Water crisis on Oregon-California border

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

The water crisis along the California-Oregon border went from dire to catastrophic this week as federal regulators shut off irrigation water to farmers from a critical reservoir and said they would not send extra water to dying salmon downstream or to a half-dozen wildlife refuges that harbor millions of migrating birds each year.

In what is shaping up to be the worst water crisis in generations, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said it will not release water this season into the main canal that feeds the bulk of the massive Klamath Reclamation Project, marking a first for the 114-year-old irrigation system. The agency announced last month that hundreds of irrigators would get dramatically less water than usual, but a worsening drought picture means water will be completely shut off instead.

The entire region is in extreme or exceptional drought, according to federal monitoring reports, and Oregon’s Klamath County is experiencing its driest year in 127 years.

To read more, click here to take you to the FOX News original article.

Waterless Co. Earns National Green Building Certification

"Program developed to provide a uniform, national standard, recognizing
and encouraging home-related green products."

Waterless Co., Inc. has just earned National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Certification from the National Association of Homebuilder’s Home Innovation Research Labs. 

The NGBS is an American Standards Association (ANSI)- approved green building certification program.  It focuses on single-family and multi-family residential buildings and remodeling projects.

The program was developed to provide a uniform, national standard, recognizing and encouraging home-related green products and technologies. 

With this certification, installing a home waterless urinal from Waterless Co. a builder can earn six points toward meeting the Standard’s environmental quality requirements.

It also allows builders, designers, and homeowners to confidently select products that are proven to protect the environment and natural resources.

“The pandemic has put many commercial real estate projects on hold,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and founder of Waterless Co., Inc., which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.  

“However, on the flip side, the pandemic has increased the number of home remodeling projects, likely due to remote working. In the process, the interest in home urinals has skyrocketed.”

Waterless Co is the oldest manufacturer of no-water urinals in North America. These systems require no water to work. When installed in homes, they can save thousands of gallons of water per year. 

Gravity pulls urine below a cylinder placed at the bottom of the urinal containing a sealing liquid, which blocks odors from being released. As the urine collects, it drains into the sewer pipe below.

According to Reichardt, another reason waterless urinals have recently been in greater demand, both in homes and commercial buildings, is because they help prevent COVID pathogens from being released into the air. Once airborne, these can be inhaled by restroom users.

“What is happening is like toilet ‘plume,’ caused when flushing a toilet. Now that we know traces of COVID can be found in urine, there is concerned COVID pathogens can be released into the air when a traditional urinal is flushed.”

The award recognizes Waterless company’s contribution to water efficiency and water conservation. It also helps homeowners do their part, protecting our most important natural resource: water.

Waterless Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Waterless Co., Inc. is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in May 2021, commemorating three decades of helping organizations in 18 different countries and the U.S. save tens of millions of gallons of water per year, reduce building operating costs, and promote sustainability.

As the company looks back, it is also looking forward, envisioning how it can help organizations in the next thirty years protect water, our most important resource, and use it more efficiently.

Founded by Klaus Reichardt, Waterless Co., Inc. makes a variety of restroom-related products; however, its main product line is no-flush or Waterless urinals.

The company was the first manufacturer of waterless urinals in the U.S.

As the name implies, waterless urinals use no-water to operate.  This also means they have no flushing devices, removing the most problematic component of a traditional urinal. 

With gravity, urine streams down the interior of the urinal and under a cylinder placed at the bottom of the urinal. It is then discharged into sewer pipes below.

The cylinder also prevents odors from being released into the restroom.

"While there were types of no-water urinals in other parts of the world, when we started in 1991, there were none in the U.S.," says Reichardt. "We were trailblazers then. Nobody even knew what a waterless urinal was."  

Because they were pioneers and have been in business for three decades, the company is now viewed as an ‘icon’ in the restroom products industry.

Marking this historic milestone, the company plans to expand its product lines, introducing new products that help keep restrooms cleaner and healthier. 

"Cleaner, healthier restrooms are key in the post-pandemic restroom," adds Reichardt. "This makes waterless urinals the perfect fixture for the restroom of the future."

Waterless Company Timeline

·       1991, founding of the company.

·       1992, introduction of disposable EcoTrap® cylinder.

·       1992, launch of BlueSeal® sealant liquid.

·       1993, awarded first General Services Administration government contract.

·       1994, introduction of first ADA compliant waterless urinal.

·       1996, GreenClean urinal cleaner introduced.

·       1998, EverPrime sealant liquid added to product line.

·       2000, home urinals division launched.

·       2001, Waterless urinals accepted by U.S. Navy for use on ships.

·       2005, NviroClean for cleaning waterless urinals introduced.

·       2010, distribution milestone - waterless urinals shipped to 18 countries.

·       2011-2020, accreditation by LEED®; WaterSense®; SmartWater Mark; and National Green Building Standard (NGBS)

About Waterless

Now viewed as an "icon" in the restroom industry, Waterless Co. Inc. is a leading manufacturer of modern-designed Waterless urinals, proven to reduce water consumption and promote water efficiency.  Based in Vista, Ca, the company started in 1991 and is the oldest manufacturer of Waterless urinals in North America.  The company also makes manufacturers other products engineered to help restrooms stay cleaner and healthier.

Eleven Ways to Protect Theater Patrons

The movie and theater industry, hit hard by the pandemic, is slowly reopening.

To ensure they open safely and to protect the health of theatergoers, Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc., celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, offers the following suggestions:

• Create a written COVID-19 prevention plan.  Designate at least one person to ensure the plan is implemented.

• Establish a social distancing system for waiting lines.

• Require temperature and symptom checks of workers, vendors, and contractors, as well as theatergoers, upon entering the facility.

• Install hand sanitizers at building entries and throughout the theater.

• All employees should wear disposable gloves and be taught how to take them off properly.

• Restrooms should be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day; at the end of each day, consider using electrostatic disinfecting spraying systems after restrooms have been cleaned.

• In restrooms, install lids on toilets and replacing water-using urinals with waterless urinals. Both will help prevent the release of airborne pathogens that could spread the disease.

• Install messaging posters to remind the public to wear face coverings, practice physical distancing, wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitizer.

• Equip counters, terminals, desks, and help counters with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for staff and theatergoers.

• Adjust movie timing to allow for adequate cleanings of theaters between showings.  Arm rests and the tops of seats will need to be wiped down between screenings.

• Where possible, do not clean floors by sweeping or other methods that disperse pathogens into the air unless. Whenever possible, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

“There are many more things we can add, but one is to be sure that patrons know all you are doing to protect their health,” adds Reichardt. “This will encourage them to follow the rules and do their part as well.”

Making Restrooms Greener, Healthier, and Saving Money At It

Even with all the rain in California, half of the country is currently experiencing some form of drought. This makes this a perfect time to think about ways to make restrooms greener water efficient. The main reason for this is with more people starting to go back to the workplace and back to school, a green restroom is typically a healthier restroom.

We want to do everything possible in a post-COVID era to ensure restrooms, no matter where they are located, are clean, safe, and healthy as people return to the swing of things.

With all of this said, how do we go about making a restroom greener and save money too? Among the steps are the following:

Use green-certified cleaning solutions. These cleaning solutions have been independently tested and verified to help reduce cleaning's impact on the user and the environment.  Plus, today’s green-certified cleaning solutions are very cost competitive.

Use disinfectants sparingly.  In April 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they are concerned that we are overusing disinfectants. Further, not only is this unnecessary, but the possibility of someone also getting COVID by touching a surface is remote. The problem with disinfectants is that they can be harmful to the user.   Further, the CDC reports poisonings related to disinfectants have gone up since the pandemic began.

Install waterless urinals. When it comes to making restrooms greener, waterless urinals can serve us in two ways. There probably is no other building technology that can reduce water consumption as much as installing waterless urinals. Further, waterless urinals are healthier. By eliminating the "plume" of air released when a water-using urinal is flushed, this helps eliminate the chances of harmful pathogens being released into the air.

Sensor-Controlled Lighting.  There is no reason for lights in restrooms to be left on all day. Sensor-controlled lighting helps save energy. Taking this a step further, LED light bulbs should be installed. They use less energy, generate more light, and last far longer than traditional light bulbs.

High-Efficiency Toilets – with Lids. We have discussed the need for high-efficiency toilets several times in our posts. These typically use less than the 1.6 gallons per flush currently mandated by law. However, due to COVID, we should add a lid to these toilets. The lid helps prevent plumes from escaping, as we referenced earlier. This makes for a healthier restroom.

TMV. Thermostatic mixing valves are not as standard in North America as in other parts of the world. These valves mix the hot and cold water feeds to a pre-set temperature. This way, when the faucet is turned on, the water is automatically at the correct temperature. We often waste water if we must wait for it to get warm or, just the opposite, get cold. TMV systems can help eliminate this problem. Further, they help prevent releasing water that is too hot and scolding.

Enhanced Ventilation. Restrooms are not always well ventilated. Today, not only do we need well-ventilated restrooms, but air systems should have enhanced air filtration systems, such as HEPA filters, if possible. These do not work with all HVAC systems. Another option is using UV-C systems that electronically clean air as it is being released into the restroom.  These systems "zap" the air, killing pathogens in the process.

Taking these and many other steps will help keep restrooms cleaner, safer, and healthier. They should also help building owners cut operating costs and, if no-water urinals are installed, reduce water consumption dramatically. In other words, they have benefits all around.

The Predictions about Remote Working are Just Not Holding Water

Like so many businesses around the world, ours has been impacted by the global pandemic. Most of our waterless urinal installations are in facilities that are being renovated. Typically, when buildings are being renovated, owners and managers are focused on ways to reduce operating costs and make their properties more water efficient. 

Waterless urinals help accomplish both.

However, last year, several major U.S. employers announced they do not plan to ask their employees to return to the office. They can work remotely, they decided. They came to this decision because remote working has panned out better than anyone anticipated.

However, that might not be the case long-term.

For example, at the first of the year, Salesforce made headlines by saying it will allow all its staff to work remotely beginning in 2021. However, since then, the company has found out that 80 percent of its team want to return to the office—at least part-time—as soon as they can. Most suggested they would like to be in the office at least three days per week.

Let’s see what else is happening when it comes to the issue of remote working versus returning to the workplace:

·        In New York City, as of April 2021, only about 10 percent of the workforce is working in the city’s many high-rises.  However, it is expected that about half of them will be returning to work full or part-time by September.

·        Microsoft has been very flexible about allowing its staff to work remotely. However, the company announced at the end of March 2021 that it plans to ask workers to come back to work at its headquarters in Seattle.     

·        A year into remote working, many staffers say they appreciate the flex time it offers, the fact that they no longer have stressful commutes, the autonomy, and they say they are more productive. 

However, and quite interestingly, other employees report they prefer the set work schedules they once had; they miss being with their coworkers and people in general; and their work productivity has declined after months of remote working.  Some even miss the commute.  Further, most of them report a “blur” developing between work time and free time that they do not like.

·        By the second quarter of 2020, a survey of U.S. CEOs found nearly 70 percent planned to cut back on office real estate in coming years. A more recent study found that number had dwindled to just 17 percent.

·        Many employers are becoming concerned remote working will hamper their goal of creating a company “culture.” For many companies, their brand and their company culture are interconnected. If the culture goes, the brand might be next.

What’s more, many firms report that training programs are far more complicated—and less effective—when done remotely than when staff is in an office setting. This is likely because a great deal of the learning in training is done by employees interacting with each other.

We cannot deny that there are many benefits to remote working, and virtually all business leaders believe it will be part of our work culture going forward. However, people will be returning to the workplace. Students are already returning to schools.

What many will find as they return to the workplace is that waterless urinals have been installed.  The reason: less splatter. Because the virus has been found in urine, with less splatter, there is less chance that it will become airborne, potentially passing on the disease.

What we suspect will happen, and this is based on several different surveys and projections, is that while some form of remote working is here to stay, more people will be returning to their old work style than expected today. And the big driving force: they want to.

WATERLESS is the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist. 

Creating the Most Sustainability-Focused Airport in Europe

Belgrade, Serbia, is in southeastern Europe, where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. First settled in the 520s, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe with a population today of nearly two million people.

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

It is also on its way to having one of the most sustainability-focused airports in all of Europe, if not the world. The Belgrade airport, officially known as Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, began an ambitious sustainability program in 2020, which is expected to be completed by 2030.

Among the key parts of the program are the following:

• Reduce water consumption per passenger by 50 percent. In airports, metrics such as consumption of energy, water, even the amount of waste generated by the airport, are often measured on a “per passenger” basis.

• Protect natural environments surrounding the airport and eliminate the use of pesticides in the airport.

• Have a zero-waste program in place; this means most of the airport's waste will either be recycled or reused for the same or another purpose.

• Reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050.

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

In case you did not notice, one of their first goals is to reduce water consumption. Serbia depends on nearby countries for a great deal of its "potable" water (i.e., water that is fit for human consumption). But with a growing population and climate change, the decision was made to find ways to become more self-reliant. When it comes to water, this means using resources far more efficiently.

So, how are they accomplishing this? Here is what the airport is doing:

Collecting data. The first step in any sustainability program is to know how much water is being used at baseline. Instead of just one, seven water meters have been installed in strategic locations throughout the airport. This gives administrators a much better idea of how much water is being consumed and where.

Collecting use data. Airport administrators realized that they needed more information not only on how much water is being consumed in the airport, but also where and how. How much is used for cleaning? For foodservice? How about water used for washing airplanes? 

Their new data collection system will help them answer these questions.

Water treatment. All the airport's water is now being treated so that it can be reused. They even installed the treatment facilities on the airport's property. The recycled water will be used to supply toilets, cooling towers, and the airport's heating plant.

Aerating nozzles. Most of us are surprised when we hear a typical sink faucet releases more than two gallons of water per minute. Airport administrators, aware of this, are installing aerating nozzles in all airport faucets. This will reduce the amount of water wasted by faucets by an estimated 70 percent, possibly more.

Water-using and waterless urinals. Some water-using urinals in older sections of the airport will remain, but they will be placed on a "timed flush" system. This means their flushing mechanisms have been removed. Flushing will be automatically and centrally activated throughout the day. However, in all the new and renovated areas of the airport, waterless urinals are being installed. Waterless urinals can reduce consumption by more than 35,000 gallons of water per year per urinal.

Firefighter's water. It appears the people at Belgrade airport have thought of everything when it comes to water. Typically, when the Belgrade firefighters make their daily test of the airport's fire and emergency equipment, they must release large amounts of water. In the past, this water would drain into the city's sewers. No more. Now that water is recovered so it can be used repeatedly in the emergency equipment or for other airport needs.

Even though the transition to using water more efficiently has just begun, the airport personnel already believe they have or will reduce water consumption by as much as 30 percent in 2023. It’s an ambitious program, yes, and it appears to be working.

WATERLESS is the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist. 

Droughts, Private Wells, and Arsenic

About half the states in the continental U.S. are in varying degrees of drought, some more serious than others.  Typically, the main cause of concern when drought conditions develop is how long it will last, how bad it may get, and if water restrictions will be put into place to address the situation.

However, now there is something else we need to be concerned about. A recent study from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows that drought conditions can increase the risk of unsafe arsenic levels in private drinking wells.

Private drinking wells are typically found on farms, ranches, and rural areas of the county.  However, people in large metropolitan areas may also have their own wells.  This can apply to both consumers and commercial facilities, including schools and offices.  In these situations, private wells are used for water needs instead of accessing city services.

Here's how it’s happening.

Arsenic can occur naturally in bedrock.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), arsenic dissolves out of certain rock formations when groundwater levels drop significantly.  This is precisely what happens during drought conditions. Groundwater is regenerated when rainfall is plentiful but drops during droughts when there is a lack of rainfall.

Another way arsenic finds its way into private wells is through pollution. Some industries in the U.S. release large amounts of arsenic into the atmosphere.  With rain and snow, that arsenic falls back to earth, gradually settling into the bedrock where it slowly enters underground water supplies.

Among other health problems, exposure and consumption of varying degrees of arsenic can increase the risk of cancer.

This was uncovered in New Hampshire, which has higher than usual rates of bladder cancer.  Nearly half the state's residents use private wells, higher than any other state in the country.

The USGS is increasingly concerned about this situation because, according to a recent study, at any given time, nearly three million Americans are using private wells that, "are likely to have arsenic levels that exceed the federal limits of 10 parts per billion," says Melissa Lombard with the USGS.  Further, she suggests that this situation will worsen the longer areas of the country are experiencing drought conditions.

As of March 2021, states with the greatest increase in private well arsenic amounts are Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Following these three states are those with much larger populations, including Texas, California, and Florida.  This means that if arsenic develops in private wells in these more populous states, far more people could be at risk of developing health problems.

So, what should people living in these drought areas who get their water from private wells do about this situation?  Well, let's start with what they should not do.

According to the CDC, heating or boiling water will not remove arsenic. In fact, the process could increase arsenic levels.  Additionally, adding chlorine bleach will not remove the arsenic.

Lombard suggests that public health officials increase private well testing, especially in those areas now experiencing droughts. If arsenic levels are too high, steps can be taken to remove the arsenic, although they can be costly.

She also recommends reducing water consumption.  Taking measures to keep the water levels higher in wells decreases the chances of arsenic developing.  This means reducing water consumption, primarily by using water more efficiently, is one of the best things we can do right now.

WATERLESS is the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist. 

What is a drought?

Droughts happen all over the world. And what is happening today, mainly due to climate change, is that parts of the world that rarely experienced water shortages are now having them.

Because of this, and because droughts may be a new experience for some people worldwide, the following questions and answers should resolve many of the questions you may have about droughts.

What is a drought?

Interestingly, there is not a precise definition. Two different areas of the world may be enduring similarly dry conditions. But because one usually does not get much water, their dry conditions will be viewed as normal, whereas the same conditions in another part of the world would be called a drought.

A workable definition of drought is the following:

A prolonged shortage in the water supply, caused by lack of rainfall or due to underground water supplies running dry. A “prolonged shortage” typically means a period of at least three or four months. Droughts can and often do last for years.

Where do droughts most often occur in the world?

Certain areas of the world do have droughts more frequently than others, mainly due to lack of rainfall.

These are Ethiopia, Sudan, Afghanistan, parts of China, and Pakistan. By the way, those areas of the world that receive the most rainfall are parts of Australia, China, Colombia, Africa, and a large portion of Hawaii.

Where are the world’s droughts right now? (Q1 2020)

Our neighbor to the north, Canada, is experiencing some drought conditions in different pockets around the country. Currently, there are very few drought areas in the U.S., but check back in a couple of months. That is likely to change. The part of the world that is now experiencing the most significant number of drought conditions is central Africa.

Is there one country in the world experiencing unusually severe drought conditions? (Q1 2021)

Invariably, there are one or more areas of the world in more dire straits than others. Currently, the southern part of Madagascar is not only suffering severe drought but also what is called “drought-driven hunger.” Madagascar is an island country in the Indian ocean. After three years of drought conditions, food production and agriculture have come to a standstill, leaving about 1.5 million people with little food.

What are the stages of drought?

Typically, if an area of the world is experiencing arid conditions, a drought “warning” or “watch” is called. If conditions worsen, the next stage is called a drought “emergency.” A drought “disaster” or “critical” drought conditions may be called from here. It is at these last stages that mandatory water rationing programs are usually implemented.

What are the main problems caused by drought?

Initially, when a drought begins, it is viewed as an inconvenience. People are asked not to irrigate vegetation as often. Food-service outlets may only provide water if requested, and we may be asked to take shorter showers.

From here, things can deteriorate very quickly.  Some of the more severe problems caused by drought include the following:

•      Crop failure or significant yield reductions.

•      Unemployment because so many jobs are tied to agriculture and food distribution.

•      Landscape degradation.

•      Waterways go dry, resulting in the death of marine life.

•      Lack of water for hydroelectric plants; the result is utilities must purchase costly oil and gas, leading to rising utility costs and adding to greenhouse gasses.

•      Wildfires.

•      Insect infestation.

•      Loss of livestock and free-running animals.

•      Hunger, especially in poorer countries.

•      Increased poverty, again in poorer countries, and increased tensions between rich and developing countries.

•      Social unrest.

Droughts are going to happen; we know that. So, the only option we have is to use water much more responsibly and efficiently. Fortunately, we have many more options available to us to accomplish this. But view this as a journey. We must always be seeking new ways to reduce water consumption.

Where the Water Goes

A few years back, the City of San Jose's Environmental Services Department conducted a study to determine where water is most frequently used in public and private buildings in the city. This covered usage in office skyscrapers as well as schools, small office buildings, medical centers including hospitals, retail outlets, and more. 

Studies like this have been conducted in other municipalities, but they all tend to be slightly different. One of the key reasons for this is climate. 

For instance, San Jose has a relatively mild climate. While it does get cold and it does get hot, compared to other parts of the country, the cool temperatures and the hot temperatures are relatively mild.

But this does impact how much water is used in facilities. In San Jose, specifically because of the mild climate:

· A larger amount of water goes for cooling facilities year-round than it does in other parts of the country.

· Because many facilities in San Jose are landscaped, with vegetation growing year-round, San Jose facilities use more water for landscaping than comparable facilities in a cold winter climate.

However, even when these climate issues are factored in, the study found that San Jose buildings consume water in many of the same ways as other comparable buildings around the country.  

Here is what they also uncovered:

• In most office buildings in San Jose, and around the country, most of the water consumed in the facility, approximately 40 percent, is used in restrooms.

• About a third is used for cooling.

• Twenty percent for landscaping, and the rest was listed as "other."

• In hospitals, 40 percent of the water is used in patient bathrooms and public restrooms, 13 percent for cooling and heating, and the rest is evenly divided for laundry use, landscaping, kitchen, and medical uses. (Note: Water used for cleaning was not factored into the water-consumption in the study.)

• In hotels and motels, 30 percent of water is used in guest rooms and public restrooms, once again the most significant area of water consumption. Kitchens, laundries, and landscaping follow. Interestingly, cooling and heating came in at about 15 percent each. This percentage was expected to be higher.

So, what does this tell us?

Very simply, if a facility is looking for ways to reduce water consumption, the first place to look – and what may be the only place they need to look – is in the restrooms. With that said, by now most of us know the two big steps that need to be taken:

1.   Install aerators. Very inexpensive, yet amazingly effective at reducing water consumption.

2.   Fix leaks.

Leaks are one of the number one ways water is wasted in virtually all facilities. But here are two more ways you may not be aware of that have the potential to reduce water consumption significantly:

Create a Restroom Fixture Replacement Program. Instead of taking a reactive stance, and replacing restroom fixtures when they wear out, take a proactive stance, and replace them before they wear out. This saves water, is a cost-savings, especially now, because many communities offer tax rebates to upgrade restroom fixtures,  and prevents emergency water situations.

Select fixtures based on water consumption. Let's face it. Most restroom fixtures look pretty much the same. Further, most are made well.  However, unless décor is a paramount issue, the deciding factor when selecting restroom fixtures should be how much water the fixture consumes. 

Taking this a step further, no-water fixtures, such as waterless urinals, should always be considered because they are the ultimate water savers. In fact, many building owners and manager find the most significant step they can take in reducing water consumption is accomplished by simply installing waterless urinals.