Waterworks Blog
Too much pee in Walden Pond
April 9, 2018A group of scientists who studied the iconic Walden Pond in Concord, Mass., say that urine from generations of swimmers is not only fouling the water, but changing the ecosystem. “More than half of the summer phosphorus budget of the lake may now be attributable to urine released by swimmers,” states the study published on…
Make Waves this World Water Day
March 20, 2018While you were standing at the sink filling up the coffee pot this morning, you may not have been thinking about your good fortune. But consider this: While most of us simply turn on the tap for clean H2O, there are 2.1 billion people across the world who lack access to safe drinking water. It’s…
Study: Water main breaks up 27% across United States
March 15, 2018Although we’ve seen a few water main breaks this winter, overall, we’ve been lucky — especially when compared with other places around the country. A study by Utah State University’s Buried Structures Laboratory (yes, there’s a lab dedicated to buried structures!) found that break rates in the U.S. and Canada “have increased 27% in the…
Join us in honoring National Skip the Straw Day
February 22, 2018There’s nothing quite like a refreshing drink of water. But today, we’re hoping you enjoy yours without using a straw. That’s because Feb. 23 is National Skip the Straw Day. Why skip the straw? Because the majority of them are made of plastic — and plastic, because it doesn’t biodegrade, is causing a world of…
Beer, booze, wine and water: Is your favorite drink made sustainably?
February 16, 2018The next time you sip an adult beverage, you may want to consider how it was created — and whether its maker is taking steps to address water pollution. According to an article in Pollution Online, two Tennessee distilleries — Jack Daniels and George Dickel — are under scrutiny for exceeding allowable limits on pollutants released…
Plastic bottle pollution expected to reach crisis level by 2021
January 24, 2018The good: “Most plastic bottles used for soft drinks and water are made from polyethylene terephthalate (Pet), which is highly recyclable,” states an article in The Guardian. The bad: Recycling efforts can’t keep pace. “Fewer than half of the bottles bought in 2016 were collected for recycling and just 7% of those collected were turned…
Don’t forget fire hydrants when clearing snow
December 16, 2017It’s not quite officially winter yet, but we’ve already had two snowfalls, and there’s likely more on the way before spring rolls around. Few people like clearing snow, but it’s a must to keep sidewalks and driveways safe and passable. While many of us focus just on clearing a space for our car and…
Cold weather is on the way — winterize now and protect those pipes!
December 7, 2017Temperatures are dropping and the official start to winter is about two weeks away — if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to winterize the house, protect those pipes and wrap that meter. Before the big chill hits, check your house to make sure your water meter and any water lines that are in…
U.S. creates first Global Water Strategy
November 26, 2017For the first time in history, the federal government has created a U.S. Global Water Strategy that aims to address “a growing global water crisis that may increase disease, undermine economic growth, foster insecurity and state failure, and generally reduce the capacity of countries to advance priorities that support U.S. national interests.” “Safe water and…
Talking turkey about water footprints
November 19, 2017It’s almost Thanksgiving, and as usual, we’ve got water on our mind. With all the cooking (and dishes to clean), we were wondering how much H20 is involved in the annual festival of food. Then we thought, “Why limit the question to what we use at home? Let’s find out just how much water it…