Tag: water
In California, brown is the new green
September 10, 2014We’ve written several times about the problems posed by watering a lawn as the heat increases and the summer wanes. In California, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is taking it a step further. They’ve just introduced a new campaign called “Brown is the New Green.” The goal, organizers say, is to persuade residents “to…
World Water Week 2014 begins Sunday
August 28, 2014As August ends and summer draws to a close, World Water Week 2014 kicks off in Stockholm, Sweden. Presented by the Stockholm International Water Institute since 1991, World Water Week serves as a platform for discussions about anything and everything that have an impact on our Earth’s water supply. The SIWS website says the annual…
Lake Meade levels paint a frightening picture
August 21, 2014We’ve experienced drought in the Lehigh Valley: crops have shriveled, lawns turned brown, sometimes wells even went dry. But the drought in the Southwest is like nothing we’ve seen here; at least not in our lifetimes. They’ve had 14 years of a dry so severe it’s left Lake Meade – the largest reservoir in the…
40 years of the Safe Drinking Water Act
August 10, 20142014 marks an important date for the water coming out of your tap: Four decades of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act was, quite literally, a watershed moment for public health and safety. It set federally mandated standards regarding the quality of…
When August heat looms, plant these blooms
July 31, 2014Are you looking to add some color to your flower gardens now that other blooms are starting to fade? It can be tough to find plants that not only bloom in the heat of August, but can tolerate what is often one of the driest months of the year. While they all will need regular…
When you water the garden, don’t forget the birds
July 19, 2014We write often about alternative ways to provide plenty of water for your garden plants. But what about the birds, which help with pollination, keep destructive insects at bay and spread seeds? A recent article from Rodale’s Organic Gardening made us realize that we all can do more to keep our feathered friends happy. One of the biggest…
Proper watering is key to healthy plants, happy environment
June 22, 2014The summer heat is about to hit. Proper watering techniques will ensure your gardens don’t take the brunt of the impact — and also conserve your liquid assets. The first step, according to Rodale’s Organic Gardening, is determining the garden’s soil type: sand, loam or clay, or some combination thereof. Loamy soils are usually the…
A novel idea: This book’s pages actually purify water
May 19, 2014Talk about a good book: a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Virginia, the charity Water is Life and The Drinkable Book project resulted in a book that not only provides information on clean water, but can actually be used to purify up to four years worth of clean water. You read that correctly. The…
For some mothers, clean water is the best gift
May 9, 2014This inspiring video celebrates the strength of three mothers who not only changed their families’ lives, but undoubtably saved them, all because they were brave enough to fight for clean water and better sanitation. This weekend, when you wish your mom a happy Mother’s Day, remember all the things that mothers around the world do…
Study: Cigarette contaminants showing up in water
April 7, 2014Here’s one more reason to quit smoking: A study shows that contaminants from cigarettes can show up in drinking water. According to Water Online and Environmental Science & Technology, residual chemicals from cigarettes were found in both treated water and wastewater. The chemicals – all carcinogens — can also be found in rivers, oceans, lakes, and…