Link to article:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/93A51723CE20B18525793D004E0347
Link to picture:
http://irrigationsystemmelbournefl.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Irrigation-System-Melbourne-FL.gif
Caption to picture: This is the current and typical irrigation system for farms and larger areas of land.
SUMMARY: As of today the EPA confirmed that they had created an irigation system that would allow any commercial or private residence to save about 410 million dollars a year on irigation and water bills. Shelia Frace the EPA director said, "As much as half of the water we use on our landscapes goes to waste..." Not only will this help save money but it will save water because upwards of 7 billion gallons of water are used for landscaping reasons. This system is WaterSense approved, and will be available for purchase by Spring 2012. It is so far the only system that is WaterSense approved and EPA approved.
OPNION: My opinion of this system is that it will save a lot of water for everyone and it will also help cut back on money spent. I also find it shocking how much water we waste on watering our lawn basically, I mean I can understand doing this when you have a garden that you can get food from. But when you are just watering grass it seems really wasteful. Finally I think that it is really good that the EPA is making it known that we are wasting water, like we learned Gandhi said, "There is enough water for human need, but not enough for human greed."
QUESTIONS:
1) Do you think that watering you lawn is wasteful or a requirement?
2) What would you do if we ran out of water because it had all been used?
3) About how many gallons of water does you family use on landscaping?
4) Are there any other WaterSense Appliances?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Article: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=62999
Picture: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=arsenic&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=942&bih=434&tbm=isch&tbnid=XUGLezCksZhWBM:&imgrefurl=http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/a_arsenic.html&docid=ijEo_CoomQAQ5M&imgurl=http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/IMAGES/fig2.jpg&w=360&h=287&ei=K2KwToDVH8nv0gGh_bS8AQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=218&sig=101343160841677549513&page=1&tbnh=91&tbnw=110&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0&tx=29&ty=48
Picture: This picture shows the consentration of Arsenic in the United States. (I have included the link to the picture because the words are hard to see.)
Summary: Arsenic is an element on the periodic table that is oderless and colorless. It is harmful to humans and animals if ingested. It comes from natural deposits in the earth or from agriculture and industries. Arsenic has many non-cancer effects such as, thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness. It also is known to cause cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has set a standard of .010 parts per million (ppm) (10 parts per billion; ppb) for drinking water. Many villages in Africa had water that contained high volumes of Arsenic and many were dying and no body knew why. Eventually scientist found the Arsenic in the water and had to find a way to get it out so people would stop dying of the symptoms listed above. In 2009 IRIN ( ) tested water from 360 wells and they were all contaminated with arsenic.
Opinion: I think that the amount of aresenic in the water in Africa is very alarming and unsettling. To think that all of those children are drinking water that they have no idea is actually killing them. Its so sad to think about. This article is directly related to the discussion we had in class. We also learned that ilters were sent out by an organization called Filters for Familes to filter out most of the arsenic so that fewer people would die of arsenic poisoning.
Questions:
1. Is there any other place in the world that has a worse Arsenic concentration level than Africa?
2. Was there ever a time in history that the U.S. had high levels of Arsenic?
3. What would you do if you found out htere was a high level of Arsenic in the water around your town?
Picture: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=arsenic&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=942&bih=434&tbm=isch&tbnid=XUGLezCksZhWBM:&imgrefurl=http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/a_arsenic.html&docid=ijEo_CoomQAQ5M&imgurl=http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/IMAGES/fig2.jpg&w=360&h=287&ei=K2KwToDVH8nv0gGh_bS8AQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=218&sig=101343160841677549513&page=1&tbnh=91&tbnw=110&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0&tx=29&ty=48
Picture: This picture shows the consentration of Arsenic in the United States. (I have included the link to the picture because the words are hard to see.)
Summary: Arsenic is an element on the periodic table that is oderless and colorless. It is harmful to humans and animals if ingested. It comes from natural deposits in the earth or from agriculture and industries. Arsenic has many non-cancer effects such as, thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness. It also is known to cause cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has set a standard of .010 parts per million (ppm) (10 parts per billion; ppb) for drinking water. Many villages in Africa had water that contained high volumes of Arsenic and many were dying and no body knew why. Eventually scientist found the Arsenic in the water and had to find a way to get it out so people would stop dying of the symptoms listed above. In 2009 IRIN ( ) tested water from 360 wells and they were all contaminated with arsenic.
Opinion: I think that the amount of aresenic in the water in Africa is very alarming and unsettling. To think that all of those children are drinking water that they have no idea is actually killing them. Its so sad to think about. This article is directly related to the discussion we had in class. We also learned that ilters were sent out by an organization called Filters for Familes to filter out most of the arsenic so that fewer people would die of arsenic poisoning.
Questions:
1. Is there any other place in the world that has a worse Arsenic concentration level than Africa?
2. Was there ever a time in history that the U.S. had high levels of Arsenic?
3. What would you do if you found out htere was a high level of Arsenic in the water around your town?
Friday, October 28, 2011
EPA Develops New Planning Approach to Improve Water Quality in U.S. Cities
Simal Ali
EPA Develops New Planning Approach to Improve Water Quality in U.S. Cities
Release Date: 10/28/2011
Contact Information: Stacy Kika, kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/68C9214FF1E0C157852579370055D62A
LINK TO PICTURE:http://www.adedgetechnologies.com/images/USGS%20County%20map.jpg
Description of picture: I found this picture to be really interesting because it is actually showing the arsenic concentration rates in America.
SUMMARY:In Washington today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a commitment, to begin using a planning process to help local governments deal with financial situations where they can identify opportunities to achieve clean water by controlling and managing releases of waste water and storm water runoff more efficiently and cost effectively. This new approach will address the most serious water quality issues and provide ways to fix them. As the sewer systems are getting older, it seems to be more obvious that they are not designed to handle heavy rain and snowfall in addition to handling the waste water from growing populations and local industries. They can overflow, releasing untreated sewage into waterways, onto city streets or into the basements of homes. As the runoff flows over the land, including paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, it carries along with it remains of anything broken down like chemicals, sediment and other pollutants. Overflows and storm water can carry a variety of harmful pollutants, including bacteria, metals and nutrients that threaten communities' water quality and can contribute to disease outbreaks, flooding, and fishing or swimming warnings.
OPINION: I think it’s a great idea that the EPA is trying to find a better way to protect water quality. Like the article said the EPA will work with local governments to review the Clean Water Act requirements, so that each township will look for opportunities to improve the cleanness of their water. This is a good way to sit down and really think out what should be done. This was relative to class because as we were learning about what contaminates in our water can do, we talked about have they can contribute to disease outbreaks, flooding, and fishing or swimming warnings, just like the article. I believe this article ties in with my personal life because I always hear news stories about contaminated water in Africa, and storm water runoffs and this article actually helped me understand what action is taken after these events.
QUESTIONS OF MY OWN:
1.Is all the drinking water in America safe?
2.What are the most common contaminates found in drinking water?
3.What are a few results that can take place, if the community’s water quality carry harmful contaminates?
EPA Develops New Planning Approach to Improve Water Quality in U.S. Cities
Release Date: 10/28/2011
Contact Information: Stacy Kika, kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/68C9214FF1E0C157852579370055D62A
LINK TO PICTURE:http://www.adedgetechnologies.com/images/USGS%20County%20map.jpg
Description of picture: I found this picture to be really interesting because it is actually showing the arsenic concentration rates in America.
SUMMARY:In Washington today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a commitment, to begin using a planning process to help local governments deal with financial situations where they can identify opportunities to achieve clean water by controlling and managing releases of waste water and storm water runoff more efficiently and cost effectively. This new approach will address the most serious water quality issues and provide ways to fix them. As the sewer systems are getting older, it seems to be more obvious that they are not designed to handle heavy rain and snowfall in addition to handling the waste water from growing populations and local industries. They can overflow, releasing untreated sewage into waterways, onto city streets or into the basements of homes. As the runoff flows over the land, including paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, it carries along with it remains of anything broken down like chemicals, sediment and other pollutants. Overflows and storm water can carry a variety of harmful pollutants, including bacteria, metals and nutrients that threaten communities' water quality and can contribute to disease outbreaks, flooding, and fishing or swimming warnings.
OPINION: I think it’s a great idea that the EPA is trying to find a better way to protect water quality. Like the article said the EPA will work with local governments to review the Clean Water Act requirements, so that each township will look for opportunities to improve the cleanness of their water. This is a good way to sit down and really think out what should be done. This was relative to class because as we were learning about what contaminates in our water can do, we talked about have they can contribute to disease outbreaks, flooding, and fishing or swimming warnings, just like the article. I believe this article ties in with my personal life because I always hear news stories about contaminated water in Africa, and storm water runoffs and this article actually helped me understand what action is taken after these events.
QUESTIONS OF MY OWN:
1.Is all the drinking water in America safe?
2.What are the most common contaminates found in drinking water?
3.What are a few results that can take place, if the community’s water quality carry harmful contaminates?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The EPA's Website for Water Violations
EPA Releases Searchable Website for Drinking Water Violations / Agency to host webinar to show how to use the public health data
Release date: 05/16/2011 By: Stacy Kika (kika.stacy@epa.gov)
Picture: This picture is of dirty drinking water. Personally, I think this is absolutely gross and disgusting but it is what some drinking water does look like. This is what some organizations are trying to prevent. They want clean water for everyone.
Summary: The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has launched a new page on their website dealing with the contaminants in our local water. It is called the Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) tool. This is something that the EPA is very excited about because it also goes along with President Obama's goal which is to let the people know what information the government collects. ECHO does that by telling us what the government finds out about our drinking water. The EPA feels as if this is information that should be shared because this is something that concerns our health. We need to know if the water we a re drinking is safe and will not damage our health. This new feature met the standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The website provides users with information about how clean their drinking water is, any serious violators, and the National Public Water Systems Compliance Report for 2009. The EPA's enforcement goal is to ensure that all of the communities have safe and clean water.
Opinion: I think that it is great that the EPA has decided to let us know how safe the water we drink is. In class today, we learned about different chemicals that could be found in our water that could harm us. These included substances such as Barium, Fluoride, Uranium, and more. We saw that there were many negative impacts if we consumed any of those substances. We need water, and we want to try our best to avoid any chemicals that could harm us. There were a couple that could kill children if it was consumed too much. By having this website, it warns us of any potential harmful substances in our water. Below is a picture taken of the website when you put in Horsham's zip code. When I scrolled down, all of the spaces in the column "Alleged Current Significant Violations" read "no". Our water in the Horsham area is clear and safe for consumption. After all, we do NEED water.
Picture #2: A screenshot of the EPA's ECHO site for Horsham, PA. As you can see, there are no violations.
Questions:
- How much consumption do you think it takes to be harmed by a contaminate in our drinking water?
- If you found out there was a contaminate in our water that could not be gotten rid of right away, what would you do? Why?
- How much water do you think is consumed per day in America?
- How much water do you consume per day? Do you think you should improve that number?
- Do you think that we, as Americans should be drinking more or less water? Or are we drinking a good amount? Why?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
World Energy Use to Increase 53% by 2035, Despite Facebook Changes
Basically, in the article World Energy Use to Increase 53% by 2035, the writer is saying that based on the statistics that we have gathered, the world will begin to use more and more energy as time goes on. China has become the highest energy consumer in recent years. It is even proven that if it continues to increase at the rate it is now, it will use 68% more than the US by 2035! Despite the aggravations with social networking sites, such as Facebook, the energy consumption will continue to be on the rise. As much as we encourage conservation of energy, it is hard to persuade whole nation into doing so. Countries like China and India are in need of more energy due to their rapid growth in population. In order to lessen the amount of energy consumed, we need to rely heavily on fossil fuels and other alternatives.
In my opinion, i believe that humans as a whole consume way too much energy than necessary. If we began to lessen it only a LITTLE bit each day, the amount of energy used would extremely decrease, future generations would not have to worry about it being a huge issue, and the world would be a healthier place.
q1- Does it surprise you that the US isn't leading in energy consumption? Why or Why not?
q2- What else can we use as alternative energy sources?
q3- Do you think the country would willingly use less energy daily?
q4- What age group do you think is most responsible for the consumption of energy? Will future generations just be worse than we are?
Below is a picture of China's energy sources. Notice how small the "other renewables" section is compared to coal and oil
Monday, September 26, 2011
Australia Saves Water
Australia's main crop irigation source has been in a drought stage for almost 5 years and this year they decided to take a stand against the unwelcome dryness. The Murray Darling Water Basin provides water to many of Australia's inland crops, meaning crops that are not grown near the coast and are sold within the country. Without this basin not only would this country's economy drop but so would its food source hence leading to a much larger issue known as population depletion. When natives started to realizes that they drought was getting to be little too extreme they created the AWAS. AWAS keeps track of the water's assests, liabilities, and its flow. This means that they are just watching to see where the water is going, what it is being used for, and how fast/slow the flow of the water is. This will help them to determine what will need to be done in order to keep the Murray Darling Water Basin up and running, which will also keep their economy up and running.
Opinion:
When I first read this I was kind of shocked that they let a drought go on for so long in such an important body of water. But as I read on I became very impressed that they are doing so much now to keep in alive. I think that it is very smart to create a group that watches the behavior of the water so that they will be able to figure what is going on more accurately than if that just took a shot at it.
Questions:
1) What precentage of Earth's water do you think we use for our own good (showers, pools, etc.)?
2) How many bodies of water do you think are used for agricultural reasons in America?
3) Do you think that this orginization was a wise decision for this country to make or not? Why?
www.TheEnvironmentSite.org/getting-a-grip-on-water-use/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tes_org+%28TheEnvironmentSite.org%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Opinion:
When I first read this I was kind of shocked that they let a drought go on for so long in such an important body of water. But as I read on I became very impressed that they are doing so much now to keep in alive. I think that it is very smart to create a group that watches the behavior of the water so that they will be able to figure what is going on more accurately than if that just took a shot at it.
Questions:
1) What precentage of Earth's water do you think we use for our own good (showers, pools, etc.)?
2) How many bodies of water do you think are used for agricultural reasons in America?
3) Do you think that this orginization was a wise decision for this country to make or not? Why?
www.TheEnvironmentSite.org/getting-a-grip-on-water-use/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tes_org+%28TheEnvironmentSite.org%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Bicycle Care Stations in Copenhagen
Article by: Michael Graham Richard
Picture: This picture is of one of the bicycle stations in Copenhagen. It is 100% authentic, because if you look closely, you can tell that the sign is not in English!
Summary: In Copenhagen, they are trying to help our environment by encouraging people to ride a bicycle instead of a car. Cars, as we know, release gas into the atmosphere which hurts our environment. What the people of Copenhagen are trying to demonstrate, is that bicycles not only help our environment, but it also helps get people healthier. The stations are connected to some gas stations. These stations help cyclists repair your bike, clean your bike, and check the tire pressure. The sign on the station says:
"Dear Cyclist,
You can care for your bicycle here. You can pump and wash your bicycle and, inside the shop, you're welcome to borrow a free bicycle care kit with oil, tire levers, allen keys, etc.
Enjoy.
Statoil"
Opinion: I think that this is a great idea! It is a great way to motivate people to ride their bicycles. Instead of sitting in a car in traffic, you could be helping the environment and getting active! I found it shocking when it said "even a giant oil company like Norway's Statoil is trying to be cyclist-friendly." That means a lot! Most people think of oil companies to be the WORST think for our environment, but the ones in Copenhagen are trying to help the environment. I think they should spread this to the rest of the world.
Questions:
- If we had bicycle stations in the Hatboro-Horsham area, would you ride your bike more?
- How often do you ride your bicycle?
- Can you think of any additional advantages for riding bicycles more often?
- What percentage of people in the USA do you think own bicycles?
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