The Beach Awaits
By Trey Cody
When thinking of a beach threat, I typically think of jellyfish. Once on a family beach vacation, my sister was stung by a jellyfish, and the memory has stuck with me since. Some people on the other hand may think of crabs or sharks when asked about dangerous things at the beach.
But potentially the most harmful threat at the beach is one we cannot see: bacteria. A majority of beach closings and advisories issued last year were due to elevated bacteria levels in the water. An unusually elevated bacteria level in beach water is typically the result of uncontrolled human or animal waste. In wet weather events, stormwater runoff pollutes beach water by bringing bacteria along the way as it runs off through streets and through sewers. To protect the health of beachgoers, monitoring is conducted at many beaches, and advisories are posted to alert the public when it isn’t safe to swim because of high bacteria.
The good news is that for the seventh consecutive year, in 2011, the nation’s coastal and Great Lakes beaches were open and safe for swimming 95 percent of the time during the swimming season.
Beach water quality is a priority here at EPA. We work with state and local partners to control potential sources of pollution to the beaches. For example, we help communities to build and properly operate sewage treatment plants, and implement a national storm water program and promote green infrastructure to reduce runoff and minimize sewer overflows. On our Region III Beaches page, you can find out information on beach sampling data, beach closings and advisories, beach water quality standards, and much more!
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) uses data and information from EPA and the States to publish an annual report on the quality of beach water in the U.S. It rates popular beaches and awards the ones with exceptionally low violation rates and strong testing and safety practices. Three of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s very own beaches have been particularly vigilant about minimizing the threats from bacteria. Delaware’s Dewey and Rehoboth beaches and Maryland’s Ocean City at Beach 6 all received a 5-star rating from the NRDC.
At these beaches and many others in Region 3, national standards were not only met, but exceeded, making them some of the cleanest beaches in the country. So before the summer slips away, grab your swim suit, towel and sunscreen and head down to your favorite stretch of shoreline! Share stories of your time at the beach this summer in our comments section, and contribute your photos to EPA’s State of the Environment Photo Project.
About the Author: Trey Cody has been an intern with EPA’s Water Protection Division since graduation from high school in 2010. He is currently attending the Pennsylvania State University.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Elisa Hyder
After all the hard work during the spring, proper watering can help relieve some of summer’s challenges to a flourishing outdoor lawn and garden. However, outdoor watering can easily turn into wasted watering if not done properly. Residential outdoor water use in the United States accounts for more than 7 billion gallons of water each day, and it is estimated that up to 50% of this water is wasted due to overwatering. That is 3.5 billion gallons of water down the drain every day, along with money spent for the water bill.
Overwatering draws down our water resources and your wallet, and it may also affect your beautiful plants. Overwatering may also lead to drooping or wilting plants and stunted growth. Plants need a very specific amount of water for the best growth results, depending on weather and soil conditions.
There are lots of ways to save money and water when using water outside. Always make sure that the water you are using is going towards the plants, not your house walls or sidewalks. Also, water your plants earlier in the morning or later in the evening; if done in the early afternoon, most of the water is lost to evaporation. You can also think about rainwater harvesting like rain barrels as a source of water for your plants. Check out our new video about rain barrels on youtube!
Do you know just how much water to give your plants? It can be hard to track what’s going on with the weather and soil. But, now it can be a lot easier. There are technologies out there that can handle all of the effort.
Some of these technologies include irrigation controllers that, with proper programming, can do wonders for your garden and your water bill. Instead of using a clock or preset schedule, they work like a thermostat for your sprinkler system. There are access points that can be plugged into either an Internet router or personal computer which communicates wirelessly with the controllers.
Click for more about WaterSense Labeled Irrigation Controllers
So, the controllers are able to use the Internet to check local weather and landscape conditions to adjust the watering schedule. These controllers are designed to make sprinkler systems more efficient. With them, you can enjoy a beautiful outdoor lawn and garden while keeping some money in your pocket. In fact, it is estimated that they can help you save up to 40% on your water bills.
How are you watering your garden efficiently this summer? For more tips on more efficient outdoor water use and technologies, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/ and check out WaterSense on Facebook and Twitter.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Spongier Surfaces Reducing Stormwater Runoff
By Trey Cody
Think about the sponge on your kitchen sink. When you hold it under the running faucet, it absorbs a surprising amount of water. But what if the sponge was covered in plastic wrap? The water would hit the surface and flow right off. We can see this same concept at work in our urbanized watersheds where, in many areas, green space that once absorbed rainfall has been replaced by hard surfaces that water can’t penetrate.
There are lots of ways that cities and towns are trying to get closer to their original, spongy state. Having a surface that is porous and permeable reduces the effects of stormwater runoff on receiving streams, like stream bank erosion and negative effects on aquatic plant and animal life.
That’s why porous paving projects are popping up all over the place. Permeable paving refers to a different way of mixing or constructing concrete or asphalt that allows water to flow through the pavement and into the ground instead of over it.
One project can be found in our neighboring EPA Region 2’s Laboratory in Edison, New Jersey (above), where three permeable surfaces are being tested on the site of a former concrete parking lot. The performance and capabilities of these systems are being documented as part of a long term project to study the effects of paving materials such as porous asphalt, porous concrete, and interlocking concrete paver blocks. The parking lot will be monitored for its ability to accept, store, and infiltrate stormwater, water quality performance, urban heat island mitigation, maintenance effects, and parking behavior.
Closer to our regional office home, the first porous street in Philadelphia was recently unveiled. And Washington D.C. has done a number of Green Alley Projects using permeable pavement for the street surfaces. Have you seen other examples of pervious pavement near you?
To learn more about permeable pavement and other green infrastructure techniques, and how it benefits water quality, check out EPA’s Green Infrastructure Page.
2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Throughout the year, EPA will be highlighting different aspects of the history and successes of the Clean Water Act in reducing pollution in the past 40 years. The month of August will focus on Science and Innovation.
About the Author: Trey Cody has been an intern with EPA’s Water Protection Division since graduation from high school in 2010. He is currently attending the Pennsylvania State University.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Conserving Water Resources With Green Infrastructure
By Trey Cody
EPA employees in Fort Meade, Maryland at the Environmental Science Center recently added some unique environmental features to their building, which is home to Region III’s chemistry and microbiology labs. EPA staff helped construct a rain garden with native grasses, goldenrod, coneflowers, and http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/glossary.htm rerouting rooftop drainage pipes to a rain barrel to help reduce splash erosion as stormwater falls from roof gutters to the garden. The rain garden makes for a beautiful sight for workers at the front of the building and is watered both naturally and with the rain barrel.
These improvements and more are helping this facility in its effort to meet the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings as well as working towards achieving a U.S Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design existing building certification.
Read about more environmentally positive features of the Environmental Science Center.
This is just one way that EPA is helping to improve water quality by the construction of green infrastructure in our region. There are numerous other examples of how new products, technologies, and practices can use natural systems to enhance water quality. Some of these can be implemented in your local household or business. The great thing about green infrastructure is that while it is improving water quality, you can save water, money and energy.
Below are some examples of green infrastructure that you can implement to your house to promote water quality. You can click each one to view more information, fact sheets, benefits, examples and web sites.
- Downspout Disconnection: The rerouting of rooftop drainage pipes to drain rainwater to rain barrels, cisterns, or permeable areas instead of the storm sewer. Home owners can disconnect and reroute these pipes with little to no effort!
- Rain Gardens: Shallow, vegetated basins that allows for the collection and absorption of runoff from rooftops, sidewalks, and streets. Rain gardens mimic natural hydrology by infiltration, evaporation, and returning water vapor to the atmosphere. They can be installed in almost any unpaved space. This is a great way for a homeowner to beautify their homes and improve water quality!
- Permeable Pavements: Paved surfaces that allow infiltration, treating, and storage of rainwater where it falls. Permeable pavements may be constructed from pervious concrete, porous asphalt, and several other materials.
Have you installed any of these or other examples of green infrastructure in your household?
Leave a comment and tell us about your experiences!
2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Throughout the year, EPA will be highlighting different aspects of the history and successes of the Clean Water Act in reducing pollution in the past 40 years. The month of August will focus on Science and Innovation.
About the Author: Trey Cody has been an intern with EPA’s Water Protection Division since graduation from high school in 2010. He is currently attending the Pennsylvania State University.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Capturing Every Drop and Every Voice
By Trey Cody
Water is essential to all of us as individuals, a nation, and as a planet, yet there is a finite supply.
As part of EPA’s 40th anniversary celebration of the passage of the Clean Water Act, we want to hear what makes this resource special to you. And, you have an opportunity to tell us with EPA’s “Water is Worth it” video project!
The Clean Water Act was created in response to a national concern about untreated sewage, industrial and toxic discharges, destruction of wetlands, and contaminated runoff. Enacted in 1972, the Act set a national goal “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.” A special part of the Act gave citizens, like you and me, strong roles to play in protecting and restoring our waters.
EPA is hosting a video project asking Americans to send in videos about why water is worth it to them. Each video should be a 15-second clip with the phrase “Water is worth it because…” and your explanation of why. Videos can be serious, funny, or a little in-between. You could show your favorite activity involving water, talk about water, or even drink some water in your video! You are the director and the star so you can be as creative as you want!
To register, visit EPA’s Clean Water Act 40th Anniversary page and fill out the video entry form. Once you make your video, submit your entry as a response to our promotional video. All videos must be received by September 14, 2012. Get all the information on how to submit your video here!
To learn more about the CWA and other anniversary events and show your support for clean water, please visit these helpful sites:
- EPA’s Clean Water Act 40th Anniversary page
- EPA’s Water Is Worth It Facebook
- Twitter @EPAWater
Have you entered your video yet? Do you have an idea for future projects or contests promoting clean water? Leave a comment and let us know!
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
A Better Approach to a Clogged Drain?
By Laura Janson
It happens every so often. One of the drains in my house gets clogged. It is usually the drain in my shower stall or the drain in my bathroom sink. They tend to collect hair.
Being a health-conscious environmentalist, I try not to use harsh chemicals — you know — the ones that contain an irritant that can burn your skin or the inside of your nose? I’ve tried a drain snake, but that requires some elbow grease and sometimes I can’t seem to reach the clog. Why don’t I just use a drain sieve or filter on top of the drains? The bathroom sink is angled so that one will not lay flat. I did find one for the shower that’s easy to clean—stainless steel—and is fine enough to catch hair, but it doesn’t fit in the kids’ tub. What about an environmentally friendly drain cleaner? Good approach, but let’s think outside of the box.
An idea hit me when my brother showed me the filter in my dishwasher that catches large food particles and “foreign objects” like fancy plastic toothpicks. Who knew? Not me, but then I never read the entire manual.
Why not have the same gizmos, those traps they have in many dishwashers, in bathroom drains? Then I could just unscrew the cover on the drain, pull out the trap, remove the hair, put back the cover, and voila, an unclogged drain! It would just take a minute and it would be environmentally friendly.
Calling all faucet manufacturers or entrepreneurs. Find a way to incorporate a filter into every faucet’s design. Then everyone can clean their own drain filters. . . they just have to read the manual to know it’s there.
While you’re thinking about eco-friendly bathroom fixtures, check out all the water efficient appliances from the Water Sense program. Will you be giving your bathroom an eco-makeover?
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Get Up Close and Personal With Your River – Sojourn!
This could be you, sojourning on the river! Photo courtesy of the Fish and Wildlife Service
By Nancy Grundahl
Merriam-Webster defines a sojourn as “a temporary stay,” like, “We enjoyed a week-long sojourn on the river.”
Never been? Now is the right time of the year. River sojourns are usually May through September in the northeast. Many environmental and watershed groups around the country are sponsoring sojourns to help people connect with their rivers, to see them up close and personal, to appreciate their importance and understand their challenges.
Go for a day. Go for a week. Start from the headwaters and kayak downstream. No experience necessary.
Participants pay a small fee. Often meals and overnight camping are included. Here is a link to a list of sojourns for 2012 compiled by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.
If you can’t make it to any of this year’s sojourns, you can do your own! Here’s a description of the sojourn-worthy Potomac River Trail, and here are some ideas for sojourns in the Mid-Atlantic region and around the country
There are countless ways to recreate on, in, or near our waters this summer. Have a great time rolling on the river!
And if you do, please send us some photos. Go to our State of the Environment Photography Project on Flickr. Share your fun! And we’ll be sharing some of your photos on the blog during the summer months.
About the author: Nancy Grundahl has worked for the Philadelphia office of EPA since the mid-80’s. Nancy believes in looking at environmental problems in a holistic, multi-media way and is a strong advocate of preventing pollution instead of dealing with it after it has been created. Nancy likes to garden and during the growing season brings flowers into the office. Nancy also writes for the EPA “It’s Our Environment” blog.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Legacy Sediments accumulated to 5 meters tall
By Bonnie Turner-Lomax
I’d encourage you to take a trip through Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County to get a sense for the area’s rich culture and old-world charm, its picturesque farms, covered bridges and quaint towns and villages. And keep an eye out for the occasional horse and buggy.
One thing you won’t be able to spot, though, is another part of the county’s past – an environmental legacy that has played out for centuries beneath area waters.
During the late 17th through 19th centuries, it was common for communities to build dams on nearby streams to provide water power for various mills that served the communities. Sediment has been accumulating behind these now defunct but still in-place dams since they were first constructed. Centuries of sediment accumulation (referred to as legacy sediments) have resulted in numerous environmental impacts, including:
- changes in stream structure,
- unnaturally high stream bank walls,
- loss of wetlands,
- excess sediment scouring during storms,
- and increased loading of nutrients and sediments downstream.
This historic pollution has present impacts, and affects Lancaster county as well as other communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Recently, more than 140 environmental professionals converged at Franklin & Marshall College in the heart of Lancaster County for a workshop to deal with this age-old issue.
The group, including federal, state, and local representatives, academics and environmental consultants, held discussions, considered challenges and opportunities, and did field visits to the Big Spruce Run and Banta restoration projects to highlight potential benefits of the sediment fix to water quality and wetlands.
By meeting and establishing a communication forum to share data and information, the group is taking steps to create an environmental legacy of pristine streams, waterways, and wetlands.
Find out more about legacy sediment removal and stream restoration.
About the Author: Bonnie Turner-Lomax came to EPA Region’s mid-Atlantic Region in 1987 and has held several positions throughout the Region. She is currently the Communications Coordinator for the Environmental Assessment & Innovation Division.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Nancy Grundahl
Algae are in the spotlight and – this time – for all the right reasons. That slimy greenish stuff you sometimes see in lakes and at the beach is now being used in a pilot project to see if it can help clean up the water in the Baltimore Harbor. Algae blooms are normally in the news as the result of excess nutrients that rob water of oxygen. But this controlled growth of algae is part of an initiative that aims to make the Inner Harbor swimmable and fishable by 2020.
How does it work? Algae that are naturally in the harbor flows over a mesh screen. There it attaches and grows, removing nutrients and carbon from the water in the process. Every week, the algae are harvested and then can be used as a fertilizer or converted into fuel.
This innovative pilot is part of Baltimore’s Healthy Harbor Plan to make the harbor cleaner and greener. And, if it works, plans are to expand the algal pad to at least an acre, filtering millions of gallons of water each day. If you want to see what a smaller scale version of an algal turf scrubber looks like, view this lively video:
2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Throughout the year, EPA will be highlighting different aspects of the history and successes of the Clean Water Act in reducing pollution in the past 40 years. The month of June focused on Fishable Waters.
About the author: Nancy Grundahl has worked for the Philadelphia office of EPA since the mid-80’s. Nancy believes in looking at environmental problems in a holistic, multi-media way and is a strong advocate of preventing pollution instead of dealing with it after it has been created. Nancy likes to garden and during the growing season brings flowers into the office. Nancy also writes for the EPA “It’s Our Environment” blog.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Matt Colip and Walter Higgins
Just like homeowners, wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities have to control their energy usage because their budgets are so tight. While you and I can install attic insulation or turn off lights when they aren’t in use to lower bills, plans for reducing energy use can be a little more complicated at water and wastewater treatment facilities. Still, there are many strategies available to reduce energy usage at water treatment facilities. Oh, and you can help too.
One way a treatment facility can trim down its energy use is to start from the source and reduce the overall community demand for drinking water and waste water to be treated. Less water used in communities means a lower cost to you on your water and sewer bill. By promoting the use of water efficient WaterSense products and water conservation practices by the citizens within their service area, water utilities can reduce energy use significantly. Just think about how much less water facilities would have to treat and the energy that could be conserved if all of us used even a little less!
Have you ever driven by a waste water plant and noticed a large flame coming off one of the stacks? That’s gas that is produced in the operations of the plant and is typically burned off. Instead of flaring, it can be beneficially used to run turbines that can generate heat and electricity for the plant (otherwise known as Combined Heat and Power). Also, some facilities are beginning to install solar photovoltaic panels on the plant grounds to offset the total electricity used by the plant.
On May 8th, EPA, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, hosted an Energy Roundtable Conference in Harrisburg for wastewater treatment operators interested in reducing their facilities’ energy costs and ultimately their carbon footprint. This conference highlighted several areas related to energy efficiency along with innovative solutions to wastewater treatment.
Interested in hearing more about what happened at the conference? The presentations can be found on our website. For additional information, please contact Walter Higgins at Higgins.walter@epa.gov, or by phone at 215-814-5476.
About the Authors: Matt Colip works in the region’s NPDES Enforcement Branch and focuses primarily on enforcing wastewater and stormwater regulations. Originally a Texan, turned Pennsylvanian, Matt graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., with a BA in Special Studies – Public Health and is currently working on an MS in Environmental Protection Management at Saint Joseph’s University. Walter Higgins is in Region 3′s Water Protection Division where he manages grants that fund water quality and drinking water projects. He is also involved in working with water and wastewater facilities on energy efficiency and has been with EPA since 2010. Prior to EPA he was a soil scientist with the Montgomery County Health Department, in Pa.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
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