Mar
22
As a green plumber and water conservationist, we look at water in a slightly different way. Which is why we are happy celebrating World Water Day 2012 today.
Do you know how much water you actually consume every day? Do you know how you can change your diet and reduce your water footprint? That’s the heart of this years World Water Day campaign, Water and Food Security.
With more than 7 billion people on earth in need of food and water, and another 2 billion expected to join Earth by 2050, food and water is at the heart of survival. Statistics show that it takes about 1500 liters of water to produce 1 kg of wheat. Yet it takes 10 times more to produce 1 kg of beef. If we are going to feed all the people on earth, we need to look differently at the way we create food. And because all food requires water to produce it, it ultimately comes down to water conservation. Read more
Jan
26
Water is life. Without water, you cannot physically live. Without water, you cannot cook, bathe, clean your home, or wash the laundry.
Supplying enough water to meet the needs of billions of people is difficult. It is even more difficult when water is wasted. You can help by finding ways to reduce the amount of water in your own home.
The average American household wastes 40,000 gallons of water a year. Much of this waste is created by inefficient appliances and outdated fixtures. By simply replacing these appliances and fixtures with water-saving devices, you can stop half of this waste. By stopping the waste of water, you not only save money, but you also preserve water supplies for the future. Read more
Nov
23
What Fertilization Really Does To Your Lawn and Garden
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Everyone wants a lush, green lawn – one that is the envy of the neighborhood. Garden lovers want the biggest, most colorful fruits and vegetables on their tables. To achieve this, it takes time and effort and, in many cases, a little boost to Mother Nature.
For many people, green lawns and healthy gardens equate to fertilization. So they head to the store and buy several types of fertilizer – a different type depending on the season. Yet while the concept of fertilizer is good – its food and nourishment – the type you choose may do more harm then good.
Improper use of fertilizer can lead to two things:
- water contamination
- water dependent plants
While one improperly fertilized yard isn’t likely to damage the local water supply, hundreds of yards can cause significant damage. The runoff from an improperly fertilized yard carries the chemicals to area ponds, lakes and rivers, causing contamination. Read more
Nov
17
10 Things That Can Negatively Impact Your Water Quality
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Have you ever thought about the quality of water you drink every day? How about the water used for cooking at your local restaurant? Or the water you swim in down at the local pool or lake?
The quality of your water is important for a variety of reasons. If your local lake has fresh water and is kept clean, not only will it look nicer, it will attract more people, which leads to increased tourism.
Learning how to help improve the quality of your water provides you with a way to make your local water supply better. The following list contains ten things that negatively impact your water quality. See what you can do to cut down on these things.
1. Mowing too often – Too much mowing of your lawn leads to additional runoff. Too much runoff in the area rivers and streams causes erosion. Set the blades higher when you cut your lawn, which will help you reduce the amount of water it needs to prevent burning. By reducing the number of times you mow, you allow your lawn to be more natural. The extra leaves, twigs and grass absorb rainfall and reduce runoff.
2. Neglecting your septic tank – An improperly maintained septic tank leads to possible water contamination. Always keep your septic tank maintained. Read more
Sep
9
You’ve probably heard the term “carbon footprint”. And most likely you know a few ways to reduce your own footprint by reducing energy consumption and carbon emission.
But what about your “water footprint”? A water footprint is the amount of water needed to produce a particular product. For example, while a small cup of coffee may not seem like it uses much water, the truth is that it takes about 40 gallons of water to get that coffee into your hand.
Make sense? If not, think about it like this – the coffee has to be grown, as well as be processed in a plant. All of these processes require water usage. A products water footprint is simply the amount of water required to turn the raw product into the finished product in your home. Read more
Jun
10
Why Does Water Quality Change?
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Have you ever gone on vacation to another city, and found the drinking water to be terrible? It tastes bad, it smells funny, or leaves an aftertaste in your mouth. So you buy bottled water for the rest of your visit.
Why does the water quality change from city to city? We’re here in America, how can it be that different from place to place?
A wide variety of things have an impact on our drinking water. Not only can it change from state to state, but also right there within your own community. Here are 5 things that may have an impact. Read more
May
13
What Water Means To The World
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An interesting article came out in Fast Company magazine about the water usage throughout the world, and what it means to our future.
As a green plumber, I consistently post information on water conservation, and how consumers and businesses can make changes now to begin conserving on a small scale. But after reading articles like this, and seeing stats from big businesses, it’s easy to see why we need to begin thinking even bigger.
One of the biggest things we talk about here is moving to low flow toilets, as this is our biggest waster of water. The average American home flushes 5 times a day for a total of 18.5 gallons of water. That equates to 5.7 billion gallons of water each day used by U.S. toilets within the home.
That’s huge. But did you know that: Read more
Mar
22
World Water Day 2011
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Today is World Water Day, a day dedicated to making the world more aware of the importance freshwater has on our lives, and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The first World Water Day was held on March 22, 1993, and has been held every year since as a way to highlight specific problems and solutions to our water supply. The 2011 event, Water For Cities: Responding To The Urban Challenge, focuses on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. It aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organization, communities and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management.
Did you know:
- This is the first time in human history that most of the world’s population lives in cities – 3.3 billion people.
- 38 percent of the growth is represented by expanding slums, while the city populations are increasing faster than city infrastructure can adapt.
- Every second, the urban population grows by 2 people.
- 95 percent of the urban population growth in the coming decades will take place in the developing world.
- A lack of safe water and sanitation in cities leads to cholera, malaria and diarrhea.
This isn’t just someone else’s problem. We all share in the need for building towards a future in which freshwater is available to everyone.
Do your part today.
Oct
15
The Story Of Bottled Water
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Over a billion people here on earth do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. And yet here in America, we consume over 8.7 billion gallons of bottled water each year, believing our tap water to be unsafe. Yet is it?
The Story Of Bottled Water is a great place to start to learn more about our obsession with bottled water, and what we can do to change it. Studies show time and again that tap water in many cases is not only the safest choice, its also the tastiest choice as well.
The most obvious answer is to quit buying bottled water, invest in reusable water bottles, and fill up your bottles with tap water before you head out and are on the go. If you do choose a reusable water bottle, choose a good stainless steel bottle, or a plastic bottle that is BPA and phthalate-free.
If you are still worried about the water quality, invest in a home water filter. As a plumber, I’ve helped many people make choices on home water filters, from investing in a reverse osmosis system, to a simple filter attached to your kitchen faucet.
[Want to start conserving water today? Start with our water audit. We can show you the quickest way to start conserving water in your home and office. Quality 1st Plumbing - your green plumber.]
Oct
15
As the premier green plumbing company here in Colorado, we take our job seriously. We became a leader in green plumbing because we know and understand the importance of conservation, and taking care of our one scarce and valuable resource – water.
When Blog Action Day 2010 was announced this year, we knew we had to take part. Blog Action Day happens once per year on October 15th, and unites bloggers from all over the world to post on the same issue, taking aim at making a difference in our world. This year’s topic: water.
Almost a billion people here on earth do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Access to clean water isn’t just a human rights issue. It’s an issue that effects our environment, our sustainability, and ultimately impacts all of us.
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