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“We’re Out of Water” These are terrible words to hear but unfortunately are uttered frequently by people in Northern California.

Entire cities such as Mendocino, CA, and countless homes on private wells are living with this chilling reality. Apparently, recent restrictions on surface water sources for irrigation have forced farmers to dig wells and utilize subterranean groundwater to keep their crops alive. Agricultural water use in the US accounts for 70% of all water use, so it’s no surprise that wells serving cities and private homes have now gone dry.

The next words we may hear if the agricultural wells dry up are WE’RE OUT OF FOOD.

What to do? We have always relied on the hydrologic cycle (water-evaporation-condensation-rain) to replenish water on the ground as well as water under the ground in aquifers. This natural cycle is proving to be less reliable because of climate-related drought conditions covering significant areas of the globe. Technology needs to be the cure.

There is a finite volume of water on and within the world. The first law of thermodynamics assures us of this volume forever. Because of the issue of high salt levels and mankind’s centuries of pollution, most water is unusable for humans, animals, and plants. Enter the technology of seawater reverse osmosis referred to as desalination or simply desal. This process as well as other emerging technologies can easily overcome present and future water “shortages”, especially in coastal areas.

Desal system construction is impeded by a huge list of regulations and objections by well-intended environmental groups filing costly, obstructive suits. For the survival of the human species and various economies without outbreaks of hostilities, it is imperative that desal systems be constructed in large numbers along worldwide coasts to supplement nature when needed. Private enterprise could make this happen if government agencies including courts would have a sense of urgency and a better understanding of the technology. As recently as December 2020 in SCIENCE, DuPont and UT, Austin announced a 30% to 40% drop in desal water production cost. The government could be incentivized by receiving a per gallon production fee and environmentalists receiving a fee also to develop and enforce anti-pollution programs.

Of significance in the SCIENCE report, for the first time the physical chemistry of how membranes actually perform the salt/water separation. Further stated was up to time, manufacturers have been operating in the dark for 40 years. This huge leap in knowledge will undoubtedly make the process even more financially viable. Typically, there is a cascade of new and improved products after such information is available.

Producing useable water from seawater is one leg of a stool. To be an effective, more intelligent use of water especially by agriculture and pollution prevention become the other two legs to support a long-term stable desal platform. The Israelis have perfected crop watering methods and freely dispense their technologies for others to use.

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Phoenix, Arizona, a city known for its scorching summers, is grappling with the effects of an ongoing drought that has placed strain on its water resources. As a result, the possibility of water rationing looms, bringing forth the need to manage household water supply and brace for potential increases in water bills.

Water rationing aims to ensure equitable distribution of water resources during times of scarcity. In a city accustomed to an instant and seemingly limitless supply of water, the implementation of rationing measures would significantly impact households. The once freely accessible water could now be limited, necessitating a shift in water usage habits.

Under water rationing, households would receive a predetermined allocation of water, restricting the amount available for daily use. This means that activities such as watering lawns, filling swimming pools, or indulging in lengthy showers may need to be curtailed. Adjustments to daily routines and a greater emphasis on water conservation become paramount.

While the immediate concern of water rationing may be a reduced supply, it is important to consider the potential impact on water bills as well. As demand exceeds supply, water utilities may need to adjust their pricing structures to reflect the scarcity. This could result in increased water bills for households in Phoenix, as they pay for the limited water they consume.

To navigate these challenges, it becomes imperative for households to adopt water-saving practices. Installing low-flow fixtures, fixing leaks promptly, and embracing efficient irrigation systems can help minimize water usage. Additionally, practicing mindful landscaping by opting for drought-resistant plants and utilizing rainwater harvesting techniques can contribute to water conservation efforts.

Phoenix Water Conservation Solutions

As Phoenix faces the reality of water rationing due to drought, it is crucial for residents to recognize the significance of conserving this precious resource. By embracing water-saving habits and adjusting their expectations around water usage, households can not only adapt to the changes brought on by rationing but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of water in Phoenix.

We have all become accustomed to our utilities– electricity, water, natural gas– being available 24/7 with the flick of a switch, turn of a faucet handle or turn of an oven knob. Some homes and offices designated as being “smart” actually control the utility use from a computer controller programmed for convenience or conservation with remote access for immediate changes to accommodate altered situations.

The result of this convenience has caused there to be an attitude that the utilities will always be there when needed. Demographics, climate and government policies are for sure going to alter this attitude. Demographics indicate that an older population will be shifting to warmer urban centers such as Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego in the southwest and almost any city in Florida and Georgia in the southeast. Electricity production, regardless of its source and cost, can be increased and diverted. Natural gas, which is in surplus supply⁽¹⁾, too can be diverted to growth areas.  The remaining utility, water, cannot be diverted or new sources produced, so somehow an increase in population in certain areas (read U.S. southwest) must be accommodated by existing sources. The answer is conservation.

Water district bills, newspapers and radio/TV ads encourage conservation. Phoenix and Las Vegas are apparently going to “force” conservation by limiting the amount of water each connection will be entitled to. Surely others will follow especially if their approach and methods are successful.  Apparently, tiered pricing has not encouraged the affluent or the entitled to sufficiently cut back.

One conservation approach is mostly overlooked. That is the water discharged to drain by water softeners and filters. It’s not unusual for this to be 150 gallons a week or more. Don’t be fooled by high efficiency softeners. They do not waste as much water per regeneration cycle, but regenerate more frequently thus the same waste over a period of time. The answer may be a Dime Water Aquafer. These whole home treatment systems prevent damaging hard water scale, discharge zero water to drain, use no salt or chemicals, have no valve requiring service and have a demonstrated service-free life averaging 15+ years. In addition, these systems filter chlorine out of water, significantly reduce chloramines, permanently remove heavy metals and the filter medium acts as a biocide to prevent fouling within the system. The Aquafer is an excellent replacement for an existing water wasting water softener or softener/filter combination. Inside, garage or outside installation. For space issues or the budget conscious, we offer the scale prevention feature only as our ESF-2.0 product.

1. The current crop of politicians is virtue signaling by turning thumbs down on natural gas. California is leading the drive by a mandate forbidding sale of all NG appliances and not issuing permits for gas lines to new construction. Unknown is how rapidly technology can overcome available mineral shortages, distribution buildout and supply chain issues to keep up with exponential growth in electricity needs.

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THERE IS POSSIBLY PROBABLY ENOUGH FRESH WATER ON EARTH FOR EVERYONE

Since 2014 scientists have been pursuing the concept that water exists hundreds of miles below us in a material called RINGWOODITE. 2014 is when a diamond from a Brazilian diamond mine was shown to have a tiny but visible speck of the material as an occlusion. Prior to that finding, ringwoodite materials had been found in meteorite debris and synthesized in the laboratory. Ringwoodite is a blue, gemlike material made of magnesium silicate (Mg₂SiO₄) that in theory has an attraction for hydrogen. It starts out as a green-colored mineral called Peridot that is exposed to seawater and indescribably high pressures to form ringwoodite with drops of water in it. Drawings of the water cycle now show ocean water leaking through fissures in the bottom of the oceans and then returning through other fissures by convection currents along with ringwoodite being expelled through volcanic eruptions.

The capture of fresh water from this natural process or by drilling so deeply may not be needed however, because THIS WATER HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND.

A brilliant scientist/engineer/geologist/hydrologist named Stephen Riess found this newly formed, infantile, or primary water in copious amounts almost 100 years ago. He was born in Bavaria in the late 1800’s and educated in their finest technical schools. After emigrating to the U.S. in his 20s, he became an active mining engineer and geologist traveling worldwide for large firms. Because of a youthful encounter with wells in Germany and then his later mine experiences, he theorized that water was being constantly formed deep within the earth, that it was under tremendous pressure, and that this pressure was driving the newly formed water up toward the earth’s crust through fissures where, within reason, it could be accessed.

Because of his geology background, Mr. Riess further theorized that the fissures would be near mountains and mesas that had erupted through the surface and that the chemistry of the rocks adjacent to eruptions would further signify their presence. In the 1940’s he began advising people where to drill. One well required drilling 500 feet through solid granite and 450 feet beyond, but success was achieved. Upon partially retiring in the 70’s he could point to 800 success stories worldwide including Israel and Saudi Arabia. Much of his work was in southern California where he lived for decades and where he ran afoul of politicians over the development of waterways to transport water long distances vs. the drilling of local wells. This in turn caused various scientific, academic, and business entities dependent on public funding to discredit him. The ever-present go-along-to-get-along philosophy prevailed against the man and his theories backed by actual successes.

In 1960, a multi-disciplined engineer/author Michael H. Salzman wrote a book titled New Water for A Thirsty World about the work of Mr. Riess. He apparently had met the scientist and reviewed his notes because he uses the principles of water chemistry, advanced physics, geochemistry, petrology, physical chemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, and structural geology to validate the theories expressed by Mr. Riess. The book has been out of print for decades, but online certified scans are available at modest prices. It is in a textbook format with numerous references. Shortly before his death in 1985, Mr. Riess was interviewed twice on film where he detailed his theory and offered that he had copious notes on his theories and activities. These rather lengthy interviews are online in YouTube format by simply googling Stephan Riess. In them, he gives information on how his theories developed, how they need to be applied, and their successful application. They also display the sincerity of the man.

Modern drilling equipment and processes learned and developed for the oil and natural gas industries should make access to these water sources much easier than when Mr. Riess was assisting in developing productive primary water wells. The water obtained to date was of varying quality relative to its mineral content (TDS). This happens because the region where water is formed is below the level where oxidation can take place and the water is pure but as it accumulates in crevices and pockets it reacts with minerals and as a universal solvent, dissolves many. Minimal treatment may be needed for agricultural use because of brackishness but none of the wells produced anything approaching sea water quality.

A web search shows no signs of any enterprise or country exploring for this primary water. With the world requirement for fresh water for agricultural and human consumption ever increasing while simultaneously existing sources are diminishing, renewal of following the lead of Stephan Riess could be a lifesaver. Somehow his story must be spread worldwide with renewed optimism until it captures the imagination of an entrepreneur.  We cannot rely on the 2014 science project.

SPREAD THE WORD!

Las Vegas, ensconced in the heart of the parched Mojave Desert, is renowned for its opulence and extravagance. Yet, beneath the neon allure, the city grapples with an enduring quandary – water scarcity. Central to the discourse is the question: Does Las Vegas indeed face an acute water supply problem? This article illuminates Dime Water Inc.’s pioneering endeavors, spotlighting our groundbreaking product, the ESF 2.0. This technological marvel not only confronts hard water scaling but does so while rigorously adhering to the principles of water conservation.

The Arid Reality: The Predicament of Water Scarcity in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, characterized by an annual rainfall of a mere 4.2 inches, confronts a dire water scarcity challenge. This environmental constraint is exacerbated by a burgeoning population and a burgeoning tourism industry, which together exert tremendous pressure on water resources. At its core, Las Vegas relies heavily on the Colorado River, an affiliation that renders it susceptible to manifold challenges revolving around water allocation and availability.

Colorado’s Conundrum: Innovation Amidst Water Shortages

The Colorado River, a vital water source for several southwestern states, including Nevada, confronts an existential crisis. A confluence of factors—persistent drought, unwarranted water rights allocation, and the reverberations of climate change—has precipitated a precipitous decline in water levels in the region’s principal reservoirs, notably Lake Mead and Lake Powell. This phenomenon imperils Las Vegas with the specter of severe water shortages. In this perilous juncture, innovative solutions, notably exemplified by Dime Water’s ESF 2.0, assume paramount significance.

Innovative Solutions: The ESF 2.0’s Unveiling

Amidst the impending water crisis, Dime Water Inc. introduces the ESF 2.0, a multifaceted solution that synergistically addresses critical aspects of Las Vegas’ water challenge:

• Hard Water Scaling: The ESF 2.0 employs cutting-edge technology to combat hard water scaling, thereby enhancing the efficiency and lifespan of appliances and piping infrastructure.
• Water Conservation: A paramount facet of the ESF 2.0’s functionality is its capacity to prevent scale buildup without any concurrent water wastage. In stark contrast to conventional water softeners, this technology eliminates the need for water flushing during the regeneration process, ensuring every precious drop is conserved.

Dime Water’s Contribution: Forging Sustainability and Efficiency

The ESF 2.0 dovetails seamlessly with Las Vegas’ sustainability aspirations, synthesizing elements of innovation, resource conservation, and responsible water management:

• Resource Efficiency: The ESF 2.0 represents a paradigmatic shift in water management by mitigating hard water scaling, enhancing appliance longevity, and conserving water resources.
• Environmental Stewardship: By curtailing scale buildup and mitigating water waste, the ESF 2.0 delivers a substantial reduction in the environmental footprint associated with water treatment, echoing Dime Water’s resolute commitment to sustainability.

Charting a New Course Towards Water Security

In confronting the exigent challenge of water scarcity, Dime Water Inc.’s ESF 2.0 emerges as an oasis of hope. By adroitly addressing hard water scaling whilst fervently conserving water, this innovative technology embodies the type of progress required to surmount Las Vegas’ water tribulations. Our partnership with Las Vegas underscores the pivotal role of innovation, sustainability, and conscientious resource management in securing a flourishing desert oasis for generations to come. At Dime Water Inc., we proudly stand at the vanguard of this imperative endeavor, pioneering solutions for a water-secure world.

Water scarcity is a pressing issue faced by many regions around the world, and Las Vegas is no exception. With its arid climate and growing population, conserving water has become a critical priority for the city. In this article, we will explore how the ESF 2.0, an updated version of the ESF water treatment system, plays a significant role in water conservation efforts, particularly in the context of water rationing in Las Vegas.

The ESF 2.0 is a patented update to the ESF system initially introduced by Dime Water, Inc. in 1996. Renowned for its success in preventing hardness scale in various establishments such as hotels, motels, nursing homes, apartment buildings, and homes, the ESF has been a trusted solution for decades. Furthermore, it has effectively replaced costly water softeners and chemical feed systems in numerous commercial and industrial reverse osmosis systems.

Enhanced Performance and Innovative Design

The ESF 2.0 incorporates a unique magnetic chamber, which follows the catalytic chamber, revolutionizing the system’s overall performance. The proprietary magnetic field arrangement and field strength enhancement boost the unit’s efficiency by an impressive 25%. Utilizing Neodymium class 52 magnets, renowned for their strength, the ESF 2.0 ensures optimal results. It’s important to note that the magnets are not in direct contact with the water stream, ensuring water safety. The wetted parts are made of durable materials like 304 Stainless Steel, bronze/lead-free brass, schedule 80 PVC, and EPDM elastomers.

Space-Saving and Cost-Effective

One of the standout advantages of the ESF 2.0 is its ability to provide substantial capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) savings while occupying minimal space. This feature is particularly valuable in applications such as motels, restaurants, and retail stores. The ESF 2.0 systems are often utilized to replace outdated salt-based water softeners, especially when removing the old system proves economically unfeasible. They also offer an alternative in situations where existing softeners are taken offline due to municipal salt restrictions.

Efficient Performance and Lasting Effects

Compared to traditional water softener construction, the ESF 2.0 significantly reduces pressure drop characteristics caused by valves, resin columns, and distributors. Its water scale prevention effects remain consistent from minimal to maximum flow rates, lasting for up to 72 hours. This reliability ensures long-term efficiency, contributing to water conservation efforts.

Water Rationing in Las Vegas

Las Vegas faces unique challenges when it comes to water supply due to its arid desert climate and limited natural water resources. As a result, the city has implemented water rationing measures to ensure the sustainable use of this precious resource. Water rationing involves the controlled distribution of water to individuals and businesses, aiming to limit usage and encourage conservation.

The ESF 2.0 and Water Rationing

In the context of water rationing, the ESF 2.0 plays a crucial role in promoting water conservation in Las Vegas. By effectively preventing hardness scale and reducing water consumption, the system helps extend the availability of water resources. Its superior performance and lasting effects provide a reliable solution for businesses and households, even during times of restricted water usage.

The ESF 2.0 stands as a remarkable advancement in water treatment technology, addressing the urgent need for water conservation and the necessity of water rationing in places like Las Vegas. With its enhanced performance, innovative design, and space-saving benefits, the ESF 2.0 offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for preventing water scale while reducing water consumption. As water scarcity continues to be a global concern, the ESF 2.0 represents a significant step towards a more water-efficient future.

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Phoenix, AZ Drought

To combat the ongoing drought conditions and help with the necessary demand for water conservation in Phoenix, Dime Water offers product lines that revolutionize water treatment by eliminating water waste and the need for salt-based treatments. Building on our expertise since 1995, Dime Water has been established as a leading provider of environmentally friendly water purifiers, a large part is in thanks to our patented catalytic-magnetic process. This technology has been instrumental in conserving precious potable water and reducing environmental harm. We have estimated that our technology has already saved 130 million gallons of water from being lost to drainage and prevented the discharge of 30 million pounds of salt into the ecosystem.

A Great Solution For Phoenix Arizona

Our latest offerings, Aquafer and ESF 2.0, are enhanced versions of our renowned technology. They boast an extended effective treatment life for hardness scale prevention, providing customers with a 20% longer lifespan. Notably, the new units are designed to address a wider range of scaling issues. In addition to combating the common calcium carbonate scale, these units also tackle scaling caused by calcium sulfate, strontium sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium fluoride, and calcium phosphate. This expanded capability is particularly significant for residential and commercial reverse osmosis applications.

The technology operates by creating microscopic seeds of one or more scale-forming minerals. This unique approach triggers the formation of seeds for the remaining minerals, due to fascinating phenomena. Once these seeds are formed, the product’s powerful heterogeneous magnetic field interacts with the microscopic mineral particles, causing them to cluster together and remain suspended instead of dissolving back into the water. In this clustered state, the mineral particles lose their charge and cannot adhere to surfaces, effectively eliminating the formation of scale.

Dime Water Aims to Make a Substantial Impact

Treated water for less than $1 a day. By introducing Aquafer, Dime Water aims to make a substantial impact on water conservation in Phoenix, Arizona. With its ability to prevent scale formation and minimize wastage, Aquafer reduces the need for excessive water usage in homes, commercial establishments, and reverse osmosis systems. By conserving water resources and minimizing the discharge of harmful salts into the environment, Aquafer offers an eco-friendly solution that aligns with Phoenix’s efforts to combat water scarcity and preserve the region’s delicate ecosystem.

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Every few months, a vibrant brochure arrives in the mail from newly established water filter manufacturers, accompanied by alarming warnings about the quality of your home’s water. They offer an enticing new water treatment solution and even the chance to win a trip to Bermuda if you act immediately.

While it’s true that residential water filtration systems offer numerous health and quality-of-life benefits for your family, not all manufacturers can be trusted. Some unethical providers come and go quickly, charging exorbitant prices for water treatment systems that fail to deliver on their promises.

When you’re ready to explore your options, it’s important to choose a reputable company that has stood the test of time and presents factual information instead of exaggerated claims.

Our advice is to look beyond the sales pitch, scare tactics, and exaggerated assertions about maintenance-free systems that are supposedly cheaper than anything else on the market.

With over 20 years of experience, Dime Water is a reliable choice. We offer a range of water filtration solutions tailored to different situations, acknowledging that what works for one scenario may not be equally effective elsewhere.

Our proven residential water filtration solutions are designed to meet your current and future needs, and we’re always transparent about installation, maintenance, warranty, and cost.

Get the facts about water filtration by calling Dime Water now: (760) 734-5787.

A recent article in the San Diego Union-Tribune was shocking. It stated that homeowners in the San Diego region will soon experience $400.00 monthly water bills for watering their lawns. Shame on us for continually trying to change the Mohave to Maui one homesite at a time, but it highlights how close we are to water costs first equaling and then passing electricity and natural gas costs not only in San Diego but in the arid US Southwest.

No, we are not running out of water. The supply has remained constant since the beginning of time. What we are short of is water with a potability level to satisfy consumers as well as government regulators. This situation has been made even worse by a population shift to more arid areas and simultaneously a climate shift that promises long-term drought conditions in the very same areas.

It appears that the US will continue to have cold areas with excess water and a declining population sharing the continent with hot, water-scarce areas of population growth. Perhaps technology could be developed that could transport water from a cold area to a warm, sunny area and then utilize solar heat on a portion of it ultimately returning it as steam to the source thus treading water for essentially free energy. Recently, a TIME Magazine writer, while expressing that the climate shift is all global warming caused, ventured that the cure in part could be dramatically downsizing our military and by extension, others also. Could be, but a rather circuitous path for an immediate problem.

Until technology or a radical idea persevere, we must rely on an informed, caring population upping their conservation efforts. One area of water conservation that is overlooked by consumers, businesses, and industries is water wasted by treatment processes such as water softeners and filters. Daily, hundreds of millions of gallons of treatment-process polluted water waste are needlessly dumped down drains to be treated by sewer districts or nature for eventual reuse. Needlessly because too few people are aware of multiple, time-proven technologies for treating water with little or no wasted water. Before purchasing new or renovating older drinking water systems, take the time to talk with an engineer in the water treatment industry and ask for no waste alternatives.

According to a report titled Zero Liquid Discharge System Market Research Report, many major multi-national corporations are embracing the policy of severely minimizing liquid (water) discharge from their facilities. The last reporting year was 2020 when $190.2 million was spent on equipment to minimize discharge. It is reported that in 2026 $10.23 billion will be spent on the effort. The full report is available at www.researchmarkets.com. Conservation certainly will be a significant growth market for water treatment equipment providers who position themselves with contemporary products.

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An April 3, 2021 climate report on a local CBS TV affiliate indicated that 74 million people living East of the Mississippi river will experience drought conditions in 2021 and 2022. This news was followed the next week by an article in the San Diego Union Tribune that snowpack levels in mountains to the North were at 50% of “normal”. This is a critical source of water for much of California and normal is quite low because of the averaging in of some terribly dry seasons the last few years.

It is incumbent upon all of us to do our part for conservation and yet the water conditioning industry continues to promote and sell water softeners and filters that waste precious water when viable alternatives have been available for well over 20 years. At most levels, water conditioning products are a push market, so sellers could more easily adapt to newer, water-saving products but few do. Pull markets created by more enlightened and educated consumers tend by a vastly higher percentage to favor the greener products.

Why the reluctance to change? One can only guess, but some reasons are:

• Big names in the industry that are heavily invested in machinery and facilities to produce components for traditional water and salt using systems such as control valves, ion exchange resins, and salt are loathed to promote a disruptive product
• The distribution channel is very fragmented and poorly informed at the seller/customer interface
• The dollars generated by the entire industry have been too low to attract talented, innovative, and highly educated people.

The base technology of the water wasting products dates to the 1930s with the widespread adoption of high surface area ion exchange resins dating to the 1980s. Most activity now appears to be in sensors and electronics on valves that use less salt with the goal being stoichiometric salt levels (a pound of salt removing a pound of hardness). Unfortunately, this is counterproductive because the corresponding loss in capacity requires more frequent regenerations so WASTE WATER INCREASES.

A more demanding and conscience-guided consumer base will eventually obsolete many of today’s products and replace them with products such as our residential and commercial ESF and Aquafer and hopefully, new distribution channels for these products will open up.

Jeremy Hinton is an eighth-generation Kentucky farmer and concerned with the EPA’s, “Waters of the US” legislation. He and his wife Joanna own Hinton’s Orchard and Farm Market in Hodgenville, Kentucky – the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. “Our family came to LaRue County the same year that the Lincolns did, but we just stayed a lot longer,” he joked.

Today, Hinton and his wife grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables which they sell at their two retail markets – one on the farm and one in nearby Elizabethtown. They are able to grow this wide variety thanks to all their up-to-date equipment, which they procure from places like Costex so that they can efficiently grow and provide crops for their shops. They are also actively involved in agritourism, hosting school tours and festivals as well as building their own corn maze. And, as if he doesn’t already have enough to do, Hinton sells crop insurance to farmers in the area. Such farming processes generally require advanced machinery like tractors, mowers, and harvesters. Furthermore, these vehicles often require servicing and maintenance in order to work to their full potential. For example, new farm tractor tires might be required due to the wear and tear caused by overutilization of tractor.

Along with the use of reliable and advanced farm machinery, farmers could also be updated on the various kinds of technology and agriculture software solutions that could help streamline their business further and implement the policies made by the State more effectively. As Hinton also knows firsthand how policies emanating from Washington impact farmers and other small businesses in Kentucky, he might be able to help the locals in this regard. He believes that some of the policies of the previous administration, if gone to fruition, “could have been very detrimental to our business and lots of others.” “There was a good bit of concern about the waters in the US,” he said. Other policies, like the previous administration’s changes to worker protection standards, “could have been very difficult to implement on a farm like ours.”

But the EPA’s regulatory reform efforts under Administrator Scott Pruitt have “increased optimism about the future,” stated Hinton. He also believes that there is a new, more friendly and cooperative attitude at EPA toward farmers – one that appreciates the environmental stewardship they practice day in and day out. As Administrator Pruitt likes to say, farmers are among our nation’s first environmentalists and conservationists and protectors of the waters of the US.

“Our operation, like any farm, wants to do the best that we can to protect our natural resources,” Hinton said. “That’s our livelihood.” He and his wife raise their three children on the farm and hope that someday they will become the next generation of Kentucky farmers.

This week, EPA is recognizing and celebrating National Small Business Week. Small businesses, like the Hinton’s Orchard and Farm Market, are the heart of our nation’s economy. EPA is committed to advancing policies that protect the environment and provide small businesses with the regulatory clarity and certainty they need to thrive and support local communities around the nation.

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There is currently a huge increase in interest in water treatment products. This interest level crosses all market segments- residential, commercial and industrial and appears to be fueled by health and water shortage issues at the residential level. Water treatment products interest in the commercial and industrial markets is motivated by a number of factors primarily water conservation, product improvements, and regulatory demands.As time goes on we anticipate the interest in and demand for treatment products to continue at an even higher rate driven by the publicity of water contaminants, water scarcity, increase in industrial sophistication and bureaucratic pressures.

One of the more positive results of an interest increase is the increase in water treatment options. Prior to developments in the 1970s water treatment options consisted of ion exchange, distillation, and a few filter media selections. Water got treated but chemical and salt waste (pollution) were high, water waste was out of control, energy consumption was out of line and spent media disposal loaded with toxic materials was the norm. Today, we are equipped with better water treatment plants and also highly regulated waste water treatment centers. Also, there are different stormwater prevention plan companies in houston tx (and elsewhere) that could make sure that the waste water from sewer systems, construction sites, and industrial areas are treated properly.

Current water treatment options still include ion exchange, distillation and media filters to be used judiciously and are now supplemented by new treatment products including reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, electro deionization, capacitive deionization, ultraviolet, advanced oxidation process, cartridge filtration, non-chemical (physical) hardness scale prevention, long life redox media and ultrasonic devices.An entirely new family of water options appealing to a rapidly growing group of water purists consists of treatment products and processes to increase alkalinity, add electrolytes, add elemental hydrogen, add crystalline vibrations, add magnetic impulses, follow the Golden Ratio, energize via vortex and improve hydration through surface tension reduction.

As a prospective purchaser of water treatment products, there is wisdom in doing due diligence and explore your water treatment options to obtain precisely what is best for you. Further, you are best served by working with a prospective supplier that offers more than one or two options and is prepared to discuss them at a technical level and not simply provide a glossy brochure.

The shade balls are not necessarily a new invention to help solve our global water issues, they have been around for quite a while, but they have known by the name or “Bird Balls”, “Hallow Balls” or “Armor Balls”, and they have been used by the airports to prevent birds from nesting on the runways. The FAA approved them and it was such a good solution to their problem with wildlife that they are still using them today.

However, the novelty about these shade balls is that now, they are being used to prevent water from evaporation. The city of Los Angeles has coated its reservoirs in millions of black plastic balls, being the first city to use this type of innovation for water quality control. In a press release, the city claims shade balls are a “cost-effective way to reduce evaporation each year by nearly 300 million gallons, enough to provide drinking water for 8,100 people for a full year.” LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) is the first utility company to use this technology and the deployment of 20,000 shade balls on August 10 marked the final phase of an effort that involved the deployment of 96 million shade balls into the 175-acre reservoir.

The balls cost 36 cents each, for a total of $34.5 million. Located in Sylmar, the reservoir holds up to 3.3 billion gallons, which is enough to supply the city with drinking water for up to 3 weeks. This project brings the LA Reservoir into compliance with new federal water quality mandates and is expected to save $250 million when compared to other tools considered to meet this goal. The shade balls will also prevent the annual loss to evaporation of about 300 million gallons of water. The utility has been testing the concept since 2008, reporting that shade balls reduce evaporation by 85% to 90%.

Shade Balls Used as a Health Prevention Method

Since this water was meant for public consumption, an emergency method was needed to reduce the amount of bromate to levels accepted by the health standards. On the other hand, the construction of another reservoir was approximated to take about four years to complete, but people could not afford living with a water shortage for such a long time. As far as the water storage facilities are concerned, the shade balls have also been used to cover the open reservoirs in LA since 2008. Because at that time the Ivanhoe Reservoir registered high amounts of bromate, they had to protect the water from the sunlight.

The solution proved to be very efficient because these shade balls, being spherical, would reverse osmosistate and keep up with the water level and would also cover over 90% of the water surface, which was exactly what they were looking for.

In the midst of California’s historic drought, it takes bold ingenuity to maximize my goals for water conservation. This effort by LADWP is emblematic of the kind of the creative thinking we need to meet those challenges. Together, we’ve led the charge to cut our city’s water usage by 13%, and today we complete an infrastructure investment that saves our ratepayers millions and protects a vital source of drinking water for years to come.

Mayor Eric Garcetti

Shade Balls: Keeping Our Water Clean

Depending on their intended purpose, the shade balls have a ballast filling, which makes them weigh around 160g to 275g, and have a constant diameter of 4 inches. The amount of ballast keeps them 30% to 50% submerged, keeping them floating even on windy weather. The thick membrane cover is not affected by rain, snow or ice, and the special formula of polyethylene does not accommodate vegetarian growth on top, nor the formation of algae underneath the water.

They also serve as an air-water separation mechanism and keep the airborne dust, dirt and grime out of the water, which is another advantage of using them. If there is a lower amount of water or a lower amount of turbidity that has to be filtered, they ultimately save a lot of money out of pumping cost. Because all that water from a reservoir has to be filtered somewhere along the line and the cleaner the water is the less pressure it takes to drive it through their filters.

Shade Balls Reduce Global Water Evaporation

The 4 inches thick water cover acts as a shield against evaporation. By being used to separate the water from the heat of the sun, the average temperature of the surface water is going to be kept lower, and therefore, there is going to be less evaporation and you will save a lot of water. The manufacturers (XavierC, Artisan Screen Process, and Orange Products) say the balls should last about 25 years.

Many people have wondered why these shade balls are a heat-absorbing black instead of light-reflecting white. The purpose of those balls has nothing to do with keeping the reservoirs cool! They block sunlight, so the ultraviolet light does not catalyze bad chemical reactions. The balls are coated in carbon black, a food-safe pigment with an albedo near zero. Both these characteristics are vital in explaining why the balls are a dull light-absorbing black instead of a shiny light-reflecting white.

The balls are painted black because the color provides more protection than any translucent or opaque color would, as Sydney Chase, a spokeswoman for XavierC said.

After decades of testing, black has been deemed the color that provides the best protection. The other issue is sun protection — sunlight reflects right off the surface instead of penetrating through, like it would with translucent colors. The color concentrate is made of a certain material, and that also has to be tested to make sure it complies with drinking water standards.

Sydney Chase, spokeswoman for XavierC

Why Are Shade Balls Efficient?

It is a pretty good concept, they are inexpensive, and it surely makes a whole lot of sense to use them. The shade balls work best as air-water separation system when they are used to cover open reservoirs that have a nice concrete side to it and are of a clean geometrical shape, like a rectangular or even an oval. To learn more about how you can save water during these difficult times, contact us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our engineers.

Resources:

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150812-shade-balls-los-angeles-California-drought-water-environment/
• https://gizmodo.com/why-are-drought-balls-black-instead-of-white-1724040253
• https://mashable.com/archive/los-angeles-reservoir-shade-balls
• https://www.ladwpnews.com/category/water-conservation/

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Statewide Mandatory Urban Water Restrictions

In April, the 1 million customers of San Jose Water Company cut their use of water by 25%, compared to April 2013, as did residents of Palo Alto. On April 1, Gov. Brown announced an executive order imposing California’s first-ever statewide mandatory urban water restrictions.

Many complained that larger families were being unfairly targeted, so a San Jose water company decided that households of more than 4 people can petition for more water. The San Jose Water Company’s program sets a monthly target based on a family of 4 since that is the average size household in its service area. Starting on June 15, the company is asking customers to cut back water usage by an additional 30%.

California’s relentless drought seems to be far from over but now, water districts and private water companies can receive a $10,000 fine a day if they fail to meet strict conservation targets during these times. Saving urban water is the cheapest and most efficient way to make sure communities have enough water if the drought persists and to avert more drastic cuts later. However, many families do not agree with these targets.

“They should base the allotment on the number of people in the family and everybody should pitch in. It’s as simple as that,” San Jose resident Briana Gaetano said. “I think it only makes sense.”

How Will California Reach 25% Conservation?

Depending on past use, each community has a water reduction mandate of between 8% and 36%. Water-guzzling cities and desert resorts can make huge cuts by neglecting big lawns and letting them go brown. If this is the case for you, then you can find out how to replenish a brown lawn at Lawncare.net. Nevertheless, water-frugal communities with few lawns, such as San Francisco are less able to conserve even more water. Dozens of cities have blasted the water reduction targets as unrealistic and unfair, but communities with pitiful savings face hefty fines.

Large cuts are expected to be seen immediately. Communities will report their water use monthly, and regulators will investigate agencies that lag in conservation.

15 Water Saving Tips for the Outdoors

Summer is the peak time for water use and the best opportunity to save by letting your lawn go thirsty.

Here are some useful water saving tips for the outdoors that you can apply:

1. Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5 to 2 inches (taller grass shades reverse osmosisots and holds soil moisture better than short grass).
2. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
3. Avoid planting grass in areas that are hard to water.
4. Call your local conservation office for more information about xeriscaping with water-thrifty trees, plants, and ground covers.
5. Check your sprinkler system frequently to ensure all is working as it should (and, if not, you can contact someone like this sprinkler repair in Castle reverse osmosisck service to get things fixed) and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered.
6. Collect water from your reverse osmosisof by installing gutters and downspouts, and direct the runoff to plants and trees.
7. Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some, while under watering others.
8. If installing a lawn, select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
9. If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
10. Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
11. Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every 3 to 4 weeks and even less if it rains.
12. Look for WaterSense ® labeled irrigation controllers.
13. Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
14. Spread a layer of organic mulch around plants to help them retain moisture.
15. Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.

To learn more about how you can save water during these difficult times, contact us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our engineers.

Resources:

• https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/06/05/california-drought-gov-jerry-brown-says-10000-a-day-fines-for-water-wasting-cities-are-not-bluster/
• https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-jose-water-company-south-bay-restrictions-set-to-take-effect-june-15/68649/
• https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/california-drought-el-nino-water-conservation/1995791/
• https://wateruseitwisely.com/tips/category/outdoor-tips/?view=list

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How Serious Is The California Water Shortage?

The drought definitely has the attention of all Californians. Although people support the Governor’s urban water reduction plan 3 to 1, many homeowners say it will be difficult for their households to cut back on their own water use. In fact, 89% of Californians think that the California water shortage is serious. The latest multiethnic Field Poll released Tuesday, May 19, 2015, surveyed 1,664 California adults by telephone in 6 languages to assess the public’s views about the state’s ongoing drought.

Nearly all Californians (9 in 10, 89%) believe the current water situation is serious and 67% say the situation is extremely serious. Governor Jerry Brown’s water reduction plan is broadly supported by 2 in 3 Californians (65%), and calls to require urban water districts to reduce their water use by an average of 25% or be subject to a fine. 23% of the state’s adults are opposed, while 12% have no opinion.

Although the public has broad support for the Governor’s plan, more than 44% of the people surveyed said that it would be very difficult for their household to cut back on their water use if asked to do so by their local water district. Among homeowners with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more who, as a group, are the largest per capita residential consumers of the state’s water, this increases to 48%.

70% of homeowners in the state declared that if their local water district were to increase their water bill by 15% or 25%, this could cause them a serious problem. Upper-income homeowners are much less sensitive to rate increases of this magnitude. Regarding water use in the agriculture sector, 6 in 10 Californians believe agricultural users can reduce their water usage without causing real hardships.

California drought has been driving food prices up due to the freeze in January, combined with the unpredictable weather. Farmers said they either have to cut back on crops or just not plant at all and in response, grocers will have to import the produce, which comes at a cost. Limes, for example, used to sell for 33 cents but now they are 70 cents.

So we’re paying over a $150 per box of limes and we’re mainly only able to get those out of Mexico right now because we have nothing really here in California.Carol Benevidez of Windmill Farms, San Ramon

Saving Water Is No reverse osmosiscket Science, You Too Can Do It!

Our aquifers and reservoirs cannot refill alone in a relatively short period of time without our help. Change starts with each one of us and NOW is a good time to start working on it to provide a better future for the next generation. While some storms during the year leave houses flooded and families searching for Water Damage Restoration San Bernardino services, this overflow of water causes unnecessary damage and does not do anything to mitigate the water shortage as the water is removed and finally ends up unusable. 2014 has been the worst year since the drought has re-taken over California, and, according to a recently issued report by The Journal of the American Geophysical Union, the last 3 years of drought have been the worse experienced in 1,200 years!

There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you. Here are 18 tips from the Water Use It Wisely website:

1. When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
2. Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the reverse osmosisots, where it’s needed.
3. Collect water from your reverse osmosisof by installing gutters and downspouts. Use gutter covers from places like https://www.mastershieldatl.com/ to keep the water clean so that you can use it in the home, or direct the runoff to plants and trees. While on the topic of gutters, keep a close eye on the quality of your gutter system. If need be, get it checked by professionals similar to Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning, on a regular basis to avoid any future problems.
4. When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.
5. Plant species native to your region.
6. Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
7. If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.
8. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak.
9. If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing a WaterSense ® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
10. When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.
11. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
12. Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
13. Use 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation.
14. Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.
15. Make suggestions to your employer or school about ways to save water and money.
16. Be a leak detective! Check all hoses, connectors, and faucets regularly for leaks. If you find any leaks, call plumbers in Westwood, or within your vicinity for a repair.
17. Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
18. Don’t forget hidden water use costs, like energy for pumping, heating and cooling, chemical treatment, and damage and sewer expenses.

At Dime Water Inc., our engineers are always prepared to help you choose the right water treatment technology to meet your needs. We can help you save precious water! Contact us at 760.734.5787!

Resources:

• https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/89-of-californians-think-that-the-water-shortage-is-serious-field-poll/69142/
• https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/california-drought-driving-up-food-prices/1969815/
• https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
• https://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/?view=list

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Water Shortage Solution

As the state and northern region grows, Colorado faces a water shortage as the population grows and becomes more and more dependent upon a limited resource. Inaction could lead the communities being stranded in a dry river with only a paddle if the population does not identify new sources.

Of high importance is also the need for conserving the existing supply as possible. In tandem with other efforts, the Northern Integrated Water Supply project is key to solving Colorado’s water problem. The population of Colorado is expected to double to 10 million by 2050 and the growth rates in Fort Collins and Larimer are expected to mirror that of the state.

With Growth Comes a Need for Water

Conservation efforts in Northern Colorado are working, according to the city’s 2013 water conservation report. In an 11-year period, from 2002 to 2013, the water use per person in Fort Collins was reduced from 183 gallons per day to 141. This multi-faceted water conservation program is based on public education, incentives, assessments and enforcement, being guided by the Water Conservation Plan.

The WCP set a goal of 140 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) by 2020. The incremental target to reach this goal was 149 gpcd for 2013 and the average demand (adjusted for weather) in 2013 was 147 gpcd.

The Northern Water agency would like to build 2 reservoirs, pipelines and water pumping stations to help secure the region’s water source. Their project is estimated to cost around $500 million and has been named the Northern Integrated Supply Project, or NISP. Although the idea of this project was conceived long ago, it has long been a source of conflict.

NISP would supply customers, rural or urban, with approximately 40,000 acre-feet (or more) of new, reliable water supply each year through pumping stations, pipelines and 2 new reservoirs at Glade (which will be built northwest of Fort Collins) and Galeton, northeast of Greeley. The amount of water will be slightly larger than the Horsetooth Reservoir.

Northern Water is set to receive a long-awaited report from the Army Corps of Engineers later this year. However, the statement has been postponed at least twice and the study will probably not be released until spring 2015, according to Northern Water spokesman Brian Werner. Colorado might not have a lifetime to wait for more water, according to draft versions of the Colorado Water Plan completed this summer.

The state is on track to be short 500,000 acre-feet of water by 2050, enough to cover half a million football fields in one foot of water. The Fort Collins-Loveland Water Conservation District has already passed its water shortage date and by 2005, the district was short 1,100 acre-feet of water, an amount that could grow to 7,500 acre-feet by 2050, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Saving Water at Home

Considering the situation in Colorado, we could all take notes on how we could better save water in our own homes, as California is facing its worst drought in the last years. Click on the image below to read more than 200 water-saving tips!

Since the world has become more “green” aware, products offering to save water are flooding the market. WaterSense-labeled products used in your home, yard or business can help you save and protect the environment with just a few simple steps.

These products included in the EPA WaterSense Partnership program have been certified to be at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing performance. Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today to learn more about how you can save gallons of water in your household!

Resources:

• https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/01/25/northern-integrated-supply-project-key-solving-region-state-water-problem/22164815/
• https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/2014/11/08/plan-massive-new-reservoir-delayed/18748323/
• https://www.northernwater.org/
• https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/img/site_specific/uploads/2013_Water_Conservation_Annual_Report_2.pdf
• https://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve-water/?view=list

Nowadays, many businesses such as car washes are facing water treatment issues that include an ever-increasing demand for high-quality water. You might be surprised to learn that as well as having good quality maintenance carried out on the interior of your vehicle, at somewhere like Landmark which specializes in BMW repair in Bellevue, you also need to look after the exterior of your car if you want it to perform at its best level. This explains why there is now a new demand for car washes to improve the quality of water they use. Treatment and handling regulation compliance are major issues confronting many segments of the market. Water treatment technologies employed for businesses include a wide range of filters, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis systems, sulfate/nitrate removal units, UV systems, and water softeners.

Car washes, for example, are major water-consuming businesses and will require proper water treatment, in order to save water and provide the best results for their clients. A water softener takes less soap to break the bond between the dirt and the vehicle, making it a great water treatment system to consider.

Reverse Osmosis Systems for Car Washes

The wash-rinse cycle is done in 2 steps: the initial rinse and final rinse. The majority of car washes today use reverse osmosis systems to take the minerals out of the water. The final rinse uses water processed through reverse osmosis and by taking the dissolved solids or most of the dissolved solids from the water, they end up with a spot-free water.

In most cases, RO requires a minimum of 3 gallons of waste to 1 gallon of product water. Wastewater is required to carry the minerals away from the membrane so they will not clog up and stop producing mineral-free water. Most car washes blow the excess water with high-velocity air, but there are those who advertise the hand wash and there they have people with towels and shammies that take the water off, and, in both cases, the quality of washes greatly improves. There are other advantages as well, if anything happened to your car, the insurance would cover it. Insurance 4 MotorTrade can provide some insight into how these policies would work.
Industrial water in a car washing installation can be microbiologically contaminated so both personnel and customers need to be protected against a possible health endangerment.

Dime Water’s reverse osmosis systems produce ultra pure water, which can be used to flush away marks in the car wash. Also, reverse osmosis treated water leaves no line marks on the car lacquer while it dries up.

Washing cars out on the street has been restricted for a long time in many communities for ecological considerations. Washing water will end up in soils poses a threat to groundwater because it contains oils and lubricants, heavy metals, suspended matter, tar, and microorganisms.

For the disinfection of the water, the following procedures are most commonly used:

• ozonization
• UV treatment
• peroxide treatment
• thermal treatment

Water softeners, backwashing carbon filters, and backwashing turbidity filters can also be used in the car washing industry. We provide a wide range of award-winning water recycling solutions that are engineered considering our clients’ needs.

We can help you reduce your water and trade waste costs with systems that pay for themselves through savings. Our systems are durable and compact, built to last and provide guaranteed performance for your car washing business. Dime Water has the knowledge to provide any business with a tailored solution. Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today!

Resources:

• Brown, C. (2000) Water Conservation in the Professional Car Wash Industry

Each month, 3.9 million gallons of drinking water is consumed in the US and for many Americans, the idea that the country might someday run out of fresh water is horrifying. Global water consumption has tripled in the last 50 years and the demand for fresh water in the US is estimated to exceed the supply by 40% by the year 2030, according to a report. This is quite alarming, although we have faced severe droughts over the past years. This water scarcity that we might confront results from short- and long-term droughts and of course, human activity.

The amount of water that we use in the United States is so significant that we are running out of fresh water. Aquifers are drying up. Whilst this may mean some businesses need to find out how to switch your water supplier, for others this means that the chance of having no water at all is very high in the future, and so we need to consider changing our water retention system. For example, Germany has long ago been on an austerity program as far as the use of water and interestingly enough, their water consumption is done in such a way that the water table is rising. And it is rising to the point that they are actually having problems with building supports and basements. If we start using our heads and getting more involved in conservation, we might duplicate what is going on with Germany and the aquifers and reservoirs could indeed be refilled in a relatively short period of time.

3/4 Million Gallons per Capita Use of Drinking Water Annually

According to a recently issued report by The Journal of the American Geophysical Union, the last 3 years of California drought have been the worse experienced in 1,200 years, with 2014 being the worst of all. Scientists came to this conclusion after studying the growth rings in over 200 ancient California trees and coordinating results with at least one university. Some of the solutions that are believed to contribute long term to more available water come in the form of:

• diverting rain runoff into more reservoirs
• employing seawater to drinking water processes
• constructing wastewater reuse facilities
• weather manipulation, either individually or in combination

More conservation should be employed in the short term and it appears that diet changes can also have an impact on the draught as well. With all of us being part of the problem, we must all make personal choices to be part of the cure! The 3/4 million gallons per capita use of water annually for all uses in the US is simply unsustainable. At home, people can save water by using:

• drought resistant landscaping
• low flow toilets
• low water clothes and dishwashing appliances
• shower flow controls
• water treatment devices that use less or no waste water

Have you ever wondered what the water footprint of the products we purchase is? High water use can also be less obvious. For example:

• 1 pound of beef – 1,799 gallons
• 1 pound of chicken – 468 gallons
• 1 ounce of a chocolate bar – 200 gallons
• 1 pound of potatoes – 119 gallons
• 1 egg – 53 gallons
• 1 apple – 18 gallons
• 1 slice of bread – 11 gallons

Of course, we are not talking about days or weeks, but rather in a generation we could be back where we belong if we just practice good policies as far as the use of good water. Germany is exceptional in what they are doing – they are using a water quantity per person that is 50% or less of what we are doing here in the United States. They are prospering and I hope that we can take a lesson from them.

Water Conservation Tips

The average home in California uses 192 gallons of water a day, according to a 2008 study by the state Department of Water Resources and the Urban Water Conservation Council. A small lawn of 1,000 square feet takes about 35,000 gallons of water per year!

Water agencies around the Bay Area offer rebates to replace grass with more drought-tolerant plants such as native grasses and wildflowers, succulents and other plants. The East Bay Municipal Utility District pays 50 cents a square foot to people who replace lawns with native, drought-tolerant landscaping, and up to $2,500 a yard. The Santa Clara Valley Water District pays $1 per square foot.

“It’s pretty easy to save 20 percent. You want to remember that your plants – even with it being dry outside – are not needing as much water this time of year because it is cooler than in the summer,” said Chris Brown, former executive director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, a nonprofit group in Sacramento. “The easiest way to save water is to save it outdoors.”

Among other tips that experts recommend:

• take a 5-minute shower instead of a 10-minute shower: it saves you 12.5 gallons with a low-flow showerhead, and 25 gallons with a standard 5 gallon-per-minute shower head
• turn the faucet off while brushing teeth or shaving: it saves you about 10 gallons a day
• use a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks, and patios instead of a hose: this saves 8-18 gallons a minute
• fix the worn washers in a faucet with a slow steady drip saves you 350 gallons per month, and 2,000 gallons a month if the leak is a small stream. If you could have the necessary skills to repair your faucet, you might consider buying it from reliable online stores such as Home Depot. That said, you could also look at this great site which could help you get some discounts on your purchases from the aforementioned site!
• putting a new flapper in a leaking toilet can save 7,000 gallons a month (to test for leaks, put food coloring in the tank and do not flush; 10 minutes later if you see color in the bowl, you have a leak). If you have a leaky toilet you can get in touch with a plumber (see this page here) who can fix the leak, doing this can also help to prevent the leak in the future and save water.
• installing a water-efficient clothes washer saves up to 16 gallons a load
• a water-efficient dishwasher saves up to 8 gallons a load
• soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while scraping them clean
• replacing a pre-1990 toilet, which can use 5 gallons per flush, with a newer high-efficiency model can save 38 gallons a day per toilet.

Most Bay Area water agencies offer free water use inspections. An expert will come to your house to check for leaks and offer tips on how to save water and lower your water bill. Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today!

However, if you are from Maryland (especially from Jessup) and are unable to avail our services, then you can search for T.E. Spall & Son plumbing services in Jessup online to find a reliable plumber who could do the job of plumbing and water inspection for you.

Resources:

• https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71122/america-is-still-running-out-fresh-water/
• https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/01/20/california-drought-tips-for-conserving-water/
• https://gizmodo.com/berlin-is-threatened-from-below-by-its-rising-water-tab-1562805223

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Throughout the United States, the process of treating sewage and then throwing the water away into an ocean outfall, or into a river or a lake someplace is becoming obsolete. Because water is so hard to get, the approach is going to be to take the water from whatever source the municipality has and treat it so that it becomes good, potable tap water.

Then, when the water is finally consumed and goes down the sewer, it will be collected, treated and reused as a source of good quality water. Although houses have different types of sewage, the aim is to save and reuse as much water as possible. For example, if you own a septic tank, it is crucial to get regular Colorado Springs septic tank cleaning, or septic tank cleaning wherever you are based, in order to try and preserve as much water as possible once it is clean enough to be recycled. The new way to save water is to treat the water that already exists.

“Indirect Potable Reuse” Got a Bad New Name: “Toilet to Tap Water”

The term that is used quite often is “toilet to tap” and this week in the city of San Diego, which is the 8th largest city in the United States, the city Council approved the “toilet to tap” approach and will be funding the treatment to do that. From the public standpoint there is what they call the “yuck factor”, as people think that they are drinking their own sewage water.

Modern water-purification technology is considered totally reliable, using micro-filtration and reverse osmosis, which pumps water through permeable membranes, and ultraviolet light to remove all contaminants. So the “yuck factor” will only be imaginary. So if you are wanting to see if you can install this water system into your house to start conserving water, you can have a look at sites such as https://bouldenbrothers.com/how-plumbing-services-help-conserve-water/ and others that will give you options to conserve on your water usage.

But from a realistic standpoint, this has been going on forever. If you go to cities like Milwaukee, Wisconsin or Chicago, Illinois, both of them being on the shores of Lake Michigan, they have a water intake in the lake and have been discharging their treated sewage out there for many years, probably 50 years or more. So in reality, “toilet to tap” has been taking place and it is a beautiful thing because we will finally be able to conserve water the way we should be conserving it.

Water Conservation to Help Meet Future Needs

Being in the water business the way we are and the number of years we have been in it, we know the technology is there to do it correctly. I think that the technical people, the Boards of Health and the regulatory agents should come out with a better study on the effectiveness of removing pharmaceuticals from the water. It is being done, but from a personal standpoint I do not know the molecular weight or the physical size of the pharmaceutical compounds that are in the sewage.

Having pharmaceutical distribution experts organizing the medication and ensuring that the deposits are safely stored and not entering water supplies is essential however in this case, I am sure that the technology will take it out but I would like to see the technical people involved in this process make the public more aware that one particular fact is that we know we can kill the bacteria, the viruses, the cysts, we know that we can make the water perfectly clear and clean-looking, we can take care of the taste issues, but the lingering concern from somebody like myself and many others in the industry is: can we prove to the public that the residual pharmaceuticals are coming out of their wastewater prior to being used as drinking water?

Public education campaigns are very important for spreading the news on the benefits of recycled sewage water. For example, every day, the outflow of L.A.’s treated wastewater (about 400 million-plus gallons) amounts to the state’s fifth-largest river running into the Pacific Ocean. In these dry times, it makes perfect sense to stop throwing it away! The secret to successful recycling programs is complete transparency from officials. Transparency and proper public education will lead to minimal opposition from the general public.

Resources:

• https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-op-haefele26aug26-story.html

Good Quality Water is Disappearing

No, we’re not wearing beanies with propellers on them and predicting the end of the World. Rather we want to point out that in the US and other fully developed nations, the ability to obtain good quality water directly from nature is rapidly disappearing. The era of overusing and polluting one of nature’s greatest gifts is rapidly coming to an end.

Just this week we heard of dried-up wells 40 miles inland from the ocean in what is called San Diego East County. Gorgeous area with small farms and large estates with reverse osmosisom to raise horses and live the good life. The good life and property values come to a halt with no water available. A day later we heard from a South Dakota rancher raising beef cattle who keeps adding deeper and deeper wells and is most recently pumping water that is so loaded with minerals that it cannot be used by cattle nor will it support crops.

In a world where some poor souls must walk miles to get drinking and cooking water and consume 1 or 2 gallons daily per person, we use on average 60 gallons per day per person in our US homes. That’s direct use excluding wasteful lawn watering. Our indirect water use is scary. Counting feed and processing water use take a look at the following table to see water consumption for what we eat:

• One slice bread: 11 gallons
• One apple: 18 gallons
• One egg: 53 gallons
• One chocolate bar: 297 gallons
• One pound chicken: 468 gallons
• One pound beef: 1,799 gallons
• What’s The Answer?

At the food production end, spray watering and field flooding have to be replaced with drip irrigation, and plants must be modified to be more drought tolerant. In food processing, water reuse should be paramount. For individual homes, people should voluntarily treat their water with equipment that saves water and use water-consuming products that are more efficient and in general practice conservation. If it’s not done on a voluntary basis it eventually is imposed by higher water rates, volume-controlled meters, and restrictions on drilling wells. Our decision— cut back and use wisely or have bureaucrats dictate to us.

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