Norwalk - Wilton Tree Festival - Sat. May 21, 2011 11 AM - 3PM

Hope you can make it!  This looks really cool!

Norwalk-Wilton Tree Festival

Saturday, May 21 11 AM - 3PM

Cranbury Park - Grumman Avenue, Norwalk, CT

Free Admission and Refreshments

Door Prizes

Fun for the Entire Family - Rain or Shine

Tree Rope Climb

Face Painting

Scavenger Hunt

Seedling Giveaway

Door Prizes

Tree Pruning Demos

Tree Spade Replanting

Trees - to - Boards sawmilling

Tree Identification Contest

And More!

Sponsored by:  

Norwalk Tree Alliance

City of Norwalk

Town of Wilton

Wilton Garden Club

For more information: 203-854-3200

Norwalk Tree Alliance

Wilton Garden Club

Quick Stormwater Calculators

If you need to do some quick calculations and need to understand how stormwater is going to impact your project, you may want to check out these stormwater calculators.  


Predictive models and stormwater calculators on the EPA website


The UC Davis Stormulator


Green Values National Stormwater Calculator


Portland Bureau of Environmental Services

Of course you will want to have an engineer review your site and confirm your calculations.

The Cost of Nitrogen Pollution on the European Economy

A first ever report (ENA - European Nitrogen Assessment) was just released outlining the cost of nitrogen pollution on the European Union's Economy.  


The study carried out by 200 experts from 21 countries and 89 organizations estimates that nitrogen pollution costs Europe between USD 101 Billion - 461.7 Billion per year or USD 212.00 and USD 1,062.00 per person per annum.   These costs are more than double the income gained from using nitrogen fertilizers in European agriculture.


The report also details a number of key assessments of nitrogen pollution including: 
Nitrates cause toxic algal blooms and dead zones especially in the North, Adriatic and Baltic Seas and along the West Coast of France in Brittany.
AND
at least ten million people in Europe are potentially exposed to drinking water with nitrate levels above recommended levels.


The study also states that at least half the world's population is dependent on food that is grown with nitrogen based fertilizers but that the environmental costs of nitrogen pollution to Europe are very high and that the benefits of nitrogen abatement achieved by applying and using fertilizers more efficiently and reducing meat consumption outweigh the costs of other options.


Click here for the full report

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - it is time to think of roof runoff as an asset. Discounted Rainbarrel Program - sponsored by Aquarion, Connecticut

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - it is time to think of roof runoff as an asset.


I was just looking at the USGS seasonal drought predictions.  It is eye opening to look at the map of the US and notice the large red and yellow sections which anticipate drought conditions persisting and intensifying in a large part of the south - through June.  


We, in the Northeast, are very lucky to have had a lot of snow this winter and it seems right now we are in a good position with our water resources for the next several months.  However, we really do not know what is ahead.  Why not take this opportunity to maximize your water resources by investing in a rain barrel for your home?


Aquarion Water is sponsoring again this year a discount rainbarrel program.  The rain barrels are designed to hold 55 or 60 gallons of water, they attach directly to your down-spout and fill automatically when it rains.  They even come with brass attachments, a hose and a screen which prevents insects from making your rainbarrel their home.


Captured rain can be used for lawn watering and car washing or other outdoor chores.  It really is baffling to understand why one would need treated water for these activities.  In fact, I think my garden grows better with roof runoff!


Here is the link to Aquarion's rainbarrel program
You must order by May 31st for pick-up in Trumbull, CT on June 4th.

TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator approved by The MDC - Hartford, CT

Attention: 

Engineers, Contractors and Owners in

Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor, CT! 

The TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator has been approved by The MDC for use in projects located within the MDC's jurisdiction.  Here is a link to their confirmation letter.

TerreKleen will capture sediment, trash, debris, oils, it installs quickly and there is no scour or re-suspension of collected material.  Cleanout is easy and does not require confined space entry.  This is a significant short and long-term savings.

Let us know if we can assist with any design and sizing issues!

.

Improving Stormwater runoff at the Ausable River, Wilmington, NY (Part 2)

Wanted to post a few last pictures so you can see how the installation was completed:

Off the truck, the crane is moving the TerreKleen into position.

Easy does it!  TerreKleen is gently lowered into the hole

Most difficult part of installation complete

Primary chamber on right, inclined plates on left

TerreKleen Hydrodynamic Separator - installation video online!

It has been an exciting and busy time!  Tradeshow season has started and we have been on the road reaching out to engineers and contractors demonstrating the TerreKleen and showing them why the TerreKleen is the obvious hydrodynamic separator of choice for current and upcoming projects.

• Some like that the TerreKleen has the largest sedimentation surface area in the smallest area footprint
• Others like that confined space entry is not needed for clean out
• Still others concerned with better water quality appreciate all of the water is treated and that there is no scour or re-suspension of collected material from the TerreKleen.
• Still others like the effectiveness of stacked inclined plates (technology developed and still widely used after 80+ years in the drinking water industry) for particle separation
• Many seem to like that the TerreKleen is designed to meet the goals of the project 
• Others like that TerreKleen can be easily customized for any project
• Some are intent on the NJCAT/NJDEP certifications
• Others are impressed by the dedication to using and the enthusiasm for the TerreKleen by our past and current clients
• Finally, some like the ease of installation.  
•  
• We posted this video to show an installation of two TerreKleen Hydrodynamic Separator (water quality treatment vaults) at a large big box mall site in PA.  The two TerreKleens in this video handle a peak flow of 350 cfs and eliminated 5 other stormwater structures on this site saving the contractor close to $200,000.00

If you have a project that requires a storm water quality vault, give us a call and let us show you how the TerreKleen would work in your project.

I LOVE New York!!!

Last weekend I drove to Rochester, NY which was a trip that took about six hours to drive.  I don't usually travel that far, and I was unaware how beautiful the drive would be.  Of course I started my trip stuck in traffic and the traffic congestion continued until I got on to Route 17.  But it wasn't long before I was driving along and enjoying the countryside.  

It seemed that every mile or so I was on an overpass driving over a river, stream or brook and for the first time I saw fly fishing - guys up to their chests in the water looking for their next big catch.  

After I had been driving for about three hours, I saw a sign near Binghampton that said "Entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed".  I had no idea the watershed was that big!

As the drive continued, I saw lots of farms, hay, cattle and even some wild life.  Everything was getting ready for Spring. 

By the time I got to Syracuse, I was asking myself  "are we there yet?"  The trip started to get really long.   After I passed Syracuse, I learned that I was in the Finger Lakes Wine Country - really cool!   Just another hour or so when I saw the sign announcing "Erie Canal"    YES!  Getting closer!

I felt very lucky that I have a friend that lives in Rochester and I had a day to check out the city.  What a great city!  We went for a nice walk and actually did get a chance to check out the canal.  It is mostly used for pleasure, rather than cargo these days and I was surprised to see that the canal was in draw-down during the winter.  As we walked along the canal, we started hearing fish jumping in the canal.  At a point, I could swear we saw a carp breaching in the water.  (The water was REALLY shallow).  What a nice city!  One disturbing point, my friend told me that during the summer, the beaches on Lake Ontario are often closed due to pollution.  

Lots of great restaurants in Rochester and it was a very manageable city as it was easy to get around.  I am looking forward to my next trip to Rochester!

 

NOAA holding public listening sessions to guide new aquaculture policy

Thought this was really cool!  NOAA is looking for recommendations from the public to help develop a new national policy for sustainable aquaculture.  First date is in New England in Narragansett, RI coming up April 14th, 2010. 

Here is the link for the NOAA webpage.

NOAA will hold six listening sessions in April and May to hear recommendations from the public that will help the agency develop a new national policy for sustainable marine aquaculture. Marine aquaculture is the cultivation of marine organisms, such as shellfish and finfish, for food and other products.

Dates for the listening sessions with NOAA officials are as follows:

• April 14 in Narragansett, Rhode Island
• Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
• Location: University of Rhode Island Narragansett Bay Campus, Coastal Institute Building, Hazard Room, 1st floor
• Address: 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882
• April 19 in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
• Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District Building
• Address: 7400 Leake Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
• Note: You must present a U.S. government-issued photo ID to enter this building.

• April 22 in Seattle, Washington
• Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
• Location: Seattle Aquarium
• Address: 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101

• April 27 in Honolulu, Hawaii
• Time: 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Ala Moana Hotel
• Address: 410 Atkinson Drive Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

• April 29 in Menlo Park, California
• Time: 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
• Location: U.S. Geological Survey Visitors Center Conference Room
• Address: 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, California 94025
• Note: You must present a U.S. government-issued photo ID to enter this building.

• May 6 a national call-in hosted by NOAA
• Time: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. (Eastern)
• Note: A toll-free call-in number will be posted closer to the date.

Beginning April 6, the agency also will accept public comment through the Web. Instructions for submitting comments electronically will be posted on this website.

After the listening sessions, NOAA will analyze the public input and develop a draft national policy for review and public comment. Once that process is complete, the agency will issue the new NOAA aquaculture policy. NOAA’s goal is to issue a new national policy that will enable sustainable marine aquaculture within the context of the agency’s multiple ocean stewardship missions and broader social and economic goals.

Stormwater - News of the weird

Just read this on slashdot - stormwater news of the weird - here is the link for Slashdot

"The LA Times reports that Orange County officials are locked in a legal battle with a couple accused of violating city ordinances for replacing the grass on their lawn with wood chips and drought-tolerant plants, reducing their water usage from 299,221 gallons in 2007 to 58,348 gallons in 2009. The dispute began two years ago, when Quan and Angelina Ha tore out the grass in their front yard. In drought-plagued Southern California, the couple said, the lush grass had been soaking up tens of thousands of gallons of water — and hundreds of dollars — each year. 'We've got a newborn, so we want to start worrying about her future,' said Quan Ha, an information technology manager for Kelley Blue Book. But city officials told the Has they were violating several city laws that require that 40% of residential yards to be landscaped predominantly with live plants. Last summer, the couple tried to appease the city by building a fence around the yard and planting drought-tolerant greenery — lavender, rosemary, horsetail, and pittosporum, among others. But according to the city, their landscaping still did not comply with city standards. At the end of January, the Has received a letter saying they had been charged with a misdemeanor violation and must appear in court. The couple could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for their grass-free, eco-friendly landscaping scheme. 'It's just funny that we pay our taxes to the city and the city is now prosecuting us with our own money,' says Quan Ha."

Mysteries of the Great Lakes - IMAX movie at American Museum of Natural History

Yesterday I went to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and saw the IMAX movie "Mysteries of the Great Lakes".   Honestly, I had not spent a lot of time thinking about the Great Lakes but because of my interest in water, it was eye opening in many ways - not only seeing how big the Great Lakes are , but to be made aware of their natural beauty.  In focusing on water, it was most interesting to me to learn that The Great Lakes contain 20% of the world's fresh water supply and that it takes a drop of water 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the edge of Lake Ontario.  Looking at the map was helpful.  

I was also most interested in the focus on wildlife that survives on life in the Great Lakes - including Eagles, Caribou and Sturgeon.  The segments on Sturgeon were amazing as they had been tracking this species' population for the past 20 years and had been tracking/studying a specific female sturgeon for the past 20 years.  Amazingly, the one scientist could identify her simply from the markings on her head.  At her most recent capture/release event her age was 120 years old!  Through their research they learned how to look at the scales or fins (can't remember which one) and, like reading rings in a tree trunk, scientists learned how to read the environmental conditions of the Great Lakes.  

Sturgeon of the Great Lakes had thrived by the millions for millions of years but had significantly declined in numbers due to over-fishing and pollution.   During the film, several pictures were shown from long ago ( maybe 100 years ago?) where the subjects of the pictures were proud of their businesses and lives and could display their most recent abundant catch of sturgeon.  From a 2010 perspective, it was hard to get beyond the waste and destruction, the man-hours and work dedicated to improving the environmental conditions of the Great Lakes and  reviving the sturgeon population.   It seems there are still 42 "hot spots" - where lake quality is highly degraded due to pollution coming from industrial waste and waste water treatment plants.  Hopefully clean-up in the lake can continue and we can learn to make better environmental choices.

This was a great movie and I encourage you all to see it.  Here are the showtimes for the IMAX showings at the New York Museum of Natural History.  You might want to check out some of the exhibits including the  Silk Road Exhibit.  One word of advice for the Silk Road, enjoy the journey, but don't get caught up in stamping your "passport".

Cigarette Butt Litter

After reading the Keep America Beautiful report on litter and thinking more about the toll it takes on our economy and our communities, I have been more focused and more observant about litter. We followed-up on Friday with a meeting with the Keep America Beautiful folks and spoke further about their programs and one of the issues that was specifically mentioned was cigarette butt litter. While I have seen more than my share of cigarette butts out in the field, I was unaware that 1 in 5 pieces of litter is actually a cigarette butt.

After our meeting, I did a little more research and looking around and found an LA Times article "Fuming Over Cigarette Butt Litter" (written by David Lazarus, November 30, 2008) citing that the City of Los Angeles picks up 600,000 cigarette butts a month and more than 7 million butts per year.

Virginia Beach exceeded its budget to clean storm drains by $3,000,000.00 and a significant portion of this amount was due to cigarette butts.

Once in the environment, it is important to remember that cigarette butts don't disappear. 95% of all butts are made from cellulose acetate that don't break down. Butts easily travel through storm drains and end up in local rivers, lakes and streams. Ultimately, they can be mistaken as food and pose a threat to marine and wildlife.

Cigarette butts are a significant source of pollution. While education and access to proper ashtrays/disposal is key, cigarette butt littering is rampant. While we have never been approached specifically to target cigarette butts, this is one of the types of trash that we can prevent from entering the stormwater systems.

For more information about cigarette litter, click here
For a look at how we can help you improve your storm water quality, click here

Trash control - an $11.5 billion dollar problem and a major contaminant for stormwater

Stormwater contaminants are, for the most part, usually the same. The issues that we typically see in our business center on: heavy metals, hydrocarbons, phosphorous, and sediment loading. Another MAJOR issue our clients have is TRASH CONTROL.

It might not be an issue that you have thought about, but I spent some time this afternoon looking to see if anyone had calculated the amount of trash and debris that finds its way into Long Island Sound. While I didn't find information specifically targeted for Long Island Sound, I did find a nation-wide study funded by the non-profit organization, Keep America Beautiful, detailing the volume of trash/litter found in the US, the toll it takes on the American economy and behaviors that contribute to littering. The results of their survey were released on December 3, 2009.

Some shocking key findings from their report:

Litter conservatively costs our nation $11.5 billion per year. These are direct costs, including cleanup and prevention programs, and are carried largely by businesses and taxpayers. Not included in this figure are significant indirect costs:

• Decreased property values. 93% of homeowners, 55% of real estate agents and 90% of property appraisers surveyed stated that a littered neighborhood would decrease their assessment of a home’s value
• "Opportunity Costs” such as decreased commerce and tourism in blighted areas
• Health effects and related costs of littered environments

The study concludes that at least 51.2 billion pieces of litter are left on roadways in the U.S.; an average of 6,729 pieces of litter per mile.

Cigarette butts comprise 38% of all items littered on the highways, streets, parks and playgrounds (in urban, suburban and rural areas of America).

The Keep America Beautiful Report detailed littering behaviors, identified factors that encouraged littering and made suggestions on how to reduce litter. I think it is an important report and encourage you to read their findings in full. For executive summary and full report, click here.

More on trash control tomorrow.

Easy retrofit solution for stormwater systems and trash control

One of our municipal clients here in CT contacted us one day because he was often called by a local resident with complaints about trash, bottles, cans and other debris which had been thrown out car windows and would travel through the storm water system and end up in this resident's wetlands/backyard. The area is more of a suburban almost rural area, so you can imagine that all of this trash was even more visible and a real eyesore to anyone driving by. The resident was just plain tired of cleaning up after everyone else and the town needed a long term solution, extremely low maintenance solution to correct the problem. What could we suggest?

After a quick survey of the area, we saw the offending storm structure and realized the best alternative in this case would be our self-cleaning, stainless steel, wedgewire screen and orifice place.

If you are not familiar with wedgewire screens, they are very cool and have a wide range of applications - not only as trash and debris screens at hydro plants around the world, but also as fish exclusion in ponds/streams and another common use is in detention ponds to prevent trash/debris and small animals from getting into the system.

In this case, sediment, trash and debris would be prevented from entering the system, yet water could still flow through the system at high flow rates. It was an easy fix for this problem and the complaints stopped!

The top picture shows the screen after the first major rain storm. You can see the leaves stuck to the screen. When the system dries out, the leaves will fall off. The system is constantly working.

The picture of the red grate is the top of the structure and if the water gets high enough, it will flow into the system this way.

Our screens are highly engineered and designed for site specific applications.

Hold the Salt, Pass the Brine -upcoming meeting on de-icing

Being involved in stormwater, we attend a lot of environmental meetings. There was an excellent meeting we attended in 2006 on brine systems. We got an invitation to attend a follow-up meeting on this topic and it is coming up on Friday, December 4th. These meetings are sponsored by Westchester County Parks - their Conversations on Conservation series. Meetings are always educational and instructive. Here are the details. I hope you can make it.

Hold the Salt, Pass the Brine
Environmentally Friendly Methods for De-icing our Roads
Friday, December 4th, 2009
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
8:00 AM registration
Location: Greenburgh Public Library
300 Tarrytown Road
Elmsford, NY

Topics covered:
Benefits of De-icing with Brine
Michael Simone, Supt Highways, Town of Carmel, NY

Environmental Impacts of traditional vs. Modern De-icing
Jim Reed, Reed Environmental Enterprises Inc.

Impacts of Road Salt on the Environment and Organisms
Dr. Stuart Findlay, Aquatic Ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies

Joseph "Bud" Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, White Plains, NY will be moderating

RSVP by December 2nd: 914-864-7047

We wrote an article on the last meeting and posted it on our website. Click here
to read about the last meeting. Hope to see you there!

10 compelling reasons to consider TerreKlean Hydrodynamic Separator / Water Quality Treatment Vault

We are scheduled to participate in numerous stormwater trade shows coming up in October and are excited to be showcasing one of the newest products in our line, the TerreKlean Hydrodynamic Separator / Water Quality Treatment Vault.

The summer was spent meeting with and demonstrating this system to local civil engineering firms and these is a lot about this system that appeals to our clients:

1. NJCAT and NYS DEC approved (and more)
2. HS-25 load rated
3. Easy installation
4. Easy clean out and no confined space entry needed
5. Acts as oil/water separator
6. Can be used in line
7. Lines can tie in at the 6, 9 or 12 o'clock position
8. No external bypass - all water is treated
9. Can be used as the last catch basin in your line
10. No scour or re-suspension of collected material
    

Inclined plate technology maximizes the sedimentation surface area
in a minimal footprint.

We also have the ability to do some customization to meet your project's needs.

And that is not all! So, if you are looking to improve water quality with a
water quality treatment vault / hydrodynamic separator,
contact us, this may be an ideal option for your project.

Homes pollute 50% more than previously thought

This was an interesting article. Findings of a recent study investigating water pollution generated at home were published today on Eurekalert.org. Results of the study show pollution levels to be at least 50% higher than previously thought. Here is a link to the actual article, and reprinted below:


Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society

Homes pollute: Linked to 50 percent more water pollution than previously believed

		IMAGE: Polluted runoff originates from several sources, and has been linked to fish kills and a loss of aquatic species diversity. A new study suggests current runoff models may underestimate pollution... Click here for more information.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2009 — They say there's no place like home. But scientists are reporting some unsettling news about homes in the residential areas of California. The typical house there — and probably elsewhere in the country — is an alarming and probably underestimated source of water pollution, according to a new study reported today at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

In the study, Lorence Oki, Darren Haver and colleagues explain that runoff results from rainfall and watering of lawns and gardens, which winds up in municipal storm drains. The runoff washes fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants into storm drains, and they eventually appear in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.

"Results from our sampling and monitoring study revealed high detection frequencies of pollutants such as pesticides and pathogen indicators at all sites," Oki says of their study of eight residential areas in Sacramento and Orange Counties in California.

Preliminary results of the study suggest that current models may underestimate the amount of pollution contributed by homes by up to 50 percent. That's because past estimates focused on rain-based runoff during the wet season. "Use of pesticides, however, increases noticeably during the dry season due to gardening, and our data contains greater resolution than previous studies," Oki says.

Pollutants detected in outdoor runoff included ant-control pesticide products. Previous surveys have shown that the majority of pesticides purchased by homeowners are used to control ants. To encourage pollutant reduction, the researchers initiated community outreach programs centered on improving both irrigation control and pest management.

The case for saving water for a sustainable future

Yesterday I attended a presentation by Mary Ann Dickinson from the Alliance for Water Efficiency. The topic was "How to save water for the future" and her presentation touched on 10 trends in water usage. The presentation made me want to read more about water resources and conservation. Based on the fact that many states are already experiencing drought and that 40 out of 50 our states anticipate a water shortage by 2013, a "no-brainer" approach to improving this situation is striving for water use efficiency.

Some scary numbers:
The EPA estimates that our water infrastructure will require 533 Billion dollars to maintain and upgrade by the year 2020. The recent stimulus package (787 Billion) only budgets 6 Billion for water infrastructure and 2 Billion approved for drinking water. Yikes!

If one considers that the population almost doubled from 1950 to 2000 and the current population is expected to grow by 20% by 2030 (as per census projections) it is easy to see increased stresses on the water infrastructure.

So what can we do?

Promote awareness about water resources:
First, most Americans are unaware that the country has water shortage issues or considers how to be more water conscious. The average water use for an American is about 100 gallons of water per day per person. By comparison, the average Australian's water usage is 36 gallons per day per person. (Australia has been in drought conditions for the past 12 years and their education about drought has changed their attitude and behavior about conserving water and has resulted in a reduced per capita consumption of water.)

Save money and make an immediate impact on water resources by implementing a conservation program:
Implementing a conservation program is much more cost effective than upgrading and building new infrastructure. New infrastructure is built to meet peak demand which may only be needed 5 or 6 days per year. An easier way to make a bigger impact in a shorter period of time is by implementing a conservation plan.

Educate consumers about water efficient appliances, fixtures and water saving methods:
WaterSense is a new program sponsored by the EPA and promotes high efficiency water appliances such as toilets, shower heads, lawn irrigation equipment. These appliances are proven to have a 20% increased efficiency.

Monitor unmanaged residential outdoor water usage. This is a big one because lawn watering accounts for about 30% of residential water usage. EPA keeps a list of WaterSense partners by state that are certified in water-efficient irrigation technology and techniques. Did you know? Watering your lawn 7 times a week for 30 minutes each time will use 113 gallons of water per week or 452 gallons of water per month. Calculate your water usage here.

Charge more for water: Water is too cheap. Some communities such as Marin County, California (a community that has been in and anticipates long term drought) is imposing a multi-tiered pricing based on water usage. (Here is the rate chart) Starting on May 5, 2009, water used for basic living will be charged at a small increase, while water used for discretionary purposes will be subject to a larger increase. The funds raised by the increase will be used to update the delivery system and improve system efficiencies.

Native Plants are the way to go:
Consider planting plants that are native to your geographical area. They are well suited to grow in your area and most times will require less water. Here is a link to a chart of plants native to Westchester County, NY. (I personally think this is the coolest brochure - it even details the wildlife value for each native plant!)

The Domino effect: Use less water, reduce energy costs and reduce carbon foot print.
It is important to note that Water usage and Energy consumption are related. By maximizing residential and commercial usage efficiency, we reduce water usage, which reduces energy used to treat water, which in turn reduces energy bills, which ultimately reduces our carbon footprint. Also important to consider is timing water treatment to take advantage of cheaper off-peak energy costs.

Other methods to reduce water usage include: promoting green building practices, harvesting rain water and implementing gray water systems.

Since more severe water shortages are anticipated across the country in the near future, it is important that we promote and implement water saving techniques and technologies now. Most of the above opportunities are low cost to implement and will have an immediate and measurable impact on our water resources.