tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75347312320596606342024-03-28T03:12:22.874-07:00Green Risks Groundwater, Water Wells, Water Sustainability, and Sustainable LivingElizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.comBlogger1588125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-84976345227330395502024-03-27T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-27T23:00:00.346-07:00Flooding in MassachusettsExcerpted <a href="UMass Amherst Researchers Need Massachusetts Citizen Scientists’ Help to Model Rising Groundwater : UMass Amherst" target="_blank">from U.Mass </a>and Massachusetts press release.<br /><br />Our climate is changing, and that is impacting water. Though much has been made of the reduction in precipitation in the Southwest and water shortages, in truth, on average, total annual precipitation has increased over land areas in the United States and worldwide. Since 1901, global precipitation has increased at an average rate of 0.04 inches per decade, while precipitation in the contiguous 48 states has increased at a rate of 0.20 inches per decade. <br /><br /> Massachusetts has one of the most robust records of hydrological variables, such as precipitation and groundwater levels that goes back many decades. Studies this century suggest that climate will change the timing and nature of precipitation- alteration in thy hydrologic cycle. <br /><br />Although few observational studies on ground water and climate have been done, in 2010 a group from the University of Massachusetts used the state’s wealth of data to examine the response of the water table to the last 60 years of climate in New England. <a href="Heterogeneous water table response to climate revealed by 60 years of ground water data - Weider - 2010 - Geophysical Research Letters - Wiley Online Library" target="_blank">That work by Boutt and Weider at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst </a>found that since 1970, precipitation has increased in New England by 15–20%. Due to the geology in New England , this increase in precipitation is leading to a rapid rise in groundwater levels. In some parts of Massachusetts are seeing the water table rise by a few centimeters every year. While this value may seem small, the cumulative rise over decades can begin to affect sub-surface infrastructure.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuS2Ge4kFPXHZ0HmhsZ8RKSYaQHOPmTRtxV5rhO_sKAffXBGrKX8M3V5SsZzvRqq8eolx0AYwisVpITaz3_jfxXWc398pbMbqnSff_md5EAPhYMjqVDtV7YeV5wFviosTrDvEoWfdzpQhsd8d2-bPBV1uMXuTSrJzaZ1IE_uYIMJG6XfL5Xyrn55rYZR_/s1600/mass%20precipitation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuS2Ge4kFPXHZ0HmhsZ8RKSYaQHOPmTRtxV5rhO_sKAffXBGrKX8M3V5SsZzvRqq8eolx0AYwisVpITaz3_jfxXWc398pbMbqnSff_md5EAPhYMjqVDtV7YeV5wFviosTrDvEoWfdzpQhsd8d2-bPBV1uMXuTSrJzaZ1IE_uYIMJG6XfL5Xyrn55rYZR_/w475-h329/mass%20precipitation.png" width="475" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Dr. David Bout head of the Hydrogeology Group at University of Massachusetts- Amherst and a professor of Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences (EGCS) has been studying the impact of our changing climate on groundwater since 2005. Recently, the work being done by his group caught the eye of the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Department of Conservation and Recreation, both of which asked Boutt and his colleagues to <a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d24c1d098690487b87d618a2f4bba0a8">build a new model that could assess flooding risk from groundwater rise</a> to improve that model with <a href="http://tinyurl.com/masswetbasement">data from an ongoing statewide survey</a> and to file a final report, which the group is in the process of completing. <br /><br />To date their conclusions are that shallow groundwater in Massachusetts will rise by an average of 0.14-0.8 ft in the coming years. The Groundwater Rise Risk Zones will increase groundwater flooding by 8-16%, groundwater emergence will increase by 7-14% and groundwater shoaling will increase by 4-8%. University of Massachusetts- Amherst expects the greatest groundwater risks to occur in Western Massachusetts.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspuYcQZOPuKf8HmH4mC8Wq-14_rcQxGrIlN-bTsJv5n3v6Y8BIfzHbqsR_aRnXwXXRwL8xPvPkiR_atpQippERxpKPW2Alvtpf2lGUmRj94yf_5DRyS5Uc2HfzlunCzWvjjhYgoT5GdxUU7xGl2gCg3gN-wwZvb2Al7wHAGgzMyB-9RZ7U6UIgMJHWOIa/s1430/mass%20wester%20gw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1430" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspuYcQZOPuKf8HmH4mC8Wq-14_rcQxGrIlN-bTsJv5n3v6Y8BIfzHbqsR_aRnXwXXRwL8xPvPkiR_atpQippERxpKPW2Alvtpf2lGUmRj94yf_5DRyS5Uc2HfzlunCzWvjjhYgoT5GdxUU7xGl2gCg3gN-wwZvb2Al7wHAGgzMyB-9RZ7U6UIgMJHWOIa/w422-h294/mass%20wester%20gw.png" width="422" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br />Types of Groundwater Flooding <br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Groundwater rise: </b>Movement upward of the water table due to short or long-term fluctuations in rainfall recharge and/or river, ocean or tidal levels. </li><li><b>Groundwater shoaling:</b> Water table rise in the subsurface closer to, but not reaching, the land surface.</li><li><b>Groundwater emergence: </b>Discharge/outflow of groundwater at the surface from the subsurface due to the rise of the water table at a point (spring) or diffuse locations.</li><li><b>Groundwater flooding:</b> Temporary process of the rise of the water table resulting in a groundwater emergence where the water level surface intersects or goes above the land surface due to a changing condition.</li></ul>From <a href="download (mass.gov)" target="_blank">U.Mass presentation</a> and quoting Bosserelle et al., 2021, Earth’s Future</div>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-18704080260666186462024-03-24T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-24T23:00:00.138-07:00Groundwater- the Basics<p>Groundwater is the subsurface water that fills the spaces,
pores or cracks in soils and rocks.
Aquifers are the name given to any body of rock or sand that contains a
usable supply of water. The upper surface of this water-filled area, or
"zone of saturation", is called the water table. The saturated
area beneath the water table is called an aquifer, and aquifers are huge
storehouses of water for mankind and the planet itself. A good aquifer must be
both porous enough to hold water and permeable enough to allow the water to
flow and the continuous recharge of water to a well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the void spaces in the rocks below the water table
are filled with water. Depending on type, soils and rocks have different
porosity and permeability characteristics, which means that water does not move
around the same way in all rocks below ground. Combined together geology and
rainfall determine the character of and the quantity of the groundwater. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Groundwater is replenished by the seepage of precipitation that
falls on the land and infiltrates into the water table and the aquifer, and sometimes
by surface water. Mankind can artificially deplete or replenished groundwater.
There are many geologic, meteorologic, topographic, and human factors that
determine the extent and rate to which aquifers are refilled with water or used
up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the <a href="Aquifers and Groundwater | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)" target="_blank">US Geological Survey points out</a>: “Nearly all
surface-water features (streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and estuaries)
interact with ground water. These interactions take many forms. In many
situations, surface-water bodies gain water and solutes from ground-water
systems and in others the surface-water body is a source of ground-water
recharge and causes changes in ground-water quality. As a result, withdrawal of
water from streams can deplete ground water or conversely, pumpage of ground
water can deplete water in streams, lakes, or wetlands.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Though the type of rock will determine the water capacity of
the aquifer. There is variability in at what depth rocks are found. A
relationship does not necessarily exist between the water-bearing capacity of
rocks and the depth at which they are found, it varies tremendously by region
and continent. A very dense granite that will yield little or no water to a
well may be exposed at the land surface. Conversely, a porous sandstone may lie
hundreds or thousands of feet below the land surface and may yield hundreds of
gallons per minute of water. On the average, however, the porosity and
permeability of rocks decrease as their depth below land surface increases
because the weight of the overlying rocks compresses pores and cracks in rocks
at great depths.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Geologic conditions also control the distribution of what are
called structural belts of the earth’s surface that were formed with the
mountains. These belts influence groundwater flow, recharge and discharge. Both
geomorphology and geology determine the volumes of surface runoff and
amounts and rates of infiltration. Depending on geologic conditions, ground
water can be directly connected to surface water or not connected with surface
water. The connection with surface water affects the ability of an aquifer to
be recharged. Groundwater that has lost it’s connection to surface water<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like water on the earth’s surface, groundwater tends to flow
downhill under the influence of gravity and eventually discharges, or flows out
of the ground, into streams or other surface water-dependent areas, such as
wetlands in the geology of New England and the mid-Atlantic states. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ground water flow and storage, often viewed as static
reservoirs, are dynamic and continually changing in response to human and
climatic stress [<a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2010GL045561#grl27629-bib-0002">Alley
et al., 2002</a>; <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2010GL045561#grl27629-bib-0011">Gleeson
et al., 2010</a>]. Increase or decrease in precipitation patterns impacts
available surface and groundwater. Man’s hand in changing the surface also
impacts water resources. Land use changes that increase impervious cover more
than 5-10% from roads, pavement and buildings does two things. It reduces the
open area for rain and snow to seep into the ground and percolate into the
groundwater and the impervious surfaces cause stormwater velocity to
increase preventing water from having enough time to percolate into the earth,
increasing storm flooding and preventing recharge of groundwater from
occurring. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Slowly, this can reduce water supply over time. Increasing
population density increases water use. Significant increases in groundwater
use and reduction in aquifer recharge can result in the slowly falling water
levels over time showing that the water is being used up. Unless there is an
earthquake or other geological event groundwater changes are not abrupt and
problems with water supply tend to happen very slowly as demand increases with
construction and recharge is impacted by adding paved roads, driveways, houses
and other impervious surfaces. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The changing land use impacts regional hydrology and
groundwater recharge so the quantity of available groundwater and streamflow
may decrease with the same amount of precipitation. Groundwater serves as a
savings account for rivers and streams. Sustainability of groundwater is
hyper-local. Little is known about the sustainability of our groundwater
basins, but that is changing. Groundwater models and data from more monitoring
wells can help develop a picture of the volume of the water within the
groundwater basin and at what rate it is being used and at what rate it is
being recharged. This can help manage water resources during drought years and
wet years. <o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-3576985469748587852024-03-20T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-20T23:00:00.134-07:00Nano Plastics found in Bottled Water<p>The blog is excerpted from the <a href="Bottled Water Can Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Nanoplastics | Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health" target="_blank">Columbia University researchnews </a>and the recently published article in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2300582121" target="_blank">Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences</a>. The study was coauthored by Xin Gao
and Xiaoqi Lang of the Columbia Chemistry Department; Huipeng Deng and Teodora
Maria Bratu of Lamont-Doherty; Qixuan Chen of Columbia’s Mailman School of
Public Health; and Phoebe Stapleton of Rutgers University.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Plastics, a creation of mankind have become ubiquitous in
our lives and on our planet. Plastic is a wonder, but is also one of the most
commonly littered items in the world. Scientists have found that virtually all
the plastic we ever made is non-degradable and is still with us. Much of the
plastic ends up in landfills, or worn into smaller particles in the soil, in
the ocean, or in our rivers, streams, lakes and estuaries, even in the air we
breath. The existence of microplastics (1 µm to 5 mm in length) and the smaller
nano plastics (<1 μm) has in recent years has raised health concerns. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Micro and nano plastics originating from the use and
improper disposal of plastics worldwide have increasingly raised concerns
because they have been found to have a negative impacts on the endocrine
components in mammals- hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, testes, and
ovaries. Micro and nano plastics absorb and act as a transport medium for
harmful chemicals such as bisphenols, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl
ether, polychlorinated biphenyl ether, organotin, perfluorinated compounds,
dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic contaminants, and the heavy
metals, which are commonly used as additives in plastic production.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nano plastics are so tiny that, unlike microplastics, they
can pass through the intestines and lungs directly into the bloodstream and
travel from there to organs including the heart and brain. Nano plastics can
invade individual cells, and cross through the placenta to the bodies of unborn
babies. Medical researchers are studying the impact of nano plastics on a
wide variety of biological systems- and they indeed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>appear to be endocrine disrupting. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, there has remained a fundamental knowledge gap in
nano plastics because of the lack of effective analytical techniques. The
Columbia University study linked above <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>developed a powerful optical imaging technique
for rapid analysis of nano plastics with never before seen sensitivity and
specificity. As a demonstration, micro-nano plastics in bottled water were
analyzed with profiling of individual plastic particles.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The researchers searched for seven specific plastics in three
“popular brands” of bottled water (they declined to name which ones), analyzing
plastic particles down to just 100 nanometers in size. They spotted 110,000 to
370,000 particles in each liter, 90% of which were nano plastics; the rest were
microplastics. They were also able to determine<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>which of the seven specific plastics they identified.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One common nano plastic founde was polyethylene
terephthalate or PET. This is what many water bottles are made of so finding it
was not suprising. (It is also used for bottled sodas, sports drinks and
condiments such as ketchup and mayonnaise.) It probably gets into the water as
bits slough off when the bottle is squeezed or gets exposed to heat. One recent
study suggests that many particles enter the water when you repeatedly open or
close the cap, and tiny bits abrade.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the number of particles of PET was outnumbered by
polyamide, a type of nylon. Ironically, the scientists believe, that probably
comes from plastic filters used to purify the water before it is bottled. Other
common plastics the researchers found: polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and
polymethyl methacrylate, all used in various industrial processes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The seven plastic types the scientists searched for
accounted for only about 10% of all the nanoparticles they found in samples;
they have no idea (yet) what the rest are. If they are all nano plastics, that
would mean that nano plastic particles could number in the tens of millions per
liter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The scientists plan to continue their work, with plans to
look at tap water, which also has been shown to contain microplastics, though
far less than bottled water according to a meta study by Isabella Gambino et al
cited below The researchers are now studying micro plastics and nano plastics
generated when people do laundry, which end up in wastewater—so far, by a count
of millions per 10-pound load, coming off synthetic materials that comprise
many items of clothing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The team will also identify particles in snow that British
collaborators <a href="https://rma-trmc.org/mission-spiritus-antarctica-update/" target="_blank">trekking
by foot across western Antarctica </a> are currently collecting. They also
are collaborating with environmental health experts to measure nano plastics in
various human tissues and examine their developmental and neurologic effects.
What we have done to our planet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gambino I, Bagordo F, Grassi T, Panico A, De Donno A.
Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge. Int J
Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 26;19(9):5283. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095283.
PMID: 35564678; PMCID: PMC9103198.<o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-32255740928747241692024-03-17T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-18T02:38:17.007-07:00Prince William needs to Protect the Occoquan WatershedWith assistance from the PWCA ORPA workgroup. <br /><br />The Occoquan Reservoir is a vital drinking water source for 800,000 residents in Northern Virginia including residents on the eastern end of Prince William County. The Occoquan Reservoir watershed spans less than 600 square miles and Prince William County has the largest portion of land area within the Occoquan Watershed in its jurisdiction (40%). Other jurisdictions comprising the watershed include Fauquier County (36%), Fairfax County (17%), and Loudoun County (5%). The City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park comprise a total of about 2%. <br /><br />As of the 2020 Census, there were approximately 574,000 people residing within the watershed. About 43% of the population in the Occoquan Watershed resides in Prince William County. As the most populous jurisdiction in the Occoquan watershed and the one with the largest land area, substantial changes in land use patterns in areas of Prince William County will impact water quality in the watershed which will impact the groundwater, the streams and rivers and the Occoquan Reservoir. <br /> <br /> To protect the Occoquan Watershed, Fairfax County downzone 41,000 acres of land and protected another 5,000 along the Occoquan Reservoir during the 1980’s. Prince William County adopted a rural area called the Rural Crescent with the adoption of the 1998 Comprehensive Plan which served to protect the headwaters in the fragile Bull Run watershed and Occoquan Watershed by alleviating development pressure in the already heavily urbanized drinking water watershed. <br /><br />When Prince William County approved their Comprehensive Plan pathway to 2040, the “Rural Area” designation was eliminated. It was replaced it with an "Agricultural Estate" designation covering 55,310 acres and with an "Agricultural and Forestal" designation covering 75,647 acres. These new designations allow for more development in the rural area. Recent rezonings have allowed even more intense development in what was once the rural area. The Comprehensive Plan update also established an Occoquan Reservoir Protection Area (ORPA), to protect the Occoquan Reservoir as a public water supply and meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan that Virginia is using to meet the US EPA enforced Pollution Reductions mandates. <br /><br />Protecting the Occoquan Reservoir requires protecting all the water resource in a region because all water on earth is connected. Precipitation moves into the water table (the hyporheic zone) down to groundwater or into rivers and streams. Disrupting the balance of water flow can have dire consequences. The available supply of fresh water is continually renewed by the hydrologic cycle and in the case of the Occoquan Reservoir the actions of mankind. The need for water is constant and grows with population and wealth and business activity. There is also a seasonality to water- we use more in summer. <br /><br />Many activities of mankind interfere with the hydrologic cycle. Through land change we interrupt the recharge of groundwater which impacts stream flow. Changing the use of the land, covering it with buildings, driveways, roads, walkway and other impervious surfaces will change the hydrology of the site reducing groundwater recharge in the surrounding area increasing stormwater runoff velocity and quantity and reducing streamflow which is feed by groundwater. <br /><br />As groundwater levels fall, perennial steams that feed the rivers become ephemeral. The groundwater becomes disconnected from the surface water network. Once the hydrology is destroyed by development, it cannot be easily restored, if at all. <br /><br />The Occoquan Reservoir is fed by the Occoquan River which receives up to 40 million gallons a day of the treated discharge of the Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority treatment plant which discharges to the river upstream of the Occoquan Reservoir so, a significant portion of the flow (especially during dry periods) into the reservoir is recycled sewage. This treated wastewater is from areas supplied by the Corbalis plant or lake Manassas so you do not end up with constantly recycling and concentrating the same impurities into the Occoquan. <br /><br />In addition, the reservoir receives stormwater runoff, precipitation from the Occoquan Watershed and feeds the streams and creeks that feed Bull Run and the Occoquan River. When generally open rural area is developed, stormwater runoff increases in quantity and velocity washing away stream banks, flooding roads and buildings carrying fertilizers, oil and grease, and road salt to the Occoquan Reservoir. The faster flow of storm water gouges the riverbeds picks up pollutants from impervious surfaces. The cumulative impact of these steps leads to flash floods, unstable banks, heavy pollution and waning life. This is why it is essential to have an ORPA, to ensure both public and private water users continue to have water to drink and use. <br /><br />Geology, climate, weather, land use and many other factors determine the quality of the groundwater and in turn streamflow. Within Prince William County Virginia there are four distinct geologic provinces: (1) the Blue Ridge, (2) the Culpeper Basin, (3) the Piedmont, and (4) the Coastal Plain. The U.S. Geological Survey divides the four geologic provinces of the county into seven hydrogeologic groups based on the presence and movement of the ground water calling them groups: A, B, B1, C, D, E and F. <br /><br />The quantity and quality of ground water in Prince William County varies across the county depending on the geologic and hydrogeologic group you are in. The rocks in the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain contain minerals that are resistant to weathering, and the ground water tends to be acidic having low concentrations of dissolved constituents. Generally speaking, the groundwater in the county is recharged in elevated areas between stream valleys and channels and discharges to streams and estuaries. However, the paths and duration of groundwater flow are different between consolidated rocks and unconsolidated material. Groundwater in the consolidated rocks flows through the system of fractures following a circuitous path before discharging to a stream or estuary. In unconsolidated material, ground water generally follows a direct path from the recharge area to the discharge area. <br /><br />In the area of the proposed ORPA is beyond the Culpeper Basin in the Piedmont region. This area of the ORPA is primarily hydrogeologic group D composed of igneous rock formations with limited lenses of hydrogeologic group E that transition at the bounds of the ORPA to group E and then to the Coastal Plain. <br /><br />Hydrogeologic group D is located within the Piedmont formation and consists of three igneous plutons in the eastern part of Prince William County: the Goldvein, Lake Jackson, and Occoquan Plutons. Rocks within hydrogeologic group D tend to have moderate water-bearing potential and ground-water storage tends to be predominantly in the overburden, which is the soils above the bedrock. Wells in this area are most susceptible to drought and tend to be slightly acidic. The igneous rocks have subhorizontal sheeting and near vertical joints overlain by thick overburden. Groundwater wells in the area tend to have yields range from 1.2 to 100 gal/min which has resulted in the development of homes with wells in the area due to the thickness of the water storing overburden. <br /> <br /> Hydrogeologic group E is also in the Piedmont formation in the eastern part of the county, and consists of metasedimentary, metavolcanic, and other metamorphic rocks. Rocks within hydrogeologic group E tend to have poor water-bearing potential, and thin- to thick cover of overburden. Similar to the rocks of hydrogeologic group D, ground-water storage tends to be predominantly in the overburden. Some of the poorest yielding wells in Prince William County are located in this hydrogeologic group and can be as low a 0.25 gallons per minute upto 70 gallons per minute-, but tending towards the low end because of the thinness of the overburden beyond the limits of what is the proposed ORPA. Homes and businesses in this area have depended on public water supply due to the limitations on well development and that water comes from the Occoquan Reservoir. <br /><br />Protecting groundwater serves to protect all of the water resources in the watershed. Today, the Occoquan watershed is often described as the most urbanized watershed in the nation. Certainly there are far more urbanized areas in the United States, but they do not have functioning watersheds. We need to effectively protect ours.Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-70707677252334905062024-03-13T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-13T23:00:00.137-07:00Death Valley Ephemeral Lake<p>Death Valley is the driest place in North America, with some
areas receiving less than two inches of rain per year, and is the location of
the highest temperature (134 °F on July 10, 1913) ever recorded in the United
States. The valley is not dead, it is a below-sea-level basin, surrounded
by towering peaks that are often frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast
fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and serve as a refuge for wildlife and
human life.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Usually Death Valley visitors see a vast salt flat at
Badwater Basin. However heavy rain from Hurricane Hillary in August 2023 brought
2.2 inches if rain that filled the valley floor with a vast, shallow lake. At
its largest, it was about 7 miles long, 4 miles wide, and two feet deep. Imagine
only 2.2 inches of rain doing that!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By late January it had shrunk to about half that size, and
was inches deep. Then an atmospheric
river brought another 1.5 inches in early February, 2024 and after the atmospheric
river moved through, the lake continue to expand as water drained into the basin
from the Amargosa River, which feeds the basin from the south. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Amargosa is usually an intermittent river
was observed to be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flowing by park rangers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Badwater Basin is endorheic, meaning that water flows into
but not out of it. Typically, evaporation far outpaces inputs from rain and the
Amargosa, rendering the lake ephemeral. But in the past six months, the unusual
atmospheric rivers have changed the equation. As of mid February, the lake is 1
foot deep in places, and it is uncertain how long it will last. Past
appearances of the lake are rare- appearing in 2005 and 2015 and none on record
have lasted as long as this one. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The satellite image below is from NASA Earth Observatory
images by <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/about/wanmei-liang">Wanmei
Liang</a>, using Landsat data from the <a href="http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>. Photo by K.
Skilling/National Park Service.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQURTlLdMrTzBG_15FM-qXr9WY8tHXq8DskvuJwkvUguDplBNH_WvFRgiJ2igCt7K4AHCaDnbezEcwVXp2qqcGVlub-J2dALnDm6aAv8JpmDs5Bs7UuT5TA5Z4qa1-QmR9B2MudQ3YFm4bmzm09B37mb5r62iDr0-8AV6UfQfgTzi8AeK3Vvvw_QCnHQz/s1617/dearh%20valley%20labeled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1617" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQURTlLdMrTzBG_15FM-qXr9WY8tHXq8DskvuJwkvUguDplBNH_WvFRgiJ2igCt7K4AHCaDnbezEcwVXp2qqcGVlub-J2dALnDm6aAv8JpmDs5Bs7UuT5TA5Z4qa1-QmR9B2MudQ3YFm4bmzm09B37mb5r62iDr0-8AV6UfQfgTzi8AeK3Vvvw_QCnHQz/w533-h353/dearh%20valley%20labeled.png" width="533" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-89548640804612919822024-03-10T23:00:00.000-07:002024-03-10T23:00:00.142-07:00Total Eclipse of the Sun<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLaGnMKz1QbrZNk30nAgQ0CP0_ZlvCp3sRWyoCghdlC3z2v2jJ9VJZhV51GtY6Ufeiw7ReJqhCiE-SXaRjQmznfp0X8TgRTWTrEI7uuzYTKOXYK_hdqJxwEntkRKnTJeOb1aFlMTjb7NN30yUg3KBY5Cc_zyiycHD_JPtmGekL5DKptgclsNm1sivv5fa/s2305/eclipse.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="2305" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLaGnMKz1QbrZNk30nAgQ0CP0_ZlvCp3sRWyoCghdlC3z2v2jJ9VJZhV51GtY6Ufeiw7ReJqhCiE-SXaRjQmznfp0X8TgRTWTrEI7uuzYTKOXYK_hdqJxwEntkRKnTJeOb1aFlMTjb7NN30yUg3KBY5Cc_zyiycHD_JPtmGekL5DKptgclsNm1sivv5fa/w521-h141/eclipse.png" width="521" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NASA</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p>On Monday, April 8, 2024 a total solar eclipse will cross
North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Weather
permitting the total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean and
hit Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. This is probably the
last solar eclipse to cross North America in my lifetime. <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/" target="_blank">The last eclipse I saw was in July 1963, and this is my last shot to see another.</a> I live under 200 miles from the path of totality and should be able to see much of the eclipse from home, but we are in a solar maximum and a few hours drive could yield quite a show! <a href="https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/" target="_blank">You can watch along with NASA.</a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The path of this eclipse will move from Mexico, entering the
United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri,
Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New
Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience
the total solar eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and
continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton.
The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of
Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT. We are close enough to drive to see it full on, but the eclipse will be visible all along the northeast corridor. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1k4_cgkxmVbJI9MDDmX-Oz6Qz-_4heHwlbRMu1LHv6yAxIZsfrHB9kpy-folq99aELwcu39cI6SO_j5tWGlhyRWDvePJovnjSnb6vfjkgwJW5DLDLLokCULStH1_W4tQho7_-TURj2PgMNMntTYyW8eaZznLXLBDukn5NnVPKyhBxA7UqwxvIivnVEyi/s2402/eclipse%20path%20nasa.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2402" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1k4_cgkxmVbJI9MDDmX-Oz6Qz-_4heHwlbRMu1LHv6yAxIZsfrHB9kpy-folq99aELwcu39cI6SO_j5tWGlhyRWDvePJovnjSnb6vfjkgwJW5DLDLLokCULStH1_W4tQho7_-TURj2PgMNMntTYyW8eaZznLXLBDukn5NnVPKyhBxA7UqwxvIivnVEyi/w484-h240/eclipse%20path%20nasa.png" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/faq" target="_blank">NASA</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The path of totality is where the moon will completely cover
the sun making the sun’s corona visible. Viewing of partial eclipse will be
possible from a much wider geographic area. This area is about 115 miles wide, In this area looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the
brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely
blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of
totality and only during the window of complete coverage which is about 4 and a half minutes. Otherwise you must protect your eyes and vision. The only
safe way to look directly at a partially eclipsed sun is through
special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses or hand-held solar
viewers.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even dark ones, are NOT SAFE for
looking at the sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight. Eclipse
glasses and handheld solar viewers must be verified to be compliant with the
ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for such products. Make sure you
have real solar glasses. It's not enough today to just look for the ISO
12312-2 certification, because in 2017 many unscrupulous vendors on
Amazon were printing fake glasses with ISO 12312-2 certifications.
Only buy glasses made in the United States from a <a href="https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters" target="_blank">vendor
on the approved list of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. </a>You
can also view the eclipse on NASA’s web site or through a pinhole projector as
we did when we were kids. NASA’s has a diagram on how to make a pinhole
projector. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the ‘beauty shot’ photographs you will see of the
eclipse will be taken with professional digital cameras on tripods, or shot
through a telescope, but the most common photos you will probably see will be
taken by the millions of smartphones used by ordinary people to capture this
event. <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/" target="_blank">Read NASA’s tips and precautions and remember to protect your eyes.</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do NOT use eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras,
binoculars, or telescopes. Those require different types of solar filters. When
viewing the partial phases of the eclipse through cameras, binoculars, or
telescopes equipped with proper solar filters, you do not need to wear eclipse
glasses. (The solar filters do the same job as the eclipse glasses to protect
your eyes.)<o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-49431556629993599012024-03-06T23:00:00.000-08:002024-03-06T23:00:00.142-08:00Looking for PFAS Sources in the Occoquan Watershed<p> <a href="https://greenrisks.blogspot.com/2023/03/epa-proposes-drinking-water-standards.html" target="_blank">On March 14, 2023, EPA announced the proposed National Primary
Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) </a>for six Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances (PFAS) including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane
sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide
dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane
sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). When
finalized, the proposed regulation will require public water systems to monitor
for these chemicals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In anticipation of the regulations, Fairfax Water hired an
independent lab to test their water using current EPA-approved methods that can
detect PFAS at much lower concentrations than previous methods. Fairfax Water
also participated in the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Occurrence Study
that was completed in 2021. However, the practical quantitative limit was
4 ppt just at the proposed regulatory limit. Fairfax Water found that some of
the results for the Occoquan Reservoir for PFOS and PFAS were above the MRL and
the regulatory limit. Since that time the Occoquan Watershed Laboratory has
upgraded their analytical equipment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PFAS dissolves in water and combined with their chemical
properties means that traditional drinking water treatment technologies used at
water treatment plants are not designed to remove them, it is believed though,
that carbon filtration does remove some. Activated carbon adsorption, ion
exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes have been found to remove PFAS
from drinking water, especially PFOA and PFOS, which have been the most studied
of these chemicals and the PFAS substances with the lowest promulgated drinking
water limit . Testing these technologies at the new regulatory limits is
underway, but even if effective it could cost millions up to a billion dollars
to remove PFAS from the Occoquan Reservoir, then the problem is how to dispose
of the PFAS removed from the water. This would bring a whole new liability to
the water utility. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The best strategy is to look for the sources of PFAS in the
Occoquan watershed and prevent those from reaching the reservoir rather than
removal by Fairfax Water. Source water protection<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is the best solution if it can be done.
With that in mind both Fairfax Water and the EPA have developed an
analytic framework which provides information about PFAS across the
environment. Now Fairfax Water has begun testing in the watershed to identify
the sources of PFAS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Armed with $750,000 in new equipment for the purpose, the
Occoquan Watershed Laboratory has begun to test samples from throughout the
Occoquan watershed to determine where the PFAS in the reservoir is coming from.
To start with there are several potential known sources: the reclaimed water
from UOSA, accidental releases from Manassas airport, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the old Vint Hill army base where the
Fauquier Times reported that for the past several years, the U.S. Department of
Defense has been monitoring PFAS contamination at Vint Hill that is believed to
be tied to a former burn pit where soldiers practiced putting out fires with
firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, which then leached into the soil
and the groundwater.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is no longer enough water in the rivers in the
Occoquan watershed to consistently meet the demand during dry periods, so the Upper Occoquan Service Authority,
UOSA, the waste water treatment plant also delivers 40 million/day of recycled
water that originated in the Potomac River to the Occoquan Reservoir.
Supplementing the supply. According to Fairfax Water diet is responsible for
66%-72% of exposures to PFOA and PFOS (the two chemicals that have been most
widely studied). In some cases, they have also leached into both surface and
groundwater. Water is responsible for 22%-25% of exposures. Keeping PFAS
out of the source water the real challenge when PFAS is in our diet and
wastewater is reused in our drinking water supplies. To stay within the
regulatory limit, Fairfax Water will have to identify the PFAS content in the
various source of water and can mix them to minimize exposure or remove them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another way PFAS could have reached the Occoquan Reservoir
was from accidental release from Manassas Airport. The Manassas Airport is
upstream from the Occoquan Reservoir along Cannon Branch which flows into Long
Branch, and accidents do happen. In February 2020, a malfunction
released <a href="https://www.industrialfireworld.com/542138/firefighting-foam-overflows-virginia-airport-hangar" target="_blank">a large spill of PFAS-based firefighting foam</a> from a
hangar at Manassas Regional Airport, in the Occoquan River basin. Aqueous
film-forming foam, which is known as AFFF, is a firefighting foam
widely used in the aviation industry because it quickly extinguishes fuel fires
by spreading across the surface, depriving the fire of oxygen. This also makes
a spill hard to control. The spill was not entirely contained. The foam
contains chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). There
are likely to have been other spills over the years. So, soils and groundwater
in that part of the watershed may be contaminated. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Fauquier Times has reported that the area near Vint Hill
army base gets its drinking water from Buckland Water and Sanitation, a private
company, and that the water is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>distributed by the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority.
Buckland apparently has been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>testing
Vint Hill wells for PFAS for years but failed to disclose it since it was
not covered under the safe drinking water act. The level of contamination at
the site was reported by the Fauquier Times and the Prince William Times was
hundreds of times higher than the proposed drinking water standard. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are other potential sites in the Occoquan Watershed to
be studied and tested for PFAS. The old Atlantic Richfield superfund site
recently acquired by Microsoft was never tested for PFAS though the groundwater
has been monitored for solvents for years. There are likely to be other sites
to test.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Related Reading and sources:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.asdwa.org/2023/07/11/usgs-releases-new-study-on-pfas-in-us-tapwater/#:~:text=The%20study%20notes%20that%20the,when%20the%20substances%20were%20detected">https://www.asdwa.org/2023/07/11/usgs-releases-new-study-on-pfas-in-us-tapwater/#:~:text=The%20study%20notes%20that%20the,when%20the%20substances%20were%20detected</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/testing-begins-to-find-sources-of-forever-chemicals-in-the-occoquan-reservoir/article_b005cc5c-aac6-5bcf-a6b9-f9ef813d29bf.html#tncms-source=login">Testing
begins to find sources of 'forever chemicals' in the Occoquan Reservoir | News
| princewilliamtimes.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk160342431"></a><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023003069?via%3Dihub"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160342431;">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023003069?via%3Dihub</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160342431;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160342431;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-21504781793506660842024-03-03T23:00:00.000-08:002024-03-03T23:00:00.140-08:00We’re Sinking and Sea Level is Rising<p>This article is excerpted from the article cited below, the Virginia Tech news release, the NOAA 2022
update to the Sea Level Rise Technical Report and a previous blog post. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leonard O Ohenhen, Manoochehr Shirzaei, Patrick L Barnard,
Slowly but surely: Exposure of communities and infrastructure to subsidence on
the US east coast, PNAS Nexus, Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2024,
pgad426, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad426">https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad426</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2022 NOAA Released an update to the Sea Level Rise
Technical Report. The report project sea level along the U.S. coastline to
rise, on average, 10 - 12 inches (0.25 - 0.30 meters) in the next 30 years
(2020 - 2050), matching the rise measured over the last 100 years (1920 -
2020). Sea level rise will vary along U.S. coasts because of changes in both
land and ocean height. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The east coast is expected to be the relative sea level hot
spot over the next three decades projected to rise on average: 10 - 14 inches
(0.25 - 0.35 meters). This hot spot along the east coast extends from Cape
Hatteras, North Carolina to Boston, Massachusetts with the Southern Chesapeake
Bay region will experiencing the most significant rise. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vQ5xZaC-fQmy0NUuH3oY5AavtDkBSYz-QPHpdw205L8zPz8jR2APRTx8tiIsjLi1cuUO5KahvZyULXhwpG-R2bn-tqgkHFRGQfhPgj0f3ql3IXl4oquX0sRUPNsFTZoJldfSvgRn7p37xDycEKB8Lu8UBihIg1E9US46dX9kT2O1iysrSywlflp1uUSC/s1714/Screenshot%202024-02-29%20081718.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="1173" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vQ5xZaC-fQmy0NUuH3oY5AavtDkBSYz-QPHpdw205L8zPz8jR2APRTx8tiIsjLi1cuUO5KahvZyULXhwpG-R2bn-tqgkHFRGQfhPgj0f3ql3IXl4oquX0sRUPNsFTZoJldfSvgRn7p37xDycEKB8Lu8UBihIg1E9US46dX9kT2O1iysrSywlflp1uUSC/w341-h498/Screenshot%202024-02-29%20081718.png" width="341" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">In the last century this area experienced the highest rate
of sea level rise in the nation and is forecast to continue to have the highest
sea level rise in the next 30 years due to glacial rebound, land subsidence and
the rising sea levels. In the most recent study Ohenhen et al, looked at the
contribution of land subsidence on the relative sea level rise. They found that
the major cities on the U.S. Atlantic coast are sinking, in some cases as much
as 5 millimeters per year – a decline at the ocean’s edge that well outpaces
global sea level rise. The land subsidence is due to compaction from groundwater
pumping. When you withdraw the groundwater from fine-grained compressible
confining beds of sediments which are typical of the coastal regions (and other
areas) and do not replace it, the land
subsides. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To examine the phenomena the scientist used space-based
radar satellites to build digital terrain maps that show exactly where sinking
landscapes present risks to the health of vital infrastructure within 62 miles
of the coastline. Using the publicly available satellite imagery, Ohenhen et al
measured millions of occurrences of land subsidence spanning multiple years.
They then created some of the world's first high resolution depictions of the
land subsidence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The scientists found that New York City, Long Island,
Baltimore, Virginia Beach and Norfolk are seeing areas of rapid “subsidence,”
or sinking land, alongside more slowly sinking or relatively stable ground.
This differential subsidence <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>increase
the risk of damage and failure to roadways, bridges runways, building
foundations, rail lines, and pipelines,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Virginia our local land subsidence is due to glacial
rebound after the Laurentide ice sheet melted, excessive groundwater extraction
from the coastal aquifers, as well as the effects of the meteor impact near
Cape Charles, Virginia (about 35.5 million years ago). Combined, they are all
causing the relative sea level rise that is the highest along the coastline.
The Aquifer-system compaction from non-sustainable groundwater extraction
accounts for more than 50% of the land subsidence observed in the coastal
region. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Land subsidence barely registers as an issue of concern in public
policy. However, this slow, gradual, and unapparent land sinking motion magnifies
the exposure of coastal residents to the increases in sea levels due to climate
change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Subsidence increases the threat
to coastal communities from sea level rise and may even triple estimates of
potential flooding areas over the next few decades. Even if current climate
measures successfully curb rising sea levels, continuous land subsidence may
result in irreversible inundation, more frequent flooding and damage to
infrastructure in these coastal regions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Subsidence of more than a few millimeters per year are a
cause for concern, particularly in densely populated areas because subsidence
can undermine building foundations; damage roads, gas, and water lines; cause
building and bridge collapse. Differential subsidence is most damaging
especially in areas with essential facilities like hospitals, schools, or
transportation hubs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These groundbreaking new maps generated by Ohenhen et al
show that a large area of the East Coast is sinking at least 2 mm per year,
with several areas along the mid-Atlantic coast (Virginia) of up to 1,400
square miles, sinking more than 5 mm per year. This is more than the current 4
mm per year global rate of sea level rise. These coastal regions, where most large
cities are located <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are on the front
lines of climate change impacts and associated uncertainties due to the combined
effect of subsidence and sea level rise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over the past century population migrated to the low-elevation
coastal areas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continued accelerating
sea-level rise and land subsidence will increase the future vulnerability of
coastal communities worldwide. The impact of sea level rise-amplified hazards
on coastal communities, such as flooding and erosion, dominates discussion and
planning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in global climate change
discussions, with land subsidence (due to unstainable groundwater use)
relegated to the background. Land subsidence, however, is a pernicious and
growing problem on a global scale with more immediate hazards to coastal areas
and often presents more pressing and localized challenges. Policy changes to
better manage groundwater withdrawal could slow relative sea level rise. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The lead author of this study is Leonard Ohenhen, a graduate
student working with Associate Professor <a href="https://geos.vt.edu/people/Everyone/associate-professor.html">Manoochehr
Shirzaei</a> at Virginia Tech’s <a href="https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/eadar-lab/home">Earth Observation and
Innovation Lab</a>. This work provides important quantitative data for
coastal disaster resilience planning.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /> <o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_a1ZwlDEZEI7G2C1HJHxIDvMWIBzqPOSxo1E65uGY836llJdtaH8uyecpknGO3ovVSiTm-rLj6vMP9XJSir3RU2I5mx-jtrwf7hgZF7VfTVw6gZqEthWN5xi8EWwQvdkVyLVEvwYvZoV-Y4JKf1hALnaizGkuMloKDWDvbG4Ejp7V_UKGHaRubnEpv6n/s797/subsidence%20Leonard%20Ohenhen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="757" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_a1ZwlDEZEI7G2C1HJHxIDvMWIBzqPOSxo1E65uGY836llJdtaH8uyecpknGO3ovVSiTm-rLj6vMP9XJSir3RU2I5mx-jtrwf7hgZF7VfTVw6gZqEthWN5xi8EWwQvdkVyLVEvwYvZoV-Y4JKf1hALnaizGkuMloKDWDvbG4Ejp7V_UKGHaRubnEpv6n/w254-h268/subsidence%20Leonard%20Ohenhen.png" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonard Ohenhen</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFakNN1UN5M7jvV2HgL6yf7rRHqc1gCjz-lldPeqvowvjfAmiq-gnPv0tnEqDDGo4zRf7e5WOhblEA-GQiW0FB2LSjO0fsECYvh6PFiMBe4v9Eh1hBKrVPMQRwvmD8MSSzC0o7sEdtEm8Qo9LP0vZDhKp2H_vo3GgcSjxqUmpm0fBoWNcoEHIKMRxhxSoi/s565/subsidece%20Manoochehr%20Shirzaei%20VT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="565" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFakNN1UN5M7jvV2HgL6yf7rRHqc1gCjz-lldPeqvowvjfAmiq-gnPv0tnEqDDGo4zRf7e5WOhblEA-GQiW0FB2LSjO0fsECYvh6PFiMBe4v9Eh1hBKrVPMQRwvmD8MSSzC0o7sEdtEm8Qo9LP0vZDhKp2H_vo3GgcSjxqUmpm0fBoWNcoEHIKMRxhxSoi/w254-h250/subsidece%20Manoochehr%20Shirzaei%20VT.png" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://geos.vt.edu/people/Everyone/associate-professor.html" style="text-align: left;">Manoochehr Shirzaei</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-35008654329171191992024-02-28T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-28T23:00:00.163-08:00Do You Know What's in your Well Water?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8hooeJy3p_h58azTZwBASpxlDht51ypy0TcU260bB6zyVEsZYcEvmgFxhEy7JZiEgWwuXxBz3aEWdI1mi9VWJHUcnFqiSIEY2p9YgfGFkNz_b4BIsdcicmXsFqIrq2JnFMGdEZlPENaXS1hbu2U7x7Q5f2axmFHLL6VWl9GaM8Ys2iyxzzqiSueaLJG9/s286/water%20clinic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="286" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8hooeJy3p_h58azTZwBASpxlDht51ypy0TcU260bB6zyVEsZYcEvmgFxhEy7JZiEgWwuXxBz3aEWdI1mi9VWJHUcnFqiSIEY2p9YgfGFkNz_b4BIsdcicmXsFqIrq2JnFMGdEZlPENaXS1hbu2U7x7Q5f2axmFHLL6VWl9GaM8Ys2iyxzzqiSueaLJG9/w358-h168/water%20clinic.PNG" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>Public water supplies are tested daily for contaminants. Private wells are tested when you do it, and you should do it every year. Prince
William County Extension will be having a test your well water clinic next
week. Sign up now online <a href="https://register.ext.vt.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=1095183">BSE-VAHWQP-PW
2023 Prince William County Virginia Household Water Quality Program | Virginia
Cooperative Extension (vt.edu)</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Water samples will be tested for: iron, manganese, nitrate,
lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium,
copper, total coliform bacteria and E. Coli bacteria. Sample kits will
be $65 this year. Registration and pre-payment must be online by
going to <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;"><b><a href="https://tinyurl.com/VCE-PW-VAHWQP">https://tinyurl.com/VCE-PW-VAHWQP</a></b></span> before March 16th 2024. I had no trouble following the link and prepaying. Be aware
they will send a receipt and confirmation of
registration from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the VCEPrograms and a payment receipt from the Bursar at VA Tech. <br />
<br /> The Prince William
Drinking Water Clinic has 3 parts:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;">
</blockquote><b>1. Attend a Kick-Off Meeting and Collect Testing Kit Materials,
the online registration lets you select from 3 Kick-Off Options:</b><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Option 1</b>: In Person, Woodbridge: Board Chambers, McCoart Administration Building (1 County Complex Ct, Woodbridge, VA 22192): <span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Saturday, March 23rd 10:00am - 11:00am.</b> </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"></b><b>Option 2:</b> In Person, Manassas: Jean McCoy Conference Room (Sudley Government Center, 7987 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA 20109): <b>Tuesday, March 19th 6:00pm - 7:00pm.<br />Op<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ti</span>on 3: </b>Online, through <u>Zoom</u>: <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wednesday, March 20th 11:00am - 12:00pm</b>. If you choose this option, you must also register for the
Zoom meeting through this link: <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://bit.ly/PWCVAHWQP" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3c5b6f; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/PWCVAHWQP<br /></span></a></u>*Test kits for Option 3 (Zoom meeting) must be picked up at VCE-PW Office (8033 Ashton Ave., Suite 105, Manassas, VA 20109): <b>March 21st - 22nd or March 25th - 26th, 9:00am - 4:00pm</b></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;">
</blockquote><b>2. The Sample Drop Off</b>: <b>Wednesday, March 27th from 6:00am - 10:00am ONLY at the VCE-PW Office, 8033 Ashton Ave., Suite 105, Manassas 20109.</b><div><b><br /></b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>3. Results Interpretation Meeting through (Zoom) </b>on <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tuesday,
May 7th, 6:00pm - 7:00pm. </b></span></span>There will be a live
Zoom interpretation meeting co-hosted by VCE Household Water QualityCoordinator
Erin Ling and VCE-PW staff to explain the report, include a discussion, and questions
and answers. Zoom link and details will be emailed to all registrants.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The number of kits is limited. Pre-payment online is the only way to pay and guarantee you will get a kit. You must pay and register by March 16th 2024. No refunds will be available. Household water quality is driven by geology, well construction and condition, nearby sources of groundwater contamination, and any water treatment devices and the condition and materials of construction of the household plumbing. To ensure safe drinking water it is important to maintain your well, test it regularly and understand your system and geology. If you have water treatment equipment in your home you might want to get two test kits to test the water before and after the treatment equipment to make sure you have the right equipment for your water and that it is working properly. All participant information is kept strictly confidential</p><p class="MsoNormal">The chart below shows what was found in the private wells tested test of testing in Prince William County in 2023 (kindly ignore the error in my column titles).<o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbX5xJd7TC_iaPrs6Oa2z99kom1Rx2n69yqtv4DmX8MVcV63fZicLwr5PArmV2dxbdRxP96x9h7T0F_Fl-RWdorn3KO_KyTVwCZ9UogIyG7KxAyQOcIc8WwOAWqsBx6wtbsPWowcJvQMn5G9CbR9Vj5fPQ1YU34UHKOD3tKWDNItHx8fdV5fzofO9T8jH/s762/wells%20of%20PW%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="762" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbX5xJd7TC_iaPrs6Oa2z99kom1Rx2n69yqtv4DmX8MVcV63fZicLwr5PArmV2dxbdRxP96x9h7T0F_Fl-RWdorn3KO_KyTVwCZ9UogIyG7KxAyQOcIc8WwOAWqsBx6wtbsPWowcJvQMn5G9CbR9Vj5fPQ1YU34UHKOD3tKWDNItHx8fdV5fzofO9T8jH/w539-h424/wells%20of%20PW%202023.png" width="539" /></a><br /><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></blockquote></div>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-67187508567543782392024-02-25T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-27T02:59:26.104-08:00Salt in the Reservoir <p>This article is excerpted from the article cited below and
the Virginia Tech news release. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bhide, Shantanu & Grant, Stanley & Parker, Emily
& Rippy, Megan & Godrej, Adil & Kaushal, Sujay & Prelewicz,
Greg & Saji, Niffy & Curtis, Shannon & Vikesland, Peter &
Maile-Moskowitz, Ayella & Edwards, Marc & Lopez, Kathryn &
Birkland, Thomas & Schenk, Todd. (2021). Addressing the contribution of
indirect potable reuse to inland freshwater salinization. Nature
Sustainability. <a href="http://10.1038/s41893-021-00713-7">10.1038/s41893-021-00713-7</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inland freshwater salinization historically was once thought
to be a problem only in areas with arid and semi-arid climates, poor
agricultural drainage practices, sodic soils and saline shallow groundwater. However,
today we know that inland freshwater salinization is on the rise across many
cold and temperate regions of the United States. Inland freshwater salinization is particularly
notable in the densely populated Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and agricultural
Midwest regions of the country like here in Northern Virginia.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Freshwater salinization threatens freshwater ecosystem
health and human water security. Chloride enrichment of streams is associated
with declines in pollution sensitive benthic invertebrates and loss of critical
freshwater habitat. Stream-borne salts can mobilize, nutrients and heavy metals
that were previously sequestered into sensitive ecosystems and drinking-water supplies.
Salinization of drinking-water supplies can mobilize lead, copper and other
heavy metals from ageing drinking-water infrastructure through cation exchange
and corrosion. It can also alter the perception of the quality of the water, a high
enough concentrations, sodium and other salts degrade the taste of drinking
water (coffee and tea).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inland freshwater salinity is rising worldwide and is now
called the freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS). Though increasing salinization
is commonly attributed to winter deicing operations, winter application of brine
and salt are only a part of the problem. Chronic salinization is primarily a
result of increasing population and indirect potable reuse of wastewater-the
practice of augmenting water supplies through the addition of highly treated
wastewater and down river use of our freshwater resources. Releasing treated
wastewater to surface waters and groundwaters has been growing and is
encouraged by the EPA along with other forms of water reuse in their Water Reuse
Action Plan.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In our own region, both indirect potable reuse of waste
water from the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA) and human activities in
the Bull Run and Occoquan River watersheds contribute to salinization of the
Occoquan Reservoir in Northern Virginia. More than 95% of freshwater inflow to
the reservoir is from the Occoquan River and Bull Run, which drain mixed
undeveloped, agriculture, ex urban and urban and increasingly industrial landscapes.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Water from Bull Run includes baseflow (including from
groundwater) and storm water runoff from the Bull Run watershed (34% of annual
flow) together with highly treated wastewater discharged from UOSA (6% of
annual flow) located just over a mile upstream of Bull Run’s confluence with
the reservoir. Conceived and built in the 1970s, UOSA was the United States’
first planned application of indirect potable reuse and a model for the design
and construction of similar reclamation facilities worldwide. Water discharged
from the Occoquan River comes primarily from baseflow and stormwater runoff
from the Occoquan River watershed (60% of annual flow).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The scientists found that possible sources of rising sodium
concentration in the reservoir include deicer use in the rapidly urbanizing
Occoquan River and Bull Run watersheds. Over the past 20 years salt has been added
to UOSA’s sewer water from its >350,000 residential and commercial
connections. Possible sources of sodium within UOSA’s sewershed include the
down-drain disposal of sodium-containing drinking water and sodium-containing
household products, use of water softeners in commercial and residential
locations, and permitted and non-permitted sodium discharges from industrial
and commercial customers. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNAq0FWdUUz17GDJ1ZUJ6DZFelOpeEaZlgar4qDhr4Q6kI_8pD3U-n5MOaQKNVZKnZKY4fsvT37qXnsALBkZdvB0LuSRd8mlrKxeSfvB9kE-IqWX47RmzPL00jNzzZY9Rzqp9u7uiZJ0bw0MjtXWgv-nZ6j7KBGJhJXtGS9MyjuglnKP0rx1735MvAx4d/s785/Occoquan%20salinity.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="770" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNAq0FWdUUz17GDJ1ZUJ6DZFelOpeEaZlgar4qDhr4Q6kI_8pD3U-n5MOaQKNVZKnZKY4fsvT37qXnsALBkZdvB0LuSRd8mlrKxeSfvB9kE-IqWX47RmzPL00jNzzZY9Rzqp9u7uiZJ0bw0MjtXWgv-nZ6j7KBGJhJXtGS9MyjuglnKP0rx1735MvAx4d/w402-h410/Occoquan%20salinity.png" width="402" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="10275441 (nsf.gov)" rel="nofollow">from Bhide et al</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The sodium concentration in UOSA’s effluent are consistently
higher than sodium concentrations measured in Bull Run and the Occoquan
Reservoir. Using probability analysis of the sodium mass load for the period
2010–2018 confirms that UOSA’s reclaimed water though small in volume dominates
the sodium mass load entering the reservoir from the Occoquan River and Bull
Run during dry and median weather conditions. UOSA’s contributes 60% to 80% of
the sodium loading during dry periods, 30% to 50% during median and 5% to 25%
during wet conditions. The Occoquan River and Bull Run watersheds exhibit the
opposite pattern, contributing a greater percentage of the overall sodium load
during wet weather periods. During wet weather, sodium mass loading from the
Bull Run watershed is, on average, higher than sodium mass loading from the
Occoquan River watershed, but both are dwarfed by UOSA. Across all timescales
evaluated, sodium concentration in the treated wastewater is higher than in
outflow from the two watersheds<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgob9pubfDAMeMmVH_MJn6vYILvokexB2_n77ACS_mbWYP_jpUsJ-yD9CYL7FKbSavsEt8A6SY6FI6Df_B49-opiQUTrHJOBpOO8pu76eWdqEw17vvFiPAtHViaFUjWCmO17CAGcaz-jZ2yRWoOA1o67XXJWIeQBqgVIpoRQ_jf3oaL_7XVBpzH_ooAhvAI/s1537/Occoquan%20mass%20loadsalinity.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1537" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgob9pubfDAMeMmVH_MJn6vYILvokexB2_n77ACS_mbWYP_jpUsJ-yD9CYL7FKbSavsEt8A6SY6FI6Df_B49-opiQUTrHJOBpOO8pu76eWdqEw17vvFiPAtHViaFUjWCmO17CAGcaz-jZ2yRWoOA1o67XXJWIeQBqgVIpoRQ_jf3oaL_7XVBpzH_ooAhvAI/w529-h465/Occoquan%20mass%20loadsalinity.png" width="529" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="10275441 (nsf.gov)" rel="nofollow">from Bhide et al</a></td></tr></tbody></table>It begs the question, where does the sodium in UOSA’s
reclaimed water come from? The scientists believe that the sodium in UOSA’s
water comes from a variety of sources -watershed deicers, water treatment
processes, household products, commercial and industrial discharges, drinking
water treatment, and wastewater treatment. On the basis of data provided by UOSA
they estimate that, on an annual average, 46.5% of the daily sodium mass load
in UOSA’s reclaimed water is from chemicals used in water and wastewater treatment
(for pH adjustment, chlorination, dechlorination and odor control), a single
permitted discharge from the Micron Semiconductor facility and human excretion
(our diets are salty). The source of the remaining 53.5% is unknown but the
scientist believe it includes contributions
from the down-drain disposal of sodium-containing drinking water from Lake
Manassas, the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir, as well as
sodium-containing house hold products that eventually end up in the sanitary
sewer system.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fairfax water has been exploring options to address the slowly
rising sodium concentration in the reservoir, including the possible
construction of a reverse osmosis treatment upgrade. Desalinating fresh water was
estimated cost at least $1 billion, not including operating and maintenance
costs and a vastly higher carbon footprint. This would include a tremendous
loss of volume. Reverse osmosis looses about three quarters of the water. Which
is the real problem.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The researchers envision at least four ways in which salt
pollution can be reduced: limit watershed sources of sodium that enter the
water supply (such as from deicer use), enforce more stringent
pre-treatment requirements on industrial and commercial dischargers, switch to
low-sodium water and wastewater treatment methods, and encourage households to
adopt low-sodium products. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"Addressing salinization of the Occoquan Reservoir
requires working across many different water sectors, including the local
drinking water utility (Fairfax Water), the wastewater reclamation facility
(Upper Occoquan Service Authority), the state transportation agency (Virginia
Department of Transportation), and city and county departments in six
jurisdictions responsible for winter road maintenance, including the City of
Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Prince William County, Fairfax County, Loudoun
County, Fauquier County," said Dr. Stanley Grant <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the director of the Occoquan Waster Quality
Laboratory and one of the paper’s authors.<o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-79086283484386376212024-02-21T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-21T23:00:00.140-08:00Prince William Volunteers are Making a Difference<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilRKUOyOGsqUXDDFkbyKgnWCyzrwKPpaLi2f7RM2x5Wv-CKEPNzpDNEsrw2WlMxUDnCtgpt4CIi4qdKFqpYnY7L_1rDrNt0veAdymISwzQEpOIBrouU5bmo9g3FbHEyTaGSipIjIE-5DL3WLzVAYvTb_HBKwwrDQxULfLCt2mb3mLeo2DeyxCtohD8jrC/s1105/PWSWCD%20stream%20cleanup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="1105" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilRKUOyOGsqUXDDFkbyKgnWCyzrwKPpaLi2f7RM2x5Wv-CKEPNzpDNEsrw2WlMxUDnCtgpt4CIi4qdKFqpYnY7L_1rDrNt0veAdymISwzQEpOIBrouU5bmo9g3FbHEyTaGSipIjIE-5DL3WLzVAYvTb_HBKwwrDQxULfLCt2mb3mLeo2DeyxCtohD8jrC/w431-h182/PWSWCD%20stream%20cleanup.png" width="431" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from PWSWCD</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Year after year volunteers in Prince William County and throughout
the region clean our roadways, streams, rivers, and streambeds of trash that
started as litter and got carried along by stormwater and wind into our
waterways and parks. The volunteers also remove items that were illegally
dumped in the woods or carried by off by storms. This trash does not magically
disappear, but finds its way carried by stormwater to our waterways and
parklands disrupting the natural water flow and beauty of our natural world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Prince William County Soil and Water Conservation
District (the District) reports that in 2023, their Adopt-A-Stream/Pond/ River
Program held 61 cleanup events, where<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>they had over 1,260 people come out to volunteer. These volunteers did great
job removing over 1,300 trash/ litter bags, and 50 tires among other materials
were collected (one tire was an old white-wall tire I had found by Chestnut
Lick). Combined, all these cleanup events prevented a total of over 26,500
pounds of trash and debris from reaching Chesapeake Bay. These volunteers
recorded over 3,000 hours of volunteer time, which would equal over $98,000 in labor
costs that the taxpayers did not have to pay. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These events covered a total of over 61 miles
of waterways out of the 1,100 miles of streams in Prince William County.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Volunteers under the District’s Chemical Monitoring Program collected
data on conductivity, ‘pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Depth/clarity, and
temperature. These volunteers conducted 420 monitoring events from 89 sites and
recorded over 530 hours of volunteer time. It is worth noting that the chemical
data collected supports the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
on its over <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001AxO0wOl8VjMpsU1XmI8E2Ca4yp9Zv0S0QHMEBk4vIwxYBCrJXvGfI7crKGTbNavc5MJixmHqvh9NMNMNlZQrrH2ZFvRa7cvB0Gyr9kiMqZfGkTZE5T6rsgAtRMQ43lOntBFWF2JoFhyBoWCeZUqByiYCdS9REYGvJWJgAq3UJwCufEYMOTri2K6KyXmlJ0fknVp9bCU0hdj0VjMazjh_0rnIhY6WObR9Z5FplITgISZHF1K0JJI4C93t_fL1I9vvPa3PqyxJoue0Jfxww1WW_fcXe2_VVi8qxha9CkSQdMfyj5qJfgreTvzUywAAqxNdR8qTb2HIfmXcOpAd9mcxbwhOh_yk8HthwVTPgI-4Wq_pAZWkqhXCfQ==&c=6jVrkAoM9FKTGAUPks06jV-xfAxNttjh8vz_jAhBYX1UY5b2_n2lOg==&ch=pOW7RPdUURcbc9k8XOqt95lFYAfyCLK3pbN-aV0PDPki1ylI3nAEDA==" target="_blank">100,000 miles </a>of streams in Virginia that its staff cannot monitor.
This data goes to DEQ through the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Cooperative (CMC)
as Tier II data. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8ikc1Gv1NWEVvfF9ZYlyJAhyxfZCM6976Gxtn-TU-2MtFw31ZVd0xs1ggRUWWTB07Z_97lhhsCNSLy5ZbtKvKCOaDQJYURN0UdU24xUsgZJGiLHcifOrok_Yozc4VKE5NT7gyOEAygShohd2QmD9fCK50hdSGc9Y1FtG1f9BDYbPxYaCCPP2y0chpD_H/s1055/PWSWCD%20water%20monitoing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="1055" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8ikc1Gv1NWEVvfF9ZYlyJAhyxfZCM6976Gxtn-TU-2MtFw31ZVd0xs1ggRUWWTB07Z_97lhhsCNSLy5ZbtKvKCOaDQJYURN0UdU24xUsgZJGiLHcifOrok_Yozc4VKE5NT7gyOEAygShohd2QmD9fCK50hdSGc9Y1FtG1f9BDYbPxYaCCPP2y0chpD_H/w464-h206/PWSWCD%20water%20monitoing.png" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from PWSWCD water monitoring program</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Volunteers under the Biological Monitoring Program collect
benthic macroinvertebrate data. This data goes to DEQ under the Virginia Save
Our Stream (VASOS) Program.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right now the District is gearing up for the annual spring cleanup
events. You can join in as a single time volunteer at any of these events. The
first few are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001AxO0wOl8VjMpsU1XmI8E2Ca4yp9Zv0S0QHMEBk4vIwxYBCrJXvGfI7crKGTbNavcGroS4mE8EUdJ_nvj-Tl6HvkepOfL6sRdgr7r8NqTshhAKXMBjzfoWp_BOkheDsMulP8bu2FmE83YFksPnaEwVD457KbJxy7hx0uwz1L_j5_zUc8eUQlem8uyFXaGvImICC-NMA_l0qZeCDjW8HBChRWdaJG8NQ0F&c=6jVrkAoM9FKTGAUPks06jV-xfAxNttjh8vz_jAhBYX1UY5b2_n2lOg==&ch=pOW7RPdUURcbc9k8XOqt95lFYAfyCLK3pbN-aV0PDPki1ylI3nAEDA==" target="_blank">Neabsco Boardwalk cleanup – Saturday, March 2, 2024 – Prince
William Trails and Streams Coalition (pwtsc.org)</a></li><li>Stream Cleanup - Bull Run Shopping Plaza and the COSTCO
Manassas Area. Saturday, March 9th 2024.</li><li>Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 9:00 am-Noon Marumsco Creek
and Wetland cleanup. Details and sign up will be posted soon. </li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
Your group can also join the Adopt-a-Stream program and select an area to keep clean. Locate any site (point) on <a href="https://arcg.is/1n0rnC1">this map</a> or propose any waterway/body close to home and contact <a href="mailto:waterquality@pwswcd.org?subject=Adopt-A-Stream%20I%27m%20intersted%20in%20adoptiong%20a%20clean-up%20spot!">waterquality@pwswcd.org</a> for more information.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Fe86UnvXEw" width="320" youtube-src-id="8Fe86UnvXEw"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-12784341241583899942024-02-18T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-18T23:00:00.272-08:00Safe Drinking Water for Pennies <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="324" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/99irvpRWdaY" width="533" youtube-src-id="99irvpRWdaY"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In 2010 the United Nations General Assembly found that : “Safe
drinking water and sanitation are human rights. Access to these services,
including water and soap for handwashing, is fundamental to human health and
well-being. They are essential to improving nutrition, preventing disease and
enabling health care…”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the recent update, U.N. Report, SUMMARY PROGRESS UPDATE 2021 WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since 2015, over 600
million people have gained access to safely managed drinking water services.
Globally, three out of four people used safely managed drinking water services
in 2020. However, that means that 2 billion people still lacked available drinking
water when needed and free from contamination in 2020. The number of city
inhabitants lacking safely managed drinking water has increased nearly doubling
since 2000 to 771 million people. Each year more than 1 million people are
estimated to die from diarrhea as a result of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation
and hand hygiene. In addition, another 250,000 to 500,000 die from
schistosomiasis and other waterborne diseases. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzScJcV1DaBIiSbY57_g9RfIs1DwMTcA1Ouoc22nqbxqzW56pFDU3q2zmrjigqFGCxsFj1yha3YYM7WcRvlmIIyUux_8dhHIgq1sxsBm9AoVPEYAWbrbPxCwm9rV1yIuEniTJ8vI8KZk3K1dFpybNVvin6u1Tj3sVLjUXsfas64eu7vUWCMB7WBgVHRDI_/s685/safe%20drinking%20water%20b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="685" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzScJcV1DaBIiSbY57_g9RfIs1DwMTcA1Ouoc22nqbxqzW56pFDU3q2zmrjigqFGCxsFj1yha3YYM7WcRvlmIIyUux_8dhHIgq1sxsBm9AoVPEYAWbrbPxCwm9rV1yIuEniTJ8vI8KZk3K1dFpybNVvin6u1Tj3sVLjUXsfas64eu7vUWCMB7WBgVHRDI_/w416-h407/safe%20drinking%20water%20b.png" width="416" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjroxHBAhwQeP3OLOy6KtL0dfues8MLbSFFf1G3N19osB2j9FV9CpBOH4OnaHjJif2MA3lMUHQchDTI5M69epTWLKNlfW1i9n9JmMi2PwfDaC8VqRU5eRPgzeR_EMh0tISEG15JfpDj3qWqlHtO722ZjI4k2cBro2wingrDHM1SLEI7vePAHEjnzUH-qA/s820/safe%20drinking%20water%20c.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="820" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjroxHBAhwQeP3OLOy6KtL0dfues8MLbSFFf1G3N19osB2j9FV9CpBOH4OnaHjJif2MA3lMUHQchDTI5M69epTWLKNlfW1i9n9JmMi2PwfDaC8VqRU5eRPgzeR_EMh0tISEG15JfpDj3qWqlHtO722ZjI4k2cBro2wingrDHM1SLEI7vePAHEjnzUH-qA/w421-h317/safe%20drinking%20water%20c.png" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="SDG-6-Summary-Progress-Update-2021_Version-July-2021a.pdf (unwater.org)" target="_blank">UN Report</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Even in the United States not everyone has accessible and
safe drinking water. According to a 2022 report from <a href="https://greenrisks.blogspot.com/2022/07/Dig-Deep_Closing-the-Water-Access-Gap-in-the-United-States_DIGITAL_compressed.pdf%20(squarespace.com)">DigDeep</a>,
around 2 million Americans lack access to running water and/or a flush toilet.
This number includes the estimated 560,000 homeless population in our cities
and communities that we see every day (and has increased with the influx of undocumented
immigrants to our cities), but there are over 1,400,000 mostly rural Americans
who are housed but lack running water and basic indoor plumbing. These are the
invisible poor that include poor populations located in the rural south and
West Virginia, undocumented immigrant communities along the Mexico-United
States border, poor communities in the central valley of California and Native
American communities in the Navajo Nation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As an alternative to maintaining and improving our water
treatment and distribution system, social scientists suggest that the future of
water is “off-grid” water treatment. This might be a strategy for the global poor, not one we should find acceptable in the United States. As one of their products, Folia Materials
a small business in Boston has developed an easy to use paper water filter that
could help solve this problem. Theresa Dankovich while working on her PhD in
Chemistry at McGill University in Montreal invented a method to
synthetize <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es103302t">silver
nanoparticle within blotting paper</a>, which could be directly used as
powerful antibacterial filters. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Dankovich utilized that technology to co-found (with environmental
scientist Jonathan Levine PhD) Folia Materials, a Boston-based small business, to commercialize the coating technology. Folia spent years inventing
and patenting the world’s cheapest and most effective process for coating
ordinary paper that transforms it into an extraordinary useful products. It can be used to
replace plastic, filter out germs and viruses in face masks and to purify water. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fundamental technology is a food-safe, green-chemistry
process that forms silver nanoparticles ionically bonded to cellulosic fibers.
The company holds the patents on the industrial coating process and aqueous
paper coating formulation, which consists of metal salts and catalysts that
reduce the silver and bond it to the cellulosic fibers during the coating
process. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to Chemical Engineering Progress: "<a href="Catalyzing Commercialization: Paper Coating Enables World’s First Water Filter for Pennies | AIChE" target="_blank">Manufacturing costs for all products are minimized by using plant-based food ingredients as green chemistry catalysts and silver nanoparticles to minimize the amount of silver required, as well as being able to directly utilize existing paper, coating and packing equipment with no capital modifications required.</a>"<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg012YY7vzckbe8cu3nc4XunA_HT5rHZHfAQ-1SiN3rVDsb4v7ahZAnb03g7NWinmXxGdXxnpm-notLXslElc0DYk3oOPuQX0fgKAqQMyVcUyMRol8vWAG2OKWmFADmZ59UR6NzWFDHy4_dYvBPKPUwTuDeLuNKIdVa2UDlHRcE4vBbw6lJtgTUnSXJ91Cj/s1962/safe%20drinking%20water%20folia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1962" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg012YY7vzckbe8cu3nc4XunA_HT5rHZHfAQ-1SiN3rVDsb4v7ahZAnb03g7NWinmXxGdXxnpm-notLXslElc0DYk3oOPuQX0fgKAqQMyVcUyMRol8vWAG2OKWmFADmZ59UR6NzWFDHy4_dYvBPKPUwTuDeLuNKIdVa2UDlHRcE4vBbw6lJtgTUnSXJ91Cj/w424-h345/safe%20drinking%20water%20folia.png" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="https://www.foliawater.com" target="_blank">FWG website</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The water filtration product was placed in a separate subsidiary,
Folia Water Global, to focus on solving the global safe drinking water problem.
Their product can
filter 20 liters of water for
$0.20. This will make the filter an inexpensive grocery shelf product that can
deliver safe drinking water. This is possible because manufacturing process
uses commodity inputs and standard industrial coating machinery. This is a miracle
that is being piloted in Bangladesh . The commercial scale-up is expected to generate enough business and sales data to
attract a national distributor. Once they have a national distributor in
Bangladesh, they plan to expand in India, Nepal, Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Folia Water Global and their partners hope to scale the product to $1 billion a
year by 2032.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-83176130893962250122024-02-14T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-14T23:00:00.254-08:00River Renew Project Extension Expected to Pass<p>On Tuesday, the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session in
Richmond reached Crossover. One of the bills to pass the house in a block vote
was HB 71 Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations,
Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This bill would extend the deadline to fix the
Alexandria’s combined sewer system to July 1, 2026 from July 1, 2024. It is
expected to pass the Senate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2017 the state legislature mandated that Alexanderia eliminate
sewage overflows from the combined sewer system in Old Towne by 2025. This not
only created a major challenge for the city, but was in response to the Chesapeake
Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, TMDL mandate. In 2010, the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation and other plaintiffs settled their lawsuit with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) that included a Clean Water Act TMDL, with,
enforceable limits on the amount of pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay from
the federal impaired waters list. To accomplish this, the six Bay states and
the District of Columbia agreed to develop individual plans to achieve
those limits by 2025, and EPA committed to holding them accountable and
imposing consequences for failure if necessary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part of Virginia’s plan requires the elimination of the
sewage overflows in Alexandria. The area of Alexandria around Old Town had a
Combined Sewer System which is a piped sewer system where there is one pipe
that carries both sanitary sewage and stormwater to the local wastewater
treatment plant, AlexRenew. This was how sewer systems were often built in the
days when sanitation was simply moving sewage out of the city to the rivers and
streams. Back then one piping system was cheaper and adequate for the job. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today when sewage is treated by wastewater treatment plants
that is no longer adequate. <br />
When it rains, water that falls in the streets, enters the storm water drains
and is combined with the sanitary wastewater entering the sewers from homes and
businesses. The combined flow of the sewage and rain can overwhelm the
wastewater treatment plant. So, to protect the sewage system as a whole, the
combined sewage and rainfall is released into the local creeks from one of the
“Combined Sewer Overflows” which are release locations permitted and monitored
by the regulators. Though it’s monitored it increases nutrient and bacterial
contamination to the streams and rivers and prevents Virginia from meeting its Chesapeake
Bay TMDL goals. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the original legislation passed in 2017, it was an
incredibly tight time frame. However, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>based
partially on the experience of Washington DC in addressing their combined sewer
problem, AlexRenew was confident that they could meet this challenge for
Alexandria. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city and AlexRenew
submitted a long term control plan to the Virginia Department of Environmental
Quality (VDEQ) that was approved on July 1, 2018.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the pandemic hit and caused supply chain issues. These
impacts have resulted in a 90-day delay that will put AlexRenew in conflict
with the program’s statutory deadline enacted by the Virginia General Assembly
in 2017. The deadline established in the legislation to complete the planning,
design, procurement, and construction of RiverRenew by July 1, 2025 to meet the
Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load plan requirement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To date, AlexRenew has expended $388 million of the budgeted
$615 million for the RiverRenew, but they are reportedly a bit over 90 days
behind schedule. AlexRenew, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, worked
with David Bulova, their legislator, to sponsor an extension to the 2025
statutory deadline. It is expected to pass. DEQ does not expect any regulatory consequences
from the EPA in missing this deadline since the project will continue until
completion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">For a really informative video and project updates go to : </span><a href="https://www.riverrenew.com/">RiverRenew | Investing in Healthier Waterways for Alexandria</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-45866085755432185812024-02-11T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-11T23:00:00.133-08:00EPA tightens standard for Particulates<p>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Michael S. Regan announced last week that the
EPA had finalized strengthening the primary annual PM2.5 standard by lowering
the level from 12.0 μg/m3 to 9.0 μg/m3. Fine particle pollution PM 2.5,
also known as soot lodges in the lungs which can aggravate other conditions
both immediately and long term –cutting months off of lives. According to the EPA, the updated standard will prevent
800,000 cases of asthma, 4,500 premature deaths, and 290,000 lost workdays by
2032. Saying in the press release:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This final air quality standard will save lives and make
all people healthier, especially within America’s most vulnerable and
overburdened communities,” said EPA Administrator Regan. “Cleaner air
means that our children have brighter futures, and people can live more
productive and active lives, improving our ability to grow and develop as a
nation. EPA looks forward to continuing our decades of success in working with
states, counties, Tribes, and industry to ensure this critical health standard
is implemented effectively to improve the long-term health and productivity of
our nation.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While lowering the annual standard to 9.0 μg/m3 EPA
decided to keep the current 24 h standard of 35 μg/m3, saying it didn’t see
sufficient evidence to revise it. EPA also retained the current primary 24-hour standard for PM10,
which provides protection against coarse particles. EPA is also not changing
the secondary (welfare-based) standards for fine particles and coarse particles
at this time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Air pollution in the form of fine particles with diameters
smaller than 2.5 microns, called PM 2.5, lodge in the lungs which can aggravate
other conditions both immediately and long term –cutting months off of lives.
This fine particulate matter can have immediate health impacts: itchy, watery
eyes, increased respiratory symptoms such as irritation of the airways,
coughing or difficulty breathing and aggravated asthma. Research has connected
long term health effects to both short-term and long-term exposure to
particulate pollution. <br />
<br />
PM 2.5 is either directly emitted or formed in the atmosphere. Directly-emitted
particles come from a variety of sources such as cars, trucks, buses,
industrial facilities, coal power plants, diesel engines, construction sites, tilled fields,
unpaved roads, stone crushing, and burning of wood and the vast forest fires. Other particles are formed indirectly when gases produced by
fossil fuel combustion react with sunlight and water vapor. Combustion from
motor vehicles, diesel generators, power plants, and refineries emit particles
directly and emit precursor pollutants that form secondary particulates. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_iBDWguxqSSjdyT44eyHL0iwa0sy3VzdHn5XXD_ehMGZe7u_JjpsTbe16L0nmG1tFmr_b_JTToK6XG3rStVFRc8Sno69siTlS58Rc23DDRTMaMnIoL5V4ojRzLLC9sZANQSaGysKX8QCwFr9dh6LAT-a2t57k8Rs3PllsHpTbXTZkhIogpBQK6tdOnKh/s1605/PM%202.5%20a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1605" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_iBDWguxqSSjdyT44eyHL0iwa0sy3VzdHn5XXD_ehMGZe7u_JjpsTbe16L0nmG1tFmr_b_JTToK6XG3rStVFRc8Sno69siTlS58Rc23DDRTMaMnIoL5V4ojRzLLC9sZANQSaGysKX8QCwFr9dh6LAT-a2t57k8Rs3PllsHpTbXTZkhIogpBQK6tdOnKh/w511-h341/PM%202.5%20a.png" width="511" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Trends | US EPA" target="_blank">EPA</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, requires states to monitor air quality
and ensure that it meets minimum air quality standards. The US EPA has
established both annual and 24-hour PM2.5 air quality standards (as well as
standards for other pollutants). Since 2000 on average PM2.5 pollution has
decreased as you can see in the chart above. However, there are still
significant locations where the current air quality goal has not been met. The
dark green areas in the map are areas of non-compliance with the current
standard. Virginia is in compliance, and hopefully will remain so even with the
proliferation of diesel backup generators for the data centers. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdsL_sKDPc98iITZIr2g1PFj6jnQ9iWQMg49o873WE6F2AmiauGtkjLggU87ExReHlJJgI7i0z0lgq25_UMR5m5C2qHReLCJaU6w7r3X-5ovvVUVj1nSuo3ZrB3q1Aro4Mu8nW0G2jl4_TXj3i0e5krglYf3OZdzk4LTNzY2oUwN5xOxbnh8ah-Xyp3fF/s2207/PM%202.5%20non%20compliance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="2207" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdsL_sKDPc98iITZIr2g1PFj6jnQ9iWQMg49o873WE6F2AmiauGtkjLggU87ExReHlJJgI7i0z0lgq25_UMR5m5C2qHReLCJaU6w7r3X-5ovvVUVj1nSuo3ZrB3q1Aro4Mu8nW0G2jl4_TXj3i0e5krglYf3OZdzk4LTNzY2oUwN5xOxbnh8ah-Xyp3fF/w573-h395/PM%202.5%20non%20compliance.png" width="573" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finalizes-stronger-standards-harmful-soot-pollution-significantly-increasing#:~:text=By%20strengthening%20the%20annual%20health,to%204%2C500%20premature%20deaths%20and" target="_blank">from EPA</a>- dark green are the non-attainment areas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">According to their press release: “Due to the efforts that
states, Tribes, industry, communities, and EPA have already taken to reduce
dangerous pollution in communities across the country, 99% of U.S. counties are
projected to meet the more protective standard in 2032, likely the earliest
year that states would need to meet the revised standard.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-37124982817134502282024-02-07T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-07T23:00:00.342-08:00Global Groundwater Decline<p>This article highlights the important work that has been
done in this area by Professors Jasecchko and Perrone of U.C, Santa Barabara
and has been excerpted from the research of the study cited below. All
footnotes for the statement of facts can be found in the original article.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jasechko, S., Seybold, H., Perrone, D. et al. Rapid
groundwater decline and some cases of recovery in aquifers globally. Nature 625,
715–721 (2024). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06879-8">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06879-8</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In many parts of the world groundwater serves as the primary
or a significant source of water for many homes, farms, industries and cities.
Unsustainable groundwater use and changes in rainfall can cause groundwater
levels to fall, indicating depletion of groundwater resources. Groundwater
depletion can threaten ecosystems and economies. Specifically, groundwater
depletion can damage infrastructure through land subsidence, impair ecosystems
through streamflow depletion, jeopardize agricultural productivity, and
compromise water supplies as wells run dry. Groundwater is both used for
water supply and serves to support steam flow between rain storms. Groundwater
comes from rainwater and snow melt percolating into the ground.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The authors analyzed groundwater-level trends for 170,000
monitoring wells and 1,693 aquifer systems in countries that encompass
approximately 75% of global groundwater withdrawals. (Note that our own Virginia aquifer systems were comparatively stable over the time period.) The authors
complemented measurements from monitoring wells with data from the Gravity
Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). The GRACE mission consists of twin
satellites that precisely measure the distance between them as they orbit the
Earth. In this way, the satellites detect small fluctuations in the planet’s
gravity, which can at large scales be translated to changes in aquifers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The authors findings provide the most comprehensive analysis
of global groundwater levels to date. The work revealed that groundwater is
dropping in 71% of the aquifers. And this depletion is accelerating in many
places: the rates of groundwater decline in the 1980s and ’90s has increased since
2000 to the present. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The accelerating
declines are occurring in nearly three times as many places as they would
expect by chance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They found that rapid groundwater-level declines (>0.5 meter
per year) are widespread in the twenty-first century, especially in dry regions
with extensive croplands. Though I should note that irrigation is only
necessary to make food for people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critically, they found that groundwater-level
declines have accelerated over the past four decades in 30% of the world’s
regional aquifers. This widespread acceleration in groundwater-level deepening
highlights an urgent need for more effective measures to address groundwater
depletion. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their analysis also reveals specific cases in which
depletion trends have been reversed following policy changes, managed aquifer
recharge and surface-water diversions, demonstrating the potential for depleted
aquifer systems to recover if appropriate action is taken. This should serve as
a warning that our groundwater resources need to be managed sustainability. The
Trends in groundwater levels were found to differ from well to well, and groundwater
decline can be found even in regions in which nearby groundwater levels are
stable or rising, and vice versa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
observation highlights the importance of analyzing groundwater-level trends at
the scales defined by the boundaries of individual aquifer systems.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The authors also analyzed precipitation variability over the
past four decades for almost a third of the aquifers. Within this group they
found that 90% of aquifers where declines were accelerating are in places where
conditions have gotten drier over the last 40 years. These trends have likely
reduced groundwater recharge and increased demand. They state that on the other
hand, climate variability can also enable groundwater to rebound where
conditions become wetter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their work indicates that climatic trends, hydrogeologic
conditions, groundwater withdrawal rates, land uses and management approaches have
resulted in widespread, rapid and accelerating groundwater-level declines.
Nevertheless, the compiled in situ observations also capture numerous cases in
which declines in groundwater levels have slowed, stopped or reversed following
intervention. They found that in 265 of the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>aquifer systems in the analysis,
groundwater-level declines have slowed or reversed, or groundwater levels have risen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In general, rates of groundwater-level increasing are much
slower than rates of groundwater-level decline. Of the aquifer systems with
rising twenty-first century groundwater levels, only 6% are rising faster than
−0.2 meters per year. By contrast, of the aquifer systems with deepening
twenty-first century groundwater levels, 25% are falling faster than 0.2 meters
per year. Furthermore, across these aquifer systems, the average rate of
twenty-first century deepening exceeds the average rate of shallowing by a
factor of four. Thus, rapidly rising groundwater levels are rare, but they
demonstrate that aquifer recovery is possible, especially following policy
changes, managed aquifer recharge, and inter-basin surface water-transfers.
What this study says is we need to actively manage the groundwater (in
conjunction with surface water) for a sustainable future. Remember, Of all the
water on earth only about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3% is fresh;
however, only ½% of the water on earth is available for mankind to use. The rest
of the fresh water is locked away in ice, super deep groundwater or polluted
beyond redemption. <o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-17081614079179145602024-02-04T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-05T03:20:58.375-08:00Restoration Continues in the Woodland <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLvmISW6auOzCN72zZM-TUaeNK5vf4q6ZJlvjV4I-7VO_bEQgdPD1uBnqbsXJ5wMCcUiB8WjD_gLrlkw-KWOEMXviGWEVqukUfSa0XAAuzquWoUNOB_6khgdD1jsmvN9xIYd-3TwmQSKeguBpAv-bri6W2K2zdn4Ryp_TNVBIo9I5tMG-B-9CNOAOt-ZZ/s4000/IMG_1460.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLvmISW6auOzCN72zZM-TUaeNK5vf4q6ZJlvjV4I-7VO_bEQgdPD1uBnqbsXJ5wMCcUiB8WjD_gLrlkw-KWOEMXviGWEVqukUfSa0XAAuzquWoUNOB_6khgdD1jsmvN9xIYd-3TwmQSKeguBpAv-bri6W2K2zdn4Ryp_TNVBIo9I5tMG-B-9CNOAOt-ZZ/w460-h346/IMG_1460.JPG" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">path within the woodland<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>First it snowed then snowed again. Next was rain and even
more rain. January had been a tough weather month in my garden. But finally, late
last week, the woodland restoration work for the year began. Quite appropriately
Friday was Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil, the renowned groundhog
predicted an early spring is on the way.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I’ve mentioned, my house sits on a bit over 10 acres,
about three of them lawn and ornamental gardens. The remaining seven acres is
woodland, and much of the woodland is part of the “resource protected area,”
RPA of the Chesapeake Bay. The number of dead and dying trees had
increased dramatically due to the emerald ash borer and a number of years ago it
became obvious that the invasive vines especially the autumn olive and Japanese
honeysuckle were choking out the natural renewal process. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a couple of false starts and outrageous advise to plow
down the woodland and vines, about six or seven years ago I consulted with an
Urban and Community Forestry Specialist from the Virginia Department of
Forestry. He came out and inspected the woodland and made some
recommendations. He felt that with hand removal of the invasive vines and
the hanging dead trees the wood might begin to renew itself. Removal by hand is
slow and expensive work. It takes years and years and must be continued.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Forester put his recommendations in a short report for
me to submit to Clay Morris, Natural Resources Section Chief, Environmental
Services Division of Prince William County Public Works to approve the work in
the RPA. Though the RPA covers just 2/3 of the woodland, I am treating all the
wooded area in the same way. My proposal to Prince William County was hand removal of invasive
species. So, five years ago with the guidance from the Forest Service and the
Chesapeake Bay Act guidelines I began a project to restore my woodlands. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Thursday and Friday, the Wetland Studies and Solutions <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>team was out continuing the slow work of first
tagging, cutting and then removing the invasive species in the woodland. On
Friday, Clay Morris from Environmental Services Division of Prince William
County Public Works came out to view our progress and I walked him around inside
the woods, down the hill towards the creek, through the mud where there is a seep above Chestnut Lick creating vernal pools.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A seep is the low pressure twin of spring and occurs where
groundwater discharges to the surface. In my case the groundwater is appearing where
the hill cuts down to the creek. Usually, seeps are merely wet areas with
vernal pools , and springs have flowing water. On Friday, while walking with
Clay for the first time I saw the water flowing out of the ground. Groundwater
discharge provides a constant supply of water to the seep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flows at many seeps persist even through the
driest summer months. I did not see my own seep in August of last summer during
the very dry two months, but there was lots of ground cover growth. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Typically, with seeps, the soil <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>remains saturated year round even during
droughts. Seeps are often the headwaters of perennial streams and have
traditionally been used as sites for the construction of spring boxes for
household water supplies. Groundwater in our region is typically about 50
degrees Fahrenheit <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and varies only a few
degrees from this temperature. The constant gentle flow of water at this
moderate temperature typically allows early spring development of grasses and
sedges. This early spring vegetation can be an important source of food for
wildlife. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Both seeps and springs are considered types of wetlands and
are an example of the hydraulic balance- groundwater flowing and surfacing on
land. Sometimes springs and seeps flow after a deluge of rain, but here it was still
flowing a week after the last rain in wet January. Typically, I do not walk the
woods in winter, so I never looked before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span><a href="https://hgic.clemson.edu/springs-and-seeps-are-more-important-than-you-think/" target="_blank">Seeps and springs provide water to headwaterstreams, ultimately providing the water flow to create larger river systems.</a>" (Chestnut
Lick is a headwater stream to Bull Run.) Seeps and springs create vernal pools that
are also essential during the cold winter months because their movement often
keeps water from freezing. This serves as a refuge or drinking water source for
wildlife. So at least the deer and wild life have something to drink while
consuming my garden and the cat kibble we put out for the strays dumped in our
area. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clay Morris seemed pleased with the progress we were making
and was willing to allow a covered structure for sitting at the edge of the
woodland to possibly intrude slightly into the RPA. I did not want to have to
delineate the RPA and just wanted the covered seating at the end of the woodland
trail. Clay saw no problem with that plan since the covered bench structure we
plan is small. Frankly, it was very nice to have someone appreciate the very
expensive restoration work we’re doing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After walking Clay through the woods, I checked on the
progress of the Wetland Studies and Solutions team. We discussed the plans for
this year’s work. I wanted to extend the path to the creek. We are going to end
it at the vernal pools. It should be passible in the summer. Typically Virginia
vernal pools have three phases each year: it is inundated in the winter with
the vernal pool holding onto the water from for a month or two, it dries
slowly during the spring, and it dries completely during the late July and
August. In the wettest years it can hold onto the water for most of the year. <o:p></o:p><a href="https://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/VernalPool_Management.aspx" target="_blank">The vernal pools have an entire ecology that is just beginning to be studied.</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After Clay left, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my landscaper
came by to discuss additional work. He has less work in the winter and his guys
provide cheap labor ($30-$40/hour). This labor is only cheap compared to Wetland
Studies and Solutions, but it's important that people are paid fairly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week the landscaper will have his team remove sections
of the old farm fence and work on the woodland path. This year he will be
laying landscaping fabric the lower section of the path from the big tree at
the bottom of the hill (just shy of the vernal pools) and up the hill to the
turn in the path. Then they will cover the fabric with wood chips. We'll see how this goes and if it works out.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9CLY2P10K6X6C36-dKP9Em7yg4YK7ffCacTcLO2LSS_odV6414UgU50wDSLHZSRqrbtnRQ1_ctopylqkXCE56rPQW_HeTKgoMlDY1AuP4wIU9bqwvrN2UcAETPBjLBxrMclfPfu6EP4g5mTLg8t8tS6Z9bs8uz3iguMQ_TfLiWU13NB9Itaogb5r69wq/s4000/IMG_1451.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9CLY2P10K6X6C36-dKP9Em7yg4YK7ffCacTcLO2LSS_odV6414UgU50wDSLHZSRqrbtnRQ1_ctopylqkXCE56rPQW_HeTKgoMlDY1AuP4wIU9bqwvrN2UcAETPBjLBxrMclfPfu6EP4g5mTLg8t8tS6Z9bs8uz3iguMQ_TfLiWU13NB9Itaogb5r69wq/w466-h350/IMG_1451.JPG" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vernal pools in front of the creek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-25928301694035101212024-01-31T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-31T23:00:00.165-08:00Since 1990 CO2 Emissions have Grown<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KV1D5oLQ6SSUF9SNCzUm2oTGsQvGpdaTu89Fxq2Qd5WM-FHgpaOJyU0W4C9uH2rPyN0hcx1cJYZUKNwEQcHayoi7JbtF1dRuLAyhvm0welJ7ngY6Cz57JCSbQg151y6N_-v60uVez3qTZZUru5TrR4_jFQMXtBf1CG-Shg2HZmTDnTbZo6whdTBkRHLa/s740/CO2%20emissions%202023e.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="740" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KV1D5oLQ6SSUF9SNCzUm2oTGsQvGpdaTu89Fxq2Qd5WM-FHgpaOJyU0W4C9uH2rPyN0hcx1cJYZUKNwEQcHayoi7JbtF1dRuLAyhvm0welJ7ngY6Cz57JCSbQg151y6N_-v60uVez3qTZZUru5TrR4_jFQMXtBf1CG-Shg2HZmTDnTbZo6whdTBkRHLa/w554-h356/CO2%20emissions%202023e.png" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the Global Carbon Project</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="https://greenrisks.blogspot.com/2021/10/COP26-Explained.pdf%20(ukcop26.org)" target="_blank">26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, called COP-26 in
Glasgow, Scotland</a> in November 2021 closed on a disappointing note. The
last minute change by China and India to "phase down" the use of
carbon fuels rather than "phase out" coal deflated the high hopes of many
of the other participants. COP26 ended with a global agreement to “accelerate
action on climate this decade.” Technically this left the goal of limiting
temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius on the table, but made it achievement far
more difficult. The recent COP 28 made no further progress.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At COP 26 in 2021 India signed an agreement to reduce coal
and increase its renewable energy generating capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030
with the goal of reaching net-zero CO2 equivalent emissions by 2070. While China is
the top emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, India comes in at
number three and is the third largest producer of coal. India and China need to
play important roles in global mitigation of CO2 equivalent emissions. However,
it is not to be. It seem their action on the climate is going to be to continue
to significantly increase CO2 emissions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">India is one of the largest consumers of coal in the world.
The country consumed 906.08 million metric tons <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of coal in 2020–21, of which 79.03% was
produced domestically. Coal is the main source of energy in India. Coal
generated over 73% of electricity produced in India 2021. Still, the natural
fuel value of Indian coal is poor. On average, the Indian power plants using
India's coal supply consume about 0.7 kg of coal to generate a kWh. Poor
quality coal emits more air pollution. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In November 2023 India approve a plan that roughly double
coal production, reaching 1.5 billion tons by 2030 and included more than
quadrupling its underground coal production by 2030. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Underground mines generally affect the
landscape less than surface mines, but according to the US EIA, the ground
above mine tunnels can collapse, and acidic water can drain from abandoned
underground mines. Methane gas that occurs in coal deposits can explode if it
concentrates in underground mines. This coalbed methane must be
vented out of mines to make mines safer places to work and prevent explosions
and fires. Expanding underground coal mining expands methane gas releases.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Burning coal is responsible for air pollution that knows no
borders:</li><li>Sulfur dioxide (SO2), which contributes to acid rain and
respiratory illnesses</li><li>Nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to smog and
respiratory illnesses</li><li>Particulates, which contribute to smog, haze, and lung
disease</li><li>Carbon dioxide (CO2)- the primary greenhouse gas produced
from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas)</li><li>Mercury and other heavy metals, which have been linked to
both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals</li><li>Coal ash, which are residues created when power plants burn
coal</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile the news from China is no better. Last fall China announced that coal-fired power capacity would rise by more than 200 Gigawatts by 2030. That increase is equivalent to the entire energy production of Canada. Lets be honest here despite promises made year after year the CO2 emissions of the planet have grown at a compounded annual rate of 1.8% per year since 1990. Our situation is worse not better. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXM06seachlqv39zIat1fZS_8qJ3xiNIgI_nfIj3JpDpwV992CKAe58PVbeWITzua6b9I2LOnhEyKlr0nyu7wACqVIEF1gNnTt9fzRIWGbZD-HhzVNkhLaALDPYQeNrQr7MqlfYrFQ3p_ZtNBldlioSF204tOJFvo_iVYhXnXwxqLXr6wNkU6pPSCttiC/s1532/world%20emissions%20fuel%20source%202022.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1125" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXM06seachlqv39zIat1fZS_8qJ3xiNIgI_nfIj3JpDpwV992CKAe58PVbeWITzua6b9I2LOnhEyKlr0nyu7wACqVIEF1gNnTt9fzRIWGbZD-HhzVNkhLaALDPYQeNrQr7MqlfYrFQ3p_ZtNBldlioSF204tOJFvo_iVYhXnXwxqLXr6wNkU6pPSCttiC/w409-h557/world%20emissions%20fuel%20source%202022.png" width="409" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://globalcarbonatlas.org/emissions/carbon-emissions/" target="_blank">from the Global Carbon Project</a></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://globalcarbonatlas.org/emissions/carbon-emissions/" target="_blank"><br /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-6291136309633358192024-01-28T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-28T23:00:00.139-08:00Deer and Black Walnut my Challenges in the Garden<p>The past few years I have been planting trees on my property
to replace the emerald ash losses, evergreen losses and a red oak that failed. I
have had intermittent luck with garden specimens. This past summer’s drought was
a challenge to the new trees I bought, but I was quite pleased with how well
this bunch of trees had done with their Gator
bags through the hot and very dry summer we had here. I thought this new group
of trees had made it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the artic weather and snow of the last two weeks hit
and the small herd of deer denuded the bottom half of my row of nellie steven’s
hollies. Right now I have lollypop trees and I’m wondering if they can ever
recover from the assault. Deer are not supposed to eat holly, so they must have
been very hungry in the snow and cold. Two years ago, the deer denuded and
killed my shrubbery on the other side of the house. So, I am a little
heartbroken at the thought of loosing my formerly beautiful and thriving hollies.
Though I have acres of woodland ending in a stream, my ornamental garden is seemingly
a deer buffet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am constantly
replanting and estimating deer desirability of plants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_z4YMLWKQxGiAbVa7cjxaR2zcfDKBmolw9UhR77hTs8vRak8u8aMyYNzY74dYdeSQ-RH09SFKQ4oXRn5w9_rQOTH4YZB3mSRg9AZ3-LOJoRA922BcqibKRWHGDI-P_GNSLzVWZbUd1T2g-Lhd1kBOp7TDHuUu5SpI9Kntt788RHJZyCKRKDofpXYJwSX-/s1472/deer%20lollypop%20holly.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1052" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_z4YMLWKQxGiAbVa7cjxaR2zcfDKBmolw9UhR77hTs8vRak8u8aMyYNzY74dYdeSQ-RH09SFKQ4oXRn5w9_rQOTH4YZB3mSRg9AZ3-LOJoRA922BcqibKRWHGDI-P_GNSLzVWZbUd1T2g-Lhd1kBOp7TDHuUu5SpI9Kntt788RHJZyCKRKDofpXYJwSX-/w378-h528/deer%20lollypop%20holly.png" width="378" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lower part stripped of leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F1lnrpZtSHH74ZbcCkkbAxay6_a-7zuMpAYkHVy3IeSrDJKQMLpRy_cZ0Lw4NjQWkDQQiuiI4uLcLCmczJqLI6g5rEr_gmTDnBdSLwGZF0FxBf7iU6cQZwJdXOl06TaZBrP9zA9AgZwwWh5F6LnaIGKK3-aIk7dcyd9WH4Fixec1Y6MNn1tGCLi6kjkw/s1840/deer%20nibbling%20on%20the%20schrubbery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1615" data-original-width="1840" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F1lnrpZtSHH74ZbcCkkbAxay6_a-7zuMpAYkHVy3IeSrDJKQMLpRy_cZ0Lw4NjQWkDQQiuiI4uLcLCmczJqLI6g5rEr_gmTDnBdSLwGZF0FxBf7iU6cQZwJdXOl06TaZBrP9zA9AgZwwWh5F6LnaIGKK3-aIk7dcyd9WH4Fixec1Y6MNn1tGCLi6kjkw/s320/deer%20nibbling%20on%20the%20schrubbery.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the corner bush stripped of leaves</td></tr></tbody></table>Deer are not my only challenge. My garden also has another
significant challenge- juglone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
substance is found in the vegetative buds, leaves, stems, nut hulls, and roots
of black walnut and hickory trees (and a few others). Black walnut (Juglans
nigra) and hickory are the primary culprits. I thought it quaint that our
neighborhood was once called hickory grove. That is until I face the challenges
of trying to garden around stands of black walnut and hickory trees.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The production of juglone is a protective response by the
black walnut and hickory to assure their survival and reproduction by
inhibiting nearby competition. The most common symptoms of juglone sensitivity
in garden plants is the yellowing and wilting of leaves, especially during the
hot dry periods of the growing season, ultimately resulting in wilting and
death of the plant. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvixH2dL1ntsjgyK3HW4S_bktSjf9wQfXY7Wa3ks2gNHycHLgUeiHdiJENIXGZt0wfx220rdLn5_18dkeJ5yK77AE55i0FmUTXo98mOcPNFsxWykMcoX5phvx15A8tfc0gje2Gtx__zmXEv_MyX1_cxBMo8fa6Zvw20Hm_ZsjAp1YfSYun622_rJodvSxC/s1530/black%20walnuts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1305" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvixH2dL1ntsjgyK3HW4S_bktSjf9wQfXY7Wa3ks2gNHycHLgUeiHdiJENIXGZt0wfx220rdLn5_18dkeJ5yK77AE55i0FmUTXo98mOcPNFsxWykMcoX5phvx15A8tfc0gje2Gtx__zmXEv_MyX1_cxBMo8fa6Zvw20Hm_ZsjAp1YfSYun622_rJodvSxC/w417-h489/black%20walnuts.png" width="417" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the black walnuts all over the yard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Early wilting can often be reduced with additional watering,
but trust me, this will not work for long. Later in the season wilting does not
respond to additional water, leaves start to brown, and the plant dies. Basically,
black walnut and hickory kill off the competition. Worse yet, as neighboring trees grow larger and their roots spread towards the black walnut, they go into decline. Coming to Virginia from
California 17 years ago I had no clue. It cost me several thousands of dollars
in dead plants to send me to the extension office and finally be educated in
juglone. According to the extension office, juglone inhibits plant respiration,
depriving sensitive plants of needed energy and cell division as well as water
and nutrient uptake.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Various sources of information have published lists of
plants that are tolerant to juglone. They are based on observation under
various settings, but few plants have been experimentally tested for
sensitivity to juglone. It turns out that many factors affect sensitivity,
including level of contact, health of the plant, soil environment, and the
overall site conditions. My most challenging area is the east side of my
house which abuts a black walnut stand. I have replanted the beds along that
area several times. Any stress seems to exacerbate the problem. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right now, I have the nellie stevens, green giant,
cryptomeria, forsythia, lilac (that is struggling), and hydrangea. I hear that
nine bark might work. Various source have lists of plants that will survive- I
have not had success with many of them, and some of them are totally deer candy
for example the Hosta. Nonetheless, I recommend checking out the lists from <a href="content (vt.edu)" target="_blank">Virginia Tech </a>and
<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/landscaping-and-gardening-around-walnuts-and-other-juglone-producing-plants" target="_blank">Penn State Extension</a> as you, too, test your garden by trial and error. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-60044732323724767172024-01-24T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-24T23:00:00.175-08:00Cold Snap increased Water Main Breaks at WSSC<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cvRL39YOxuann-IEXGR5c_JRuFm9I-YxBtoodG7I_gHjYAQZ5lwGhIdNF7fdxJahgHS9EKZNUv6DGkBSqHoxTcR4tBPih1lujENWLh4T6X9YTLBoLvsGHy60QjUMwGRuazulSulE9-9JYDQNl2dDV8PTY-abv7TcGbiq_06rujci-tKtvv-et3yFC99i/s2340/wssc%20pipe%20breaks%202024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2340" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cvRL39YOxuann-IEXGR5c_JRuFm9I-YxBtoodG7I_gHjYAQZ5lwGhIdNF7fdxJahgHS9EKZNUv6DGkBSqHoxTcR4tBPih1lujENWLh4T6X9YTLBoLvsGHy60QjUMwGRuazulSulE9-9JYDQNl2dDV8PTY-abv7TcGbiq_06rujci-tKtvv-et3yFC99i/w522-h280/wssc%20pipe%20breaks%202024.png" width="522" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://my.wsscwater.com/BrokenWaterMainGraph/main/brokenWaterMain.faces" target="_blank">from WSSC</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>The artic temperature arrived in our region about two weeks ago and stayed long enough to impact us. The Potomac River temperature dropped about 13 degrees over the weekend from 46 to 33 degrees, triggering a significant increase in the number of water main breaks/leaks according to a news release from WSSC Water. They have experienced more than166 water main breaks/leaks in the past 12 days – with 82 over the weekend alone.</p><p></p>As you can see below, there is a direct connection between dropping water temperatures in the Potomac River and the increase in water main breaks. Water main breaks tend to increase a few days after the river temperature hits a new low because the colder water takes time to travel through approximately 5,900 miles of water distribution mains.<div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoasOpelA2DFjGWniq2nh2cg3tXdUjDUDzf_qNgx4vV6gJZhDnnpjkmWcKUGE9s-CPllSnNJ2qE4wo-T_QT-1v_EBImmWYv8bT20NiEBTX4IwH0FQzk5MFZL6KHCbTyYI1RPmBvBaQ4m1XT57qbGJXTTUS2ilRC89DRK49DZtyIr7ahvHjqxevLHc6SbY/s2402/Screenshot%202024-01-23%20052943.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="2402" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoasOpelA2DFjGWniq2nh2cg3tXdUjDUDzf_qNgx4vV6gJZhDnnpjkmWcKUGE9s-CPllSnNJ2qE4wo-T_QT-1v_EBImmWYv8bT20NiEBTX4IwH0FQzk5MFZL6KHCbTyYI1RPmBvBaQ4m1XT57qbGJXTTUS2ilRC89DRK49DZtyIr7ahvHjqxevLHc6SbY/w509-h264/Screenshot%202024-01-23%20052943.png" width="509" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://my.wsscwater.com/BrokenWaterMainGraph/main/brokenWaterMain.faces" target="_blank">from WSSC</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The aging infrastructure is a critical factor in breaks and leaks. The older pipes are more brittle and “shocked” by the colder water, causing them to break. Much of the WSSC’s service areas was built out in the building boom of 1960s and continuing through the late 1980s. Older pipes typically break at a higher rate than newer pipes. Though age alone is not the only factor that determines the likelihood of a pipe breaking it is a big one. Approximately 40 % of the water mains in WSSC Water’s systems are more than 50 years old despite an ongoing pipe replacement program. <br /><br />WSSC Water spends approximately $17 million each year for emergency water main repairs alone, with about $10 million spent November through February. During a typical year, WSSC Water crews repair more than 1,800 water main breaks and leaks, approximately 65 % of which (1,152) occur between November and February. <br /><br />Responding to these emergencies has slowed WSSC’s ability to replace the older water mains and WSSC continues to work to update the system. WSSC serves 1.9 million customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, with approximately 5,900 miles of water mains covering a 1,000-square-mile area. With such an extensive, aging distribution system spanning the two counties it is hard to keep up and very difficult to move forward to reduce the age of the system of pipes.<br /><br />WSSC Water encourages customers to report water main breaks and leaks as quickly as possible. Do not assume that someone else has reported the break. There are three ways to report a break: <br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Call WSSC Water’s 24/7 Emergency Services Center at 301-206-4002. </li><li>Email WSSC Water’s Emergency Center at <a href="mailto:emergencycallcenter@wsscwater.com">emergencycallcenter@wsscwater.com</a>.</li><li>Use <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsscwater.com%2Fmobile&data=05%7C02%7CLeslie.Allen%40wsscwater.com%7C8e16a4c4face4eb32a0b08dc1b63d3c2%7C9cc7a6603d2741669503899e91800911%7C1%7C0%7C638415362822862810%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PsxIia9lxanfaIMc7VTAkEiu4cz4sGHIQqNHiUdrNDE%3D&reserved=0">WSSC Water’s Mobile App</a>.</li></ul><br />The “Report a Problem” feature on WSSC Water’s mobile app allows customers to easily snap a picture of a water or sewer problem and send it directly to the Emergency Call Center. The mobile app uses GPS to pinpoint the image’s location, allowing dispatchers to send an inspector to the location.</div>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-86704539546564122562024-01-21T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-21T23:00:00.126-08:00January is National Radon Action Month<p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named
January as national Radon Action Month, in hopes of getting as many people as
possible to test their homes for radon. The Radon is a naturally occurring
radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium, thorium, radium, and
other radioactive elements that naturally occur in granites as well as some
metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in soil, rock, and water and is widespread in
the United States.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Radon is an odorless, clear radioactive gas that can cause
cancer. Most people only test their home at purchase, but the It is a good idea
to retest your home if you make any changes to the structure and every few
years to be sure radon levels remain low. In addition, if your home has a radon
mitigation system, it is important to monitor the system and retest at least
every two years to make sure the system is functioning.<br />
<br />
According to the EPA about 21,000 people die each year from lung cancer caused
by long term exposure to elevated levels of radon in their homes. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/Federal_Radon_Action_Plan.pdf">Radon is the
second leading cause of lung cancer in the general population, and is the
leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers</a>. As radon gas is released from
bedrock, it migrates upward through the soil and can seep into the basements of
houses and other buildings through dirt floors, cracks in concrete, and floor
drains. Radon has a tendency to accumulate in enclosed spaces such as
buildings. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the
soil around your home's foundation. Because of this difference in pressure,
your home acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and
other openings.<a href="http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#lower"> </a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Radon from soil is the main cause of radon problems in
homes, but sometimes radon enters the home through well water. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/Federal_Radon_Action_Plan.pdf">You cannot
see, taste or smell radon. The only way to detect radon is to test.</a> Short
term radon testing kits consist of a container of granular activated charcoal.
The charcoal absorbs the radon gas entering the canister from the surrounding
air. At the end of the radon gas test period, typically 3-7 days the canister
is sealed and sent to the laboratory in the pre-paid mailer for analysis. There
are also 90 day test kits.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Radon in air is ubiquitous- found in outdoor air and in the
indoor air of buildings of all kinds. The average indoor radon
concentration for America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. It is upon this national
average indoor level that EPA based its estimate of 21,000 radon-related lung
cancers a year. The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L
or 1/10th of EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L
(picocuries per liter) or more. However, there is no known safe level of
exposure to radon so, EPA also recommends that we consider fixing our home for
radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to the EPA, radon levels in most homes can be
reduced to 2 pCi/L or below using standard mitigation techniques. Radon
mitigation takes one of two approaches either preventing the radon from
entering the home or reducing the radon levels by dilution after the radon has
entered the home. There are several techniques that can be used depending on
the type of foundation the home has. It is better to prevent radon from
entering the home in the first place so I will discuss the preferred methods of
prevention. The type of foundation, construction materials and condition will
determine the kind of radon reduction system that will work best. Homes are
built with some kind of foundation- a basement, slab-on-grade, a crawlspace, or
a combination of the three. It is common to have a basement under part of the
home and to have a slab-on-grade or crawlspace under the rest of the home. In
these situations a combination of radon reduction techniques may be needed to
reduce radon levels to below 4 pCi/L, which is the EPA regulated level.
However, be aware that there is a synergistic risk from active smoking and
radon exposure that increases the risk of getting lung cancer.<br />
<br />
Soil suction techniques are the preferred method of mitigation and prevents
radon from entering your home by drawing the radon from below the home and
venting it through a pipe(s) to the air above the home or outside the house
where it is diluted by the ambient air. An effective method to reduce radon
levels homes with crawl spaces is covering the dirt floor of the crawl space with
a high-density plastic sheet. A vent pipe and fan are then installed and used
to draw the radon from under the sheet and vent it outdoors. This is called
sub-membrane suction, and according to the EPA when properly installed is the
most effective way to reduce radon levels home with crawlspaces.<br />
<br />
In homes with concrete slab foundations or basements, sub-slab depressurization
is the most reliable radon reduction method. One or more suction pipes are
inserted through the floor slab into the crushed rock or soil underneath the
home and a fan is used to draw the radon from under the slab or basement floor
to a roof or wall vent. It is possible, and in many cases preferable, to
install the suction pipe under the slab by running the pipe on the outside of
the house. Another variation is to use the drain tiles or perforated pipe that
are installed in modern homes to keep basements dry. Suction on these tiles or
pipes can be effective in reducing radon levels. This system is most effective
if the drain tiles are on the inside of the footer, sealed beneath the floor
and form a complete loop around the foundation of the building. In homes that have
sump pumps the sump can be capped so that it can continue to drain water and
serve as the location for a radon suction pipe. There are kits that can be
purchased for capping the sump pump. It is important that the sump cover lid is
readily removable for service of the sump pump. Be aware that over time the perforated
pipe can become clogged with silt. <br />
<br />
There are several other techniques such as sealing cracks and <a href="http://www.epa.gov/radon/rrnc/basic_techniques_builder.html">passive
methods that are often installed in new construction</a> that are not as
effective as active depressurization of the slab, basement or crawl space. As a
temporary measure ventilation will reduce the radon levels by introducing more
outside air, but it will increase your heating and cooling bills. After a mitigation
system is installed do confirmation testing of radon levels before you make the
last payment to the contractor to ensure that the mitigation system works. For
more information of mitigation approaches and techniques see the EPA’s
Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction .<o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-83086103116181049272024-01-17T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-18T03:26:35.669-08:00Solar Farms in Virginia<p><br />Scott Cameron, Vice-Chair of the NVSWCD Board of Directors,
spoke to the Potomac Watershed Roundtable at our most recent meeting. His topic
was the Environmental Considerations of Utility Scale Solar “Farms.” The article below is a summary of his
talk.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Virginia’s utility scale solar development was stimulated initially
(as intended) by the statutory requirement of the Virginia Clean Economy Act
(VCEA). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 2020 VCEA is the state’s law
outlining a path to decarbonize the electric grid by 2050. VCEA requires the
Commonwealth to retire its natural gas power plants by 2045 (Dominion) and 2050
(Appalachian Power). It also requires utilities to develop more than
16,000MW of renewable energy by 2035. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the demand for renewable energy grew exponentially
due to the demands from data centers located primarily in Northern Virginia in
the Potomac River Basin. In the stampede to build utility scale solar a series
of issues have arisen. The developers of these utility scale solar came to
Virginia from desert locations where the land was open and unused. In Virginia
solar developers are cutting down forests and converting prime farmland. These
lands had provided green infrastructure to manage stormwater, allowed
groundwater to be recharged, provided water quality benefits, and fish and
wildlife habitat. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to Mr. Cameron, the acreage permitted for utility
scale solar developments in Virginia is growing at an average of 77% per year
based on a regression model. In real life it takes 5-12 acres to create 1 megawatt
of solar generating capacity. So that under the VCEA that would 317,000 acres
would be converted to solar by 2045. However, those solar farms only generate
power when the sun shines and data centers, the driving force of the entire
power structure in Virginia these days, operate a flat demand 24/7. Today, data
centers represent 21% of Dominion Energy’s Virginia power demand and are
forecast to be 40% by 2030. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To power data centers with renewable power, batter storage
will have to be built to power the data centers at night and when it is
overcast (remember it rains an average of 44 inches a year in Virginia). The
charge the batteries additional solar developments will have to be built.
According to an analysis by the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) the data
center demand for power drives a loss of about 1,500,000 acres by 2050,
assuming no additional nuclear or natural gas to keep the data centers
operating after dark. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to VCU, about 61% of the roughly 30,000 acres of agriculture
land that has be used so far for solar projects is “highly suitable cropland.”
In addition, as of 2023, more than 10,000 acres of forest land have already
been lost to the utility scale solar. However, under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the other Chesapeake
Bay states, Virginia owes the region 48,000 acres of new forest by 2025, but
have only planted 6,600 acres of trees. On net, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we are 3,400 acres further from Virginia’s tree
planting goal than we were in 2017. We are going backward in our environmental progress.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, as rain storms intensify due to the changing
climate, and green infrastructure of forests, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and open land are removed; storm water flooding
and sediment flushing into streams, rivers and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay
increases. This is all compounded by the fact that utility scale solar
developers came to Virginia from the dessert with no experience handling stormwater.
Our wet (and getting wetter) environment requires Virginia to have stormwater
regulations. However, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>according to the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 69% of existing solar facilities had
regulatory “issues” with stormwater and erosion control as of April 2023. Solar
stormwater pollution undercuts the urban investment Virginia has made. Last
year NOVA invested $135 million in stormwater management. Over the next five
years Virginia is budgeted to spend a billion dollars on stormwater management.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />
<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn0mYERc8LSOz64tsEiL2kAbaDTIb5DFBaAGxD47p2-8w4VsR9Zgew2t79XKcNx10YnbGtJAy8PrKVCJ53r3aSBBb2K4JuCOeshI9h5rEauKUAYV-O6qDMNmtbfm7eZ4u861Zaqjb7nPlvk67GXdwrsQ9fAw21J4zJplLYPfHyCTme4U0itIFOFHEctQ2/s573/solar%20project%20ESE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="573" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn0mYERc8LSOz64tsEiL2kAbaDTIb5DFBaAGxD47p2-8w4VsR9Zgew2t79XKcNx10YnbGtJAy8PrKVCJ53r3aSBBb2K4JuCOeshI9h5rEauKUAYV-O6qDMNmtbfm7eZ4u861Zaqjb7nPlvk67GXdwrsQ9fAw21J4zJplLYPfHyCTme4U0itIFOFHEctQ2/w451-h306/solar%20project%20ESE.jpg" width="451" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solar Project from ESE</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Cameron suggests that Virginia needs to change the
incentives in the state law. Virginia needs to implement disincentives in
siting utility scale solar developments in forests and prime farmland. Promote “agro-voltaics”
which are spacing the solar panels further apart and higher to allow sheep grazing
and crop cultivation. (funny note in experiments with grazing only sheep were
successful, the cows knocked down the solar panels and the goats climbed on
them.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Cameron went on to suggest
that we need to incentive solar siting on brownfields, residential and
commercial structures, an parking lots. Delegate Paul Krizek has bills in this
legislative session: HB 197. HB 198, and HB 199. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DEQ is also working on the problem. DEQ’s stormwater
Guidance Memo 22-2012 issued in November 2022 goes into effect at the end of
this year and requires more stringent stormwater controls for utility scale
solar that has not yet been connected to the grid by 12/31/2024. In addition, DEQ
established a work group as required by HB 206 to assist with
developing regulations under its small renewable energy permit-by-rule (PBR)
program, addressing ways to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate damage to prime
agricultural soil and forest caused by the construction and operation of
renewable energy solar projects. DEQ must promulgate these regulations no
later than the end of 2024. Make sure to comment on the regulations. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyTLKd4ssSW0ZN3BzR6J4E6OdxDPV7FxwBir4C05WW5hBd-skou3N9F5Vm0FhqXKYtSEmVk89ubmjgdNeVsSeA72nCfK2R20w172ucgUHfAjIbHZ278U8jc0-ebru0myClVRegiKRHoN5bdrywOrUP3TKgIFC-cJ9n3LT-dMQbHqI50NW9WXEIzurX_yu/s1635/solar%20carport%20METRO.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1635" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyTLKd4ssSW0ZN3BzR6J4E6OdxDPV7FxwBir4C05WW5hBd-skou3N9F5Vm0FhqXKYtSEmVk89ubmjgdNeVsSeA72nCfK2R20w172ucgUHfAjIbHZ278U8jc0-ebru0myClVRegiKRHoN5bdrywOrUP3TKgIFC-cJ9n3LT-dMQbHqI50NW9WXEIzurX_yu/w459-h251/solar%20carport%20METRO.png" width="459" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solar carports at METRO</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIVkEp5JRKSZJP19kodkTOCXF0gIfgltbzWHM0JQ-fDvI9ytBc0GDaBTtKXoI180hhxOgPIi3AWVcZ3k_XY_A5oEkiu3CBYrIvTCnQRR4L9mjkEyv1h-fdKw_PsouSw8nhYi88NJsTP1_hwFbIZdxkRbKhch5oRev3hTXJx_EkKaIw-SoEcqDP6BW2YWU/s748/solar%20project%20dominion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="748" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIVkEp5JRKSZJP19kodkTOCXF0gIfgltbzWHM0JQ-fDvI9ytBc0GDaBTtKXoI180hhxOgPIi3AWVcZ3k_XY_A5oEkiu3CBYrIvTCnQRR4L9mjkEyv1h-fdKw_PsouSw8nhYi88NJsTP1_hwFbIZdxkRbKhch5oRev3hTXJx_EkKaIw-SoEcqDP6BW2YWU/w455-h260/solar%20project%20dominion.jpg" width="455" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominion Solar Development</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-26899377435088386132024-01-14T23:00:00.000-08:002024-02-03T02:56:26.499-08:00Area 2 Farms- Vertical Farming in Arlington<p>On Friday, Andrew Borocco, Head of Plant Breeding at <a href="https://www.area2farms.com/farm" target="_blank">Area 2Farms </a>spoke to the Potomac Watershed Roundtable virtually. Though after hearing
his talk, I’m convinced that the trip to Shirlington to see their operation
would be fun.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First, let me tell you a little bit about Area 2 Farms.
First of all, right now there is only one farm. It is in the Shirlington
neighborhood or Arlington, VA and it is a start up. The concept is that food
should be grown within 10 miles of the people who consume it and that it should
all be fresh and seasonal. Since most people live in urban areas, the way to
accomplish this using a vertical method. In this way the footprint of food could
be reduced. Though, truthfully I always thought the carbon footprint of food
was due to the energy consumed in moving the inputs- seeds, fertilizer (not in this case), etc. Land clearing is also has a climate impact. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vertical farming is seen as another avenue for technological
advancement that can spur improvements in yield/ reduction in land need,
cropping intensity (the number of crop harvests per year), and protection from
pests and pathogens, while reducing nutrient and water usage. Vertical farms either
uses <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hydroponics or aeroponics systems. “Studies
have shown that soil-grown plants exhibit a more diverse and robust microbial
community, which plays a crucial role in enhancing plant growth, health, and
resilience against pests and diseases” 1. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vertical farming system can vary in the extent to which the
growing environment is controlled. The form of vertical farming practiced by
Area 2 Farms is indoors in specifically created soil. That lets them grow
without pesticides and herbicides and to control the environment to produce the
most nutritious plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Area 2 Farms is
certified USDA organic; a hydroponic system could not be. Andrew has a Master’s Degree in Plant Breeding and his
job is doing just that. He is responsible for plant breeding to optimize the
plants to taste good and grow in the shallow bins that Area 2 Farms stacks
about a foot apart. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8v4hooxzLzAEZEPXsvbJHxuHD1Iud_eT19E0KsmPTmXzX71tre0PqHbngQxCjTdlq0lZh7XN_Q-x0t5sTmyxYNk3qU2NnyF0LX0pU5yENDwfZM_1202bcLnCdVCdvOlblSLaFe_v1iCALqUA9z2duQLpYeAtn3K8h-7qu1y221uR62vaRVh4_s2_nccX/s1460/area%202%20farms.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8v4hooxzLzAEZEPXsvbJHxuHD1Iud_eT19E0KsmPTmXzX71tre0PqHbngQxCjTdlq0lZh7XN_Q-x0t5sTmyxYNk3qU2NnyF0LX0pU5yENDwfZM_1202bcLnCdVCdvOlblSLaFe_v1iCALqUA9z2duQLpYeAtn3K8h-7qu1y221uR62vaRVh4_s2_nccX/w416-h400/area%202%20farms.png" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Area 2 Farms</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The soil and it’s structure is an important element of the
plant health and taste. The soil created by using coconut husks, Area 2 makes
compost from stems and roots that is added to the coconut husks soaked and rinsed
in water several times to remove the natural salt, then organic fertilizer is
added along with selected bacteria to create a proprietary soil biome. The soil
continues to develop with addition over time of inhouse compost created by inhouse
worms, stems and roots of the produce. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
soil develops, the plants toughen up and are less delicate. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9N7V-zJ7a8En-TmSmweSnzBS45Sx-Ub_6dlgg3ZG4rMIdKTa0OkVyNMJnYzssQCD3miR8r_9wESkp845YUa6XQsD7_MlsFC8zyzvQWP38dxC2hwQbu3K-dbxoDabto1qpezskS8bGAcJau2rATGd4AhlCFn67ifu8PuwjknTRkdySlmMGb1dGc-QZbUW/s1350/sweet%20potato%20diversity.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1010" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9N7V-zJ7a8En-TmSmweSnzBS45Sx-Ub_6dlgg3ZG4rMIdKTa0OkVyNMJnYzssQCD3miR8r_9wESkp845YUa6XQsD7_MlsFC8zyzvQWP38dxC2hwQbu3K-dbxoDabto1qpezskS8bGAcJau2rATGd4AhlCFn67ifu8PuwjknTRkdySlmMGb1dGc-QZbUW/w316-h423/sweet%20potato%20diversity.png" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hybrid sweet potatoes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Andrew makes cross breeding and creation of successful
hybrids sound fascinating. He obviously loves his work. I have been a byer of
hybrids for my garden, but I had given little thought to the process of
creating one. One example he told us about was creating a sweet an delicious
pea that would be short enough to fit the stacked totes by combining the tom
thumb and royal snap pea. Another example was creating a dwarf tomato hybrid
using the delicious green zebra tomato. I also learned that due to heterosis hybrids tend to be larger, so that it is often
necessary to keep planting the F1 generation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Area 2 Farms sells CSA shares to people who live within 10
miles of their farm building. The shares are 5 items weekly for 10 weeks that
are a mix of green, micro greens and shoots, herbs , roots (sweet potatoes
etc.) and fruits. You should check them out. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Chiaranunt P, White JF. Plant Beneficial Bacteria and Their
Potential Applications in Vertical Farming Systems. Plants (Basel). 2023 Jan
15;12(2):400. doi: 10.3390/plants12020400. PMID: 36679113; PMCID: PMC9861093. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9861093/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9861093/</a></li></ol><p></p><p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-42773989188011497332024-01-10T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-20T05:54:58.937-08:00Spontaneous Combustion of Floor Staining applicators takes House<p>From a Loundoun County Fire and Rescue press release:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At 4:32 a.m. on Saturday, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call for a reported structure fire on Orrison Road in Lovettsville. Fire Investigators say that oil-soaked construction
materials spontaneously combusted, sparking a Saturday morning fire consumed a
Loudoun County home. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtd6L-AtXPNbLl-2gUWFtsph5Pocg_ibTQW9xdRc0MT-sHX9aBtGQIkFj2yYuQi-El0GW3ICap-ft4KKVPXkObIrF9CRHBSUvwdDUeTbw3lvrezvWZUo_33IpQAirfVHX529z4DYtn_1HFEViCeAFZz4YCMnjsqiNx_Q6av07x1r9SlH98QYMh0cpnPXaK/s1170/Deb%20Fire%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1170" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtd6L-AtXPNbLl-2gUWFtsph5Pocg_ibTQW9xdRc0MT-sHX9aBtGQIkFj2yYuQi-El0GW3ICap-ft4KKVPXkObIrF9CRHBSUvwdDUeTbw3lvrezvWZUo_33IpQAirfVHX529z4DYtn_1HFEViCeAFZz4YCMnjsqiNx_Q6av07x1r9SlH98QYMh0cpnPXaK/w376-h261/Deb%20Fire%201.png" width="376" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Loudoun County Fire and Rescue units from Lovettsville,
Lucketts, and Purcellville, as well as Frederick County, Maryland were
dispatched to the scene. When they arrived, the crews found a two-story
single-family home with fire pushing through the second story and roof. The
floor refinisher’s van was still in the driveway with a flat tire. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office
investigation classified the fire as accidental, caused by the spontaneous
combustion of the oil soaked staining applicators consisting of rollers and
brushes, the release said.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The house is a total loss. Fortunately, no one was injured
since the home owner had moved before Christmas and the house was being updated
for sale. There were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjTloF1rJkgrqc9-bNgGkJJv9pAe3eq9ED34acSRoYLFtX0BC354J5Q8JO-F-xRv5S9TPVovek_xsNrJ-oWaTBL_WwJ2lof_PJ0vguDBN03Eg9DpvaiN3QTga27pFYJP5qLIeydVCI2JZfLM_ciHp2VdQCkjbAUpUAHF9hjj-mzcNiNS8tOyk82rjHvkR/s1260/deb%20fire%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="922" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjTloF1rJkgrqc9-bNgGkJJv9pAe3eq9ED34acSRoYLFtX0BC354J5Q8JO-F-xRv5S9TPVovek_xsNrJ-oWaTBL_WwJ2lof_PJ0vguDBN03Eg9DpvaiN3QTga27pFYJP5qLIeydVCI2JZfLM_ciHp2VdQCkjbAUpUAHF9hjj-mzcNiNS8tOyk82rjHvkR/w273-h373/deb%20fire%202.png" width="273" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I report this for two reasons. First the homeowner is a dear
friend of mine and the loss of her home of more than 25 years was devastating, though she was in the process of downsizing and had all her chosen treasures in the new house. Second, as a reminder that oil and solvent soaked materials are combustible.
No used rages, open materials or applicators should be stored or left in an enclosed
area. After using stain applicators, they should be placed in a safe location
outside, away from the structure to dry before discarding. Never pile rags,
brushes, or rollers together, rather lay them flat on an exterior surface and
allow them to completely dry. My father was obsessive on this topic and he was completely
right.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_Hir2LEYm5O1sDve_VFaC6XisXI5hLBo9vUK_-UVklS8TQQrvRgWD6EW-mrfvQsk1TY8FvCizLpRnS1coY0feItL-b-niqun7Pdmcbw1KCfOCa9fssYHCQkl_ya3_lYL9_Ke181dkZ9RuQmqkFQWbAIa_QGen1FzcSFdFqxV-mxgqFO9M-ohFpzx6GND/s1142/deb%20fire%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1142" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_Hir2LEYm5O1sDve_VFaC6XisXI5hLBo9vUK_-UVklS8TQQrvRgWD6EW-mrfvQsk1TY8FvCizLpRnS1coY0feItL-b-niqun7Pdmcbw1KCfOCa9fssYHCQkl_ya3_lYL9_Ke181dkZ9RuQmqkFQWbAIa_QGen1FzcSFdFqxV-mxgqFO9M-ohFpzx6GND/w443-h331/deb%20fire%203.png" width="443" /></a></div></div><br />Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-14083647385481607622024-01-07T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-07T23:00:00.260-08:00Tracking Water Use in Virginia<p>The Commonwealth of Virginia is a water rich state, but
water is not unlimited. After the statewide drought of 1999-2002 Virginia has been
required to look at water use to sustainably use our available water resources
most effectively. This reporting is still developing but allows us to see and begin
to understand our water use, identify trends and to try to keep the
Commonwealth on a sustainable water path.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Water Supply Planning (WSP) program was created after
the 1999-2002 drought and requires all localities in Virginia to submit a water
supply plan, either individually, or as part of a regional planning unit that
was amended in 2020 and now requires that a locality report as part of 26
regional planning units. Information reported is what are the water sources and
how much water they currently use. This planning includes both surface water
and groundwater. However, the categories of water use are limited. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DEQ compiles the information included in each Plan, as well
as the water reported water withdrawals collected through the Annual Withdrawal
Reporting from Water Withdrawal Permitting Programs to create a model used to
evaluate the sustainability of our water resources. The results of this
collective analysis are published in the State Water Resources Plan. The most
recent completed plan was published in late 2022 using the data from the
previous year and much of the comments below are paraphrased from the <a href="638053236953670000 (virginia.gov)" rel="nofollow">report</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In calendar year 2021 total reported water withdrawals were
approximately 5.66 billion gallons per day (BGD), including the cooling water
withdrawals at nuclear and fossil fuel power generation facilities, which were
77% of water used. Excluding power generation, 2021 reported withdrawals
totaled 1.27 BGD, a 2.9% increase compared to the five-year average and an 8%
increase over 2020- a year impacted by the pandemic. I had not realized how much public water use was impacted by the first year of the pandemic and look forward to seeing the data in the next few years. The 2021 total is the
highest within the last five years and the curve (excluding 2020) seems steeper. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUmKZVtmb9rWULQiVUMjon4TShfJXzuL6yICGj7EGBnM1RDDty0RLPsNFlgyPMntoyt4hM1apA4tBui1ic_LiYs7Kq0Q98pRAOqs0VqBN2xR0XUHerIX64IlrBa-rhj5mT6HOJ9HH8zqSu5pU_yiNkByPPI0wFM8uOSYrLnHsX8G0-cYygcbs-kaLpVDU/s1560/water%20VA%20public%20supply.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1560" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUmKZVtmb9rWULQiVUMjon4TShfJXzuL6yICGj7EGBnM1RDDty0RLPsNFlgyPMntoyt4hM1apA4tBui1ic_LiYs7Kq0Q98pRAOqs0VqBN2xR0XUHerIX64IlrBa-rhj5mT6HOJ9HH8zqSu5pU_yiNkByPPI0wFM8uOSYrLnHsX8G0-cYygcbs-kaLpVDU/w498-h289/water%20VA%20public%20supply.png" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="638053236953670000 (virginia.gov)" rel="nofollow">from DEQ</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">This increase in water withdrawals over the last five years
is largely driven by increased volume from public water supply facilities. Deliveries
of water from public supply to specific users are not reported to DEQ;
therefore, the reported withdrawals for public water supply do not
differentiate between the categories of end users. There is no way to see what
accounts for that growth (or for that matter the sharp fall in 2020), though it seems unlikely that in a period of
decreasing personal water use that increase is just a reflection of population
growth since Virginia’s population grew less than ½% over the five year period.
In 2021 public water supply withdrawals increased by 3.8% (from the 5 year average) to 803 million
gallons per day (MGD). Despite reductions in per capita water use, reported
public water supply withdrawals have steadily increased.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Other drivers of increased reported withdrawals in 2021 were
increases in agricultural irrigation and manufacturing, which were 17.6% (3.4
MGD by volume) and 1.1% (3.9 MGD by volume) higher than the five year average
respectively. Both 2020 and 2021 featured periods of the growing season of
drier than normal conditions which may be contributing to the increase in
irrigation compared to the average.<br />
<br />
The DEQ identifies new, continuing, and future priorities, challenges, or other
topics important to water resources management and notes that in 2021,
Commissioners of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB)
passed a Resolution on Enhancing Water Supply Resilience for the Washington
Metropolitan Area and the major water companies in Northern Virginia. This is
the first step in updating the Low Flow Allocation Agreement (LFAA) of 1978 and
the Water Supply Coordination Agreement (WSCA) of 1982 both are the
foundational agreements of the ICPRB. DEQ presented data indicating that water
supply withdrawals may reduce mean monthly flow of the Potomac River and
tributaries by as much as 40% during moderate and extreme drought flows. This is
significant since research literature indicates that species impacts can
be seen with a 20% reduction in river flow. Drought response may have to change
to protect the native species. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To forecast the potential for climate change to impact
streamflow, DEQ developed a series of climate change scenarios that simulate
how streamflow during a drought may change using the best available global
climate models. These scenarios represent the initial effort by DEQ to address
climate uncertainty and surface water resources within the Commonwealth. While
the models suggest an overall increase in precipitation, they also identified
the potential for more severe periods of drought. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The ability to provide a predictable and reliable water
supply under any climatic condition is critical to Virginia’s economic
well-being. Therefore, developing a process for incorporating the evaluation of
climate change into water withdrawal permitting and water supply planning and
review, is an important element of resiliency planning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Annual water withdrawal reporting is one of the most
important data sources for DEQ. Reporting of water withdrawals allows for
informed modeling and planning decisions related to the Commonwealth’s future
water demands and availability. However, addressing impacts from water users
that are exempt from the requirement to obtain a VWP surface water
or groundwater withdrawal permit, or otherwise are unpermitted, is a challenge
in managing both surface water and groundwater to provide certainty that this
water will be available for future growth over the long term under all
conditions. Only 21% of surface water withdrawals are subject to permitting
requirements. A process to incorporate the users who are exempt from permits
into the reporting needs to be developed to assure the sustainability of our
water resources.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The proportion of groundwater use that is exempt from
permitting, or otherwise unpermitted, although smaller in absolute terms than
exempt surface water demands, is more difficult to estimate since much of it
comes from domestic or private wells with no requirement to report withdrawals or parts of the state that are not part of a groundwater management area.
In a groundwater management area there are few exemptions from the requirement
to obtain a permit for groundwater withdrawals, but in the rest of the Commonwealth,
the monitoring of groundwater use is limited. Information is essential to
planning for a sustainable Virginia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Water withdrawals that are reported to DEQ are then linked into the surface water
model, which enables DEQ to prepare up-to-date and accurate water budgets and
conduct cumulative impact analyses in f permit decisions and water
supply planning efforts. Withdrawal data is also used by other programs within
DEQ, other agencies, counties and the public. The effectiveness of the
Commonwealth’s water resource management depends on the comprehensiveness and
accuracy of this self-reported withdrawal information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Virginia the Water Withdrawal Reporting Regulation
requires the annual reporting of monthly water withdrawals (surface water and
groundwater) of volumes greater than an average of 10,000 gallons per day (GPD)
during any month, or one million gallons per month for crop irrigation. The
regulation allows the submission of metered and estimated water withdrawal
information. DEQ maintains withdrawal data as far back as 1982, but there has
been limited work to determine what is the supply of water available to the Commonwealth.
We are coming to the point where we need to know that. <o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534731232059660634.post-8099730040254662472024-01-03T23:00:00.000-08:002024-01-03T23:00:00.132-08:00Getting a Handle on Water use and Supply<p>At the beginning of October last fall I took a look at the
online USGS stream gauge on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg VA. My
intention was to get a typical flow number to make a quick calculation on what
the impact of the recently approved data centers in that area might have on river
flow. However, the flow on that day was at 11% of normal. That stopped me in my
tracks. I did a little digging and I discovered that in September the
Rappahannock River had hit the lowest flow in a century.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are not in a statewide drought, yet. As of last week, about
50% of the Commonwealth is in drought. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
past year has been a dry year with low flow in many streams, but the last big
drought in Virginia was a three year drought at the turn of this century. The drought
from 1999 to 2002 led to Virginia first requiring local water supply
planning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Step by step, Virginia has been moving towards the goal of
planning for sustainable water; though, we are still far from that goal. The first
step began before that drought. It was the <a href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC62010000025000000000000">Virginia
Ground Water Management Act of 1992. </a>That Act mandates the regulation
of large groundwater withdrawals in certain portions of the Commonwealth designated
as Groundwater Management Areas to prevent adverse impacts due to over
utilization of the resource. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Groundwater Management Act requires “all persons” who
withdraw more than 300,000 gallons of groundwater in any month within a
designated groundwater management areas must obtain a groundwater withdrawal
permit. The Groundwater Management Areas were expanded effective 2014 to include
the Counties of Caroline, King and Queen, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex,
Essex, King George, Westmoreland, Richmond, Lancaster and Northumberland; and the
parts of Spotsylvania, Stafford, Prince William, Fairfax and Arlington Counties
east of Interstate 95; and the City of Alexandria. The Eastern Shore
Groundwater Management Area includes Accomack and Northampton counties. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DEQ manages groundwater withdrawal permits within the
Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area and Eastern Shore Groundwater
Management Area as well as surface water withdrawal permits statewide. The rest
of the groundwater in the Commonwealth is not managed, yet. Groundwater
management areas will be added in the future to include other groundwater
basins that experience over withdrawal. The groundwater study in Fauquier
County seems to be teeing up the Culpeper Basin as the next groundwater
management area. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Water Supply Planning (WSP) program was created after
the 1999-2002 drought and requires all localities in Virginia to submit a water
supply plan, either individually, or as part of a regional planning unit. Plans
include key information on what water sources and how much water they currently
use. The Plans include projections for when future water will be needed and how
much will be needed for a variety of categories of water uses. This
planning includes both surface water and groundwater. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DEQ compiles the information included in each Plan, as well
as the water reported water withdrawals collected through the Annual Withdrawal
Reporting from Water Withdrawal Permitting Programs to create a model used to
evaluate the sustainability of our water resources. The results of this
collective analysis are published in the State Water Resources Plan.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The State Water Resources Plan is published at five-year
intervals. The first State Plan was published in 2015 and the second plan was
delayed due to the pandemic shutdowns and was published in 2022. Now, DEQ has amended
the regulations to require the consolidation of the 48 water plans into 26 to
give more meaningful information about connected watersheds . Prince William,
Loudoun and Fairfax whose water supplies are interconnected are required to
report on a consolidated basis. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, in 2018, the Virginia Legislature passed SB 211
which was signed into law by the Governor. This bill amends the enabling
legislation for comprehensive planning to emphasize availability, quality and
sustainability of groundwater and surface water resources on a County level as
part of the comprehensive plan.<br />
<br />
Comprehensive planning was already required and is not new. Groundwater and
surface water are protected under current legislation and are reported and forecast
under the water supply planning. This law made one change: in preparation of a
comprehensive plan, the local planning commission must consider not only
groundwater and surface water; but groundwater and surface water availability,
quality and sustainability. Water resources can only be managed in
conjunction with land use decisions on a local level. Thus, water
sustainability must be considered with all land use changes which changes the
demand for and the availability of water. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Commonwealth once thought it had an endless supply of
water. It does not. As the DEQ consolidates the information and broadens their
reach to ensure a sustainable water supply. When Prince William County prepared
the most recent version of the Comprehensive Plan, availability, quality and
sustainability of water was not included. <o:p></o:p></p>Elizabeth Ward,http://www.blogger.com/profile/06269684000961806202noreply@blogger.com0