percent compared to air-source heat pumps, and by over 70 percent compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment.
 
Geoexchange systems use the Earth’s energy storage capability to heat and cool buildings, and to provide hot water.  The earth is a huge energy storage device that absorbs 47 percent of the sun’s energy – more than 500 times more energy than mankind needs every year – in the form of clean, renewable energy.  Geoexchange systems take this heat during the heating season at an efficiency approaching or exceeding 400 percent, and return it during the cooling season.

EPA found that, even on a source fuel basis – accounting for all losses in the fuel cycle, including electricity generation at power plants – geoexchange systems are much more efficient than competing fuel technologies.  They are an average of 48 percent more efficient than the best gas furnaces on a source fuel basis, and over 75 percent more efficient than oil furnaces.  In fact, today’s best geoexchange systems outperform the best gas technology, gas heat pumps, by an average of 36 percent in heating mode, and 43 percent in cooling mode.
 
The U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that if geoexchange systems were installed nationwide, they could save several billion dollars annually in energy costs and substantially reduce pollution.
 
Surveys by utilities indicate a higher level of consumer satisfaction for geoexchange systems than for conventional systems.  Polls consistently show that more than 95 percent of all geoexchange customers would recommend geoexchange to a family member or friend.
 
Today, there now are more than a million geoexchange installations in the United States.  The current use of geothermal heat pump technology has resulted in the elimination of more than 5.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, and the elimination of more than 1.6 million metric tons of carbon equivalent annually.
 
These 1,000,000 installations also have resulted in the following energy consumption reductions: a) Annual savings of nearly 8 billion kilowatt hours, b) Annual savings of nearly 40 trillion BTUs of fossil fuels, c) Reduced electricity demand by more than 2.6 million kilowatts.
 
The monumental impact of the current use of geoexchange is equivalent to taking close to 1,295,000 cars off the road, planting more than 385 million trees, and reducing America’s reliance on imported fuels by 21.5 million barrels of crude oil per year.
 
National Driller
July 2010
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Downhole Humor!
 
One long party?  My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.  My wife asked, “Do you know her?”  “Yes” I sighed, “She’s my old girlfriend.  I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn’t been sober since.”  “My Gosh!” said my wife, “Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?”
 
High degree of difficulty.  A policeman pulled a car over for speeding.  When he asked the driver why he was traveling 95 miles per hour, the driver answered that he was a juggler on his way to do a show for a birthday party and didn’t want to be late.  The cop told the driver he was fascinated by juggling and that if the driver would do a short juggling show for him, he wouldn’t give him a ticket.  The driver told the policeman that he had sent all of his equipment on ahead and didn’t have anything to juggle.  The cop replied that he had flares in the trunk of his patrol car, got them out, and handed them to the juggler.  So the juggler began his act.  While doing so, a car pulled in behind the patrol car.  A drunk got out, watched the performance briefly, went over to the patrol car, opened the rear door and got in.  The policeman went over to his car, opened the door and asked the drunk what he thought he was doing.  The drunk replied, “You might as well take me to jail because there’s no way I’ll pass that test.

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Drilling Around the World -
 
Dead Sea Drilling to Unearth Scientific Treasures
 
Scientists in Israel are drilling into the murky depths of the Dead Sea in hopes of unearthing scientific treasures hidden in 500,000 years worth of mud and sediment.
 
The unique setting of the Dead Sea – the lowest place on earth at 1,385 feet (422 meters) below sea level – should present researchers with distinctly stratified sedimentation that may answer scientific questions in fields ranging from geology to archaeology and could lead to new insight into climate change.
 
Researchers say the core that will be pulled out from 1,640 feet (500 meters) below the seabed could open the door to years of research as every stratum could inspire a new hypothesis.
 
“It’s like reading a book,” said Ulrich Harms, a German scientist who heads the International Continental Drilling Program, a major funder of the project.  “It’s a perfect archive of droughts and floods, of changing climate over a long time span.”
 
The project is the brainchild of two Israeli scientists who believed that drilling deep into the crust under the Dead Sea could expose information that other research on its banks did not reveal.
 
About 10 years ago, Zvi Ben-Avraham and Mordechai Stein appealed to the Germany-based drilling program, which organizes scientific drilling around the world.  The program’s approval of the Israeli scientists’ request came only this year, after it was delayed in part because of the Israeli-Palestinian fighting of the first half of the decade.
 
In a sign of how the relationship between the two sides has thawed since, Palestinians as well as Jordanian researchers are participating in the project.  Dead Sea research is one of the few spheres that sees Palestinians and Israelis working together.
 
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A note from Gordon Monkman (from down under)
 
If you know Gordon, you know he has been in Australia for many years.  We had a letter from Gordon at Christmas time and he and his family are doing well. 
 
He reports that Australia is a land of extremes.  The country has finally moved out of the worst drought and is now thoroughly enveloped in a rain cycle with everything growing or soaked.  Most of the water storages are back full or overflowing for the first time in 10 or more years.  The farmers got off to a good start this season but now the rain is beginning to damage crops.  The resources industries are all thriving across the country.

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PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW/Download the March 2011 Report from the Ministry of Environment