Latest US Drought Monitor

Fast Disappearing Lake Meade in 2007

When you look at the official U.S. drought monitor map, you immediately see that many American cities may be in the wrong places for long-term water sustainability. In particular, note the presence of “long-term” severe-to-extreme drought conditions across most of Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.

The following two very credible, objective articles discuss the water problems the U.S. and the world must grapple with.

To read more, visit:  http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2012/01/how-fix-americas-soon-be-waterless-cities/1024/

Please feel free to let me know what you think.

Thanks

http://tinyurl.com/6qkn3v7

Tom and Peggy Brennan, owners of Detroit’s Midtown’s Green Garage have almost recognized their hard-earned dream — opening a sustainable business center.

Their former Model T showroom is being converted into office and workshop space for Green businesses and the owners are committed to historic and Green renovation practices.

The Green Garage is not only planned to be a community of people dedicated to Detroit’s Green and sustainable future but a center in the city for those considering and developing Green business ideas.

A number of Green and sustainable features are incorporated into the facility, including the restroom fixtures.  For instance, instead of conventional water-using urinals, the Brennan’s decided to go a step further.  They installed no-water urinals manufactured by Waterless Co Inc.

These urinals not only save thousands of gallons of water per year, but will help lower operating costs for the facility as well.

Image: Detroit’s Fox Theater

“As a plumber, I had my doubts,” he says. “But once we installed them in one of our schools, I was actually very impressed.”

The school district selected waterless urinals manufactured by Waterless No-Flush™ Urinals, Vista, CA. Thompson decided to try the waterless urinals for two reasons.

First, the hardware on the flush urinals used in the school was frequently vandalized, a problem that was becoming increasingly costly. Second, the restrooms had a serious odor problem, mostly emanating from the flush urinals.

The first problem was easily rectified. Waterless urinals have no flush valves or exterior plumbing to harm.

As to odors, a vertical trap insert sits atop the drain area of the waterless urinal and is filled with a thin layer of liquid or sealant. Urine passes through the sealant liquid in the trap, forming a barrier, which prevents odors from escaping.

Thompson says that both the vandalism and the odors stopped as soon as the waterless urinals were installed. In fact, the district was so impressed with the Waterless No-Flush Urinals, they decided to install them in all their schools.

“What can I say?” says Thompson. “They made a believer out of me. I tell everyone I’ve seen the light—at least when it comes to Waterless No-Flush Urinals.”

The world is dealing with a severe water crisis. Population growth and economic development continue to push water resources beyond natural limits, and demand will only continue to grow – projected to triple in the next 20 years. Yet, the earth’s water supply remains limited.

The positive news is that advancements in technology are helping address the global water issue, providing more access to clean water, and enabling industries and municipalities to recycle resources. We’ve seen individual companies, associations and municipalities step up, take the crisis into their own hands and enforce high standards for water safety. But we can no longer be independent water users.

Read More: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/18/the-business-of-water/

Terminal “A” at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, is the first U.S. airport terminal to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

In order to earn certification, some of the sustainable strategies used in the facility include:

• High-efficiency HVAC systems
• Extensive daylighting with high-insulation glass
• Energy-efficient electric lighting
• The use of recycled, local materials

And because achieving a 20 percent reduction in water use is now a prerequisite of any LEED certification, the designers decided to install waterless urinals.

With several brands available, Katie J. Choe, Sustainability Program Manager for the Massachusetts Port Authority, selected the no-flush urinals manufactured by Waterless Co. LLC.

Key reasons for this: the trap/cylinder used on the Waterless urinals is a third the price of the traps used by other systems. And surprisingly, they last three to four times longer, making them even more cost-efficient.

The world is dealing with a severe water crisis. Population growth and economic development continue to push water resources beyond natural limits, and demand will only continue to grow – projected to triple in the next 20 years. Yet, the earth’s water supply remains limited.

The positive news is that advancements in technology are helping address the global water issue, providing more access to clean water, and enabling industries and municipalities to recycle resources. We’ve seen individual companies, associations and municipalities step up, take the crisis into their own hands and enforce high standards for water safety. But we can no longer be independent water users.

To read more….http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/18/the-business-of-water/

Patrick Lucey, a Canadian water expert, made a powerful comment at a Soil and Water Conservation Conference held a couple of years ago. He stated, “The future will be written in water…not ink.”

According to Lucey, Canada has 25 percent of the world’s surface freshwater supplies. Another 25 percent is located in Russia’s Siberia. This leaves 50 percent of all freshwater for the rest of the world to share. And with populations growing and emerging nations becoming more economically powerful, maintaining ample water supplies will be a serious challenge.

For instance, China anticipates building 200 new cities of more than one million people in the next 20 years. If planning is not done carefully, supplying water to these cities may mean other locations must go without.

However, there are ways to ensure that water supplies are adequate—or at least more so than anticipated—in coming years. For example, some facilities are now being built or retrofitted with systems that capture wastewater after a rainfall event so that it can be recycled and reused for irrigation, laundry, toilets, etc.

Experts believe the drain on drinking water can be reduced by as much as 70 percent if “most” rather than “some” facilities install these systems.

It will also be beneficial for building owners and managers to recognize water conservation as adding “value” to a facility. At one time most building owners/managers believed building and operating facilities in a more sustainable and environmentally preferable manner was just an added expense with little or no payoff. However, making facilities Greener is not only proving to be a cost savings but is adding real value as well. To prospective tenants, a Green and sustainable building is viewed as a well-built, well-run facility that they find desirable.  It also can result in significant cost savings.

Nevertheless, we cannot depend solely on new Green designs and water-conservation technologies to help us delay or minimize a possible water shortage. People around the world must also be educated on how to use water more responsibly.

There is an old Chinese proverb that states:

• If you are planning one year ahead, sow seeds.
• If you are planning 10 years ahead, plant trees.
• But if you are planning 100 years ahead, educate the people.

The year 2012 is an election year in the United States. In a democracy, decisions are typically driven not by politicians but by the will of the people. Educating people on water issues, future water trends, and the need to conserve water will likely do more to make water conservation a reality in years to come than any new Green or water-conserving technology.

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A frequent speaker and author on water conservation issues, Klaus Reichardt is founder and CEO of Waterless Co. Inc, Vista, Calif. The company’s key product, the Waterless No-Flush urinal, works completely without water and was invented by Reichardt.

Sidebar: Facts about Water

• In the United States, each person uses about 525,000 gallons of water annually. In China, each person uses about 122,000 gallons per year, and these amounts are far lower in most areas of the world.
• Only about 1 percent of the Earth’s total water supply is potable, suitable for drinking.
• Humans can survive nearly a month without food; they can survive only a few days without water.
• It takes about 39,000 gallons of water to build a car and about 2,000 gallons of water to manufacture the four tires.
• A 10-minute shower consumes 20 to more than 50 gallons of water, depending on whether water-conserving systems are in place.