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Is wastewater the answer to crop water usage? February 5, 2010

Posted by WaterWise Consulting in Water & Business.
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Since wastewater has been treated by sewage treatment plants, people have wondered if it can be used to irrigate crops. Many have argued that wastewater, also known as recycled water, or non-potable water, should not be used for crops since it does not meet the standards required for drinking water. However, farmers, water purveyors, and water districts have recently been pushing to use recycled water to irrigate crops.
The main argument against this issue is that mentioned before—that it doesn’t meet drinking water standards. Critics claim that the water can contain harmful bacteria or other contaminants such as metals that are unhealthy for human consumption. However, this water is considered to be safe enough to swim in.
Environmentalists argue that the water is safe enough to be used for irrigation. If the water is not used by irrigation, it must be released into natural ecosystems such as lakes or streams. The surge of water often changes the temperature or chemical composition of the water, making it inhospitable for native species. For example, water that is either too warm or too cold will change the temperature of surrounding water enough that spawning salmon will not be able to breed.
To read more about the subject, visit: http://hanfordsentinel.com/articles/2010/01/19/news/doc4b54a8855769b557891315.txt
Brian O’Neill
boneill@waterwise-consulting.com

USGS experts study Sierra groundwater January 29, 2010

Posted by WaterWise Consulting in Water Pollution.
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Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) held a public meeting on January 11, 2010 to discuss the Sierra groundwater supplies. This meeting was held in the public both to incorporate feedback as well as educate the public about their local groundwater.
The main topic of this meeting was the monitoring of the local groundwater quality. USGS scientists and hydrologists are studying the groundwater to track its movement as well as any possible contaminants. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories will also partake in this study.
The study is expected to last 10 years, and includes information from the Sierra groundwater as well as other locations throughout California. This information is made possible by various agencies as well as private well owners.
According to information made available by the USGS, the study has shown that the water is of good quality. Coming from high in the Sierra Mountains, the water does not show signs of having any major pollutants such as pesticides or fertilizers. Also, the water is thought to be of high quality by being composed of water that is different ages. The age of water is determined by analyzing different trace materials that decay over time.
Read more at: http://www.uniondemocrat.com/2010011198843/News/Local-News/USGS-experts-to-discuss-Sierra-groundwater-study
Brian O’Neill
boneill@waterwise-consulting.com

In spite of recent rains, reservoirs are still in trouble January 22, 2010

Posted by WaterWise Consulting in Uncategorized.
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California reservoirs are still suffering from the drought in spite of the recent rains. Many reservoirs are still significantly below their historical levels for the same time of year. Contrary to what some people may believe, it takes significantly more rain than what fell in the past few days.
One of the most crucial factors that affect the amount of water that enters reservoirs is where the rain is falling. For example, rain or snow that falls on the tops of hills will either seep into the ground or run down creeks that progressively get larger, and then enter our reservoirs. This is the most beneficial rain and snowfall because it directly enters our reservoirs and helps to raise the water level.
Rainfall, however, that falls into low-lying cities is often seen as a burden. A significant portion of water that falls on cities lands on non-permeable surfaces such as roofing on buildings, parking lots, and city streets. This water is then diverted into sewage drains where it flows through sewage treatment plants and then typically into the ocean. The small portion of water that falls on permeable landscaping such as grass or dirt is often able to soak into the ground and replenish our underground aquifers. While this is undoubtedly beneficial, the amount of water that seeps in is nowhere near the amount of water that is drawn out for agricultural, commercial, residential, or industrial uses.
Read more about this subject at: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100108/ARTICLES/100109590/1350?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar
Brian O’Neill
boneill@waterwise-consulting.com

Can rice really prevent future droughts? January 15, 2010

Posted by WaterWise Consulting in Water & Business, water conservation.
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Rice, the world’s most consumed crop, has immense power to either increase or decrease the world’s water use. By increasing the efficiency of such widely-grown crops, immense amounts of water will be saved.
Jerome Bernier, a student at the University of Alberta has discovered a potential method of increasing the efficiency of rice. If successful, certain cultivars of rice could become up to twice as productive. This could help in two ways: by increasing the amount of rice produced per acre, or by reducing the amount of water used to produce the same amount of rice.
By increasing the amount of rice produced per acre, farmers could potentially grow twice as much rice while using their current amount of water. This has the possibility of creating financial and economic sustainability for farmers by being able to sell substantially more crops.
By reducing the amount of water used to produce the same amount of rice, our global water needs could be significantly decreased. In theory, rice farmers could consume one half as much water as current consumption, and produce the same amount of rice. By doing so, the water would be available to fill underground aquifers and be consumed for other uses such as residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional.
Read more at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081120162847.htm
Brian O’Neill
boneill@waterwise-consulting.com

Texas residents struggle to save pipes and water January 14, 2010

Posted by WaterWise Consulting in Landscape Water Use, Water & Business.
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Over the past week, many Texas residents have struggled to keep their pipes from freezing. Central Texas farmers have been fortunate enough to avoid the freeze in most places, but some were not so fortunate. There were over 1,000 phone calls placed to the Austin Fire Department, and about 600 phone calls to the Austin Water Utility. Many workers were forced to work 12-hour shifts over the weekend to repair the broken water lines.
Although many areas throughout the United States experience below-freezing temperatures, there are many solutions to prevent pipes from bursting. For example, homeowners or maintenance personnel can easily wrap pipe with pipe insulation, or heat tape to prevent freezing.
Pipe insulation is one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods of preventing pipes from freezing. This solution works for both indoor as well as outdoor plumbing. Since the insulation can be left on year-round, it requires almost no maintenance once installed. The only recommended maintenance is to inspect the insulation to make sure it has not been pulled off of the pipes. This can be found at almost any hardware store. Here is an example: http://bit.ly/79b8M4
Other methods such as wrapping pipe with heat tape are also very effective. Heat tape, however, requires a small electrical current to heat and thus can cause problems if wet. This can also cause liability risks, so it should only be installed by qualified electricians. This should only be installed if it complies with all codes in your area. Here is an example of heat tape: http://bit.ly/8vx2mv
Brian O’Neill
boneill@waterwise-consulting.com