Republished from Facility Advisor: Efficiency Tips for FMs

The following is an article published in Facility Advisor

The rainy season in California begins each year in October. When it started in October 2021, nearly half of the state was experiencing “exceptional” drought. This is the most severe category of drought. As for the rest of the state, 87% faced “extreme” drought, the second-most severe category.

But flash forward three months, and it became like night and day. In just two weeks during the holiday season, a barrage of rain and snowstorms in Northern California resulted in more precipitation than during the entire previous 2021 “rain season,” which ended Sept. 30, 2021. Since October, most of the state has had more rainfall in the shortest time in decades.

Now, the U.S. Drought Monitor says that California is experiencing only “moderate” drought, and some portions of the state are just listed as “dry.” 

While moderate and dry drought conditions might still sound serious, this is excellent news compared to what the state has experienced over the past decade.   

So, does this mean Californians, along with those living in surrounding states, can forget about water conservation and using water more efficiently? Not at all. The state governor is asking all Californians to reduce water use by 15% from 2020 levels, one of the driest years on record. The reason is simple: “Despite record levels of precipitation in some areas, we’re not out of the woods yet,” said Eric Oppenheimer, chief deputy director of the State Water Resources Control Board.

Here’s one way to look at the current situation. The state has been borrowing water from aquifers, dams, rivers, and anywhere else it could find it. Now those sources are drier than they have been in decades. The recent rains and snow are allowing the state to pay back some of those water loans, but California has a long way to go before paying off the entire water debt.

Further, what the governor and state water officials are focused on is not the current improvement but the fact that long term, the state, along with significant parts of the western United States, are likely to experience chronic water shortages throughout the century. This means that making our facilities more water efficient will continue to be center stage for many facility managers (FMs) for years to come.

Eliminating Water Waste

One quick and relatively easy way FMs can help reduce water consumption in their facilities is by eliminating what is referred to as “water waste.” Water waste often relates to water use outside a facility and includes such things as the following:

• Allowing water to flow or spray off a property. This can result from irrigation, leaks, or manual water use.

• Regular use of water as a cleaning agent to clean, for instance, sidewalks and outdoor areas.

• Failing to correct a malfunctioning water supply line for more than 48 hours.

• Using sprinklers to irrigate landscaped areas between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Especially on hot days, this is when water evaporates the fastest.

The Bigger Picture

Eliminating water waste is a significant first step in reducing water consumption and using water more efficiently. However, that is just the beginning. Long-term water reduction involves creating a water-savings plan, and it starts, very simply, with knowing how much water is currently being used in a facility.  

Surprisingly, many FMs are unaware of this. They may never have even seen a water utility bill for their property. 

Water utility bills are often emailed or mailed directly to accounting departments. For personnel in accounting, typically their only concern is the amount due, not the amount of water consumed.

To begin a water-savings plan, it’s essential to collect current and past water bills going back about two years. Create a spreadsheet to monitor monthly consumption. The spreadsheet will help FMs identify spikes, which often mean there is a leak that must be attended to, and create benchmarks. Now, with benchmarks, we can set goals.

A reasonable goal for a commercial building is to reduce water consumption by 5% in one year. Interestingly, once the water-savings journey begins—and cost savings, the result of using less water, materialize—it is possible to surpass this goal, reducing consumption by as much as 10% to even 15%. Typically, this is accomplished in the following ways:

Reducing water pressure. Many larger commercial buildings have what are called “water boosters.” Water boosters pump water throughout a facility. 

However, these boosters are often set higher than necessary, delivering more water than is needed to faucets and other water-using outlets. The result is another form of water waste. Working with engineers, FMs can lower the pressure to pump just enough water throughout the facility.

Grappling with cooling tower evaporation. The big problem with cooling towers, new or old, is that they continually use water through evaporation. The best way to address this is to use recycled or “gray” water—that is, water not fit for human consumption. Some utility companies around the country are now working with building owners and FMs to use recycled water for non-potable purposes, such as use in cooling towers.

Eliminating dated restroom fixtures. Toilets and urinals are designed to last for decades. However, their longevity can work against us when it comes to using water efficiently. Even systems engineered to meet federal water-using standards may no longer meet those guidelines due to age and wearing parts. Consider replacing any restroom fixtures that are more than five to seven years old.

Surpassing water-use guidelines. Most water consumption guidelines now applicable in the U.S. were written in the early 1990s. Restroom fixture technology has advanced considerably during that time. If replacing toilets and urinals, look for toilets that use 1.28 gallons of water per flush, less than federal standards. For urinals, selecting water-using urinals, no matter how much water they use, may no longer be a wise option. Due to the costs of plumbing and installation and the fact that even new urinals use large volumes of water, FMs in drier states such as Arizona and parts of California are now required to install waterless urinals. As the name implies, these urinals use no water, saving as much as 35,000 gallons of water per urinal per year.

Finally, one of the most critical steps FMs can take is to educate users on reducing water consumption. Sure, with all the precipitation parts of the country have experienced over the past few months, this may prove more difficult than in the past severe drought conditions. But remember, when it comes to water, we must think long term. We are not out of the woods when it comes to water. Protecting our most vital resource and using it wisely and more efficiently must be viewed as a timeless priority.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co. Inc., based in Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

Why Data Centers Use So Much Water

Many of us may not realize this, but data centers, including cloud storage facilities, often use vast amounts of water. And because they use such large volumes of water, their water utility bills have escalated, resulting in increased charges they frequently must pass on to corporate customers.

But you might wonder, why would data and cloud storage facilities use so much water? After all, they operate almost entirely on electricity.

The answer is simple: the operation of these storage facilities generates considerable amounts of heat. Too hot, and the systems can break down, potentially resulting in data loss or making the centers inoperable or unreliable.

To prevent this from happening, air cooling technologies called “chillers” operate 24/7 in these facilities. They are designed to keep temperatures at or below 70 degrees (F). If temperatures inch above this threshold, it opens the door to equipment failure.

But this still does not tell us why so much water is used in these data storage facilities. The answer to that question is simple as well. These chillers use water to cool the air.  The water used evaporates quickly, which must be replenished by drawing more and more water.

With that understood, how are these data centers, which are now found in areas of the world that are water rich as well as those facing drought and water scarcity, reducing water consumption? They are taking the following steps:  

Measuring and monitoring. Before taking any steps, data centers are installing separate meters on their chillers.  This way they know more precisely how much water these systems are using. In some cases, water consumption is less than anticipated, not requiring any steps to be implemented. However, in many cases, the measuring and monitoring indicate water-reducing strategies are needed.

Investment plans. The measuring and monitoring often indicate that steps to reduce water consumption are necessary. To address this, administrators are creating investment plans to determine what steps can be taken quickly — and inexpensively — to reduce consumption, and which ones will cost more money and take more time, and what steps are long-term but will require considerable funding.

Cold outside air: In colder climates and during the winter months, cold outside air is being pumped into the facilities. You might think using cold outside air just makes common sense; why haven’t they already been doing this? The issue is that many data centers are designed to prevent any outside air from coming into the facility. They are zipped-up environments. However, allowing more cold air in reduces cooling needs, reducing water consumption and electricity needs.

Non-potable water. Most cooling systems draw their water from utility companies’ water delivered to the facility, as we mentioned earlier. This is treated — potable — water, which can be consumed. Many centers are now transferring to non-potable or recycled water. The problem here is that not all utility companies are designed to provide non-potable water to their customers. So, some data centers are installing large water storage tanks that collect rainwater. This untreated water can be used both for the air-cooling systems and for irrigation if there are excess amounts.

Replacing chillers. Replacing old chillers can be costly. Chillers are designed to last from 15 to 25 years. If reducing water consumption, a key prerogative, once a system is older than 15 years, replacement should be considered.

And speaking of alternatives, some data centers are looking into other ways to reduce water consumption. For instance, transferring to high-efficiency restroom fixtures.  This includes restroom fixtures that use no water at all, such as waterless urinals, can make a significant dent in water consumption. While they may not alleviate all the water consumption issues of data and cloud storage centers, waterless urinals are saving millions of gallons of water every day in this country.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

How Industrial Facilities Are Finding Ways to Reduce Water Consumption

Recently, I wrote an article on how industrial facilities are using less water, which was published in “Industrial Safety and Hygiene” magazine.

I want to share with you some of the key points I made in that article:

Let’s begin:

Many people are not aware that manufacturers are making considerable progress in reducing water consumption.

They are doing this because it is simply good business. The less water used, the less these industries must pay for water, and in some cases, the cost of water may be one of their most significant expenses.

As to how they are accomplishing this, among the ways are the following:

· Changing employee behaviors. organizations are working with their staff — even creating training programs — to discuss the importance of reducing water consumption and provide them ways to do so.

· Benchmarking consumption. Many facilities
have no idea how much water they are consuming. They need to measure and meter water consumption to create a benchmark.

· Analyzing the water bill. Water utility bills should be delivered to the operations officer and not accounts payable, as is all too frequently the case.

· Distribution of prizes and incentives. Some administrators now award prices and provide other types of incentives to those
divisions that have reduced water consumption within a certain period.

· Checking restroom fixtures. Evaluate the restroom fixtures in use.
If they are more than a few years old, consider transferring to “high efficiency” fixtures. As it pertains to urinals, no-water urinal technology can result in a dramatic reduction in water
consumption.

Read the entire article here: https://lnkd.in/gmseHGrK

As always, I appreciate hearing from you. Your comments and thoughts are welcome.

#water #business #technology #waterefficiency #waterlessurinals

9 Countries with the Worst Water Scarcity on the Planet

While much of the U.S. is currently blessed with adequate water supplies - a big change in circumstances from just a year ago - the same is not true around the globe. Some countries are experiencing significant water scarcity as we begin the new year.

At this time, these nine countries appear to be grappling with the worst water scarcity on the planet:

1.    Afghanistan: Most of the country is struggling with water scarcity, and making matters worse, only a bit more than ten percent of the available water is clean enough for human consumption. Furthermore, the country has inadequate water infrastructure and what infrastructure they have is falling into disrepair.

2.    Ethiopia. Many countries in Africa are experiencing severe water scarcity, but Ethiopia appears to be at the top of the list. Less than half of the people in the country have access to clean, potable water. What many people do is store water in containers. But over time, those containers become contaminated. Many of the health problems and deaths in this country are caused by drinking contaminated water from these storage vessels.

3.    Chad. The fifth largest country in Africa, the Republic of Chad is located in north-central Africa and part of the Sahara Desert. It is landlocked, making it increasingly dependent on its neighbors for water, most of whom are having their own water scarcity problems. They do have a “wet season” each year, when many people in Chad collect and store water. But just as in Ethiopia that water often becomes contaminated, resulting in illness and death.

4.    Cambodia and Laos. These two countries share many of the same water-related problems. The Mekong River flows through both countries, but much of that water is used for growing crops. What’s happening now, because of reduced water levels, fewer crops are being grown. This means that in both countries, not only is there water scarcity, but food shortages are increasing as well.

5.    Haiti. This country has had water scarcity issues for years. However, the 2021 earthquake made the situation worse. What plumbing infrastructure the country had before the quake was mostly destroyed.

6.    Pakistan. According to some experts, it's not so much that Pakistan lacks sufficient water for its population as it is that it has yet to develop ways to store water adequately to meet human and agricultural needs. Some experts even call it “negligence” because Pakistani officials have been told for years that their water storage facilities are inadequate.

7.    Syria. Along with not receiving enough rainfall to meet its water-related needs, the political situation in Syria is contributing to the country’s water scarcity. Some government-controlled areas of the country are not allowing water to be released to “rebel” areas, causing water scarcity. Furthermore, Syrians are migrating, moving into areas of the country that do not have enough water to provide for these new residents.

8.    Egypt. The Nile River has always been the critical source of water for Egypt. But in recent years, the Nile has become progressively more polluted. The result is less drinkable water for an already thirsty country.

9.    Somalia. This country does get enough water from rainfall events for its citizenry. Further, as with many of the countries mentioned earlier, there are limited water storage facilities in Somalia, water infrastructure is non-existent or in need of repair, and what infrastructure development has been built tends to be mismanaged.

For these nine countries, water scarcity is dire.  But there’s more to the story. Water scarcity is affecting nearly three billion people, nearly half the world’s population.  It is causing disease, death, and poverty to spread.

And what’s next maybe conflict.  According to Dr. Mohammed T. Bani Salameh, a Professor of Political Science at the Political Science department at Yarmouk University in Jordan, the growing population and increasing water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa may inevitably result in military conflict, which will impact the entire globe.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

The Big Difference Between Water Conservation and Water Efficiency

When most people hear these two terms – water conservation and water efficiency - they assume they mean the same thing.

But that is not correct. While both refer to reducing water consumption, each one reflects an entirely different approach.

As to water conservation, a noted water conservation expert and author, Amy Vickers, defined it as follows: “Water conservation is the beneficial reduction in water loss, waste, or use.” The goal, according to Vickers, is to use just enough water at the moment and as needed when brushing teeth, for instance, or using the dishwasher.

On the other hand, Vickers defines water efficiency as the “minimization of the amount of water used to accomplish a function, task, or result.” It’s long-term, says Vickers, not just for the moment.

Let’s use the dishwasher an example. A family has decided only to use their dishwasher when it is full. By doing so, they are not wasting water by cleaning just a few dishes at a time. This is water conservation, and by the way, a very good practice.

However, what if our family selects a new dishwasher that uses a third less water than their current model. Now we are talking about water efficiency. Water efficiency relies on well-engineered products and fixtures like dishwashers that use reduced quantities of water.  It can also apply to fixtures such as low-flow toilets and showerheads, all of which use less water over the long term.

Further, when it comes to water efficiency, we should also add waterless urinals to the list of efficient products and fixtures.  This is because waterless urinals are engineered to work effectively using no water at all.  That is the ultimate in water efficiency.

Along with long-term water reduction, one of the significant benefits of water efficiency is lowered water costs. This is because water use and water costs are closely interconnected.

Each year, water costs are increasing in residential and commercial facilities. Since 2010, water-related costs have gone up more than thirty percent. And now, with inflation, they are expected the go up even faster in many parts of the country in a relatively short time.

This means that water rates in the country will likely double before we know it.  This will have the most impact on those not taking steps now to install water-efficient toilets, urinals, and other water-using devices.

But there is one more thing we need to keep in mind, and this is becoming a growing concern. Using our dishwasher example once again, let’s say that because our family knows they are using so much less water by selecting a water efficient dishwasher, they stop limiting their use of the machine to only those times when they wash a full load. After all, the new dishwasher uses a third less water than the old one, so what’s the big concern?

Here’s the problem with this thinking. While it’s true the new dishwasher uses less water per use, by using it more frequently, over the long term we may actually be using more water than we were using before. We’ve tossed all our water use responsibility out the window.

 This is known as the rebound effect, and it is all too common.  We find this happing when we are trying to reduce consumption, not only of water, but other natural resources.

What we need to remember is this: always have a conservation mindset. Whenever we can use less of any resource, in this case water, and still meet our needs, it’s better for the planet, protects natural resources, and saves money too.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

NEWS: Study Finds Silver Lining in Water Scarcity

The western half of the United States has experienced severe drought conditions for several years.

While 2022 is starting out as a “wet” year, our problems are from over.

According to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co Inc., “long-term, most water experts predict parts of the country will have chronic water scarcity issues for decades to come. We welcome the moisture, but it’s probably transitory.”

However, water scarcity has produced a silver lining, according to a new study just released by Pennsylvania State University on January 10, 2022. 

According to the researchers, companies that use large amounts of water, for instance, in manufacturing, are becoming much more water efficient.

Water efficiency refers to long-term water reduction, often by eliminating water waste.

Plus, they are releasing lower amounts of toxic emissions into wastewater, which typically ends up waterways, potentially harming marine life and vegetation.

“Most of the prior research has been focused on how companies are negatively affecting the environment,” says Suvrat Dhanorkar, one of the researchers.  

“We flipped that around to see how companies [are responding] to climate change. It opens a new area of research… looking at how… climate change-induced events affect innovation and other economic factors like unemployment.”

The study involved more than three thousand manufacturing facilities in Texas from 2000 to 2016.

Texas was selected because the state has many manufacturing facilities but frequently suffers from long-term dry periods resulting in water scarcity.

“We found that water scarcity can induce manufacturing facilities…to improve their environmental performance by lowering toxic releases into water,” reported the researchers.

“These effects extended into the facilities reducing emissions in other ways, such as into the land and air, too.”

According to Reichardt, this research is one of many indicating how some industries are becoming not only more water-efficient due to water scarcity but reducing their impact on the environment. 

“Fortunately, when it comes to water, new technologies and innovation are helping us reduce water consumption dramatically, all of which benefits our planet.”

It’s Time to get “Water Positive”

We hear a lot now about finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The goal is to become net-zero – remove as much carbon as possible and other greenhouse gases that can harm the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

However, we are just starting to hear about programs designed not only to use water more efficiently, but also to make sure not a drop is wasted.  It’s called becoming “water positive” and some of the biggest corporations in the world are getting behind it.  And it’s not a minute to soon. The U.N. predicts that by 2030, just eight years from now, the world will have a 40 percent shortfall of freshwater.

So, what is water positive all about?  It’s a pledge by major corporations such as BP, Facebook, the Gap, Ralph Lauren, DOW chemical, Pepsi, Proctor & Gamble, and other companies, to put every drop of water they use in a specific geographic area back in the area in which the company operates.

You might wonder why the Gap and Ralph Lauren are so involved.  The reason is that it takes trillions of gallons of water per year to dye fabrics.  And unlike government leaders who may pledge this and pledge that when it comes to climate change and the environment, these companies are starting to take real and tangible steps to replenish the water they use.

For instance, Pepsi’s division in Mexico is processing water and treating it so that it can be used for irrigation and washing vegetables.  The program has helped reduce the demand for fresh water in the immediate area by 50 percent.

Proctor & Gamble is taking a different course of action.  They realize that most of the water related to their products is used by consumers, when they shave, wash dishes or laundry, or perform related activities in which they use P&G products.  To address this, they have formed a coalition of companies all working together to encourage end-customers to use less water.

They named the coalition the 50L Home Platform.  This is because its goal is for people in Europe, where the program is most active, to reduce their daily use of water by fifty liters per person. 

Ikea, which is also part of the 50L Home Program, is striving to be water positive by reaching out to its customers. According to IKEA, 15 percent of the company’s total water footprint each year occurs when its customers use their taps, showers, and other water-using fixtures. To address this, Ikea and others in the program are offering their customers water-positive home offers, discounts, and rebates to purchase more water efficient faucets, showers, and dishwashers.

We should note that many of these companies are not only taking steps to replenish the water they or their customers use but use water far more efficiently. All these companies and many more are laser-focused on how much water they are using and what steps they can take to reduce consumption.

As usual, and as you might expect, most have installed more water-efficient restroom fixtures, including waterless urinals.  Whenever the discussion turns to water efficiency and water reduction, expect the installation of waterless urinals to be one of the key topics of interest.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

Six Ways to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint in 2022

Inspired by the recent climate change meeting, more building owners and facility managers are looking into ways to do their part, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce their overall environmental footprint. At first, many building owners and managers may believe this is an impossible task. However, once they get started, they realize their actions can be meaningful in facing the challenge.  

Here are some little-discussed suggestions to get you started. Some are low-hanging fruit and can be accomplished quickly and with little investment. Others may take more time and cost more, but their long-term payoff can be significant.

Eliminate the Standard Outlet

We don’t want any more traditional power outlets in our facilities. Instead, we want smart outlets that can be turned on and off manually or automatically throughout a facility at specific hours. Why? One of the most significant energy users in the U.S. is what is called “idle electronics.” These are electronics such as copiers, computers, cellphone chargers, and monitors, which use electricity while in the “off” position. These consume as much energy each year as can be produced by 12 typical power plants.

Take a Bright Light Break

We’ve all encountered lights that go on and off based on movement. Walk into a restroom, and the lights go on. Once you leave, the lights typically stay on for about 15 minutes before they go off.  Now, we must take this a step further. Entire floors of a building must be movement activated. 

Say everyone on an office floor leaves at 6 pm. There is no reason for those lights to stay on for hours. If everyone leaves by 6, the lights should go off at 6:15.

Conduct a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Audit

Most building owners and managers are familiar with energy audits, water audits, even security and risk audits. Now we need to start conducting greenhouse gas emissions audits. Just like these other audits, a greenhouse gas emissions audit is designed to find where greenhouse gases are being emitted from a facility and, with this knowledge, eliminate or reduce the emissions. Often these emissions come from building mechanicals like HVAC units. Methane gas, which is detrimental to the environment, may be one of the gases being emitted.

Put a Dent in Disposable Cups

Globally, it is estimated that we throw away about 16 billion disposable cups every year. Not all of these cups are used in work areas, but a large number of them are. Many of these cups are coated with plastic and have plastic lids. The bad thing about this is that when tossed in the trash, they can live for years in landfills before degrading. But the good thing about it is that these cups can often be re-used with simple rinsing. Taking this extra step and re-using disposable cups – or switching to traditional cups - will help make a big dent in how many disposable cups end up in trash disposal centers.

Plastic Straws and Stirrers

Here is all we need to say about using plastic straws and stirrers: say no. Once again, these are invariably made of plastic, take years to disintegrate, and we can get by without them.  

Use Less Water

The days of limitless amounts of water, even in desert areas of the world, are fast ending. As they do, we are finding many ways to reduce consumption. In commercial facilities, the three best methods to reduce water consumption are installing native vegetation, which typically needs less water, re-fitting existing toilets to use less water, and installing waterless urinals. In many cases, installing waterless urinals such as these will result in the biggest reduction in water consumption of all the measures taken.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.

Four Reasons for Mysterious Odors in Homes and Offices

Photo by LYCS Architecture on Unsplash

Whether it’s in your home, school, or office, there’s a good chance that mysterious odors will someday develop in your home’s bathrooms, commercial facility restrooms, or kitchens. Where the odor is coming from is the big mystery. Looking high and low often does not help. But when you look down — toward the floor — that’s where you often find the culprit.

Many odors in bathrooms, restrooms, showers, and kitchens are coming from floor drains. This happens for a multitude of reasons, including the following:

1.    Gunk build-up. Floor drains are designed to catch and remove not only water and liquids, but also all types of gunk, for lack of a better word. This includes hair, grease, soap, food, and more. Over time, it can begin to lodge onto the sides of the pipes below the floor drain, and the longer it hangs around, the more likely it will start to produce odors.

Photo by Adrian Lange on Unsplash

2.    Bacteria. The reason gunk begins to smell is because bacteria forms. This is really what is causing the odor. Pipes are a perfect setting for bacteria to develop. There is adequate moisture and, in most cases, sufficient oxygen.

3.    Blocked vents. The plumbing systems in homes and commercial facilities are equipped with vents. These allow trapped gasses to travel through the pipes and be released outside, where they dissipate into the air if working correctly. However, if the vent is blocked or somehow clogged, these gasses will leak through the drain, releasing odors into the home or facility.

4.    Sewer gasses. Under every drain is a P-trap, a U-shaped pipe designed to hold a small amount of water. However, this water can and frequently does evaporate. For instance, this traditionally happens when schools are closed for the summer or prolonged periods of time. And due to COVID and building closures, this has been happening much more frequently. Further, we must add that when sewer gasses are released from drains, it can be dangerous, as these fumes are often toxic.

Of all the issues just mentioned, the only one that requires calling a plumber is if a vent is blocked. But for all the others, there are some very easy and quick steps you can take without calling a plumber. Among them are the following:

Boiling water. Never underestimate the power of boiling water when opening clogged drains. Dishwasher maintenance specialists often use boiling water to unclog drains from dishwashers. This happens frequently, especially with older dishwashers. You can do the same to eliminate odors from drains. Carefully pour boiling water down the floor drain and then wait. It may take time for the odor to disappear, and you may need to repeat this procedure a couple of times before determining if it was effective.

Vinegar. Vinegar can be very effective at eliminating drain odors, especially if it is heated. This is the part many people are unaware of. While it should never be boiling, the added heat improves the effectiveness of the acetic acid in the vinegar, which helps it eliminate bacteria and remove the gunk and bacteria in the pipes.

Sewer gasses. Once again, this is a very inexpensive and easy fix.

What most commercial facilities use, and this product can be used in homes as well, is EverPrime. What EverPrime does is fill the U-trap we mentioned earlier with a biodegradable liquid. EverPrime lasts for months, does not evaporate, is little impacted by extreme cold or heat, and prevents sewer odors from being released from all types of drains, including those in floors, sinks, showers, and more.

So there you have it. Now we know where that mysterious odor is coming from and, even better, we now know how to fix it.

Scientists search for causes of western water woes high in the Colorado Rockies

New study of snow, ice, and rain aims to improve Colorado River flow forecasts

In a historic first, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation earlier this month declared a water shortage on the Colorado River, triggering emergency measures that will require farmers in Arizona to cut their use of irrigation water by 20% next year. The immediate cause of the declaration is record low water levels in Lake Mead, the largest reservoir fed by the river. But scientists say the crisis has been years in the making—and could soon get worse. For reasons they don’t completely understand, but that are related to the West’s changing climate, snow that falls in the Rocky Mountains—the source of about 80% of the Colorado—has been providing the river with less and less water. “This is an existential water crisis for the Southwest,” says Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Next week, researchers will begin an innovative campaign to better understand the fundamental processes—from the behavior of tiny particles that become snowflakes to weather patterns that influence how snow vanishes into thin air—that determine how mountain precipitation becomes surface water for 40 million people. “What gets us going in the morning is the large number of people that really rely on this resource,” says atmospheric scientist Daniel Feldman of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), who leads the effort.

For the more than $8 million project, called the Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL), researchers are deploying dozens of instruments that will measure wind, rain, snow, solar radiation, and atmospheric particles in a high-elevation Colorado watershed. Hydrologists have already been studying the streams and bedrock there for years. But the additional equipment will collect data intended to sharpen models that produce a variety of critical forecasts, including short-term predictions of seasonal stream flows and long-term scenarios of how climate change might alter regional water supplies. SAIL is “going to make advances in mountain precipitation and snow studies that would just be impossible without this level of instrumentation,” says Jessica Lundquist, a mountain hydrologist at the University of Washington, Seattle. “It’s really exciting.”

To read more of this article by Erik Stokstad on science.org, click here.