uriwaterquality

Water is one of the most essential elements of life, and it is important to use it wisely. Therefore, this post is dedicated to laying out some basic and relatively simple water conservation tips around the home.

Why conserve?

Water Conservation Saves Money - 
If you receive your water from a public supply, the cost of treating, pumping, and delivering water to your home increases, as does the cost of treating the wastewater that leaves your home. In most urban areas of the state, sewer bills are tied to the amount of water you use. If you have a private well and septic system, water conservation will help reduce costly repairs. You can also prolong the life of your septic system by reducing the amount of wastewater that goes into it.

Water Conservation Saves Energy
 – Water conservation saves energy and can help to reduce your monthly bills.

Water Conservation Reduces Pollution
 – Conservation reduces the amount of wastewater going to the sewage treatment plant. This may mean better treatment and cleaner water being discharged to our rivers and bays. If you have a septic system, conservation can prevent septic tank and drainfield overloads and help ensure that a septic system is treating wastewater properly.

Around the house you can:

• Use a water-efficient showerhead, which can save you up to 750 gallons of water a month.
• Fix any leaky or dripping faucets.
• Consider Energy Star or EPA WaterSense Label models when looking for new household appliances.  For more information, see: http://www.energystar.gov/
• Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving.
• Wash clothes or dishes only when the machines are full.
• Insulate your water pipes.
• Consider replacing older toilets with newer, low-flow ones.

Around the yard you can:

• Water lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to avoid evaporation.
• Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered, not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• Check for leaky outdoor faucets.
• Plant drought-resistant plants that require less water.

There are many great websites out there with comprehensive conservation tips and additional resources:

Water, Use It Wisely webpage

RI Water Resources Board Education page

Do you get your drinking water from a private well? Are you interested in learning more about your well?

The URI Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program, in cooperation with the Charlestown Conservation Commission, is hosting a private well workshop. This will take place at the Cross Mills Public Library in Charlestown, RI on May 3, 2012 from 7-9 pm. Topics covered at this workshop include:

• Regular testing
• Private well maintenance
• Good housekeeping practices for your well
• And more!

To register, call (401) 874-4918.

For more information, please visit our website.

Thinking about doing a fall cleanup around the house? How are you planning to dispose of any old cleaning products, rechargeable batteries, or nail polish remover?

These products, along with others like motor oil, pesticides, discarded paint cans, mothballs, flea collars, and some medicines are all considered household hazardous waste (HHW). The average home can have up to 100 pounds of household hazardous waste, and the proper disposal of these products is crucial. Household hazardous products that are improperly used, stored, or disposed can enter groundwater and surface water supplies, and can ultimately be harmful to your health.

In Rhode Island, you can dispose of household hazardous waste safely and properly at the Eco-Depot. These collections take place both at the on-site location in Johnston, as well as at various locations across the state. This program is offered by appointment only. To make an appointment and see the 2011 fall calendar, go to http://www.rirrc.org/resident/household-hazardous-waste/

When rainwater falls on pavement, it flows down the street and into a drain. Do you know where that drain leads the water away to? Despite what you may think, stormwater runoff going down drains does not go into any treatment facility, but typically flows into local water bodies. This is a problem because when it hits the pavement, water mixes with whatever is on the ground. That may include oil, grease, fertilizers and pesticides, bacteria from pet waste, sand from wintertime snow removal, debris, or other litter. Therefore, it’s not just rainwater going down those stormdrains, but polluted water!

But fear not, there is a way to minimize stormwater pollution! You can take action in many different ways:

Around the Home:

• Don’t pour out toxic chemicals down the drain – share with neighbors, buy only what you need for a job, or make an appointment to bring leftover household chemicals to the Eco-Depot (a free drop-off at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation’s facility at the Central Landfill in Johnston).
• Reduce the amount of hazardous household chemicals that you use – choose non-hazardous products when possible (i.e. lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda are good alternatives), or buy phosphate-free, biodegradable detergents and cleaners.
• Have you septic system inspected – this can keep your system functioning properly.

Around the Yard:

• Sweep spills back onto the lawn- if chemicals or yard debris get on the sidewalk or driveway, sweep them back onto the lawn to prevent them from flowing into the stormdrains.
• Don’t dump, wash, or rake anything into stormdrains or into the path of stormdrains.
• Water wisely – adjust sprinklers so that they don’t water paved surface, make sure automatic sprinklers aren’t programmed to come on in the rain, and don’t water in the heat of the day (water either early in the morning or in the evening to minimize water loss to evaporation).

For more information about stormwater runoff, or for many more simple steps that can be taken to keep stormwater clean, please visit Rhode Island Stormwater Solutions.

Having written about pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water in May, I now want to share information about the next national pharmaceutical take back day on October 29 from 10am until 2pm at locations across the country.

The US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled this event, which is an excellent opportunity to keep pharmaceuticals out of the nation’s waters. This will be the third event coordinated by the DEA for this purpose. Previously, over 309 tons of pills have been turned in at collection sites across the United States.

Since the EPA does not have any regulations for disposal of PPCPs for household use, they have suggestions for their proper disposal. They are:

1.  Take advantage of a take-back collection program.  If this is not possible,

2. Follow any specific disposal instructions printed on the label or accompanying patient information.

3.  Contact the RI Eco-Depot with questions about discarding unused pharmaceuticals (and whether or not these materials meet the definition of hazardous waste). http://www.rirrc.org/resident/household-hazardous-waste/

For more information on the National Take Back Initiative, please visit the DEA webpage at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. To find a take back location near you, enter your zip code here.

On November 14 and 15, the third biannual Private Well Water Symposium will be taking place in Southbury, CT. This event is an excellent opportunity for professionals working in the field of private well protection to discuss current research and policy programs, share educational approaches and materials, and interact with one another.

Over 100 conference participants will be attending this event, including educators, scientists, researchers, well water and laboratory professionals, and students from the Northeast States and Caribbean Islands. These attendees will be participating in such activities as pre-conference workshops, concurrent sessions, poster session, exhibits, and oral presentations on numerous topics, including:

• Impact of hydrofracturing on groundwater
• Testing private well water and interpreting results
• Public health and regulation of private wells
• Groundwater quality issues in New England
• Arsenic and manganese in drinking water

For more information on the symposium, or to register, please visit the website (http://www.usawaterquality.org/nesci/symposium2011/default.html), or contact Alyson McCann at alyson@uri.edu.

Last week I attended a conference about pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water.  I learned a lot about this emerging issue.

Studies have found PPCPs in water – both groundwater and surface waters.  These products have been found in very small amounts and more research is needed to fully understand their impact on the environment and human health.  As this research continues, there are some steps we can take now to properly dispose of  these leftover and unwanted chemicals.  Proper disposal will reduce our exposure to these chemicals and can help reduce the amount found in our waters, including those waters used as drinking water resources..

What are these products and where do they come from?

PPCPs include:

• Prescription and over-the counter therapeutic drugs
• Veterinary drugs
• Fragrances
• Cosmetics
• Sun-screen products
• Diagnostic agents
• Vitamins & supplements

Sources of PPCPs in the environment:

• Human activity
• Residues from pharmaceutical manufacturing (well defined and controlled)
• Residues from hospitals
• Illicit drugs
• Veterinary drug use, especially antibiotics and steroids
• Agribusiness

How to dispose of unused prescription drugs

Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so. For information on drugs that should be flushed visit the FDA’s website.

To dispose of prescription drugs not labeled to be flushed, you may be able to take advantage of community drug take‐back programs or other programs, such as household hazardous waste collection events, that collect drugs at a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government’s household trash and recycling service and ask if a drug take‐back program is available in your community.

If a drug take‐back or collection program is not available:

1. Take your prescription drugs out of their original containers.

2. Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.

3. Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub, or into a sealable bag.

4. Conceal or remove any personal information, including Rx number, on the empty containers by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape, or by scratching it off.

5. Place the sealed container with the mixture, and the empty drug containers, in the trash.

For more information:

U.S. EPA

U.S. Geological Survey