An often overlooked or forgotten task is replacing and disinfecting your water filter. Most water filter housings are made of plastic and plastic allows for slime buildups to occur rapidly. While most of these slimes are thought to be non-pathogenic they can provide a food supply and a location for other life forms to grow.
Be sure to flush the housing after your disinfecting solution has completed its job. You want to flush out any dislodged material, disinfection by products and the disinfectant.
Be aware of your water quality supplied to your home or business. During periods of disuse or water supply problems more frequent attention is required for uninterrupted protection.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Backflow Valve Controversy
Hillsborough County Florida's "mandated use of backflow preventer valves has been supported by a county ordinance dating back to 1997 and last revised in 2003. It calls for citing homeowners first with a 48-hour notice requiring they engage a certified plumber to prove no cross connection exists. Upon compliance, a second notice of violation requires property owners then to pay plumbers to install the valves within 21 days. And following installation, homeowners are ordered to pay for annual inspection of the devices at rates set by the plumbers. Water customers who do not comply can lose their potable water connection, be fined up to $500 and spend up to 60 days in jail".
Neeless to say the homeowners got mad real fast.
The argument: Brown also has suggested that the Hillsborough enforcement effort may be a violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees equal protections to all citizens under the law. “Forcing me to install a backflow preventer valve may protect my neighbor from contamination of public water,” Brown noted, “but if he is not forced also to install the valve, could my protection be compromised?”
My sentiments exactly. We all should have the same level of protection from backflow. This protection is not cheap.The costs are the backflow device, labor to install the BD, Testing the BD, and annual testing. The normal life for the Backflow device is five years. It is usually cheaper to replace the BD than to rebuild it.
Crossconnections are potentilly life threating therefore we all will be safer using them.
Neeless to say the homeowners got mad real fast.
The argument: Brown also has suggested that the Hillsborough enforcement effort may be a violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees equal protections to all citizens under the law. “Forcing me to install a backflow preventer valve may protect my neighbor from contamination of public water,” Brown noted, “but if he is not forced also to install the valve, could my protection be compromised?”
My sentiments exactly. We all should have the same level of protection from backflow. This protection is not cheap.The costs are the backflow device, labor to install the BD, Testing the BD, and annual testing. The normal life for the Backflow device is five years. It is usually cheaper to replace the BD than to rebuild it.
Crossconnections are potentilly life threating therefore we all will be safer using them.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
New Orleans Pipes Corroding by Seawater
New Orleans is losing 50 million gallons of water a day due to leaking corroded pipes. The city does not have the money to rebuild its infrastructure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has se aside $150 million for repairs to bring it back to pre Katrina levels.
Estimates range up to 5.7 billion dollars to improve the system.
Most of us won't experience a hurricane to destroy our water systems however, nature is relentless in its quest to rid this planet of humans and our technology. From the minute we built the first water systems their useful life was limited. We think that a patch here and there will suffice when the whole system should be replaced on a fixed timetable. Fixing and repairing water lines that are beyond there useful lives is just nonsense. Water is being contaminated by these leaks. Think about it the sewer lines are leaking too. Their close proximity guarantees a cross connection. Expect more water borne illnesses as a result of shortsighted planning.
Estimates range up to 5.7 billion dollars to improve the system.
Most of us won't experience a hurricane to destroy our water systems however, nature is relentless in its quest to rid this planet of humans and our technology. From the minute we built the first water systems their useful life was limited. We think that a patch here and there will suffice when the whole system should be replaced on a fixed timetable. Fixing and repairing water lines that are beyond there useful lives is just nonsense. Water is being contaminated by these leaks. Think about it the sewer lines are leaking too. Their close proximity guarantees a cross connection. Expect more water borne illnesses as a result of shortsighted planning.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Water Infrastructure
A few days a go a major bridge collapsed in Minnesota killing many people. Of course it was almost made worse by a bus load of school kids barely escaping with their lives. We as a nation must look at our infrastructure and make our representatives spend our tax dollars on improving it.
We pay billions a year on taxes to keep our highway system viable. However, most of the funds are diverted to pork barrel projects or to pay for a war that we may not win.
We are a great nation but we have our limitations. We can not afford to police the world and let our homeland go to pot. That bridge was about 40 years old. We have water pipes much older than that.
Folks, they do not last forever. All this deferred maintenance is catching up to us and it will be more expensive to pay for it and all the law suits that follow.
We must routinely replace aging water systems and highway systems. Waiting for the total breakdown is seriously flawed and unacceptable.
We pay billions a year on taxes to keep our highway system viable. However, most of the funds are diverted to pork barrel projects or to pay for a war that we may not win.
We are a great nation but we have our limitations. We can not afford to police the world and let our homeland go to pot. That bridge was about 40 years old. We have water pipes much older than that.
Folks, they do not last forever. All this deferred maintenance is catching up to us and it will be more expensive to pay for it and all the law suits that follow.
We must routinely replace aging water systems and highway systems. Waiting for the total breakdown is seriously flawed and unacceptable.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Clinton, others want to Grill EPA over TCE
Bills have been introduced in Congress that would require the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tighten its maximum contaminant level (MCL) drinking water standard for the degreasing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE).
The current MCL for TCE is 5 parts per billion (ppb). Benjamin Grumbles, EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Water, was quoted as saying that his agency will review the standard and new scientific information about TCE’s health risk to determine whether the standard should be adjusted as part of EPA’s regular six-year review process.
Everyday we find that the amounts of known toxins are in greater quantities than are healthy for us.
Unfortunately, for we consumers the pondering regulatory agencies and resistant to change water purveyors are leaving us out to suffer these chemicals horrible affects.
Contamination of our water and soil is poisoning our food chain too. Hazardous chemicals must be eliminated at their source. Dumping this poison into our waterways or our soil continues in spite of all the evidence.
The current MCL for TCE is 5 parts per billion (ppb). Benjamin Grumbles, EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Water, was quoted as saying that his agency will review the standard and new scientific information about TCE’s health risk to determine whether the standard should be adjusted as part of EPA’s regular six-year review process.
Everyday we find that the amounts of known toxins are in greater quantities than are healthy for us.
Unfortunately, for we consumers the pondering regulatory agencies and resistant to change water purveyors are leaving us out to suffer these chemicals horrible affects.
Contamination of our water and soil is poisoning our food chain too. Hazardous chemicals must be eliminated at their source. Dumping this poison into our waterways or our soil continues in spite of all the evidence.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Twenty-three Cases of Cryptosporidiosis
Just a warning that crypto is infecting folks in Dubugue County Indiana. Some victims (mostly children) were contaminated in public swimming pools.
Public pool employees have been told to enforce proper hygiene warnings to swimmers because Cryptosporidiosis cannot be treated with chlorine.
Other s were exposed to river water or contaminated wells.
Symptoms, including watery diarrhea, dehydration, cramps, fever and vomiting, can last one to two weeks. No treatment is available.
TIPS:
Anyone with diarrhea should stay out of the water until they are well, she said.
Don't swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
Shower before swimming.
Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
Change children's diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
Other s were exposed to river water or contaminated wells.
Symptoms, including watery diarrhea, dehydration, cramps, fever and vomiting, can last one to two weeks. No treatment is available.
TIPS:
Anyone with diarrhea should stay out of the water until they are well, she said.
Don't swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
Shower before swimming.
Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
Change children's diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
Twenty-three cases of Cryptosporidiosis
Just a warning that crypto is infecting folks in Dubugue County Indiana. Some victims (mostly children) were contaminated in public swimming pools.
Public pool employees have been told to enforce proper hygiene warnings to swimmers because Cryptosporidiosis cannot be treated with chlorine.
Other s were exposed to river water or contaminated wells.
Symptoms, including watery diarrhea, dehydration, cramps, fever and vomiting, can last one to two weeks. No treatment is available.
TIPS:
Anyone with diarrhea should stay out of the water until they are well, she said.
Don't swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
Shower before swimming.
Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
Change children's diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
Other s were exposed to river water or contaminated wells.
Symptoms, including watery diarrhea, dehydration, cramps, fever and vomiting, can last one to two weeks. No treatment is available.
TIPS:
Anyone with diarrhea should stay out of the water until they are well, she said.
Don't swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
Shower before swimming.
Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
Change children's diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
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