Bacterial Counts & Public Health

In water quality science we can count total coliform bacteria in order to determine the concentration of bacteria pre and post water treatment.  We can also differentiate the types of bacteria there are.  There are 2 main branches of bacteria: autotrophs & heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are bacteria like deadly E. Coli that are harmful for people if consumed.

So by differentiating type of the bacteria and the concentration of bacteria we can theorize what is causing poor water quality and what would be the best treatment to apply to the impaired source of water.  These tools are important because without water that is free from bacterial contamination developers and water suppliers cannot deliver water to the public.  The Total Coliform Rule is one such regulation that dictates drinking water bacterial concentration and steps to prevent bacterial outbreaks. I love when science and the regulatory world work together to protect the public the most.

Conservation vs. New Rule Enforcement (330 Million People vs. 500)

Everyday the U.S. uses 450 Billion gallons of water. Only 6% or about 27 Billion gallons of water is used in the public water supply (a fact that I was very suprised to learn).  Of that 27 Billion gallons of water only about 1% of that is actually consummed.  The other 99% is used in washing machines, toilet flushing, & down the drain.  Even if every customer in the nation cut their water usage by half water usage would be around 14 Billion gallons of water per day. This at face value would be a big victory for domestic water use. But is that really possible to coerce all residents to reduce their consumption by half?? That means over 330 million people changing their habits. To me it doesn’t seem possible.

In steps the EPA & the Clean Water Act (CWA)….On April 19, 2013 the EPA announced a proposal to reduce toxic pollutants discharged into water ways by power plants.  Those toxic pollutants include mercury, selenium, arsenic, & lead.  The proposed rule would align the CWA with a related rule for the control of coal combustion residuals rule (created by the 2010 Resource Conservation & Recovery Act).  The aligned rules are aimed at the ~500 steam electric power plants that generate their power from fossil fuels (coal, oil & natural gas).  Power plants that produce less than 50 megawatts of electricity are exempt from the rule.

So what does toxic reductions have to do with conservation? The EPA estimates that by reducing the waste streams of these plants (I.e.fly ash handling systems, air pollution control wastes, & bottom ash) there is a water savings of approximately 50 Billion to 100 Billion gallons per year.

So even through the gains from the public conservation efforts can help the water industry conserve, it seems that a lot of water can be saved by implementing toxic reducing waste by just 500 plants each year.

Happy Earth Day!!

Today marks the annual celebration of the Earth made famous by Senator Nelson in the early 70s.  The Earth is a beautiful place and I am always looking for ways to reduce our impact.  For example we are lookling at new roofing materials that are coated with a photochemical that negates NOx emissions by converting NOx to calcium nitrate. According to the Boral company website, the installation of their smog eating tiles negates 1 car driving 10, 800 miles over the course of 1 year.  As we upgrade and replace worn out items at our home I hope we can choose the products with the lowest environmental impact. 

If there is an environmental product that you use to reduce your impact, please share as I would love to learn more!

Ocean Protection Zones & Fishing

This week a California judge ruled in the favor of environmental groups in protecting Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) along the California coast.  The case involved a northern Californian fishing grouping suing to allow them to fish previously sanctioned off.  ASBS are significant because they allow for a protected zone where pelagic species can rear their young.  The ability for some species to even make it past a juvenile stage helps propagate lots more fish up the food chain. 

Even though the fishermen are upset about the fishing now, 5 years from now they will be happy the ASBS will be able to provide food for their operstions.

A Tale of Two Corals

There has been a lot of news about the decline of the great barrier reefs and the legislative actions we need to take to combat global carbon dioxide levels.  In fact this morning I was listening to NPR about a research lab located on an island out side of the Great Barrier Reef.  The researchers had a control tank and a tank that had increased levels of carbon dioxide and temperature.  Of course the non-control tank was not doing so well.  The lead researcher was disheartened about the future of the reefs.

Then this afternoon in a conversation I learned that deep water reefs are starting to expand.  These reefs are located 180 feet under the surface of the ocean. At these depths only blue light makes it to corals who grow parallel to the ocean’s surface.  Species like these banana corals have learned to survive and thrive. Threats to these corals include dredging, transatlantic communication lines, and shifting tectonics. 

As alarming as the global climate predictions are, the earth as we know it can change instantly. However, one thing we can predict is the earth and it’s plants, animals, & humans will adapt legislation or not.

California Mussels & Water Quality Regulations

Mytilus californianus or the California mussel is the keystone species pictured below:

California Mussel

Wikipedia – California Mussel

The muscle can be used to determine if there are toxic substance in an estuarine environment.  The mussel has been transplanted in areas along the California coast where dischargers could be expelling toxic substances.  The mussel will die if trace metals or synthetic organic chemicals exceed limits tolerable to the species. Mussels were chosen as an indicator organism for their ability to concentrate the toxics above ambient sea water levels (becuase their tissues will absorb the toxics & not release then), ability to provide a composite sample (time averaged), and the fact that they are stationary allows scientists to ensure the impacted water is coming from a specific source.

The mussels are extracted in areas of Special Biological Significance and tested for the SOCs and trace metals applicable to the monitoring requirements of the Mussel Watch Program (MWP).  The results of the MWP are published annually and have so since 1978. 

The MWP is one of three programs in the state of California started to adhere to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Section 13163) to establish a coordinated Primary Water Quality Monitoring Network.  The results of the MWP along with the Toxic Substance Monitoring and Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Programs are compiled into reports to satisfy requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act (sections 104, 106, 208, 301, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 314, & 402). San Diego Region Basin Plan

Scientific Review Based on Regulations

I have been taking a class on air quality permitting (something I have almost no background in). In the class we have learned that the EPA establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The review of the NAAQS were established in the 1990 Amendment to the Clean Air Act. The rules established in the legislation specify that the EPA must review the NAAQS every 5 years to determine if the current limits are adequately protecting public health.  A similar provision exists in the 1996 Ammendment to the Clean Water Act for the review of the standards for assessing water quality. It is interesting that the contaminant review process is driven from legislation in both environmental arenas.

The Importance of Environmental Monitoring

This last week the New York Times reported that it took us 25 years to eliminate 1600 years worth of ice deposition in South America: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/world/americas/1600-years-of-ice-in-perus-andes-melted-in-25-years-scientists-say.xml

The results of the chemical tracer analysis in the Andes will show scientists and policy makers how we will have to manage the climate challenges that we will face in the next century. 

In the environmental monitoring community there is a lot of debate about how much monitoring should be or is required to assess the impact of pollution.  In the case of the Andes, ice measurements and focused study on the glacier has lead to at least more proof that may help decision makers lean toward policies that will mediate the future changing environmental conditions.  I say that it is not only increased monitoring but also the ability to make sure you are monitoring for the things that will give you the best clues to solve the immediate or long term problems.

Water + Sunlight = Food

A couple of weeks back I started a garden. The seeds were from Christmas 2012 and so I tried to start all the seeds we received as I was unsure if the seeds would germinate if I stored them another season. I am happy to report that 75% of thr seeds have produced some great seedlings!  Today I moved the miniture plants to containers outside.

Water is essential for life and without it my seedlings would not have broken out of thejr seed capsules and forming leafs to get energy from the sun.  This procesa is called photosynthesis and it produces the food we consume every day. We do live on an amazing planet and I am happy to watch my good grow in my own backyard. I will post updates on what survives and what doesn’t and what tasty recipes we make with that food!

Pressure Reducing Valves & Water Temperature

Have you ever experinced a drop in water temperature when you are taking a shower and someone else flushes the toilet? The problem is the shower does not have a pressure reducing valve (prv). A prv compensates when there is a change in pressure in the line by keeping the flow steady unlike the situation when pressure drops due to toilet drawing head away from the water flow. PRVs began to be a legal requirement for newly constructed homes built since 2005. So if your home was built before 2005 and you want to remove the annoyance of changing water temperatures go to your local hardware store and install one yourself or call up your local plumber.