Waterworks Blog
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…
Turn over a new leaf: composting beats burning
November 28, 2011Fall: It’s the time of year when trees put on their coats of many colors; apples fill the bins at roadside stands, carved pumpkins decorate porches, and thick, cough-inducing smoke fills the air. It’s not hard to figure out which of these things doesn’t belong, but for some, burning leaves — despite regulations banning the…
Reducing global warming, one meal at a time
November 9, 2011We want your table scraps! A recent food-waste disposal study has found that using an in-sink garbage disposer can help reduce global warming. According to a write-up about the study, “a community of 30,000 households could avoid the equivalent of more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions if most of its food scraps went…
Safety tricks for a treat-filled Halloween
October 26, 2011During the Halloween season, the most frightening thing we can think of is a trick-or-treater getting hurt. So please, before your little pumpkins head out to scare up some candy, take some time to make sure they’ve got safety in the bag first. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a great collection of tips to get you…
Check for a toilet leak on the cheap
October 24, 2011Did you know that a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day? That’s an expensive problem! Fortunately, fixing it can cost as little as $8. To find out if a toilet is flushing your money down the drain, remove the lid and add a few drops of food coloring — dark colors work…