Waterworks Blog
It’s time to face the nation’s water infrastructure needs
May 17, 2012Communities across the country are being confronted with a daunting challenge: replacing the aging, underground pipes that carry drinking water while also expanding service to meet the needs of a growing population. Making the task even more formidable is the price tag, which is predicted to be at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years. During…
Get your garden growing with companions
April 16, 2012If you’re growing a garden this year, give your vegetables some company. Companion planting — also called “intercropping” — is an age-old practice in which plant varieties are arranged in ways that are mutually beneficial. It’s a method of all-natural gardening that helps conserve water, control pests, and even fertilize the soil. A perfect example…
Surge in Lyme disease predicted for region
March 23, 2012Spring sprang early this year, but if you’re itching to work in the yard and garden, take some precautions so that ticks don’t have you itching — or worse — instead. A news release from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, a nonprofit environmental education group in upstate New York, states that the “northeastern U.S….
Electronics Recycling & Document Shredding in Lower Macungie
March 15, 2012The Lower Macungie Township Environmental Advisory Council is hosting an Electronics Recycling event this Saturday, March 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is NO CHARGE to drop off your used electronics for proper recycling. This collection will be held at the Lower Macungie Community Center, 3400 Brookside Road. The Community Center is on the…
A whole latte promise for old coffee grounds
March 2, 2012Talk about black gold: City College of New York scientists say they’ve discovered that carbonized coffee grounds can be a cost-effective tool for the elimination of sewer gas. It turns out that the caffeine in coffee also contains nitrogen, an ingredient that helps rev up its effectiveness when it’s used in filters that scrub toxins…
What’s your water footprint?
February 9, 2012You’ve probably heard of a “carbon footprint,” but how about a “water footprint?” That’s what waterfootprint.org wants to know. The Netherlands-based conservation site has created a way to calculate not just how much water comes out of your tap, but how much water has been used to raise the food you eat, produce the paper…
Let them tell you about the birds, and the bees, and the bats …
January 20, 2012Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 18. The Longswamp Township Environmental Advisory Council will host a backyard wildlife workshop at TEK Park, 9999 Hamilton Blvd, Breinigsville, on the first floor. The theme — Birds, Bees, and Bats Too! Why We Need Our Winged Friends — will be broken down into three sections:? Steven Saffier of the…
Age-old technology, modern results
January 3, 2012Have you ever noticed that when there’s an electrical failure, you usually still have water? That’s because our power source is one that has, quite literally, stood the test of time. Although there have been some improvements over the years, it works on the same principle used by ancient cultures such as the Romans, Egyptians,…
Polluted runoff has far-reaching consequences
December 22, 2011Over the past few months, we’ve written about buffer zones and source water protection in an attempt to outline the importance of keeping our water supply clean. A recent study by the University of Georgia, however, drives home the fact that the effects of polluted water reach far beyond local watersheds. Researchers there found that…
Get ready, winter’s on the way!
December 15, 2011Old Man Winter will be here in just a few days — along with frigid, pipe-bursting temperatures. Before the mercury drops any further, take some time to winterize your home. Start by examining water pipes. Insulating pipes — especially any that run along an outside wall or are outside the residence — can save money…