Guwahati: Union Jal Shakti minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, flayed the dismal show of West Bengal and Chhattisgarh in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and raised concern in providing pure drinking water to households. Despite being a non-BJP ruled state, he praised Telangana for being one of the top performers in the Union government’s flagship programme, JJM. Shekhawat was speaking to the media during a conference with the public health engineering department ministers to review the progress of the JJM and Swachh Bharat Mission — Grameen (SBMG) here on Monday.
“Haryana and Telangana have achieved 100% (in tap water coverage under JJM). Bihar, where we have a coalition government, is on the verge of achieving that feat. Punjab also achieved 99.2%. But there are several underperforming states which are going below the national average of 48%. West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan are the states which are lagging far behind the national average,” said Shekhawat.
He, however, complimented the northeastern states for gaining the momentum in record time. There are a total of 43,668 villages in the northeast of which 6,798 have become Har Ghar Jal.
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Originally Appeared Here
PURE WATER
What’s in the water? The Benton Harbor water crisis
Benton Harbor, Michigan should be one of the last places on Earth struggling with a water crisis.
It sits on the shore of Lake Michigan and is surrounded by the Great Lakes, the largest supply of fresh, clean drinking water in the world.
But right now, Benton Harbor families, schools, churches, businesses and more are being told not to drink their city tap water. There is toxic lead leaching from old underground water service lines connecting people’s homes to water mains and eventually the city water plant.
During this 30 minute special investigation, ABC57 Anchor Brian Conybeare takes you inside the troubled plant, now pumping about 2 million gallons of water a day, although it was designed to pump over 12 million.
We also sat down with local families impacted by the lead crisis every single day, Mayor Marcus Muhammad, the Community Water Council, volunteers and the engineer in charge of the $33 million plan to replace all the old lead pipes in just 18 months.
This is all happening under the watchful eye of the Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
MORE INFORMATION
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Originally Appeared Here
New IPCC Report Doubles Down on Water Crisis
Vice President, River Conservation Strategies
The dry Sonoita Creek creekbed along the Blackhawk Trail in the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, Pima County, Arizona | Photo by Colleen Miniuk
The IPCC report released today is yet another urgent alarm bell, urging us to wake up to the real dangers of climate change that communities across the globe are already experiencing. Climate change is bringing severe consequences – from increasing floods and failing dams that endanger entire communities, to droughts and tapped-out water supplies that put people, industries, economies and ecosystems at risk.
What is clear is that the climate crisis is a water crisis. Failing dams, flooded homes and dried up rivers will be our future unless we take action now. Just, equitable adaptation for communities, rivers and clean water are achievable and are essential to our collective health, safety, and future.
The threats are real. To address them we must commit to climate adaptation now for communities and ecosystems to thrive in an era of climate change.
Here’s a breakdown:
Threats
Climate change is already wreaking havoc on communities and their rivers and water supplies
- Methane-Producing Dams: More than 90,000 dams turn free-flowing rivers across the U.S. into stagnant impoundments that release methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
- Failing infrastructure: Major flooding and hurricanes have caused dozens of dams to fail in the Carolinas, and Michigan’s Edenville Dam failed catastrophically in 2020. Climate change is bringing more frequent and severe flooding at a time when U.S. dams are aging and outdated.
- Rivers running dry: The Colorado River – which supports a $1.4 trillion economy and drinking water for 40 million people – is in crisis due to climate change and decades of overallocation. The river is so over-burdened it no longer reaches the sea.
- Disastrous flooding: Record flooding along the Mississippi River in 2019 caused $20 billion in damage to people’s homes, farms and businesses in the floodplain. As flood risk grows with climate change, so does the risk to anyone living in harm’s way.
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Solutions
Protecting and restoring our rivers and freshwater creates stronger communities and is key to climate resilience
- Safeguard clean water through green, natural infrastructure: To manage its increasingly intense rainstorms and related polluted stormwater and sewage spills, the City of Atlanta committed to investing in natural or “green’ infrastructure to slow, store and filter the water, protect intown communities from flooding and improve quality of life.
- Reconnect rivers through floodplain restoration: In California’s Central Valley, restoring the floodplain gives the San Joaquin River room to move, increasing capacity to hold floodwaters while creating wildlife habitat and recharging groundwater supplies.
- Protect healthy, free-flowing rivers: On South Carolina’s Waccamaw River, protecting land from development and establishing a blue trail has improved flood protection and increased access to nearby nature for community recreation.
- Remove harmful and unnecessary dams: More than 1,900 dams have been removed nationwide. Demolition of four dams on Oregon and California’s Klamath River is set to begin in 2023 to restore endangered salmon runs, thanks to leadership from the Yurok, Karuk, Klamath and other tribes. The Klamath is a prime example of how dismantling dams, reducing reservoir methane emissions, addressing historic injustices against Tribal Nations and building climate resilient rivers go hand-in-hand.
The dry creek bed of Cienega Creek in the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, Pima County, Arizona | Photo by Colleen Miniuk
The IPCC report calls on us to focus our attention on climate change impacts and to finally make the commitment to adaptation to give communities, rivers, ecosystems a chance to thrive in the face of climate change. Decision makers at every level must prioritize protection of rivers and water resources and, in doing so, protect people and communities. This moment demands transformation in the way we manage, care for and connect with our rivers and clean water that are essential to all life.
American Rivers released a Rivers and Climate Policy Statement in November. Read more.
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Originally Appeared Here
10 Best Water Filters and Purifiers of 2022
When it comes to getting your daily dose of water in, ensuring you’re drinking clean, safe water is key. But how can you be sure your water is safe? The best water filters and purifiers will not only help remove unwanted contaminants from your glass, but they’ll also offer peace of mind.
“We’ve all heard the horror stories of the things found in our drinking water, everything from lead and chlorine to industrial contaminants, pesticides, and even pharmaceuticals,” says Kellyann Petrucci, M.D., celebrity nutritionist and author of Bone Broth Diet. These contaminants can lead to extreme sickness and health issues, making it crucial to drink the cleanest water possible.
And one of the best ways to do so is by adding a water filter or purifier into your daily routine. “Most filters work by trapping and absorbing contaminants and other substances in the filter,” explains Dr. Petrucci. “More advanced filtration systems can also remove pesticides and bacteria.”
Some systems work to remove even more. “Some products use a reverse osmosis process,” says Dr. Petrucci. “This involves a tool using pressure to push water through a semipermeable (only certain particles) membrane layer that has pores small enough to trap contaminants but big enough to allow water to pass through,” she explains.
How to choose the best water filter and purifiers
When it comes to shopping for water filters and purifiers, experts say there are a few things to consider:
✔️ Research your tap water. “You should research the quality of the water that comes out of your tap,” advises Dr. Petrucci. “Knowing the source of your water and the contaminants in your particular source will help you choose what type of filter or purifier you will need to get the level of clean water you want.”
✔️ Look for special features. Different water purifiers and filters will offer various features like special carbon filters, reverse osmosis systems, and more. Look for one that will best fit your specific needs.
✔️ Weigh the costs. “Look at the cost of the water system and the replacement filters,” says Petrucci. “This will help you determine what pick filters out the most contaminants within your budget,” she adds.
Ready to quench your thirst with some clean water? We’ve rounded up top-rated and expert-approved water filters and purifiers that will take your water to the next level.
BEST OVERALL
“This is what I use, it’s inexpensive, fits easily in my small NYC refrigerator, and it’s certified to reduce chlorine, copper, mercury, and cadmium,” says Keri Gans, R.D., nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet. “Plus, the water tastes great,” she adds.
BEST COUNTERTOP
“This is a stainless steel countertop water filter with a 2.25-gallon fresh water capacity, providing more filtered water than pitchers and dispensers designed for the refrigerator,” says Dr. Petrucci. “In addition, the filter also improves the taste of tap water, filters out lead and chlorine, as well as viruses, bacteria, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals,” she adds.
BEST BOTTLE
With a whopping 4.7-star rating and over 25,000 rave reviews, this water bottle is worth every penny. It can hold up to 36 ounces of water and features a built-in carrying loop, an easy to open lid, and a unique Brita filter that fits inside the straw. The brand notes that it reduces chlorine and gives you fresh-tasting water in every sip. Plus, it’s even a Prevention Pick—so you know it’s good.
BEST REVERSE WATER OSMOSIS
“This APEC water system has a very affordable reverse osmosis technology, but it does require installation,” says Dr. Petrucci. It also has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon, making it a customer favorite. This filter delivers twice the amount of cleaning and bacteria removal, thanks to the large size, according to the brand.
BEST FILTER FOR SINK FAUCET
If you enjoy the ease of drinking water straight from the tap, you’ll definitely need this handy tool. It’s designed to be attached to the faucet and includes a unique mineral core technology that filters water over natural minerals for a refreshing, clean taste. Certified by the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), this water filter will help remove 70 contaminants, including lead and mercury (according to the brand).
“I love Berkey and the fact that they have a portable water bottle is truly amazing. It’s easy to use and just requires a little bit more suction,” wrote one Amazon customer. The bottle also uses the same special filtration design found in the brand’s popular outdoor gravity filtration systems. From streams to lakes, the brand notes that this water bottle filter will work to remove many harmful contaminants.
Unlike a traditional water pitcher, this pick can fit a large amount of water—and clean up to 150 gallons before replacing! It’s designed with advanced filtration technology that helps remove chlorine, mercury, and lead. The filter is also infused with Japanese activated carbon technology, proven to work 10-12 times better than any other carbon filters, according to the brand.
Ideal for those always on the go, this filter pick is lightweight, can fit into the palm of your hand, and is super powerful. The brand notes that it can remove 99.9% of bacteria, including salmonella, cholera, and E. coli. The best part? It can be screwed onto any standard-size disposable water bottle.
This beautiful water pitcher will make a great addition to your countertop! It has a sleek and lightweight design, made from 100% coconut shell carbon (making it an environmentally friendly pick). And the spout was designed to prevent spills and drips. The filter also helps to reduce 90% of chlorine.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
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Originally Appeared Here
No GST on Supply of Desalinated Water for Distribution as Safe Drinking Water to Public: AAR
– On February 28, 2022 5:04 pm
The Chennai bench of the Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) has held that GST is not applicable on the supply of desalinated water for distribution as safe drinking water to public.
The applicant, Chennai Water Desalination Limited, is engaged in the activity of sale simpliciter i.e., sale of potable water, obtained after the process of desalination of sea water. The applicant approached the AAR to determine the tax liability of the applicant.
The bench comprising K Latha (Member SGST) and T G Venkatesh held that potable water is never to be equated to ‘purified water’. In fact, the meaning of ‘purified water’ depends on what use of it people have in mind, like whether it is for washing, pharma use, industrial use or even to swim. In chemical terms, purified water is pure H2O and only contains Hydrogen and Oxygen and no minerals. Distilled water is the most common form of pure water.
“However, potable water has only one meaning, water fit for human and animal consumption and has dissolved minerals. In fact, from the performance standards spelt out in Schedule C of the agreement, the quality of potable water would itself indicate that it does not attain the nature and quality of a `purified water’ on any count. Therefore, it can be safely concluded that the supply of the appellant is of raw water, treated to become ‘potable water’ and nothing morel Once it is distinctly clear that the supply is of Water’ only, and NOT purified water, the same falling under the entry 99 of the notification no. 02/2017-CT (R) is qualified for the exemption,” the bench said.
Concluding the order, the bench held that “Thus it has been held that the intent and purpose of the supply determines the nature of supply. Here the agreement has been specifically entered into for the setting up of 100MLD sea water Desalination plant on DBOOT basis for supply of desalinated water to CMWSSB for distribution to public as safe drinking water. Hence going by the agreement and following the judicial discipline of adhering to the decision of the Appellate authority cited supra, we conclude that the desalinated water supplied by the applicant to CMWSSB for distribution as safe drinking water is not liable to tax under the entry at Sl.no.99of Notification no.02/2017- Central Tax dated 28t.06.2017 based on the discussions above.”
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Originally Appeared Here
Even in water-rich Michigan, no guarantee of enough for all | News, Sports, Jobs
Dale Buist stands beside a large water tank inside his commercial greenhouse in Allendale Township, Mich., on Feb. 1, 2022. It’s part of a system he installed to capture rainwater for his plants after irrigation wells did poorly. Some homeowners, farmers and developers have reported shortages of groundwater in the township and surrounding Ottawa County. Experts say the problem results from rising demand and a geological quirk that prevents rainfall from recharging groundwater. (AP Photo/John Flesher)
AP Environmental Writer
ALLENDALE — Dale Buist knew running a commercial greenhouse would pose challenges. He just never expected a water shortage to be among them. Not in Michigan, with its vast aquatic riches.
Yet a couple of irrigation wells yielded only a trickle. And one quickly ran dry.
He installed equipment to capture rainwater for the plants. Then a drinking water well failed. Finally, Buist spent $350,000 connecting to a pipeline that supplies nearby Grand Rapids.
Adam Elenbaas, supervisor of Allendale Township, Mich., stands near the township’s water tower on Feb. 1, 2022. Some homeowners, farmers and developers have reported shortages of groundwater in the township and surrounding Ottawa County in recent years. Experts say the problem results from rising demand and a geological quirk that prevents rainfall from recharging groundwater. (AP Photo/John Flesher)
“My greenhouse sits 12 miles from Lake Michigan, one of the greatest sources of fresh water in the world,” the Ottawa County grower said. “And I didn’t have enough.”
His struggle, resulting from a geological quirk and heavy demand from farmers, developers and homeowners in a surging section of southwest Michigan, is a cautionary tale for a state counting on its reputation as a water paradise to be a competitive economic advantage as climate change afflicts hotter, drier regions.
Some futurists depict Michigan and the Great Lakes as “climate havens” that will lure people and businesses weary of worsening drought, wildfire, hurricanes and other disasters. Not so fast, skeptics say. Amid images of abundance lurk problems with pollution, overuse and deteriorating infrastructure.
Outsiders “see these five enormous lakes and assume there’s more than enough water for everybody,” said David Dempsey, an environmental analyst for government agencies and activist groups. “But we have tons of unresolved problems.”
BLUE-ECONOMY
BLUES
The Great Lakes region is striving to shed its worn out Rust Belt image by developing a “blue economy” that leverages its abundant fresh water. Around the lakes, many cities are promoting water-based tourism and technologies while converting urban riverfronts from industrial wastelands to parks and condominiums.
The strategy would seem especially suited to Michigan. Surrounded on three sides by four of the Great Lakes, it also boasts 11,000 inland lakes and 76,000 miles of rivers and streams.
“We are a state geographically and culturally defined by our water,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at a conference last year.
But clean, affordable water isn’t as available as it seems.
Lead pollution has made the cities of Flint and Benton Harbor symbols of neglect disproportionately harming poor, largely minority communities.
Water bills are soaring in some areas as infrastructure deteriorates, a recent University of Michigan study found.
Toxic chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, contaminate wells around the state. Industrial waste, farm runoff and sewage trigger algae blooms and prompt occasional warnings about swimming in the lakes or eating too many of their fish.
And while Michigan does not share the growing crisis with depleted reservoirs and aquifers that haunts the West, that situation may be about to change — at least in high-demand areas.
The reason: Despite all that surface water, nearly half of Michigan’s residents get their supplies from underground. The state has the most household wells in the U.S.
Collectively, the Great Lakes region is believed to have enough groundwater to fill another Lake Huron. But it isn’t evenly distributed or accessible.
“This resource is vast but it’s finite and the public isn’t aware of that,” said David Lusch, a geography professor emeritus with Michigan State University. “We’ve all grown up with this bias that we’re the water wonderland and how could we possibly have a shortage?”
Glaciers that scoured the landscape before melting to form the Great Lakes left a jumble of subsurface rock formations, some holding more water than others, said John Yellich, director of the Michigan Geological Survey. Where soils are rich with sand and gravel, rain oozes deep underground, replacing water sucked out for irrigation, industry or home uses.
But in spots, thick clay prevents surface water from replenishing aquifers. Heavy pumping can send levels perilously low — and draw up salty remnants of oceans that covered the continent eons ago.
Michigan is behind on detailed mapping of its underground waters, so the extent of its vulnerability is unknown, Yellich said.
“For some parts of the state it’s a crapshoot,” he said.
In at least one place, the danger is clear.
SO CLOSE,
YET SO FAR
Ottawa is the fastest growing county in Michigan and Allendale Township its boomtown — a Grand Rapids bedroom community home to Grand Valley State University. The main thoroughfare is lined with chain restaurants and stores. The Grand River, longest statewide, winds toward Lake Michigan past blueberry farms and cornfields mingled with newer subdivisions.
As Buist battled balky greenhouse wells, local officials juggled reports of salty irrigation water from farmers and spotty supplies in residential developments. Studies found the clay-topped aquifer below had plummeted 40 feet since the 1990s, said Paul Sachs, county director of strategic impact.
It’s a sore point for Chip Rybicki, a fifth-grade teacher whose family was first to occupy a new cul-de-sac in next-door Blendon Township five years ago.
“Nobody said, ‘Hey, do you realize there’s a lack of groundwater and you’re on a well?’” he lamented.
As his lawn sprinkler ran one summer day in 2019, “I heard this spitting and sputtering … like when you go down to the bottom of a glass with a straw,” he said.
“We were running out of water.”
He cut back on sprinkling — “I’d rather have an eyesore than no water” — but many others haven’t.
“People say, ‘Hey, I’m not watering that much,’ but add up thousands of homes and it’s a lot,” said Kelly Rice, president of the Ottawa parks commission.
She has defeated several citations alleging violation of rural “noxious weed” and road vision ordinances after replacing water-gorging turf grass with native shrubs on her 5 acres.
A county plan warns of dire consequences unless things change: dry wells; crop failures; health problems from drinking water with excess sodium.
An advisory board is considering policies such as limiting well-dependent subdivisions, which might encounter resistance in the Republican-heavy county where Donald Trump received 60% support in 2020.
But an Allendale ordinance already requires that new residential projects connect to city water. Residents “will appreciate it when they turn on the faucet,” township Supervisor Adam Elenbaas said.
ONLY THE
BEGINNING?
Some other parts of Michigan have geology like Ottawa County’s and “the potential is there for similar issues,” said Jim Milne, a water supervisor with the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
Demand is rising, particularly where farms are stepping up irrigation.
“Groundwater is a natural resource in peril,” Michigan academics and regulators said in an October report arguing for more protection from overuse and pollution.
Inland communities that run short can’t count on a bailout from the Great Lakes. They supply nearly 300 of the state’s public water systems — but mostly in coastal areas. Pipeline projects are very expensive and must meet rigorous environmental standards. Instead, experts recommend persuading people to take conservation seriously.
“Marketing the blue economy is a good idea,” said Alan Steinman, a Grand Valley State water quality professor. “But we don’t want to go the way of the lumber barons who said they saw a century’s worth of timber in Michigan and wiped it out in 10 years.”
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Dale Buist stands beside a large water tank inside his commercial greenhouse in Allendale Township, Mich., on Feb. 1, 2022. It’s part of a system he installed to capture rainwater for his plants after irrigation wells did poorly. Some homeowners, farmers and developers have reported shortages of groundwater in the township and surrounding Ottawa County. Experts say the problem results from rising demand and a geological quirk that prevents rainfall from recharging groundwater. (AP Photo/John Flesher)
Adam Elenbaas, supervisor of Allendale Township, Mich., stands near the township’s water tower on Feb. 1, 2022. Some homeowners, farmers and developers have reported shortages of groundwater in the township and surrounding Ottawa County in recent years. Experts say the problem results from rising demand and a geological quirk that prevents rainfall from recharging groundwater. (AP Photo/John Flesher)
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
MARQUETTE — The office of Sen. Gary Peters announced recently that he is leading a bipartisan group of 30 United …
IRON MOUNTAIN — A 64-year-old Green Bay, Wisconsin, resident died Friday in a snowmobile crash after failing to …
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Originally Appeared Here
Delaware River water could be used for fracking under proposal
The Delaware River Basin Commission is preparing for another major fracking-related vote, following its outright ban of the natural gas extraction process last year.
The public comment period for proposed rules regarding the movement of water and wastewater ends on Monday, Feb. 28, just over a year after the commission voted to ban fracking in the watershed.
That fracking ban and the upcoming decision apply to the full watershed, a 13,539-square-mile area surrounding the river in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
The proposed rules would allow water from the basin to be exported for use in fracking outside the watershed, under certain conditions. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves the usage of millions of gallons of water to break apart underground shale so that natural gas can be extracted.
The rules would also ban the discharge of fracking wastewater within the watershed, but would not entirely ban wastewater from being brought into the region, to the disappointment of environmental advocates concerned about spills and accidents.
The rules would not “regulate the transport or storage of wastewater originating outside of or within the Basin,” the DRBC said in its FAQ on the proposed rules. “These activities are regulated by other administrative agencies of our member states and the United States.”
From 2021: Delaware River Basin Commission votes to ban fracking in the watershed
The DRBC has held five public hearings on the matter, most recently on Feb. 3, when more than a dozen speakers called on the commission to take a stronger position against fracking. None of the speakers were in favor of fracking.
Allowing water from the basin to be used elsewhere “deprives the streams, tributaries and main stem of the river of critical flows and quality,” said David Pringle, speaking for Empower NJ, a coalition working to reduce fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. The practice also allows fracking to occur where sufficient water might not otherwise be available, he added.
With these rules, “the DRBC is not only threatening the region’s food and farm economy, it is in fact furthering and supporting the fracking industry by meeting its needs so that it can continue to expand outside of the watershed,” said Hilary Baum, a Philadelphia resident involved in environmental and food advocacy.
“How can it be acceptable elsewhere when you have determined that it is not acceptable here?” she asked.
The Marcellus Shale Coalition, which represents natural gas interests, blasted the DRBC’s previous action on fracking, and said that a high rate of water recycling reduces the need for additional withdrawals.
“The Commission has trampled on constitutionally protected private property rights and ignored sound science and our industry’s leadership in water recycling and reuse technology. Pioneered in Pennsylvania, 93 percent of water used by the industry is recycled, dramatically reducing the need for freshwater withdrawals. While the commissioners advance priorities of environmental extremists, a decade of evidence from the neighboring Susquehanna River Basin indicates that safe, responsible natural gas development has no detrimental effect on water quality or quantity,” Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Callahan said in a statement.
A date for the vote on water and wastewater regulations has not been set yet. The rulemaking process began a year ago, with a resolution approved at the same meeting as the vote to ban fracking.
That vote took place more than three years after the proposed rules were released. The official ban followed a de facto moratorium on fracking, since the DRBC voted in 2010 to put off considering well pad dockets until regulations were adopted, and no fracking applications had been submitted since then.
Kathryne Rubright is a reporter covering the environment, northeast Pa. politics, and local news. She is based at the Pocono Record. Reach her at [email protected].
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Originally Appeared Here
Paulsboro, NJ water contamination study
PAULSBORO — The South Jersey town is one of eight sites in the U.S. as part of a national investigation into exposure to chemicals in drinking water.
Paulsboro residents are invited to have their blood and urine tested to see if their health has been affected by these chemicals.
Dr. Robert Laumbach, associate professor of environmental and occupational health at Rutgers School of Public Health and The Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute, is the lead on this study.
He said many people are concerned about the health effects of PFA chemicals found in the blood of almost every person tested. In Paulsboro, there is the contamination of the drinking water but nobody is sure when it started. These chemicals stay in the blood for a long period of time.
While researchers don’t know how long the water in Paulsboro has been contaminated, they also don’t know much about the health effects of these chemicals. That’s why the study is being done.
Laumbach said these PFA chemicals are used in a lot of consumer products. One of the big problems is that these chemicals don’t break down in the environment, which is why they are called “forever chemicals.” They also accumulate in our bodies over time.
In animal studies as well as some human studies, there have been adverse effects on parts of the body including the liver, kidneys, and immune system.
But Laumbach is concerned because researchers just don’t know what that level of exposure might be. They just know there is evidence of adverse health effects.
“We hope to learn more about the specific health effects of these chemicals and also at what level of exposure we should be concerned about because these chemicals don’t break down in the environment. They are found in more and more drinking water sources, they’re found in the dust at home, they’re found in various places,” Laumbach said.
What is scary, he said, is that in New Jersey, there are at least half a million residents who get their water from sources that are contaminated with PFAs at levels that exceeded the state standards on drinking levels of these compounds.
These forever chemicals are being found in almost everyone’s bodies who get tested, he said. It’s a chemical that’s being distributed throughout the environment, getting into people’s bodies and researchers need to learn more about the health effects so they can take reasonable action to reduce the exposure, Laumbach said.
In a smaller study done years ago in Paulsboro, he said people who had higher levels of a PFNA chemical found in the water supply were at the highest level ever found in the world in drinking water.
Laumbach said what they found was that residents who had higher levels of this PFNA chemical in their blood also had higher levels of cholesterol. So if people are aware of this, they can get screened and receive medical treatment to prevent high cholesterol.
“Now and as well as in the future, results of our study will be that people will know their PFAs levels,” Laumbach said.
Currently, people can get these tests done but it costs $400 or more and it’s not covered by insurance. But with the study, people can find out their PFAs levels for free, then inform their medical care providers to determine the next steps.
The Paulsboro study just started and so far 60 adults and one child have been tested. Laumbach hopes to get 1,000 adults and 300 children tested.
Jen Ursillo is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at [email protected]
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
Best coffee shops & cafes near NJ beaches
When it comes to food, New Jersey is known for many things such as pizza and pork roll. Don’t count us out when it comes to coffee.
With all the hustle and bustle involved in the average New Jersey resident’s day, coffee is essential. It doesn’t matter whether you’re living in the cities of North Jersey or the vacation spots at the shore.
In fact, as the former owner of two Jersey shore coffee houses, Coffee Dot Comedy in Sea Isle City and the Daily Grind in Ocean Grove, I know firsthand how much people at the Jersey shore love their coffee.
With respect to that, I asked my social media following where the best coffee houses at the Jersey Shore were, especially since my two places no longer exist.
Below is what they came up with. (And see this other article for their coffee shop and cafe recommendations for Central Jersey.)
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Originally Appeared Here
Gain Powerblast Dish Spray Helps Me Use 50% Less Tap Water And Have Cleaner Dishes
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Welcome to Thrifty. A weekly column where associate nutrition editor and registered dietitian, Jessica Ball, keeps it real on how to grocery shop on a budget, make healthy meals for one or two and make earth-friendly choices without overhauling your entire life.
I am a dietitian on a budget, and I live in a small apartment. I’ll admit that my kitchen situation has been less than ideal for a little while now. My primary grievance is that I don’t have a dishwasher. I love to cook essentially every day for most (if not all) of my meals, and as a result, it seems like the sink is always full of dirty dishes and pans. While I have my little tips and tricks to help me cut down on the waste associated with lots of cleaning, (I’ll turn the water off while I scrub, cut my sponges in half, etc.) there’s one product in particular that’s changed the game for me when it comes to dishes.
The new Gain Powerblast Dish Spray ($4.89, Target.com) has actually made it enjoyable to do the dishes, and that’s saying something. Usually I dread the sink filling up with dirty dish water and having to endlessly scrub to get out the remnants of difficult ingredients like melted cheese. But the Powerblast Dish Spray not only cleans much better than traditional dish soap, it actually helps me use less water, too (roughly 50% less water, to be specific). When you spray your dishes, the soap is already foamy and ready for scrubbing, so you only need water for your final rinse. Avoiding the initial rinse with water also prevents food scraps or cooking grease from getting everywhere.
The scent of this Powerblast Dish Spray is amazing and my dishes feel noticeably cleaner after using it. Plus, I have to scrub much less to get rid of any stains or stuck on food remains. Not to mention, it’s less than five dollars for a bottle and a little goes a long way so it really lasts. Gain claims the inspiration for this product was to “transform washing dishes into everyone’s favorite household task”. While I wouldn’t go that far (I still daydream of dishwashers), I have already recommended this product to everyone I know. As a person without a dishwasher who cooks at least two to three times a day, I would consider this product a must-buy.
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Originally Appeared Here
Michigan has ‘one of the greatest sources of fresh water in the world.’ But it may not enough
ALLENDALE, Mich. – Dale Buist knew running a commercial greenhouse would pose challenges. He just never expected a water shortage to be among them. Not in Michigan, with its vast aquatic riches.
Yet a couple of irrigation wells yielded only a trickle. And one quickly ran dry.
He installed equipment to capture rainwater for the plants. Then a drinking water well failed. Finally, Buist spent $350,000 connecting to a pipeline that supplies nearby Grand Rapids.
“My greenhouse sits 12 miles from Lake Michigan, one of the greatest sources of fresh water in the world,” the Ottawa County grower said. “And I didn’t have enough.”
His struggle, resulting from a geological quirk and heavy demand from farmers, developers and homeowners in a surging section of southwest Michigan, is a cautionary tale for a state counting on its reputation as a water paradise to be a competitive economic advantage as climate change afflicts hotter, drier regions.
Some futurists depict Michigan and the Great Lakes as “climate havens” that will lure people and businesses weary of worsening drought, wildfire, hurricanes and other disasters. Not so fast, skeptics say. Amid images of abundance lurk problems with pollution, overuse and deteriorating infrastructure.
Outsiders “see these five enormous lakes and assume there’s more than enough water for everybody,” said David Dempsey, an environmental analyst for government agencies and activist groups. “But we have tons of unresolved problems.”
Blue-Economy Blues
The Great Lakes region is striving to shed its worn out Rust Belt image by developing a “blue economy” that leverages its abundant fresh water. Around the lakes, many cities are promoting water-based tourism and technologies while converting urban riverfronts from industrial wastelands to parks and condominiums.
The strategy would seem especially suited to Michigan. Surrounded on three sides by four of the Great Lakes, it also boasts 11,000 inland lakes and 76,000 miles of rivers and streams.
“We are a state geographically and culturally defined by our water,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at a conference last year.
But clean, affordable water isn’t as available as it seems.
Lead pollution has made the cities of Flint and Benton Harbor symbols of neglect disproportionately harming poor, largely minority communities. Water bills are soaring in some areas as infrastructure deteriorates, a recent University of Michigan study found.
Toxic chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, contaminate wells around the state. Industrial waste, farm runoff and sewage trigger algae blooms and prompt occasional warnings about swimming in the lakes or eating too many of their fish.
And while Michigan does not share the growing crisis with depleted reservoirs and aquifers that haunts the West, that situation may be about to change — at least in high-demand areas.
The reason: Despite all that surface water, nearly half of Michigan’s residents get their supplies from underground. The state has the most household wells in the U.S.
Collectively, the Great Lakes region is believed to have enough groundwater to fill another Lake Huron. But it isn’t evenly distributed or accessible.
“This resource is vast but it’s finite and the public isn’t aware of that,” said David Lusch, a geography professor emeritus with Michigan State University. “We’ve all grown up with this bias that we’re the water wonderland and how could we possibly have a shortage?”
Glaciers that scoured the landscape before melting to form the Great Lakes left a jumble of subsurface rock formations, some holding more water than others, said John Yellich, director of the Michigan Geological Survey. Where soils are rich with sand and gravel, rain oozes deep underground, replacing water sucked out for irrigation, industry or home uses.
But in spots, thick clay prevents surface water from replenishing aquifers. Heavy pumping can send levels perilously low — and draw up salty remnants of oceans that covered the continent eons ago.
Michigan is behind on detailed mapping of its underground waters, so the extent of its vulnerability is unknown, Yellich said.
“For some parts of the state it’s a crapshoot,” he said.
In at least one place, the danger is clear.
So close, yet so far
Ottawa is the fastest growing county in Michigan and Allendale Township its boomtown — a Grand Rapids bedroom community home to Grand Valley State University. The main thoroughfare is lined with chain restaurants and stores. The Grand River, longest statewide, winds toward Lake Michigan past blueberry farms and cornfields mingled with newer subdivisions.
As Buist battled balky greenhouse wells, local officials juggled reports of salty irrigation water from farmers and spotty supplies in residential developments. Studies found the clay-topped aquifer below had plummeted 40 feet since the 1990s, said Paul Sachs, county director of strategic impact.
It’s a sore point for Chip Rybicki, a fifth-grade teacher whose family was first to occupy a new cul-de-sac in next-door Blendon Township five years ago.
“Nobody said, ‘Hey, do you realize there’s a lack of groundwater and you’re on a well?’” he lamented.
As his lawn sprinkler ran one summer day in 2019, “I heard this spitting and sputtering … like when you go down to the bottom of a glass with a straw,” he said. “We were running out of water.”
He cut back on sprinkling — “I’d rather have an eyesore than no water” — but many others haven’t.
“People say, ‘Hey, I’m not watering that much,’ but add up thousands of homes and it’s a lot,” said Kelly Rice, president of the Ottawa parks commission.
She has defeated several citations alleging violation of rural “noxious weed” and road vision ordinances after replacing water-gorging turf grass with native shrubs on her 5 acres.
A county plan warns of dire consequences unless things change: dry wells; crop failures; health problems from drinking water with excess sodium.
An advisory board is considering policies such as limiting well-dependent subdivisions, which might encounter resistance in the Republican-heavy county where Donald Trump received 60% support in 2020.
But an Allendale ordinance already requires that new residential projects connect to city water. Residents “will appreciate it when they turn on the faucet,” township Supervisor Adam Elenbaas said.
Only the Beginning?
Some other parts of Michigan have geology like Ottawa County’s and “the potential is there for similar issues,” said Jim Milne, a water supervisor with the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
Demand is rising, particularly where farms are stepping up irrigation.
“Groundwater is a natural resource in peril,” Michigan academics and regulators said in an October report arguing for more protection from overuse and pollution.
Inland communities that run short can’t count on a bailout from the Great Lakes. They supply nearly 300 of the state’s public water systems — but mostly in coastal areas. Pipeline projects are very expensive and must meet rigorous environmental standards.
Instead, experts recommend persuading people to take conservation seriously.
“Marketing the blue economy is a good idea,” said Alan Steinman, a Grand Valley State water quality professor. “But we don’t want to go the way of the lumber barons who said they saw a century’s worth of timber in Michigan and wiped it out in 10 years.”
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Originally Appeared Here