Some of the Richest Farmland in the World has a Problem: There’s No Water
In America’s fruit and nut basket, water is now the most precious crop of all.
It explains why, amid a historic drought parching much of the American West, a grower of premium sushi rice has concluded that it makes better business sense to sell the water he would have used to grow rice than to grow rice.
Or why a melon farmer has left a third of his fields fallow. Or why a large landholder farther south is thinking of planting a solar array on his fields rather than the thirsty almonds that delivered steady profit for years.
“You want to sit there and say, ‘We want to monetize the water?’ No, we don’t,” said Seth Fiack, a rice grower here in Ordbend, on the banks of the Sacramento River, who this year sowed no rice and instead sold his unused water for desperate farmers farther south. “It’s not what we prefer to do, but what we need to, have to.”
These are among the signs of a massive transformation up and down California’s Central Valley, the country’s most lucrative agricultural belt, as it confronts an exceptional drought and the consequences of years of pumping far too much water out of its aquifers.
Across the state, reservoir levels are dropping, and electric grids are at risk if hydroelectric dams don’t get enough water to produce power.
Climate change is supercharging the scarcity. Rising temperatures dry out the soil, which in turn can worsen heat waves. This week, temperatures in parts of California and the Pacific Northwest have been shattering records.
By 2040, the San Joaquin Valley is projected to lose at least 535,000 acres of agricultural production. That’s more than a tenth of the area farmed. And if the drought perseveres and no new water can be found, double that amount of land is projected to go idle, with potentially dire consequences for the nation’s food supply.
California’s $50 billion agricultural sector supplies two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts and more than a third of America’s vegetables — the tomatoes, pistachios, grapes, and strawberries that line grocery store shelves from coast to coast.
Glimpses of that future are evident now. Vast stretches of land are fallow because there’s no water. New calculations are being made about what crops to grow, how much, and where. Millions of dollars are being spent on replenishing the aquifer that has been depleted for so long.
“Each time we have a drought, you’re seeing a little glimpse into what will happen more frequently in our climate future,” said Morgan Levy, a professor specializing in water science and policy at the University of California, San Diego.
The following is from the New York Times, October 2021
https://lnkd.in/gKDXUwJ6
#groundwater #water #scienceandenvironment #food #waterefficiency #science
How Much Water Do Urinals Use in Different Facilities?
My Take: More Thoughts on Waterless Urinals
Initial Benefits. A building owner or facility manager will find several early benefits to installing waterless urinals. One of the first is cost savings and it starts as soon as the urinal is installed. Waterless urinals do not have flush handles, sensory systems, or require the plumbing, piping, and incoming water lines necessary to bring water to the unit. These are often what cost the most when installing conventional urinals.
Plumbing Issues. Waterless urinals rarely require plumbing repairs. That's why you see some busy bars and restaurants have already switched to waterless urinals. The manager of one popular restaurant told me that after a busy Saturday night, it was common for at least one of the restaurant’s conventional urinals to be broken or clogged with debris. With waterless urinals, this rarely happens. Remember, there's no water used with a waterless urinal.
Cleaning: Many cleaning professionals find waterless urinals easier to clean and maintain than conventional urinals. In most cases, a waterless urinal is cleaned using an all-purpose cleaning solution, disinfectant if necessary, and cleaning cloth.
Because there is no water, water and rust deposits do not develop, so scrubbing is rarely necessary. And because the interior of the unit stays dry, bacteria, germs, and other contaminants rarely develop. This is more hygienic and helps protect indoor air quality because fewer germs become airborne, as we learned from the pandemic.
How to select a no-water urinal. Due diligence is required when selecting a waterless urinal. Although they look and work in similar ways, there are differences that, if overlooked, can undermine water savings and anticipated cost savings. For example, the trap/cylinders found in some models may require more frequent changing than with others, and, in some models, these trap/cylinders can be costly—as much as US$50 each. With other models, the trap/cylinder can last much longer and cost as little as $10 per unit.
How they work The way waterless urinals work is quite simple. Instead of using water to flush away urine, gravity drains the urine into a trap cylinder that sits atop the drain area of the urinal. The trap/cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid sealant, which must be re-filled a few times per year. This is a quick and easy procedure. As the urine passes through the trap/cylinder and sealant, which prevents odors from being released into the air, the urine overflows into a conventional drainpipe, much the same way a traditional urinal works.
Eventually, the trap/cylinder unit needs to be replaced. Remember what we said earlier. On some models, these units are costly. On others, very inexpensive.
Industry trends. Every couple of years, studies about the waterless industry indicate the market’s continued growth. Historically, I treated these reports as interesting. However, today, I pay much closer attention to them. Why? Droughts in the United States and the increased focus on sustainability around the globe have generated much more interest in waterless urinals. I see this continuing.
Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.
Ever Thought Something Doesn't Smell Right?
Maybe it’s time for Everprime
The Explainer: Why LA Still Has Water
As the drought – or aridification, a permanent change in water and climate conditions – continues in Los Angeles, most of California, along with a large part of the western half of the United States, many people have been wondering how are people living in these states managing?
Do they still have water?
Have they been forced to make draconian cuts?
Well, here are some of the reasons LA, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Albuquerque, and other Western cities have managed surprisingly well over the past few, very dry years.
People are Using Less. Water consumption is declining throughout the country, but in California, it has plummeted. In 1990, per capita consumption in the state was 231 gallons per day. Thirty years later, it’s fallen to just ninety-one gallons a day, a 61 percent reduction.
LA Planning: Los Angeles is no longer dependent on one or two water supplies. It imports the bulk of its water through a vast storage and delivery system. This includes water from the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, the Colorado River, and some groundwater and recycled water.
“Los Angeles is less vulnerable [today],” according to Peter Gleick, president emeritus of the Pacific Institute, who has studied water resources for decades. “This is because they have this very broad, diverse set of options.”
But LA is not the only place doing better than expected when it comes to water. Here are some more.
Las Vegas Beat the Odds. The lion’s share of Las Vegas’ water supply comes from the Colorado River. The city of 2.4 million people and its forty million annual visitors gets 90 percent of its water from the river and 10 percent from groundwater.
However, Nevada lost 7 percent of its share of Colorado River water this year as part of cuts announced by the Bureau of Reclamation. But Las Vegas, due to extensive water conservation measures already in place, was rewarded. The city was not required to cut back further.
“It’s fair to say that Las Vegas has taken dramatic steps to reduce its dependence on Colorado River water,” said Anne Castle, a senior fellow at the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment.
San Diego Turns to Desalination: San Diego gets two-thirds of its supplies from the Colorado River but has been looking for other water sources for more than 30 years. One source they are now using is desalination. San Diego County Water Authority gets 10 percent of its water from a $1 billion desalination plant that removes salt and impurities from seawater. The city has also reduced water consumption and cut per-person water use dramatically in the past few years.
Phoenix is Lucky. Phoenix, now the nation’s fifth largest city, relies on the Colorado River for water, but the city is lucky. It also gets water from the state’s Salt and Verde Rivers, which are nowhere as challenged as the Colorado River. Further, Phoenix uses sterilized wastewater for limited uses, like maintaining parks and recharging some aquifers with groundwater.
Arizona was the hardest hit among Western states losing Colorado River water this year, with 18% of its supply gone. Officials in Phoenix say they have enough water to weather future cuts because of diversified supplies and water saved and stored underground.
Water Marvels. Another reason these cities and states are faring far better than expected is the development of more water saving technologies. At one time, no-water urinals were viewed as one of the few water saving technologies available to building owners and managers.
But now there are many other water “engineering marvels,” says Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles. “This is sort of the perennial story of the West.”
Why Go Waterless?
Many facilities are now considering waterless urinals because they are an effective way to reduce water consumption—making them a Green, environmentally preferable choice. Additionally, reducing water consumption saves money. Just like everything else, due to inflation, water utility costs are going up around the world.
Before 1990, the average urinal in the United States used as much as four gallons of water per flush. Today, because of legislation and increased conservation measures, conventional urinals use about one to one and a half gallons of water when flushed.
However, this is still a significant amount of water.
The average office building in the United States uses 15,000 gallons of water daily. Waterless urinals have the potential to reduce this amount significantly. Moreover, this water usage can prove to be quite detrimental in the country's most drought-prone areas, such as California and other western states.
We should also know that the cost to install and maintain waterless urinals is less than that of traditional urinals.
"The initial installation is easy and relatively inexpensive because you need only a drain line instead of both a water and a drain line," says David Rose, an architect in Troy, MI. "You also don't have to contend with additional plumbing, flush valves, sensors, and the like, which can be costly maintenance headaches."
How They Work
Waterless urinals are not new—they are more than one hundred years old. They were first installed during the early 1890s in public marketplaces in Switzerland. These early models used sesame oil to keep urine below the urinal drain to minimize odors. However, these early urinals were forgotten until the 1970s, when they were rediscovered during the "ecological movement" taking root.
A no-water urinal works the same way as a conventional one, except without water. A traditional flush urinal has a "trap" in the drain, filled with a small amount of water that prevents odors and sewer gases from escaping.
Waterless urinals also have a trap (or cylinder) that sits atop the drain area of the urinal. The cylinder is filled with a thin layer of liquid or sealant. Urine passes through the trap and sealant, forming a barrier that prevents odors from escaping. It also helps to eliminate the evaporation of urine, which can harm indoor air quality.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Waterless urinals are cleaned the same way as conventional urinals, except without the need for powerful chemicals. The urinal's trap insert requires attention, and the liquid sealant must be replenished, prolonging the trap's life span and effectiveness.
There are a few manufacturers of waterless urinals in the market today, and each uses a slightly different system, requiring different maintenance. Facility and building managers should do their homework, analyze each design, and decide which works best for their facilities.
Potential Drawbacks
There are some drawbacks when switching to a no-water system. For instance, the cylinders (traps) used can be expensive on certain models and may need to be changed more frequently than initially thought. But this is not the case with urinals marketed by Waterless Co., Inc.
Additionally, some facilities with few males and few urinals may not benefit from installing waterless urinals. However, there will be benefits in facilities with ten or more males.
Facilities with waterless urinals must also educate their custodial staff on how to maintain them. As mentioned earlier, abrasive and powerful cleaners used in a conventional urinal should not be used to clean a waterless urinal.
Additionally, men must get accustomed to using waterless urinals. Using them for the first time, men usually look for a flush handle or search for an electric sensor. To end the confusion, one large Chicago office building even installed a small sign above each urinal that says, in essence, "This is a waterless urinal. No flushing is required. After use, walk away."
Still, the economics are favorable from the beginning with waterless urinals because no-water urinals are less costly to install and maintain compared to conventional ones. "Overall, waterless urinals are an efficient and economical alternative to traditional urinals," contends Rose.
Although the cost savings are a real value when installing waterless urinals, another significant benefit is being environmentally responsible. Facilities looking to pitch in and do their part for the environment may provide an ideal service when installing waterless urinals.
Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com
Five Most Commonly Asked Questions About Waterless Urinals - Today
As the oldest marketer of waterless urinals in North America, Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and founder of Waterless Co., Inc. says he has heard about every question imaginable about waterless urinals.
Years ago, he says, the questions were more elementary, like:
• How do they work?
• How much water can they save?
• How do you use them?
However, today, building owners know much more about waterless urinals and have “far more weighty questions.”
According to Reichardt, the five most frequently asked questions he gets today – and their answers - are listed below:
Do we need them in our facility?
This all depends on the number of males using the building and if this is new construction or restroom renovation. If new construction, there are few reasons not to install no-water urinals. If a retrofit, and ten or more males use the facility, there will be a return on the investment in a short time. This is due to rising water and sewer rates throughout the country.
So, what is the return on the investment?
This can vary on many factors such as the number of males in the facility, water and sewer rates in your area, and the age of the urinals currently installed and how much water they consume. Waterless urinals range in price from $250 to $500 per unit. In most cases, the return on the investment on a waterless urinal is about two years, often less.
Do they cost more to install than traditional urinals?
No, installation charges are invariably less because there are fewer parts involved. For instance, waterless urinals require no flush valves or direct water lines.
Can installing waterless urinals help us get LEED certification?
Yes. Reducing water consumption is one of the goals of the LEED program. They encourage the installation of all types of restroom fixtures that use less or no water.
Are there odor issues we should be aware of?
Waterless urinals have cartridges installed in the base of the urinal. Filled with a barrier fluid, these cylinders suppress odors and block vapors from being released. Proper cleaning and maintenance will also help prevent odors.
Don’t the costs of the cartridges exceed the water/sewer cost savings?
The answer is yes, and no. Some cartridges are costly and must be replaced every couple of months. Others are inexpensive and interestingly, last longer. Investigate the different systems available before selecting any no-water urinals.
About Waterless
Waterless Co. Inc. has established a well-respected reputation as being an innovative manufacturer of no-water urinal systems. Based in Vista, Ca, the company was started in 1991 and is the oldest marketer of waterless urinals in North America. The company manufactures a full line of Waterless No-Flush urinals, cleaning liquids, and cost-saving restroom accessories. Visit: www.waterless.com
Tips to Getting Workers Back to the Office
Most major U.S. cities report that only about 50 to 60 percent of office workers have returned to work. Furthermore, that figure will remain about the same for at least the next six months, possibly longer.
This is, of course, a tremendous strain on building owners. Most high-rise office buildings have a break-even point: they need their facilities at least 70 percent full to cover operating expenses and begin making a profit.
So how can building owners and facility managers reduce that vacancy rate? Here are some tips that might help:
Modify the size of shared working spaces. Before the pandemic, many organizations removed walls and encouraged everyone to work in large, shared workspaces. That's not a promising idea any longer. We can still have shared workspaces, but they should be smaller, allowing fewer people in each space.
Remove all clutter. It was not until people started working remotely that they realized how cluttered their home workspaces were. Many took the time to de-clutter those spaces. Managers should make sure workspaces have storage areas where workers can place their personal and work items. De-cluttering can improve worker productivity.
Cleanliness is hugely important now. Did you know that the germs and bacteria that collect on office furniture and workspaces can be more dangerous to health than those in restrooms? Clean workspaces more frequently. Be sure to use sanitizers and disinfectants per the manufacturer's instructions. And make certain office workers know the steps you are taking to keep workspaces healthier. They will appreciate this.
Increase cleaning frequencies. While some surfaces in restrooms can be safer to touch than desks and office furniture, that does not mean they should not be thoroughly cleaned each day. In some cases, they should be cleaned and disinfected two or three times per day.
Food service areas need extra cleaning attention. Whether you have a full kitchen or just vending machines for office workers, treat areas where food is eaten or prepared as if they are restaurant kitchens. This means there should be no trash or clutter on floors; counters, tables, and floor areas under vending machines must be cleaned daily. All surfaces must be wiped clean and then disinfected. This is a two-step process and should be performed whenever a disinfectant is used.
Install no-touch restroom fixtures. Building owners and managers have been going in this direction for several years. Now, buildings should have no-touch fixtures installed as soon as possible. Be sure to select water-saving fixtures and go a step further to choose waterless urinals.
Waterless urinals also improve hygiene because there is little or no splatter, so walls and floors stay cleaner, and germs do not become airborne. Furthermore, the interiors of waterless urinals are not advantageous to bacteria growth. And, in general, waterless urinals are easier and faster to clean than traditional urinals, helping to reduce operating costs.
Make sure the lighting is adequate. Lighting can get costly, especially if rooms are infrequently used or used by few people. Install automated lighting systems with motion detectors. Do this throughout the facility. These can reduce energy use and energy costs.
How about bringing nature inside? Some workspaces are installing "living walls" filled with plants from floor to ceiling. While they can be costly and require considerable maintenance, these living walls create a strong connection with nature. However, if a living wall is out of the question, potted plants can do as well. Plants help the workspace become calmer. They bring the calming parts of nature inside. Oh, and look for plants that need minimal attention. Daily watering and regular pruning can become a distraction.
Finally, now is the time to transfer to green cleaning solutions. Green-certified cleaning solutions have been independently tested and proven to be effective but with a reduced impact on the environment. Plus, they are highly concentrated. This means they last longer and cost less on a per-use basis.
Problems with Water-Using Urinals
As buildings slowly open around the country, building owners and facility managers are discovering several problems with traditional – water-using - urinals. Invariably, these problems are significant enough that a plumber must be called in to fix them.
Lack of use during the pandemic is the root cause of many of these issues – but not always. Others are more common problems that frequently occur with traditional urinals.
So, what are some of these common problems? Let’s take a look.
Clogged Drain Walls
Water in a traditional urinal is released from small holes located at the top of the urinal. These holes can become clogged by calcium build-up. They can also become clogged due to other minerals in the water. This is especially true in regions of the country where the water is hard. What typically happens when these holes clog is the flow is reduced. In most cases, a plumber must be called in to clear the holes. If ignored, the situation can worsen, little if any water will be released, and bacteria can build up in the urinal, potentially causing odors.
Unpleasant Odors
If there is a drain blockage - indicated by the urinal draining more slowly than usual - this could cause water to pour onto the restroom floor and allow odors to be released. This is especially true of older urinals and older plumbing. While solutions can be poured down the drain to help eliminate the blockage, a plumber usually must come in with a router to address the issue.
Water Leaks
Water leaks from urinals can be serious. Typically, the leaking water ends up on the floor. The tile and grout floors in most public restrooms can become very slippery when this happens. These floors have smooth surfaces with little or no traction to help prevent falls. The leaks typically come from pipes connected to the flush mechanism at the top of the urinal or base, where water is drained away. We should mention one more problem: when water leaks, water bills rise. Even one small leak can result in dozens of gallons of water wasted every month.
Low Water Pressure
Guess what happens when water leaks come from several urinals and other water-using devices and fixtures? These leaks may result in not having enough water available to flush waste in urinals and toilets. It’s just one more reason leaks should always be fixed as soon as possible. Leaks can lower water pressure for the entire building.
Changes in Water Color
Sometimes, when flushing a urinal, the water looks discolored. Often this discoloration is caused by rust. The pipes leading to the urinal can become corroded over time, and this causes the water to have a dark or unusual color. The rust can stain the urinal and cause unusual odors. These rust stains can usually be removed, but it takes time and special cleaning solutions and tools to do the job. Typically, what needs to be done is replace the rusty pipes delivering water to the urinal, which can be a costly procedure.
So, why are we discussing all these issues?
First, and again due to the pandemic, more buildings are experiencing urinal-related problems. But there is another reason. Virtually every issue discussed here does not occur when no water or waterless urinals are installed. No pipes are needed to deliver water to waterless urinals, so rust stains are not an issue. There are no changes in water color because no water is used with waterless urinals. No odors and no clogs.
And one more thing. With these problems eliminated and waterless urinals installed, no longer a need to keep the plumber on speed dial - a significant cost savings.
Guess What Types of Buildings Use the Most Water?
A study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) was conducted in 2012 and updated in 2017 to determine what types of facilities use the most water in the U.S. The EIA plans to update the survey again in December 2022. While there likely will be some changes, many key findings are expected to remain about the same.
Here is how the study was conducted.
The EIA selected 46,000 commercial buildings in the country greater than 200,000 square feet. The researchers found that these buildings use about 360 billion gallons of water annually.
That’s about one billion gallons of water per day and represents 2.3 percent of the total public water supply in the U.S. Further, these buildings each use, on average:
• About eight million gallons of water per building
• Twenty gallons per square foot
• More than 18,000 gallons of water per worker.
The researchers found that those buildings that operate 24/7 use the most significant amounts of water. At the top of the list were “inpatient health care facilities,” referring to hospitals.
The three others at the top of the list included the following:
• Public order and safety buildings — primarily prisons but could include law enforcement facilities as well.
• Lodging buildings — hotels, motels, and so on.
• Public assembly buildings — any building where fifty or more people meet regularly, including churches, meeting halls for private or government use, and buildings used for ongoing social activities.
Other buildings using a large amount of water each year included:
• Outpatient health care facilities
• Office buildings
• Schools
• Enclosed shopping malls, warehouses, and storage buildings
From here, the study went a bit further. For instance, it reported:
• Water use per square foot does not vary significantly as a building ages. The only exception was hospitals which may tend to use more water with age.
• Large buildings constructed from 1960 until 2012 all used about twenty gallons of water per square foot.
• The only exception again were hospitals. According to this study, today’s hospitals use less water than those built before 1960. In 1960, hospitals used about fifty-five gallons of water per square foot; after two thousand, that was down to forty-five gallons per square foot. *
• It was also pointed out that while hospitals made up only 11 percent of the large commercial buildings in the study, overall, they accounted for 26 percent of the total water consumption of large facilities.
• Similarly, lodging facilities represented only 9 percent of the buildings, but these facilities used almost 20 percent of all the water used in large buildings.
Overall, a Gloomy Report
The data is interesting, but when we dig deeper, we see it reflects the many challenges we face today as water supplies permanently dwindle. In 1960, we had droughts; but droughts are temporary. Today, we have aridification. This is when a lack of water becomes a permanent situation.
Why should a building built in 2012 or later use the same amount of water as one built in 1960? This is something we must correct.
Further, hospitals are of particular concern. Yes, we want them to have all the water they need for proper patient care, but that does not mean they do not need to be water responsible. Simply installing waterless urinals in public hospital restrooms could save millions of gallons of water per year.
This is something we suggest they do now. It’s an easy step with two other major benefits: it helps make hospitals more sustainable and lowers water utility bills. With the tight financial condition most hospitals are in today, this can be a significant cost saving.
*Other studies indicate that hospital water consumption is still about fifty-five gallons per square foot.
Source: EIA: CBECS 2012 Water consumption in large buildings summary
