Virtually every stream, lake, river and aquifer in our state of Kentucky is used as drinking water source. Protecting these source of water from contaminants is a major state's priority in protecting the health of the people of Kentucky.

Water treatment is essential to ensuring Kentuckians with clean supplies of drinking water, planning and conservation is also very important in protecting water supplies. Kentucky is fortunate to have abundant water supplies. However, the availability of clean drinking water varies widely across the state. Droughts, contamination problems, and inadequate treatment capacity have affected drinking water supplies of many communities throughout Kentucky.

Contaminants can enter water a number of ways and come from a range of sources. In Kentucky, polluted runoff washed into streams, rivers, and lakes from farmlands and coal mines is the leading cause of water pollution.

The Kentucky Division of Water announces recently the release of the state Stream and Wetland Conservation Plan survey results.this is very important survey because some of us don't realize that we exploit our nature especially the source of our drinking water here in Kentucky. With funding from the United States Environmental Agency(EPA), Dr. Stephanie McSpirit of Easter Kentucky University was contracted to design the survey and get input from various stakeholders. Over 800 stakeholders were surveyed and included environmental professionals, federal and state regulators, farmers, homeowners, coal industry representatives, stream restoration engineers,and foresters.

When asked to reflect on the major challenges affecting Kentucky's streams and wetlands, many Steering Committee members, as well as other stakeholders from across the state, made reference to either the impacts of development or resouce extraction. Both were cited as two of the greatest challenges in protecting our state's water resources from further degradation and decline.

This was also mirrored in online survey, insofar as the effects of Development (sewage, residential growth and storm water) as well as the effects of coal were rated as the serious, "very serious" impacts. Many survey respondents really showed a huge concerns the detrimental impacts on our state's water resources. Fifty-six percent of survey respondents rated sewer and straight pipes and forty percent of respondents perceived the impact of coal and energy development.

KENTUCKY'S DRINKING WATER

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Drinking water suppliers now provide reports (sometimes called consumer confidence reports), that tell where drinking water comes from, and what contaminants may be in it. If your drinking water comes from a private well, you are responsible for your water's safety. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules do not apply private wells. EPA recommends that well owners have their water tested annually.

Public water and water distributions systems in Kentucky are regulated by Division of Water (DOW). The DOW works to ensure public health protection through primacy of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the provision of potable water. Potable water is the finished water after treatment, that is safe and satisfactory for drinking.

Primacy refers to primary enforcement responsibility awarded to the state by Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and enhance the quality and quantity of kentucky's water resources for present and future generation through voluntary, regulatory and educational programs.

Anyone proposing to conduct activities that result in physical disturbances to wetlands or streams need a Water Quality Certification to ensure Kentucky Water Quality Standards will not be violated.

DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES ( MY HOMETOWN)

Davao city is the largest city located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. This is the city where i was born and grew up. This is the city where my family live. I had a lot of memories here and it stays in my heart forever where ever i go. I know more than 8,000 miles to get there from where i am now (USA)but how I wish I can visit every now and then, but because of the distance and of course the monetary aspect is the number one issue....

Davao city is one of the Philippine's most progressive cities. Its int'l airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the southern part of the Philippines. The city boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country and its proximity to the Philippine's most captivating diving spots as well as it's highest peak of Mt. Apo.

The captivating "waling-waling" orchid, the exotic Durian fruit, the high and mighty Mt. Apo Mountain, and the king of skies Philippine Eagle are among Davao city's natural pride. The citty's nature touch and unique characteristics have inspired among people from neighboring cities, and even countries, to make it their home.

Davao city has a long emerged a highlight for business and tourism in the whole southern Philippines. What makes it and ideal place for livelihood and business is its natural advantages. the fertility of the land soil and abundance of water source, not to mention it is situated in a Typhoon-free zone, are just some of the factors that makes Davao city living worthwhile.

CLOUD 9 SIARGAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

If you are adventurous and wants to conquer the waves in the ocean, Cloud 9 is one of the best choices to go if you are planning to go visit in a foriegn country, especially my country (Philippines). A lot of things to do waiting for you there to get away the everyday grind for a while and you are having the best times you'll ever have as well as it's where a lot of good memories will be made.

Cloud 9 is one of the best known surfing waves in Siargao, Philippines. the island is greatly influenced by the winds and currents coming uniterrupted from the Pacific ocean. The island's Pacific-facing reefs are situated on the edge of the
Philippine Trench, and the extremely deep offshore waters assures the ocean swells have undilluted power when they encounter the many coral and rock reefs.

It is a perfect surfing destination. It is such a lovely place. This right-breaking reef waves is the site of the Annual Siargao Cup, a domestic and international surfing competition.

Its waves combines the best quality features of the top-rated waves of Hawaii's fabled "pipeline" and the top-billed waves of Indonesia. Its huge, powerful rollers have been ranked among the top five breaks in the world.

BORACAY....ISLAND PARADISE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Boracay Philippines is one of the Philippines most popular destination. It's white sand beaches are the island's main draws. It's amazing sunsets, and romantic scenery. It was voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world.

Boracay island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of it's existence. It was only when a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise, which included rave reviews that changed the Island's pace from that of being a quite secret to eventually being voted as having the best beach in the world.

I remember in the summer of 2009 when i did visit my family back in the Philippines, I decided to go Boracay together with my two best friends to escape the pollution and the heavy traffic of the city. We headed to the airport to get plane tickets to fly. It was a long painful and agonizing wait for our flight. I started to hear and and feel rumbles in my tummy....i realized that it was 8am when we last ate. And it's already 4pm.

After setting in our hotel, we went for a stroll and found ourselves in a beachfront restaurant where we have probably the best dinner to date...( I was starving to death). Afte dinner, we went for a walk along the beachfront to see what one of the best beaches in the world. We sat in the sand and drunk some red wine and just simply enjoying the cold evening.

We woke up early the next morning the sun is very bright and the beach was enticing. All were quit as we ate our breakfast and perked ourselves up with double cups of steaming brewed coffee from the nearby starbucks.

After this hefty breakfast, we were ready to roll. We rented a boat to take us snorkeling and around the island the entire morning. I enjoyed getting tan, I really missed the tropical weather in my country.

We did sunset sailing which was my favorite activity of the day, it was amazing...As the evening came we went clubbing and got some drinks and met new friends. We had fun..fun...fun. the evening progressed and we felt tired and we found oursleves to hotel rooms and finally sign off...

We stayed in Boracay for five days and that was a terrific vacation together with my dear friends...

WRIGHT PARK OF BAGUIO CITY

Situated near the Mansion in Baguio City, Wright Park is one of three most visited and beautiful in the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Aside from Burnham park and Mines View Park, this amusing park is relaxing and refreshing place to see in the city.

Identified by locale people as Pool of Pines, Wright Park has majestic and fascinating pine trees. It has a scenic and enticing view. The park has a rectangular man-made lake that is surrounded by spectacular and alluring pine trees. Wright Park is very attractive even at night since it has beautiful streetlights that allow tourists to have a glimpse at the attractive flowers.

Horse back riding is one of the main features of Wright Park. To reach the spacious area at the park where tourists can ride horses, tourists need to walk through a stairway near the center of the site. Horse guides at Wright Park are accredited and skilled horse riders so that tourists can relax and have fun. Horse guides also make sure that horse riders are safe so they usually accompany beginners or they ride along with the children to assure their safety.

One of my earliest childhood memories is of a pony ride at Wright Park during one of my few visits to Baguio City, when I was about six years old. I remember that it was pretty large black horse that was a little frisky, that I first rode and what an adrenalin rush ( could not have known that then ) it was for me to ride like the wind, or even just to commune with nature and interact with one of the most magnificent creatures on earth.

I remember that in the late 1970's, an hour on horseback was just 5.00 pesos, which was about a day's wages in the Philippines. Of course the rates for three decades later have changed, and there are other riding areas in the city, but the most popular venue for horseback riding for visitors and locals alike is still Wright Park.