Is the environmental impact of plastic water bottles and recycling really all that bad? This chart tells the story.

Thanks to my brother Byron for sharing this!

• What: Make your own rain barrel to take home (and eat lunch courtesy of the Department of Watershed Management!)
• When: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: City of Atlanta, Water Works Lodge, 655 Green Street, Atlanta, GA 30318 (map it!)
• Cost: $40 donation to DWM’s Care & Conserve Program (so you can write it off on your taxes next year!)

For more information and to sign up, please contact Yolanda Boazman at 404.546.1262 or ydboazman@atlantaga.gov.

Now, he can have his lawn and eat it, too. Apparently, the so-called end to the drought that was declared several weeks ago was theoretical, because the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the governor officially lifted water restrictions yesterday and sent out a press release to that effect (see below). Now, we’re back to the old way of watering, which is as follows:

• Even numbered & unnumbered addresses can water Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• Odd numbered addresses can water Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays
• You can water at any time of day, but are discouraged to do so between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. since it is less effective

I’m no scientist, but if these previous attempts at conservation still didn’t stave off a drought, what makes us think that falling back on old habits is acceptable now? We’re just going to face this situation again. And for that reason, I hope that people continue to maintain an attitude of conservation and pursue alternate means of collecting water for our yards, such as rain water, gray water, air conditioner run-off, dehumidifier water, etc. If you’re reading this post, chances are you are interested in conserving water yourself, so please keep up the good work!

Did you know that out west, it’s illegal for residents in certain areas to collect their rainwater? Supposedly, all forms of precipitation are property of the government (reminds me a bit of being in the Army where nothing is actually yours, but instead all government-owned).

I’ve already asked across-the-street neighbor where his rain barrel is, since he must have one with all of the illegal watering he’d been doing, and he reassured me that I didn’t have anything to worry about, that he doesn’t water that much, so his water bills aren’t all that high. Last I checked, the issue wasn’t about how much we can each afford to pay for water… So, before I go over there and talk to him again about considering a rain water collection system for his home, I’m to do a little more research on whole house rain water collection techniques. So stay tuned for part II of my water conservation diatribe! In the meantime…

You can read the entirety of Governor Perdue’s press release below:

ATLANTA – Governor Perdue announced today that due to significant rainfall and improved water supplies the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued a non-drought schedule for outdoor water use for the first time since June 2006.

“Georgians have seen the most severe drought on record, and have proven their ability to conserve and manage our state’s most precious resource,” said Governor Perdue “We have become more educated about water conservation, and have taken significant steps towards ensuring a long term solution. I believe Georgians will continue to use our water resources wisely under this new outdoor watering schedule.”

Under a non-drought schedule, outdoor water use is allowed three days a week on assigned days using odd and even-numbered addresses. Odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses are allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Water use may occur at any time of the day on the assigned days, however landscape watering is discouraged between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m because of its limited effectiveness.

The change in the state’s drought response was announced at a meeting of the State Drought Response Committee. It is the first change since May 2008 when 55 north Georgia counties were under a level four drought response, which prohibits most types of outdoor water use. Middle Georgia counties were assigned a level two response, which limits water use to three days a week midnight to 10 a.m. South Georgia counties, including the coastal region, followed a level one drought response schedule, which allows watering three days a week midnight to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight.

Overall, north Georgians averaged monthly water savings of about 15 percent since November 2007. These reductions come from citizens and Georgia businesses implementing a variety of conservation measures, including waterSmart landscape principles and selecting more efficient indoor fixtures and devices. Georgia’s collective vision for water efficiency is presented in the recently released Water Conservation Implementation Plan (WCIP). Through the goals and practices identified in that plan we can expect to continue to progress toward greater long-term water efficiency. To get more information on waterSmart landscape principles and the Georgia WCIP, visit www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

“We have just lived through one of the worst droughts in Georgia history, and citizens should be applauded for the great job they have done conserving water,” said Carol A. Couch, EPD Director. “The decision to ease outdoor watering restrictions should not be seen as a license to waste water, but as a vote of confidence in Georgians ability to conserve and use water efficiently.”

Large water systems and local governments producing more than 100,000 gallons of water per day in the former level four drought response area must continue to file monthly water use reports. Should water supplies drop and drought conditions reappear, steps will be taken quickly to toughen water use schedules again.

Today, Governor Perdue also announced the use of a new drip irrigation system at the Governor’s Mansion. The Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) and its members partnered with the Governor and mansion staff to landscape the front portion of the Governor’s Mansion. During discussions regarding the efficiencies of drip irrigation, the idea arose to demonstrate the efficient irrigation and best management practices in the landscape. Governor Perdue has been a staunch supporter of the green industry during Georgia’s historic drought and has always been a proponent of water conservation. The mansion grounds proved the perfect stage to demonstrate that not only was it okay to plant again in Georgia but that sustainable landscape projects don’t have to use a lot of water.

“The Governor’s Mansion is now a showplace for water conservation,” said Governor Perdue. “The garden will be a lasting testament to the environmental benefits and beauty that a properly designed and efficient landscape can bring to all Georgians.”

The green industry in Georgia is a leading segment of agriculture. Prior to the drought, economic impact of the industry was estimated to be in excess of $8 billion annually with over 75,000 Georgians employed by nursery growers, landscape firms, garden centers, greenhouse operators, irrigation contractors and allied suppliers. GGIA volunteered materials, labor and their expertise to make the mansion project a full-blown success. Special attention was given to water efficiency and sustainability. Every aspect of the project served as a model for practices that would not only create a beautiful landscape to showcase Georgia grown products, but would do so while using minimal water resources.

Below please find summaries and downloads for four new energy-related white papers recently authored by the World Resources Institute, the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Southface. Dennis Creech, Southface’s Executive Director, is one of the authors. We hope you’ll find them interesting and thought-provoking.

Energy by the Numbers | Download document

Policymakers in the United States are facing significant energy challenges. Increasing demand for energy combined with concerns about energy security, fossil fuel price volatility, and the effects of global warming have many policymakers looking for ways to develop a cleaner, more effi cient, and secure energy economy. Meeting future energy demands requires solutions that address these fundamental challenges, yet are regionally appropriate.

Local Clean Power | Download document

Southeast states seeking solutions to current and future energy challenges have a major opportunity to use existing technology to harness local renewable energy resources. Our regional assessment, drawing on recent government and regional studies, suggests sufficient renewable energy resources to meet as much as 30 percent of the Southeast’s electric power needs within the next 15 years.

Power of Efficiency | Download document

Abundant efficiency opportunities in the Southeast can help meet regional energy needs. Efficiency investments can lead to economic and environmental benefits across several
sectors by reducing demand for electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuels. For the purposes of this brief we focus on efficiency’s role in meeting future electric power needs. With prompt policy action, energy efficiency improvements could reduce electricity use more than 10 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2025.

Water and Watts | Download document

The Southeast faces immense challenges in meeting the water and energy needs of a growing population. Efforts to ensure an adequate supply of one resource must recognize impacts on the other.

1. a sample of the fuzzy sediment that settled from my blackish-green water sampled (where the iron count was 31.25 ppm). 2. Zack installing a whole house water filter and soldering the copper pipes. 3. The newly installed filter next to a photo of the same filter one month later. They're supposed to last three months! So dirty! 4. The dirty filter compared with a brand new one.

As hard as I try to conserve water, it’s discouraging when the water I DO use comes out in an array of colors ranging from yellowish-brown to blackish-green. Is water the color of sludge even okay for my plants?? Nevermind my skin and insides…

Ever since I bought my house, at completely random times, my water would come out varying shades of murkiness. Operating under the belief that tax-paying citizens are generally entitled to clean water, I kept hounding DeKalb County’s Water and Sanitation Department as well as the Department of Watershed Management to come out and clean up my dirty water. They told me that the problem was most likely iron, which doesn’t make any sense since my pipes are copper all the way from the street to the house and then throughout the house. Nothing galvanized here. They flushed the water lines at the nearest fire hydrant, they replaced the water mains at the top of my yard, and came out to test a few times. Nothing worked nor made sense to them either.

When the Department of Watershed Management came out to test again a few months ago, I also gave them two samples of water that I had taken when it was particularly disgusting. When I got the results (and still no suggestion on appropriate action) on both their samples and my own, I couldn’t believe it and decided I was going to have to figure out a solution on my own.

If you’ve ever had your water tested, these were the results from the testing (ppm = parts per million):

• .03 ppm = the Environmental Protection Agency’s daily recommended dosage of iron
• .16 ppm = my cold water
• .77 ppm = my hot water
• 3 ppm = a yellowish-brown sample that I took
• 31.25 ppm = a greenish-black sample that I took

Holy crap! At its finest, my water had over 1000% of the EPA’s daily recommendation! The DWM informed me that while the EPA has its suggestion as to iron levels, “significant amounts of iron don’t actually pose any threat.” Needless to say, I started researching and asking around to see what other people had done to solve their dirty water problems. Someone had mentioned a whole house filter, so I checked it out.

The whole house water filter that I ended up getting cost less than $40 at Home Depot, plus another $11 or so for a pack of two filters. I tackled the job of installation with 3-4 hours on a Sunday afternoon; copper pipes, fittings, and shut-off valve; a small pipe cutter; solder; a blow-torch; and a wonderful boyfriend who knows how to use all of those things. I tried to do a good job of not getting in the way too much. If all of that sounds intimidating, then I would recommend having a professional plumber install the water filter for you.

As you can see by the photos to the right, the whole house water filter worked! For the first time in over two years, I had clean water!! I had set the alarm that comes with the filter to go off after three months, but after one month, my water pressure started dropping, indicating that it was time to change the filter because it was so clogged with sediment and rust. I still don’t know what exactly is causing my dirty water, but it’s happening before the water comes into the house. Perhaps there is a small crack in my pipe? Or a small bit of nail or something rusting? I don’t know, but for now, I’m happy to feel safe drinking my own water again, even if it does mean changing out the filter every month.

If you’ve had this same issue in DeKalb County, please let me know! Thanks!

Whether you’re looking for ways to cut down on your water bill, researching where water comes from for educational purposes, or how water conservation is a necessary lifestyle, the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense page is a great way to start! Our water use as a nation has far outpaced our growth and the majority of our states are predicting water shortages by 2013.

Here in Georgia, we’ve been feeling parched for a couple of years now as the drought continues, so water conservation has been at the front

of many of our minds for a while now. Here are a few quick facts from the EPA’s WaterSense program:

• Instead of spending an average of $500 on water each year (like most U.S. households), you could save almost $170 by replacing older appliances with water efficient ones.
• If we all used water efficient appliances, then our country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion a year!
• Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.
• If one out of every 100 American homes retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, we could save about 100 million kWh of electricity per year—avoiding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That is equivalent to removing nearly 15,000 automobiles from the road for one year!
• If 1 percent of American homes replaced their older, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models, the country would save more than 38 million kWh of electricity—enough to supply more than 43,000 households electricity for one month.
• Water is a natural cleanser and when level are depleted, pollutants can build up in our environment, putting ourselves and our natural resources at risk.

Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense page here for more information and a kids’ section to start teaching your kids about saving water now!