Monday, March 21, 2016
For all you The Walking Dead fans out there, you may be surprised to see a similarity between this AMC franchise and the science of water quality.
We introduce you to the Are-you-kidding-me?-Is-that-thing-still-alive?!? water bear, also known as the tardigrade.
These microscopic buggers are known for their ability to endure the most extreme of conditions—from heat, to cold, to radiation, to the very vacuum of space. These guys know how to survive for the long haul, and those who study them have referred to water bears as "indestructible."
Now water bears aren't out to takeover the world, and we find them to be friends in our water-analysis efforts. But if a sci-fi style "tardigrade apocalypse" was imminent, how might we defend ourselves?
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Why drinking responsibly means hydrating responsibly
Whether celebrating a holiday or the end of a work week, many people kick back a glass of their favorite beverage to toast the occasion. If that beverage is alcohol, we hope you drink responsibly, but with that comes responsible hydration.
Did you know alcohol dehydrates you? drinkaware UK explained that alcohol acts as a diuretic, acting on your kidneys to make you expel more liquid than you are consuming.
We're in the wastewater-treatment business, so we're prepared to handle as many trips to the bathroom as you need. But we do encourage keeping water in your drinking routine. It can reduce the impacts of alcohol on your system, and it's a healthier option overall. We'll even give you a fancy drink name to go along with that glass of tap if that helps.
Hydrate responsibly, celebrate responsibly, and flush responsibly.
Image credit Flickr Maya83 Creative Commons
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Chicago can have its green river. Water Quality and Industrial Surveillance Investigator Kelsey Amidon shows us how we go green (green dye, actually) to protect water quality.
Fluorescent dye helps our investigators trace the source and destination of flows in our streams and sewers, and the glowing-green dye is even eco-friendly.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Sewer projects often are much more than sewers. And solutions can be found beyond the construction sites many are used to.
The project name is a mouthful: The East 140th Street Consolidation and Relief Sewers project, or E140CRS.
Media and residents have asked questions about the project plans, so we wanted to offer seven important points about the project's origin, benefits, and approach to clear any confusion.
1. Cleveland is built on old (but maintained) sewer network known as combined sewers.
We start at the beginning, a long time ago. Combined sewers carry stormwater and sewage in the same pipe, a design that dates back to the early 1900s; it was effective for moving and collecting wastewater back in the day.
Combined sewer overflows result because the sewer system in East Cleveland—and other older, urban communities—is not equipped to handle the mixture of stormwater and sanitary sewage that results from significant rain events. When the sewers reach capacity, they overflow to the environment at relief points called combined sewer overflows. Overflows affect the environment, water quality, and public health.
"Mwezi wa tatu, Machi 21, 2016 ""The Walking Dead"" mashabiki wote huko nje, unaweza kushangazwa kuona kufanana kati ya franchise hii ya AMC na sayansi ya ubora wa maji." Tunakutambulisha kwa Are-you-kicking-me?-Is-that-thing-still-alive?!? "Kama vile dubu wa maji, ""Tardigrade"" pia ni jina la asili." Wanyama hawa wadogo wanajulikana kwa uwezo wao wa kuvumilia hali mbaya zaidi - kuanzia joto, baridi, mnururisho, hadi utupu wa angani. "Watu hawa wanajua jinsi ya kuishi kwa muda mrefu, na wale wanaowachunguza wametaja dubu wa maji kuwa ""wasioweza kuharibiwa.""" "Wanyama hao wa aina ya ""water bear"" wanaonekana kuwa wanafanya kazi kwa bidii katika utafiti wa maji." Lakini ikiwa "apokalipsi ya tardigrade" ya mtindo wa sayansi ya uwongo ilikuwa karibu, tungewezaje kujilinda? Kwa nini kunywa kwa uwajibikaji inamaanisha hydrating kwa uwajibikaji - Iwe ni kusherehekea likizo au mwisho wa wiki ya kazi, watu wengi hupiga nyuma glasi ya kinywaji chao cha kupenda kwa ajili ya tukio hilo. Ikiwa kinywaji hicho ni pombe, tunatarajia unywe kwa uwajibikaji, lakini na hiyo inakuja hydration ya uwajibikaji. Je, ulijua kwamba pombe hukuharibisha maji mwilini? Drinkware UK inaelezea kuwa pombe hufanya kazi kama diuretic, ikifanya figo zako kutupa maji zaidi kuliko unayokula. Sisi ni katika biashara ya matibabu ya maji taka, hivyo sisi ni tayari kushughulikia safari nyingi kama choo kama unahitaji. Lakini tunakuhimiza uendelee kunywa maji kwa ukawaida. Inaweza kupunguza athari za pombe kwenye mwili wako na ni chaguo bora kwa afya. Sisi hata kukupa jina kinywaji dhana ya kwenda pamoja na kwamba glasi ya bomba kama kwamba husaidia. Hydrate responsibly, kusherehekea responsibly, na flush responsibly. Image caption Flickr: May 8, 2016 - Mto wa Chicago unaanza kutiririka Kelsey Amidon, Mtafiti wa Ubora wa Maji na Ufuatiliaji wa Viwanda, anatuonyesha jinsi tunavyoenda kijani (rangi ya kijani, kwa kweli) kulinda ubora wa maji. Fluorescent dye husaidia wachunguzi wetu kufuatilia chanzo na marudio ya mtiririko katika vijito na mifereji yetu ya maji machafu, na rangi ya kijani kibichi hata ni rafiki wa mazingira. Machi 1, 2016 - Mifumo ya maji machafu ya umma ni muhimu zaidi kuliko maji machafu. Na suluhisho zaweza kupatikana mbali na maeneo ya ujenzi ambayo wengi wamezoea. "Jina la mradi huo ni ""The East 140th Street Consolidation and Relief Sewers Project"" (E140CRS)." "Wanafunzi na waandishi wa habari wamekuwa wakijiuliza maswali kuhusu mradi huo, kwa hiyo tulitaka kutoa mambo saba muhimu kuhusu chanzo cha mradi huo, faida zake na mbinu yake ili kuondoa mvurugo wowote.""" 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Cleveland imejengwa juu ya mtandao wa zamani (lakini kudumishwa) mifereji ya maji machafu inayojulikana kama mifereji ya maji machafu pamoja. Tunaanza kutoka mwanzo, muda mrefu uliopita. Mifereji ya maji ya mvua na maji machafu ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji. Mchanganyiko wa maji machafu ya maji machafu hutokea kwa sababu mfumo wa maji machafu katika Mashariki ya Cleveland - na jamii nyingine za zamani, za mijini - hauna vifaa vya kushughulikia mchanganyiko wa maji ya mvua na maji machafu ya usafi ambayo hutokana na matukio makubwa ya mvua. Wakati mifereji ya maji machafu inapofikia uwezo wake, hufurika na kuingia katika mazingira katika sehemu za kuondoa maji machafu zinazoitwa mifereji ya maji machafu iliyounganishwa. Mtiririko wa maji huathiri mazingira, ubora wa maji, na afya ya umma.