Commentary

San Francisco bans sale of plastic bottles

On April 23, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

San Francisco has recently introduced regulations that would ban the sale of plastic bottles on city owned property. This is an attempt to break the dependence on single use plastics. Less than a quarter of plastic bottles get recycled. San Francisco is hoping to get people to return to drinking tap water. This goal is […]

 

Dangers of water Pollution – Water Pollution

On April 21, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

Water pollution can be harmful to the health of humans and animals. Different forms of pollution can harm your health in different ways. Heavy metals in the water can be toxic to fish populations. Organic matter can starve the water column of oxygen due to algae. Water can be cleaned of pollution, but the filters […]

 

#Plasticfree: how to handle the scary plastic threat on our own backs – The Guardian

On April 19, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

Laundry has always been an unpleasant chore. But now laundry also comes with the guilt that each load is releasing plastic microfibers into the environment. The microfibers have been found in human waste, and in fish. Trying to reduce your impact is difficult. One option is to try to only use clothing made out of […]

 

Lead Pipe Removal: Taking the Lead – WWTonline

On April 17, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

Lead pipes have been banned for fifty years. Although no new lead pipes have been installed, they still exist and are a safety hazard for our drinking water. Water lines are the responsibility of the water company in the street and the homeowner inside the house. The first step in getting rid of the lead […]

 

Superbugs flourish as a quarter of health facilities lack basic water services worldwide – The Telegraph

On April 15, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

A quarter of healthcare facilities around the world lack basic water services. This allows disease resistant bacteria to flourish. The lack of basic water services makes personal hygiene impossible. This directly correlates to higher rates of super bugs. The WHO considers hygiene a major concern towards world health. Improving water conditions and sanitation in these […]

 

Drinking Water Safety for Travelers | SmarterTravel

On April 13, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

Drinking contaminated water is one of the primary reasons for illness during traveling. The first step to ensuring your water is safe is looking at where you are traveling. Water is unsafe to drink in Mexico, Central America, parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Water is safe to drink in the United States, […]

 

5 Signs You Need to Start Filtering Your Home’s Water

On April 11, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

People assume that their tap water supply is clean, but that is not always the case. Dinghy clothes and bad tasting water are only two of the many ways to tell if your water needs to be filtered. If your home is old, a filtration system can ensure there are no lead particles in your […]

 

Half of households have suffered from burst or broken pipes – The Sun

On April 9, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

A recent study asked homeowners about leaky pipes. Over half of the homeowners surveyed had suffered home damage from a leaking or burst pipe. The same study showed that less than a third of homeowners had inspected their boiler and associated pipe in the last year. Over 40 percent of the homeowners said they did […]

 

Community outraged over 40-ounce water bottle that resembles malt liquor: ‘It’s offensive’ – Yahoo News

On April 5, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

Theo Rossi, of “Sons of Anarchy” fame, and his wife, are the founders of Ounce Water. In order to help people achieve the recommended 80 ounces of water each day, Ounce Water is designed in 40 and 20 ounce bottles. The founders state that the 40 ounce packaging was also a nod to the historical […]

 

Microplastic pollution revealed ‘absolutely everywhere’ by new research – The Guardian

On April 3, 2019, in Commentary, by Erik

Microplastic is a common finding in all parts of the world. However, it is highly regarded as unsafe for both the environment and human health. Unfortunately, new studies show that microplastic has contaminated our Earth’s lakes, rivers, and oceans. According to a UK study, microplastic has even been found in remote areas, such as Scotland. […]