To pull this off, Congress had to go beyond a simple majority to muster sufficient votes to overcome Richard Nixon’s initial veto of the act.  The President’s veto was brought on by his concerns over the cost to update the nation’s infrastructure.

So what is the Clean Water Act?  In essence, it is broad legislation that makes it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable U.S. waters without a government-granted permit.  Further it establishes the limited types of discharges and limited circumstances under which any such discharges may be permitted.  The legislation built upon the earlier Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948.  The Clean Water Act reorganized the 1948 act’s scope and strength.  In addition, the Clean Water Act paved the way for added capacity and improved performance in municipal infrastructure and water treatment facilities.

In recent months America has awaited action from a dysfunctional congress faced, in turn, by a budgetary crisis, “Fiscal Cliff”, and a resulting ”Sequester”.  Congress today seems to favor rhetoric and posturing over meaningful action.  Conversely, the elected representatives of 1972 took the bold step to respond to the growing evidence of an “Environmental Cliff.”  Those of a certain age may recall the environmental failures of the post World War II era; trash-laden beaches, biologically dead rivers and lakes, Mercury in their tuna, contaminated drinking water, and periodic fires along Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River.

Four decades later, Clean Water Act proponents can point to tremendous reduction in the discharge of untreated sewage or other pollutants into streams, rivers, or lakes.  Waters that once served as dumping grounds have been transformed into well stocked fisheries, waterfront parks, and viable wildlife habitat.

In spite of its undeniable success, there is room to improve The Clean Water Act.  In its present form the CWA is rather narrowly focused on commercial / industrial waste discharges.  Run off from agricultural land is largely unregulated.  As such many pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers find their way into streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.  Our evolving lifestyle has led to an up-tick in pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products finding their way into domestic drains.  Industrialized meat and poultry production has contirbuted animal wastes, antibiotics, and hormoes to the waste stream as well.  Most recently we have been confronted by the controversy over “Fracking”; the use of water to extract natural gas from U.S. and Canadian domestic geology.  Most of our current water treatment facilities are unable to intercept or neutralize this new wave of pollutant threats.

In an era of Congressional gridlock and politics-by-pandering, we can only hope that courage will return and logic prevail.  Until then it will likely fall upon motivated non-government activists to lead the charge.  Below is a small sampling of NGOs engaged in addressing those challenges government appears too paralyzed or pre-occupied to pursue:

• Trout Unlimited – This group has united naturalists and ranchers to better manage agricultural run-off for the benefit of fresh water fisheries in Colorado (See prior post “But is it Art”).
• Heal the Bay – Maintains a number of ongoing initiative to clean and protect California’s Santa Monica Bay.
• Trust for Public Lands – Has funded a long-term initiative to clean and restore New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay and restricting mining and petroleum extraction beyond existing permits in Wyoming’s pristine Hoback Basin.
• Water Reuse Association – This group, through its Water Reuse Foundation funds research to identify and assess emerging water quality issues, their impact, and mitigation.
• Surfrider Foundation – A group dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves, and beaches.  The enjoyment of surfing that launched this group has evolved into broader environmental advocacy focused upon coastal waters.

Links to these and more (Domestic and International) can be found at the EcoGateway Link Center for Water and Wastewater.

 “Compare society to a boat. Her progress through the water will not depend upon the exertion of her crew, but upon the exertion devoted to propelling her. This will be lessened by any expenditure of force in fighting among themselves, or in pulling in different directions” – Henry George

 Kelly F. Duke

The post The Clean Water Act – Four Decades On appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

Farm to fork to landfill

Americans are throwing out about $165 billion in food each year. It turns out there is waste created all along the process.  It starts right at the farms where lots of food is grown but not harvested because there’s too much or it doesn’t meet quality standards or there are no workers to harvest the food.   Then mainly due to high standards for food, much of our fruits and vegetables are culled and thrown out, so we lose some in the processing and distribution process as well.  However, the major place waste occurs is in the home.  At grocery stores we are encouraged with quantity discounts and excellent marketing to buy more than we can eat.  We don’t know how to properly store fruits and vegetables, or we are just not interested in learning because food is still too cheap and plentiful to worry about saving.  Sound familiar?  The food waste alone is sad, but if you also consider the water waste as a result of the food going uneaten you will drive yourself bananas.

How To Store Fruits and Vegetables at Home

The good news is with a little time and education we can keep foods fresh longer and waste less by learning how to properly store fruits and vegetables.  It takes just a little extra thought to ensure your fruits and vegetables for a reasonable amount of time so you can enjoy them fully –  and more importantly save water as a result of  not wasting food.

There are really three places you should be storing your fruits and veggies.  In the refrigerator, on the counter, or in a cool dry place.  If you are storing them in the refrigerator you have some choices to make there as well.  Will they be stored in a plastic bag, paper bag or open.  When you store food in bags it increases the amount of humidity it is exposed to and the greater the likelihood of mold.

It’s best to wait to wash your fruits and vegetables until just before you use them.  It’s difficult to completely dry them and any moisture helps promote mold.

Below are some items you will want to store in the refrigerator:

• Artichokes, beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupes, celery, cherries, grapes, green beans, lima beans,  leafy vegetables, mushrooms, okra, spinach, sprouts, summer squash, yellow squash and zucchini

These items you want to ripen before they are put in the refrigerator.  They emit ethylene and will ripen your other fruits too quickly:

• Avocados, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums and kiwi

It’s great to keep herbs and asparagus the same way you do flowers – in water.  They will stay fresh for days and with the cost of both of those items you will greatly benefit.

Definitely don’t wash these until right before you use them. Store these in the refrigerator and keep them in a plastic bag:

• Broccoli,  carrots, cauliflower, chard, corn, cranberries, green onions, lettuce, peas and radishes

Remember berries like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries shouldn’t be washed until you are ready to eat them.  You should store them in the refrigerator, but make sure air can circulate around them.

Definitely store these items on the counter top, out of the sun:

• Apples, bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, ginger, grapefruit, jicama, lemons, limes, mangoes, oranges, papayas, peppers, pineapple, pomegranates, watermelon

Store these items in a cool, dry, place:

• Acorn squash, butternut squash, garlic, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, shallots, spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, winter squash

I keep this list handy on my iPhone and review it when I get home from the store. (You can also download a handy reference sheet from our Facebook page.)  If you do the same, after a few weeks you’ll easily remember know how to store produce properly and you’ll be happy to see how much longer it can last. If we all work together to reduce food waste, we will continue to win our battle to save water.

Learn More About Richard Restuccia

The post A Quick Guide for Storing Fruits and Vegetables appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

Help is not on the way.  The latest estimates from  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) latest three-month drought outlook, which the agency released in mid April shows the drought lengthening.  It is forecast the drought will expand into northern California, Oregon and Washington.  Texas, where drought has been an issue since 2011 will also continue to see expansion.

Farmers will be hurt

Reading about California farmers last week I was surprised to see they are only going to receive 20% of their allocation this year.  When I first read it I thought 20% reduction, but further reading showed the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced the past couple of months of dry weather prompted a decrease in water allocations to contractors south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta to 20% of the contracted supply.

During last year’s growing season the drought negatively impacted crops and the price increases at the grocery store were large.  You can read about them in one of my posts from last summer.  This year with the issues of the past year’s lack of water we are at a high risk for farmers to abandon crops this year and ranchers to cull herds. This will cause spikes in food prices for all of us at the grocery store.

Employment ripple effect

California alone could lose 100,000 farm jobs to the drought.  Agricultural job losses are also happening in six other western states and Texas.  When these jobs go away the communities servicing our farms suffer.  Higher unemployment hurts housing and the spiral continues on and on.  In some places in the west once a week watering of landscape is being regulated. Imagine what could happen to home prices in our neighborhoods if we can only water our landscapes once a week. We can do something about this drought and the droughts to come.  Here are 100 ways you can save water daily and lessen the impact the drought has on your community.

Learn More About Richard Restuccia

The post How Water In The West Impacts Everyone appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

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As I write this post I am on my second of three trips for the month. Almost every hotel where I stay provides the guest with an option to use a bath towel more than once or to have it replaced. The hotel where I am currently staying has a placard in the bathroom that reads:

reuse or

replace?

to reuse: hang towels up

to replace: place towels on floor

take care 

we owe it to one another®

Most of my trips range from two to four nights and I usually hang up my towel to be used again. I choose this option, because it A) is a good water conservation practice and B) is what I practice at home. Unfortunately, when the corporate water conservation theory meets the reality of the housekeeping staff, the towel is usually gone when I return to the room at the end of the day.

Last week I was on a four night trip which meant housekeeping had three opportunities to leave the towel hanging to be used again. It was left hanging only one out of three times!

This week I am on another four night trip and I decided to be socially proactive. The first morning I hung my towel and placed the placard on top of the towel so the placard would have to be removed to get to the towel. I then took it one step further and tweeted from @h2oMatters the following message:

@[hotel] I did my part to help you do your part. We will know tonight if we were successful. #WaterConservation photo

I was slightly encouraged when the corporate office replied with the simple message, “Thanks for sharing, Alan.” Unfortunately at the end of the day the towel was gone so I again tweeted:

@[hotel] And the answer is “No Towel” #WaterConservation #Fail Will try again tomorrow at Aguora Hills photo

We will see what water conservation reality my towel meets today.

Most major hotel brands have a good environmental/water conservation policy:

• Hilton
• Marriott
• Starwood
• Intercontinental

Take a few minutes to read the water conservation policy of your preferred brand and then the next time you travel, help their water conservation theory become water conservation reality. Twitter and Facebook are great ways to engage with brands or just let the front desk know when their water conservation theory needs a reality check.

Do you have a corporate water conservation story to share? Please leave your comments below or on our Facebook page, Water Bloggers.

If you liked this post, please share it with a friend, check out my previous posts , follow me on Twitter @h2oMatters and

Learn More About Alan Harris

The post Water Conservation: Corporate Theory Meets Reality appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

Almost one fifth of California’s energy is used to move water.  Water conservation and water management are becoming vital to energy conservation.   Nearly 75%  of the state’s rainfall occurs in Northern California, while  75% of the agricultural and urban water use is in Central and Southern California.  Water is moved around the state to support economic and urban development.  Without water  projects to move water,  Central and Southern California would look dramatically different.  The California economy is the eighth largest economy in the world and without water would not be able to support the farming or industrial production it enjoys today. For those of us living in Southern California we receive about half our water from snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains over 400 miles away.   It takes a tremendous amount of energy to move the water (which is very heavy) from Northern California to Southern California especially over the 3ooo foot Tehachapi Pass.  It is an amazing engineering feat to move all this water, but is it sustainable?

The United States consumes about 20% of the world’s supply of electricity.  California ranks number 2 behind Texas for states using the most electrical power.   Although California ranks 48th in energy consumption per capita, it still does not produce enough energy to meet it’s consumption needs and ends up being a net importer of electricity.   Way to go  Pennsylvania, Alabama, and West Virginia.  All states generating more electricity than they can use and are net exporters.  How does your state rank? Check here.

We don’t have the time or money to waste

The summer landscape watering season is upon us.  How much do you want to pay for electricity to move water around the state to end up letting it run down the gutter?  Below are a few simple activities you can perform today to make sure your system is operating efficiently.

1. Turn on your system and adjust sprinklers to avoid waste and ensure uniform distribution
2. Test the spray patterns of sprinkler systems; check for clogged lines and mixed nozzle sizes of sprinkler heads; be sure to repair leaks
3. Install rain shut-off devices

Higher energy costs are significantly impacting our lives.   We need to take additional action to reduce energy consumption in the United States.  We can do this without abandoning  efficiency, comfort, or the use of technology. There are ways to consume energy more sustainably without going to extreme measures, or  huge personal  sacrifice.  Making a few adjustments in the way we use water is simple, effective, and a step in the right direction.

Tweet me your thoughts @H2oTrends

Learn More About Richard Restuccia

The post Who Else Wants To Save Energy? appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

Imagine a light bulb with a smart chip that uses 60 percent less energy, cuts itself off when there’s no one in the room and goes into an alarm mode, blinking on and off if fire breaks out. Or glass that responds to temperature and light conditions to significantly reduce energy uses by the traditional building HVAC systems. What about a leading ad agency office with no desks, only benches, or a design-office for 30-somethings that features roll-up, glass garage doors to the conference room so the table can serve as an open air work space or host a private meeting.

These were just some of the products and trends brought up to pique creativity and innovation among building management professionals at BOMA Georgia’s High Performance Building Summit. Held at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center, ValleyCrest featured Water Analysis Reports, an innovative service to determine the savings property owners can achieve by installing a smart irrigation controller.

Water Innovations

John Picard, an American architect, builder, entrepreneur and sustainability expert from Silicon Valley delivered a stimulating keynote introducing transformational products destined to impact the building industry in the coming years. Picard referenced the remote access feature and “smart” capabilities of the irrigation system at his home. He described how, while skiing with his family at Tahoe, he received an email regarding an excessive flow on his irrigation system. He immediately called his gardener to let him know about the line break. Ironically, these are the same remote access and automatic shut-off/messages for excessive flow featured in the smart controllers referenced in our Water Analysis Reports.

Picard also demonstrated how he could adjust the temperature at his home using his iPhone. The WeatherTrak smart controllers also allow the use of an iPhone or laptop to remotely make adjustments to an irrigation system. When world-renowned sustainability experts are touting the same features and benefits, you know you are on the right side of the leading edge of technology.

An unexpected moment occurred when I started talking to one of the attendees only to find out he used to work for HydroPoint Data Systems, the manufacturer of the WeatherTrak controller. Jeff Gross, who now works with sustainable energy management pioneer Servidyne, turned out to be a great resource and a strategic connection. He furthered my education on the many advantages the WeatherTrak smart controller has over systems that utilize soil moisture sensors.

According to Gross, soil sensors were designed for agriculture where the terrain is typically level. Soil sensor systems don’t factor in all the elements of evapotranspiration and are usually a hard-wired system susceptible to being cut by a shovel or other soil disturbance. WeatherTrak, utilizing NOAA weather information is accurate to within a kilometer of the site, is extremely reliable and doesn’t require the technical expertise needed to manage a system that uses an on-site weather station. Information regarding each zone is programmed into the clock so the irrigation schedule is fine tuned daily only to apply as much water as was lost since the last run cycle.

Jeff, a LEED Green Associate and former Johnson Controls water expert, was a wealth of information regarding the WeatherTrak system and helped answer some questions posed by property managers who were excited to learn more about sustainability, reduced water use and cost savings.

Please share comments below and share pictures of your innovative ideas on our Facebook page, Water Bloggers.

Bart Parker is a LEED Green Associate, Senior Business Developer and four-time President’s Club member at ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance in Atlanta. He is a 20-year member of BOMA Georgia, 1997 recipient of BOMA’s Huey Award and 2008 winner of BOMA’s Pen & Quill Award. Bart was a newspaper news reporter/photographer before entering the horticulture industry.

The post Innovative Ideas Light up High Performance Building Summit appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

What’s the issue?

Every second the urban population grows by two people.  Fifty percent of the world’s population lives in cities of 10 million people or more.  According to the Global Environmental Outlook water withdrawals are predicted to increase by 50 percent by 2025 in developing countries and 18 percent in developed countries.  According to the EPA, nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day.  In the west and other sunny areas landscape water use accounts for over 50 percent of residential water use.  As an industry we have a large target on our back for regulation to reduce water use.  In California just a 20 percent reduction in landscape water use would be equivalent to reducing all toilet water use to zero.  Managing water is an opportunity, but the window of opportunity may close quickly.

We have a choice.

As an industry we have an opportunity to change the way we manage water.  However, the opportunity to make the change is not unlimited. I have heard more than one lawmaker explain a water shortage in the U.S. is a threat to homeland security.  When I hear the words “threat to homeland security” I know we only have a limited time to act before the government takes control of the situation.

What can we do?

First we need to embrace the technology manufacturers provide for water management.  I find only a small percentage of contractors recommend smart controllers to their customers.  In some cases, I find contractors telling customers smart controllers only benefit the landscape contractor and they shouldn’t spend money on technology that only benefits the contractor.  This is completely irresponsible and our industry suffers from these statements.

In most situations the fastest way to save water for customers is through the proper use of smart controllers.  Lack of understanding is the main reason contractors stay away from smart controllers and education is the key to the technology.  All contractors should consider the IA Certified Irrigation Contractor program.  IA Certified Irrigation Contractors meet minimum experience requirements, pass a written exam and agree to a code of ethics.  The IA Certified Irrigation Contractor and Certified Irrigation Designer programs were the first professional certifications to earn the EPA WaterSense label.  The IA also offers courses for irrigation professionals who need to stay abreast of the latest technologies.

Also, check with local water purveyors about special “smart” certification programs they may be offering.  Many water purveyors offer smart controller incentives to qualified residential and commercial customers.  These incentives help make upgrading to a smart irrigation controller even more compelling to your clients.  Then promote the benefits of smart irrigation controllers to new and existing clients.

Remember this is just a start. I have a strong desire to change the way we have been managing irrigation water and I need your help. Tweet me your thoughts @H2oTrends

Learn More About Richard Restuccia

The post Managing Water – A Limited Opportunity appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to

Cry about the water crisis, that is.

Women and children around the world walk hours every day to collect water for their families. They lose out on education and employment opportunities, which means equality between men and women in their countries stays way out of balance. Plus the water they collect can make them really sick. Terrible right? Well, we can actually do something about it. Yes, this is my soap box.

For the past year and a half I’ve had the privilege of writing for this blog, writing a water-related column for Lawn & Landscape Magazine (“Don’t Just Save Water, Save The World”) and meeting a lot of people in the water industry who are fighting hard for a sustainable future. I’m constantly writing and talking about how valuable water is and what a great gift (“The Gift of Water” )! So it only makes sense it’s all I want for my 30th birthday, right?

Want to party too?

For a lot of people 30 is a scary milestone, but not for me. I’m thrilled with the opportunities I’ve had in the last 30 years and confident the next 60  will be even better. My only regret? For so much of my youth I only focused on me. Luckily I get a second chance to put the focus where it belongs: On others, especially those in need. If you could use a second chance, too, why don’t you join me in bringing clean water to some very deserving people? You can contribute to my campaign or pledge your own birthday! It’s a small gift with a HUGE impact: accessible clean water means health, freedom, education, equality, and more.

I can’t think of a better birthday gift. Or Earth Month Gift. Or Water Awareness Month gift. You get the idea.

And if charity:water isn’t your style, find a water-related charity that is, here: “Don’t Just Save Water, Save The World”

How do you celebrate April’s big events? Planting trees? Helping out at a community garden? I know a lot of you are very active with environmental projects year-round. Do you do anything differently to observe Earth Month? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page: Water Bloggers and send links to your projects! We love seeing what you’re up to.

Learn More About Martha Golea

The post All I Want For My 30th Birthday Is Clean Water appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.

A recent walk with our dogs in our neighborhood got my husband and I seeing red! Don’t people know how bad it is when you don’t pick up after your dog?! Pet waste left in natural areas and park areas can be picked up by stormwater runoff and washed into nearby water bodies causing significant water pollution and degradation of water quality. According to the EPA pet waste contains nutrients that promotes weed and algae growth and carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can threaten the health of humans and wildlife.

As homeowners, we play a very important role in the protecting and keeping our urban stormwater clean. Our actions in and around our homes, parks, gardens and driveways can greatly affect the loads and conditions of local stormwater. Become a part of the water quality solution and prevent pollutants from reaching our streams and rivers by following these five easy steps:

Top 5 ways homeowners can become a part of the water quality solution and prevent pollutants from reaching our streams and rivers:

1. When fertilizing your lawn don’t over fertilize and be sure to keep fertilizer from falling on streets or sidewalks. This will stop the concentrated nutrients from getting into the stormwater systems.
2. Pick up the grass clippings and don’t blow them into the street where it contributes organic matter and nutrients to the storm water systems.
3. Don’t wash your automobiles, boats or ATV’s in the driveway that can add sediment, oil, grease, soap and other pollutants to the runoff when it rains.
4. Pick up after your pets. Animal waste left on the ground contributes nutrients, organic matter and bacteria to the runoff.
5. Dispose of paint and oil at recycling centers. Dumping these products into drains can pollute streams for several miles.

So enjoy your walk, but  if your dog poops, remember to scoop.

Please share comments below and share pictures of your good water quality behavior on our Facebook page, Water Bloggers.

The post Water Quality: Every Drop Counts appeared first on ValleyCrest Takes On.