Fontis Water : News Releases

Calhoun staying ahead of the curve with water treatment capacity

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Calhoun is already in a positive situation when it comes to water supply, but according to City Utilities General Manager Kelly Cornwell, it looks even better now that plans for a new clear well have been added to the Brittany Drive water treatment plant.

The new clear well, which will accommodate water flowing from a new intake under construction at nearby Big Springs, will allow the Brittany Drive plant to process up to 11.8 million gallons per day, Cornwell said. Currently, the Brittany Drive plant processes about 5.8 million gallons each day, up from just 1 million per day when the original well was drilled in 1999.

Clean water

The Big Springs intake sits on about 100 acres of city-owned property. The water at Big Springs runs unusually clear. Even in rainy weather, Cornwell said he has “never seen it even dingy.”

People in this area have been drinking water from this spring for hundreds of years.

“It’s a wonderful water source,” he said.

Four giant filtering vessels at the Brittany Drive treatment plant clean the water forced through them before it is stored in the existing clear well, where it is chlorinated. Water leaving the plant must measure at a level lower than .03 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units), Cornwell said.

Turbidity refers to the haziness caused by suspended solids in water. Most of the water coming into the Brittany Drive facility measures at such a level before it even reaches the filters, he said.

Ahead of the curve

The addition of the new clear and wet wells and their accompanying infrastructure, he said, will happen over a three-year period. This is a SPLOST-funded project, he explained, so the city will proceed as SPLOST money is available.

The entire project, including the filtration infrastructure for the clear well, should total around $2.5 million, he said. The wet well, which the county bid out in early summer, has an approximately $600,000 price tag.

The city still uses its Mauldin Road Plant to serve the largest portion of the city, downtown and the industrial corridor. The Mauldin Plant processes water from the Coosawattee River — also “a relatively clean water source,” according to Cornwell.

The Big Springs/ Brittany Drive plant will eventually serve outlying areas like Hill City, Resaca and Plainville.

When the new treatment facility is complete, he said, the city will have the ability to treat nearly 30 million gallons per day using both its plants. Current typical usage comes to about 10 million gallons per day, he said.

The extra capacity may look like overkill now, but by staying ahead of the game, Cornwell said he hopes to avoid the water shortage situation Atlanta has experienced in recent years.

Preparing the community for growth with proper water capacity is essential, he said. He de-scribed the process of working to make sure Calhoun and Gordon County are prepared for popula-tion growth 20 to 30 years from now as “one of the bright spots of my career.”

Health Highlights: Aug. 26, 2009

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

A common herbicide tied to reproductive disruptions in humans may be occurring at higher levels in U.S. drinking water than is being detected by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a report issued Monday by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The council claims that the EPA may miss “spikes” in water levels of atrazine, especially in the Midwest and South, where it is applied to a variety of crops. In use since the 1950s, atrazine is a known “endocrine disruptor” and can interfere with the body’s hormonal and reproductive development, according to the Washington Post.

The EPA typically checks for atrazine in water at four set times each year — potentially missing spikes in concentrations that occur after rain or the springtime use of the herbicide, the council said.

“Our biggest concern is early-life-stage development,” NRDC senior scientist Jennifer Sass told the Post. “If there’s a disruption during that time, it becomes hard-wired into the system. These endocrine disrupters act in the body at extremely low levels. These spikes matter.”

Her group noted that the EPA’s own analysis found that during 2003 and 2004, 54 water systems had peaks of atrazine concentrations that exceeded the 3 parts per billion the agency considers safe.

Speaking to the Post, Steve Owens, the administrator of the EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, said the agency “will take a hard look at atrazine and other substances.”

A spokesman for the herbicide industry told the Post the NRDC report was alarmist. “Atrazine is one of the best studied, most thoroughly regulated molecules on the planet,” said toxicologist Tim Pastoor, who works for atrazine maker Syngenta. “Those momentary spikes are not going to be injurious to human health.”

Confronting the toxins inside

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The following is an excerpt from that article:

Living in a $3 million mansion could be killing you softly; but sharing a three-bedroom walkup could actually strengthen your immune system.

I am not talking mortgages or exercise; I am describing the effects of the water flowing from your home faucets right now. Are you protected?

About 60 percent of our body is made up of water! So any toxins lurking in water we drink, shower or soak in, can end up affecting us.

Chlorine, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, hormones from drugs and pesticides and something called perchlorate, a chemical used in air bags, electronics, fertilizers and rocket fuel, are all now found in soil, groundwater, drinking water and irrigation water around the country.

Perchlorate interferes with the ability of the thyroid to get enough iodide, a necessary nutrient that protects against breast cancer. Perchlorate, at higher doses, has also been linked to thyroid cancer and a weakened immune system.

Lacking federal regulations, New Hampshire and most other states still ignore perchlorate levels in municipal water supplies. In 2006, however, Massachusetts passed the strictest perchlorate law in the nation, limiting contamination to 2 parts per billion. (Contact your state representative and say thank you!)

However, chlorine, still used to eradicate dangerous bacteria in most municipal water supplies, was shown in a 1992 Harvard study to raise the risk of bladder cancer by 21 percent and rectal cancer by 38 percent. A 2007 study published in the International Journal of Health Geography also supports this connection between chlorinated water supplies and a significant increase in rectal cancer, especially in areas, such as Cape Cod and Cape Ann, where shallow ground water is the major source of municipal water.

Several years ago, I met a well respected North Shore internist who laughed at the concept of filtering his home water supply.

“The town water is fine,” he told me, when I asked for a glass of water one evening and flinched as I watched him fill my glass from his tap.

“But what about the yucky chlorine taste you get when you make coffee with this stuff?” I asked, as I politely drank the tainted-tasting glass of aqua.

“Oh! I just leave my coffee water out over night,” he said. “The chlorine evaporates by morning.”

But what about the heavy metals, the hormones and the other carcinogens that don’t evaporate? I wondered.

I will never know if drinking that town’s municipal water, unfiltered, for 40 years was a factor, but a few years ago, my 65-year-old physician friend died of pancreatic cancer.

What's stupid about bottled water?

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Crystal Springs® Bottled Water Company Acquires Blue Ridge Mountain Water

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Crystal Springs…is pleased to announce that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Blue Ridge Mountain Water, Inc. and its affiliates. Combining these resources with its own, Crystal Springs will expand its home and office bottled water delivery service further into the greater Atlanta area and additional Georgia communities, including a new branch in Calhoun, GA.

Mike Williams, Mid South Vice President and General Manager says,”With the acquisition of Blue Ridge Mountain Water, we will be able to expand the reach of our bottled water delivery service and filtration service options and ensure that we continue our rich history of superior water delivery service. We welcome these new members of our Crystal Springs family and look forward to earning their business.”

Recycled Sewage: Coming to a Tap Near You?

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Is recycled sewage water coming to a tap near you? If you live in certain parts of the developed world—including areas of the united States—the answer, perhaps surprisingly, is yes.

Persistent droughts and competition for resources are leading to increased use of recycled sewage for drinking water and fertilizer, water experts say.

In developing countries human waste is already used by an estimated 200 million farmers, according to a recent report by the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Now wastewater use is gaining steam in the developed world too, though in rich countries, the water undergoes a cleansing process before being pumped out to taps.

“Wastewater recycling is something we will have to rely more heavily on,” said Shivaji Deshmukh, program manager for the groundwater replenishment system at the Orange County Water District in southern California.

Orange County has been recognized for its innovative sewage system, which collects what people flush down the toilet, separates its components, then treats the wastewater to drinking-water standard.

The county water district pumps the treated wastewater into underground caverns, where it is stored and later used as tap water or irrigation water.

In the U.S. many federal and state laws require reclaimed water to sit in rivers or aquifers before it can be processed for drinking water.

This explains why water coming out of the Orange County facility doesn’t flow directly to residents’ taps, Deshmukh said.

The Groundwater Replenishment System facility, the largest of its kind, supplies 70 million gallons (265 million liters) of treated water a day, enough for 500,000 people.

Fighting Drought

Like many other regions, Orange County is struggling to find fresh water during prolonged periods of drought.

According to the UN-chartered International Panel on Climate Change, more than 1.4 billion people on the planet already face water shortages.

The hardest-hit areas include northern Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, southern Asia, northern China, Australia, the U.S., and Mexico.

In Australia more than 10 percent of wastewater in drought-stricken cities is recycled, according to the IWMI report.

Deshmukh said the cost to treat reclaimed wastewater to drinking-water standard remains high, which is why large-scale facilities like his aren’t readily built in developing countries.

Orange County’s facility relies on reverse osmosis, a process that requires an enormous amount of energy to push water through a membrane that captures trace amounts of toxins, pollutants, household chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

As energy costs rise, so do the costs of wastewater recycling, Deshmuhk noted.

He said, however, that recycling is still cheaper than pumping in water from water-rich areas in California.

In Orange County it takes 3,500 kilowatt hours of electricity to pump one acre-foot of water (a foot of water spread over an acre or 12 centimeters spread over a hectare) into the county. Recycling the same amount of local wastewater requires half as much energy.

Human Feces

Anders Finnson, deputy managing director of environmental wastewater issues for the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association (SWWA), said recycling wastewater brings other benefits—namely, nutrient-rich solids that can be turned into fertilizer.

Fertilizer prices jumped nearly 50 percent per metric ton over the last year in some places, making human waste a somewhat more attractive substitute.

Sewage sludge contains the same soil-enriching, plant-boosting elements found in expensive chemical fertilizers—nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Often referred to as biosolids, highly treated human feces is used in scattered areas throughout the developed world, where it must meet strict levels for pathogens and heavy metals.

Most biosolids are applied as fertilizer to cereal and grain crops, with occasional applications for forestry operations, golf courses, and other land uses, according to James Clark of Black and Veatch Corporation, a U.S. firm specializing in water recycling.

The practice has not spread widely, partly because of the public’s concerns about human health or odors from neighboring farms, Clark said.

Despite such resistance, a handful of European countries have recently responded to a global phosphorus shortage by promoting sludge use.

Experts estimate that the world’s reserves of the naturally occurring phosphorus, a critical element for plant growth, will be depleted in less than 200 years.

Sweden Pushes Biosolids

Sweden recently made phosphorus recycling a national environmental priority, with the goal of returning 60 percent of it back to the land by 2015.

Reaching that goal is possible through the use of biosolids to fertilize farms, the SWWA’s Finnson said.

Hoping to convince farmers that biosolids are safe, the Swedish association launched a certification program highlighting wastewater facilities that produce high-quality, phosphorus-rich sludge ready for agricultural use.

The price of phosphorus, which has risen 400 percent in the last two years, has helped convince Swedish farmers to make the switch, Finnson said.

He estimates that as much as 20 percent of Swedish agricultural land is now treated with biosolids.

(Also see “Alcohol, Feces, Carcasses Fuel Green Vehicles in Sweden” [June 25, 2007].)

By comparison, biosolids are used on just one percent of U.S. farmland, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“In North America we sometimes go overboard with treatment,” Clark, of Black and Veatch, said. “I think there are ways to meet halfway.”

FDA: BPA in Plastic Bottles Isn’t a Health Hazard

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Bisphenol A, a chemical that shows up in some baby bottles, food can linings and hard plastic water bottles, just got a vote of confidence from the FDA.

“FDA has concluded that an adequate margin of safety exists for BPA at current levels of exposure from food contact uses,” said an FDA draft assessment released Friday.

Earlier this year, a draft report from another federal agency concluded that “[T]he possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed.”

That was part of what prompted Wal-Mart, among others, to say it would stop selling baby bottles that contain the chemical. And California is now considering a bill that would ban the substance in food and drink containers made for infants.

The FDA assessment was released in advance of a September meeting where a panel of experts will discuss the subject.

In his weekly message posted on the FDA’s Web site, FDA Commish Andrew von Eschenbach wrote that “science creates these products and science must inform us of their risks. With regard to BPA thus far, the science FDA has reviewed does not justify recommending that anyone discontinue using these products.”

But environmental groups were critical of FDA’s analysis, which they argued were based on studies funded by industry. “It’s ironic FDA would choose to ignore dozens of studies funded by (the National Institutes of Health) — this country’s best scientists — and instead rely on flawed studies from industry,” Pete Myers, chief scientist for Environmental Health Sciences, told the AP.

Minneapolis: Water stinks, but city says it's safe

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Wendy Adamson doesn’t care about Mayor R.T. Rybak’s appeal to buy less bottled water.

Her tap water stinks ~~- literally -~~ and she’s not having any of it.

The city of Minneapolis said Thursday that the strange taste and odor in its tap water could last two more weeks while it acts to correct the problem. They also assured water users, hundreds of whom have complained to the city, that there are “absolutely no health risks.”

The stinky turn of events comes after the city campaigned hard touting its municipal water over the commercially bottled variety.

“The smell of the water is just way too bad,” said the 66-year-old Adamson, who lives in the Seward neighborhood. “I really don’t like buying bottled water, but I just went to the store and got some.”

City officials say the bad taste is the result of too much organic matter, such as algae and leaves, entering the Mississippi River, the source of the city’s drinking water. It’s a phenomenon that usually happens after the snow melts in the spring, and they don’t know why it’s happening now.

City spokesman Matt Laible said the city uses potassium permanganate and sodium permanganate to treat the water for odor and taste year round, but the two treatment plants have been using 20 percent more of the those chemicals since July 3, when people started complaining. The city also increased the use of powder-activated carbon, which absorbs organic matter and makes it easier to filter it out.

According to Laible, the city’s 311 service has registered 221 reports and the city water works has been receiving about 80 calls per day. Laible said the water is continuously tested to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards and is safe to drink.

Residents in St. Paul have been free of the funky water, despite the fact that St. Paul also draws its water from the Mississippi.

Why Drinking Water Is Important for Weight Loss

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

There are many reasons why it is important to drink water, especially if you are dieting:

Initial weight loss is largely due to loss of water, and you need to drink an adequate amount of water in order to avoid dehydration. The process of burning calories requires an adequate supply of water in order to function efficiently; dehydration slows down the fat-burning process. Burning calories creates toxins (think of the exhaust coming out of your car), and water plays a vital role in flushing them out of your body. Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume; a reduction in blood volume causes a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles; and a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles can make you feel tired. Water helps maintain muscle tone by assisting muscles in their ability to contract, and it lubricates your joints. Proper hydration can help reduce muscle and joint soreness when exercising. A healthy (weight loss) diet includes a good amount of fiber. But while fiber is normally helpful to your digestive system, without adequate fluids it can cause constipation instead of helping to eliminate it. Drinking water with a meal may make you feel full sooner and therefore satisfied eating less. Note, however, that drinking water alone may not have this effect. In order to feel satiated (not hungry), our bodies need bulk, calories and nutrients. How Much Water Should I Drink? You have probably heard that you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. How much water you actually need depends on your weight, level of activity, the temperature and humidity of your environment, and your diet. Your diet makes a difference because if you eat plenty of water-dense foods like fruits and vegetables your need to drink water will be diminished.

You can do some research and use a calculator and measuring cup if you like, but nature’s pretty good at letting you know the right amount to drink. When you drink enough water, your urine will usually be pale yellow, though vitamin supplements and antibiotics can discolor it. On the other hand, you shouldn’t need to run to the bathroom too frequently. When in doubt, drink a little more.

Do not worry that drinking water will give your body a bloated look. There are a number of causes of water retention, including consuming too much salt. But drinking water is not one of them.

It is possible to harm yourself by drinking too much water, but it takes quite an effort. Either through obsessive-compulsive behavior or extended athletic activity, drinking large amounts of water can dilute the electrolytes (sodium and potassium) in your blood to the point that it interferes with brain, heart and muscle function. Athletes compound the problem with the loss of sodium (salt) through sweating, but can drink electrolyte replacement drinks like Gatorade Endurance Formula to help keep things in balance.

Tips on Drinking Water Drinking other liquids also provides your body with a source of water, but note that diuretics cause your body to expel water. Diuretics include caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea and soda) and alcohol. When drinking diuretics, drink more water to compensate. When drinking alcohol, drinking water along with it as well as before and afterward may eliminate a hangover headache and feeling of tiredness. The water is optional; driving is not.

When you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Try to avoid this situation by drinking in advance. Be especially careful when participating in activities where you won’t be able to stop to get caught up. You’ve heard countless advertisements telling you what product to start your day with. We recommend a couple of glasses of water to rehydrate your body. No charge.

Georgians loom large on the obesity list

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Think fried chicken, biscuits and gravy and pecan pie. What do these Southern classics add up to? Numbers that make the South the fattest region in the country and Georgia among the flabbiest states, according to a federal government study released Thursday. More than one in four Georgia adults is obese, earning the state a ranking of 8th fattest. Twenty-eight percent of Georgians are obese. Mississippi had the highest ranking with 32 percent tipping the scales too far. Alabama and Tennessee are not far behind. The national average is 25.6 percent. Colorado, with its fitness-happy culture, is the leanest state, with about 19 percent of residents obese, according to the study. The Atlanta-based federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anaylzed more than 350,000 random phone surveys performed last year, including about 7,700 in Georgia. The CDC did not rank states, as officials say the differences between some states’ figures may not be statistically significant. The study collected height and weight figures to determine body mass index. For example, a 5-foot-9 person who weighs 203 pounds or more would be considered obese, with a BMI of 30. “Some favorite southern foods…are high in fat,” said Deborah Galuska, associate director for science of the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. Beyond a diet that forsakes health for happiness, other factors contribute to the Georgia flab factor, such as the lack of physical activity that characterizes some lifestyles. In metro Atlanta, many people spend a lot of time in their cars and have difficulty finding areas to walk, jog and bike, Galuska said. In addition, the South has a higher proportion of black people than many other areas in the country, and African-Americans tend to have higher obesity rates. This may be due in part to a greater acceptance of that body size for women in black culture, Galuska said. Both Georgia and the nation are becoming more obese, the study found. The nation is at its most obese since such studies started in the 1960s. Fat can be fatal, with obesity linked to such health problems as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. State officials have estimated that obesity costs Georgia $2.1 billion every year. Experts say greater collaboration is needed between health officials and those in the schools, workplaces and communities to educate people on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. Georgia was among several states that received CDC grants to boost programs on obesity. The Live Healthy Georgia campaign sends a message of “eat healthy, be active, be positive, be smoke free and get checked.” And watch the gravy.