Waterworks Blog
Scientists: Medications in water affecting fish behavior
August 5, 2013We’ve written before about the dangers of flushing medications down the toilet: A host of pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, anticonvulsants and hormones have been found in the drinking water supplies of millions of Americans. And while some of these findings are surely the result of unwanted medications that had been flushed, experts are also aware…
New lead mandate on tap for 2014
July 26, 2013Did you know that in 2014, a Federal law will require that all infrastructure coming in contact with drinking water must contain no more than 0.25% lead by weight? Often called the “lead free” mandate, it’s a significant modification of the “Safe Drinking Water Act,” (established in 1974 to protect public health through the regulation…
A history of nitrogen pollution
July 22, 2013A University of Washington study of 36 lakes has found evidence of nitrogen from human activities in more than 75 percent of them. Some of the lakes, which range from the U.S. Rocky Mountains to northern Europe, are “thousands of miles from the nearest city, industrial area or farm.” And the pollution dates back to before the…
During a heat wave, drinking water is more important than ever
July 17, 2013It’s scorching hot outside, and it doesn’t look like relief is coming soon. Heat waves such as this one are always accompanied by news stories of dehydration and heat stroke. One of the most important things you can do to avoid becoming a statistic is to DRINK MORE WATER. An article on National Geographic’s website…
Do you know your water?
July 13, 2013Water is water, right? Take two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, mix well, and you have a refreshing drink that’s also essential for life as we know it. Water comes in a wide variety of forms, however, and discerning the differences isn’t always easy. To help clear up any confusion, we’ve compiled this handy…
LCA project named finalist in global competition
July 5, 2013LCA was named a global finalist for a computer program created to help manage our local water systems. Our project was featured in the water, wastewater, and stormwater networks category — the most competitive segment of the Bentley 2012 Be Inspired Innovations in Infrastructure Conference competition, held in the Netherlands. It also is featured as an extraordinary…
Scientists create a caffeine-loving bacteria to clean water
June 26, 2013Talk about a caffeine addiction: Scientists have genetically modified a strain of E. coli bacteria to live only on the stuff that puts the jolt in your cup of joe. Their idea was to create bacteria that could be used in wastewater treatment. It turns out that our nation’s love of all things caffeinated is…
Swimming safety applies to all ages
June 21, 2013It’s the first day of summer, which means swimming season is here. At LCA, we make sure safety comes first — and you should, too. This story from CNN on water safety is a great place to start. While most safety tips focus on young children, this article points out the oft-overlooked dangers faced by pre-teens…
Give your garden some culture: Hugelkultur!
June 14, 2013As you know, at LCA we’re all about saving water and keeping fertilizer use to a minimum. So when we heard about a gardening technique that can mitigate the need for feeding and watering plants — in some cases, for the entire season — we knew we had to share. It’s called hugelkultur, and it’s…
Lake Erie algae blooms are here to stay unless we clean up our act
May 29, 2013Remember back in 2011 when Lake Erie turned into a stinky sea of green and brown? Well, scientists don’t expect it to turn back to “normal” any time soon. Turns out that fertilizer runoff, a lot of rain and snow, and unusually warm weather combined to create a perfect stew of algae aggravation. In a…