One in Ten Americans Drink Contaminated Water

According to a New York Times report, 10% of Americans drink water that contains dangerous chemicals or fails to meet a federal health benchmark in other ways. The report found that Charleston, VW, for example, has significant levels of lead, nickel, and other heavy metals, causing- in the worst cases- customers to develop painful rashes and significant loss of tooth enamel. The report also notes wells, both private and public, are often the most dangerous water sources, because they are the least regulated. It should be noted that no distinction was drawn between bored wells, which pull heavily on the water table, and properly constructed drilled wells, which are sealed against surface water. As a water consumer, the bottom line is whether you choose to trust water safety to an outside provider- even the government, or would prefer to take the responsibilty yourself.

A Drought Ends, but the Beat Goes On

The Sound Byte:

Under cloudy skies, governor Sonny Purdue announced yesterday that the wettest spring in 100 years has ended Georgia's drought, and the Georgia EPD watering restrictions in place since May 2008 would be immediately lifted.

The entire state will operate on an odd/ even schedule:

• even- numbered addresses can water freely Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
• odd- numbered addresses can water freely Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

The Economic Analysis:

As everyone celebrates this announcement, none are celebrating more than our Landscapers: Before 2006, Georgia's Landscape Industry was the 2nd largest industry sector, behind Agriculture. The economic impact to Landscape businesses and to the state cannot be understated, and the relaxed watering rules are welcome news to landscapers and plantspeple alike. But alot of well drillers are nervous. They are under the mistaken assumption that the only reason they were drilling in Atlanta and Buckhead was because of the water restrictions. Many of there opportunists were simply reacting to market demand and never had long term plans for their area, nor looked at any value-added proposition for their services. This news will likely send those companies packing.

Its a tough economy, and eased water restrictions will not bring back the massive losses to individual investors who are looking for a safe place to put what assets they have still available.

If you, dear reader, are in this group- may I suggest putting your money in the ground?

A city of Atlanta resident with 20 zones of irrigation and a pool can recoup their entire investment in a water well in 3 years or less. I know: I have done the math. If one couples that with a driller who is willing to Guarantee water and offer Extended Warranties, the discussion becomes about 33% annual gains with no risk! Bernie Madoff is gone, and I'm not sure even he tried to make such claims!

Whether or not the drought returns; whether or not the EPD gets nervous again and reimposes restrictions: water costs what it costs, and will only get more expensive. As the Georgia Regional Water Councils continue to deliberate their Statewide plan, noone who pays attention is expecting LESS bureaucracy and regulations to come of their efforts.

In the end, well ownership will be shown to be the Wise investment.

Sometime back, we told you about the Georgia Regional Water Councils and the impact they will have on water policy for the entire state of Georgia.

view this map @ http://www.georgiawaterplanning.org/Files_PDF/basin_map.pdf

THEY ARE MEETING, AND THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US!

Please attend the meeting in your area if it has not already been held. If it has already been held, contact the contact person and ask them to send you information of the past meeting and notices of future meetings. 

The Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 5, 2009, Southeastern Technical College – Vidalia Economic Development Center, 100 A Brinson Road, Vidalia, GA 30474 

For additional information about the Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Kevin Farrell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1621, Kevin.Farrell@dnr.state.ga.us

The Coastal Georgia Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 4, 2009, J.F. Gregory Park, Stevens Wetlands Education Center, Cedar Street Richmond Hill, GA 31324 

For additional information about the Coastal Georgia Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Jeff Larson, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch , 404-675-1664, Jeff.Larson@dnr.state.ga.us

The Coosa-North Georgia Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 8, 2009, Appalachian Tech , 100 Campus Drive; Jasper, GA 30143 

For additional information about the Coosa-North Georgia Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Becky Champion, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 706-888-8351, Becky.Champion@dnr.state.ga.us

The Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 6, 2009, Mitchell County EMC, 475 Cairo Highway, Camilla, GA 31730

For additional information about the Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Tim Cash, Assistant Branch Chief - EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1766, Tim.Cash@dnr.state.ga.us

The Middle Chattahoochee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 13, 2009, Callaway Gardens – Dogwood Room Mountain Creek Inn, 17800 US Hwy 27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 

For additional information about the Middle Chattahoochee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Tim Cash, Assistant Branch Chief - EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1766, Tim.Cash@dnr.state.ga.us

The Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 14, 2009, Amerson Water Treatment Plant, 703 Riverbend Road, Macon, GA 31211 

For additional information about the Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Kevin Farrell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1621, Kevin.Farrell@dnr.state.ga.us 

The Savannah-Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 7, 2009, Savannah Rapids Pavilion ,3300 Evans to Locks Road – Martinez, GA 30907 

For additional information about the Savannah-Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Jeff Larson, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1664, Jeff.Larson@dnr.state.ga.us

The Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 6, 2009, C. E. Weir Center, 307 Bryan Street East, Douglas, GA 31533 

For additional information about the Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Rob McDowell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1650, Rob.McDowell@dnr.state.ga.us

The Upper Flint Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 1, 2009, One Griffin Center, Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 100 South Hill Street Griffin, GA 30223 

For additional information about the Upper Flint Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Tim Cash, Assistant Branch Chief - EPD Watershed Protection Branch' 404-675-1766, Tim.Cash@dnr.state.ga.us

The Upper Oconee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 8, 2009, Rock Eagle 4H Center – Rich Building ,350 Rock Eagle Road, Eatonton, GA 31024 

For additional information about the Upper Oconee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Kevin Farrell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1621, Kevin.Farrell@dnr.state.ga.us

SPIN CYCLE~ sand separators

Part 2 in a series on water filtration

 

Sometimes, wells have a lot of sediment and sand.  This material can really cause problems in a water system, and occasionally, cartridge filters just aren't sufficient to do the job.

In those cases, we will often install a sand separator, like the ones pictured in the photo.  

These filters literally spin the sand out of the water:

First,  unfiltered water is drawn through a side inlet, where it begins spinning down an inner chamber, creating a sort of vortex.  This spinning action causes the sand, which is heavier than water, to separate out of the central column of water.  The clean water is then pulled out of the center of the inner chamber, and sand falls out of the unit.

These filters do not address solutes or chemical contaminants in the water, only particles- and even then, not all of the particles.  Most systems require additional cartridge filters to remove smaller particles from the the client's water before it enters their water system, but these separators are a terrific first-line against particulates.  The thing that makes this filtration method really unique is that there are no moving parts, and nothing to replace-ever; so it could save a client a ton of money in cartridge replacements, not to mention if they have drip irrigation or spray nozzles in their systems.  

Sand Separators may not be the best solution for every case,  but it is truly dizzying just how effectively they can spin a solution for some!

"Reverse Osmosis?" You'll never learn ANYTHING that way!

Part one in a series on water filtration.

As a teenager, I remember laying my head on a stack of books when I should have been studying.

When questioned how that might improve my grades, I said I was learning through osmosis.

All that "studying" did not prepare me to understand how Reverse Osmosis works, though...

In osmosis,  a solvent passes through a membrane to try to achieve an equilibrium on both sides of the membrane.  This happens naturally when a red blood cell is submerged in water.  These contain a high concentration of solutes including salts and protein.  Water molecules pass through the cell membrane from an area of low solute concentration (outside the cell) to one of high solute concentration (inside the cell).  The cell membrane is selectively permeable, so only necessary materials are let into the cell.  

Osmotic pressure is the catalyst, and can be increased on the high-solute side of the membrane to force the equilibrium and stop osmosis. This is, apparently, represented in the following formula:

δPV = -RT ln(1-x₂) (2)

Presumably, if you continued to increase the pressure on that side, you will reverse that process, and that is how Reverse Osmosis works:  It actually pulls the water away from the solutes, through a semipermeable membrane, leaving pure, "distilled" water: H2O.  This is usually the last stage in a 2 or 3 stage filtration system, and because it takes a long time to pull water molecules through the membrane, small storage tanks are usually part of the system.  A typical home system will fit in a kitchen cabinet and provide about 10-15 gallons per day, delivered to a tap by the kitchen sink.   

Now, since it has been stripped of all the salts (electrolytes) and minerals the water has no flavor- and some folks say that "no flavor" tastes an awful lot like plastic.  But, if one is really concerned about the quality of your drinking water and is willing to pay the $250-$700 for the system, plus another $150 or so in yearly filter replacements, it is by far the best way to be assured of the quality of your drinking water.

 

Oscar Win brings Recognition, Water to poor Indian Village

HOLLYWOOD, CA — “Smile Pinki,” the story of an Indian girl born with a cleft lip and winner of the “documentary short” category at the movie industry’s February 22 Academy Awards, has brought recognition to the little girl chronicled in the film as well as to her village of Rampur Dhavaia and its water infrastructure needs, according to a February 23 IANS report on thaindian.com.

The village is located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, in the Mirzapur district. Jaswant Singh, Mirzapur chief development officer told IANS “As Pinki has given an international recognition to Rampur Dabai village in Mirzapur district, the government has decided to undertake several developmental projects for the welfare of the villagers.”

Projects will be taken on one-at-a-time, and among the first projects to be addressed will be drinking water needs. According to Singh, providing potable drinking water to the over 2,000 villagers is a top priority.

“The village has been grappling with water scarcity for the last several years. But, now we would dig up ponds, install hand pumps and rebore old wells to ensure that  villagers get adequate water,” Singh is quoted as saying.  

Full Article: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/pinkis-oscar-to-bring-drinking-water-power-to-her-village_100158739.html

Groundwater Primer PLUS- potable vs irrigation

There are two fundamental things I encounter as I speak with potential well owners for the first time- a misconception about what we call 'groundwater', and a a misunderstanding on the difference between an 'irrigation' or a potable water well.

I'll attempt to clear the air on these issues here as clearly and simply as possible.

Individual household water wells are the preferred source of safe drinking water for more than 15 million Americans. If you have a properly constructed, drilled well your water comes from deep in the bedrock and is naturally filtered and should be bacteria free.  In the rregions we service (Southern Appalachia/ Georgia Piedmont), groundwater is located in fractures in consolidated rock.  It occurs as water is slowly pulled through bedrock into cracks and crevices in the rock.  It does not deplete the water table, and, except in extremely rare occasions, will not affect even your nearest neighbor’s well.  

This type of system is one of the safest most reliable drinking water sources available.

As the average person in the US uses around 150 gallons per day, and the average household peak demand less than 10 gallons per minute (gpm), almost any hole in the ground will supply enough water to satisfy an individual's potable water needs.

An irrigation well is essentially a commercial well- the demands of an irrigation system are so much greater than regular home use:

Where a potable water system in a typical Atlanta home may have a peak demand of 8 gpm and average 500 gallons per day, that same residence may have an irrigation system which needs 20 or more gallons per minute and over 20,000 gallons in a single event.  It is as if that one well is being asked to supply 20 or 30 homes.

That same ultra-purified water is pulled out of the bedrock in a much higher volume and at a much faster flow rate.  Bigger pumps running on bigger wire, pushing water through bigger pipe, and controlled by extremely complex equipment make this kind of system work. 

The irrigation system is usually already in place when we construct our wells, and the volume and flow rates don't always operate the same as our high-pressure municipal systems.

Sometimes, these systems are required to pump faster than the ground can yield water, and that deficit has to be made up in reserve- either inside the well or in storage tanks.  It can also be made up in time, and the irrigation system has to be staged to allow the well to recharge its self.  However it is done, these systems can easily double or triple the typical residential user's cost.

A water well is an investment in the commodity of the future.   Well owners have their own private water system which they control.  With proper maintenance, these systems should provide a lifetime of safe, reliable access to pure, fresh water.