Water Ban Lifted For Parts Of West Virginia After Spill

West Virginia counties map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

CHARLESTON, WV — The ban on tap water for parts of West Virginia was lifted on Monday, ending a crisis for some of the 300,000 people who were told not to drink, wash or cook with water after a chemical spill tainted the water supply.

Gov. Earl Tomblin made the announcement at a news conference, five days after people were told to use the water only to flush their toilets.

“The numbers we have today look good and we are finally at a point where the ‘do not use order’ has been lifted,” he said.

Officials are lifting the ban in a strict, methodical manner to help ensure the water system is not overwhelmed by excessive demand, which could cause more water quality and service issues. Customers are being asked to flush out their systems before using the water again, and officials cautioned that the water could still have an odor, but it is safe.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/editorspicks/5409651-74/state-chemical-officials#ixzz2qJIsJ9gm
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Pittsburgh’s Water And Sewer Rates Will Rise To Cover Capital Improvements

A map of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with its neighborhoods labeled. For use primarily in the list of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority customers will see their rates rise over the next four years to help pay for capital improvement to the city’s antiquated infrastructure, projected to cost $150 million over the next three years.

The board of PWSA voted todaty to approve a graduated rate increases for 2014 through 2017. The average household customer will see rates increase about $8.29 a month over three years, from $42.03 a month to $50.32 a month. Rates will rise about $3 a month for the first year, $1.94 for the second, $1.26 for the third and 77 cents for the fourth.

Larger consumers — like industrial customers — will share a larger portion of the increased burden.

The additional revenue will be used to pay down the $150 million bond issue expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburghs-water-and-sewer-rates-will-rise-to-cover-capital-improvements-707198/#ixzz2hRV7cnjN

Birdsboro Water Authority Loses Rate Case Brought By Frank McLaughlin

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BIRDSBORO — Convicted water thief Frank McLaughlin won a victory in court last week when a judge agreed with his claim that the water bills he was paying to the Birdsboro Water Authority for two apartment buildings he owns could not be justified.

On July 1, District Judge David E. Glass ruled in favor of McLaughlin in two claims he filed in March, writing in both decisions that “it appears that the authority has arbitrarily assigned rates to apartment complexes that are neither reasonable nor fair.”

Noting that he never received a report explaining how the authority calculates those rates, he wrote “trying to understand the published Birdsboro Water and Sewer Authority rate structure is like trying to find a snapper turtle in a muddy pond.”

Glass further noted in his decision that “the water and sewer authority’s appeal process is flawed” advising both McLaughlin and the authority that “it would serve both sides across the aisle to remember more is accomplished with honey than vinegar.”

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130707/NEWS01/130709519/birdsboro-water-authority-loses-rate-case-brought-by-water-thief#full_story

A 16th-Century Method May Revolutionize Mine Drainage Treatment

A technology dating to the 16th century and built with PVC piping available at any Home Depot or Lowe’s soon will be used to enhance and possibly revolutionize the treatment of abandoned mine drainage, still Pennsylvania’s biggest water quality problem.

The technology, called “trompe,” an old French word meaning trumpet, is a water-powered air compressor with no moving parts.  It has been adapted and developed by Bruce Leavitt, a mining hydrologist and professor of mining engineering at West Virginia University, to provide enhanced aeration of polluted mine water, which speeds the cleanup process.

Use of trompe technology is especially applicable to the hundreds of mine discharges flowing out of the Pittsburgh coal seam in Western Pennsylvania, said Mr. Leavitt, during a walking tour of a trompe-enhanced passive treatment system on the North Fork of Montour Run in Findlay, 2 miles south of the Pittsburgh International Airport.

“Trompe can reduce the size and cost of passive treatment systems for mine drainage,” he said, “And it can take a treatment system that’s not working, or not working well, and clean the water better.”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/16th-century-method-may-ease-mine-drainage-692917/#ixzz2X9Sy6uym

New ArtFusion Show Explores The Use Of Color

“White Sphere” by Robert Koch

Pottstown, PA –  Lumière Blanc: A study of white by Robert Koch opens on June 7 at ArtFusion 19464.  The show will run until June 29 and there will be a meet the artist reception June 7 from 6-8pm.  Light refreshments will be served.  All receptions are free and open to the public.  Robert Koch, a Boyertown native currently living in New Jersey, produced all new work for this innovative show.

Robert talks about the inspiration behind this work: My approach as an artist has always been to make work that is as much about the materials themselves as the application of the materials.  With my ceramics I have always kept my forms simple and functional and allowed the glazes to be the main focus. My welded steel sculptures are more about the welds than the steel.  With my paintings I use the fluidity of the paint to dictate what happens on the surface.

Building up layer after layer of paint it became apparent to me that color was no longer important. In fact the less color there was applied to the surface the more the paint itself because the primary focus.  After stripping away most or all of the other colors the interaction light combined with the layering of paint revealed very subtle complexities.

For this show the artist was also inspired by the way water moves in a river.  “With my paintings each layer is like the surface of the water.  After each layer dries and more layers are added the light has more texture to interact with.  As the light changes throughout the day the surface of my paintings changes as well,” Robert said.

While working on this show, Robert was also faced with some serious health challenges, undergoing heart bypass surgery.  “I was forced to take a break from art and life to allow my body to heal from coronary bypass surgery,”  Robert explains.  “Life’s unexpected events have made it even more exciting to have the opportunity to share this work.”

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown.  The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence.  ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists.  The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm.  The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

NASA Discovers Two Earth-Like Planets; Penn State Grad On Scientific Team

An artist’s depiction of an extrasolar, Earthlike planet.. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two planets orbiting a distant star represent the first Earth-sized planets to be discovered at a distance from the host sun that allows them to be warm enough to sustain liquid water, an essential element to support life.

The NASA-led project, involving a Beaver Falls native and 2003 graduate of Penn State Erie, discovered five planets orbiting the star Kepler-62 that lies 1,000 light-years from Earth.  One of those planets is 1.6 times the size of Earth and another is 1.4 times Earth’s size.

Planets as large as three times the size of Earth are terrestrial, or made of rock.  Larger planets typically comprise gases or a combination of gases and rock, which would not support life, said Justin R. Crepp, now an assistant professor of physics the University of Notre Dame.

While Earth-like planets within the habitable zone represent the holy grail of astronomy, technology in development will be necessary to determine whether the two planets contain oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane or water — all elements necessary for life.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/science/nasa-discovers-two-earth-like-planets-penn-state-grad-on-scientific-team-684053/#ixzz2QqgVJ0qg

After Delay, Reading Combines Some Bills

Editor’s note:  We like this idea.  It takes these bills and makes them part of the average person’s normal monthly expenses.  I bet people will be more willing to pay them on a monthly basis rather than quarterly.

City trash and recycling customers will find their bills easier to pay in June.

They won’t be any cheaper, but they’ll be monthly instead of quarterly; they’ll be part of the water and sewer bills; and there will be more ways to pay them.

“The benefit to city customers is that it’s more affordable, and because it’s consistent it will be easier to budget for,” Matthew Bembenick, director of administrative services, said at a Wednesday event announcing the transfer of billing to the Reading Area Water Authority.

But the long-planned deal got delayed, and the authority’s first bills will come out in May, when the city needs to get caught up for January through April.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=470572

Proposed 772-Unit Project Hits Washington Township Snag

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A residential development proposed for Washington Township has hit a snag because of recent changes to the water and sewer plans.

Developer Richard Mingey wants to build a 772-unit community on 225 acres just outside of Bally on the southeast side of the Route 100 and Kutztown Road intersection, extending to the west side of Schwenkfelder Road.

The problem arose at a planned residential development hearing before the township supervisors Tuesday. Attorney Amy Good objected that the plans before the board do not reflect the sewer and water service change: from municipal to on-site.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=396254

Just When You Thought Things Could Not Get Any Worse – Reading Sewer Main Leaking AGAIN

Another OH SHIT moment brought to you by the City of Reading.  The same sewer main that ruptured and caused MILLIONS of gallons of untreated sewage to be dumped into the Schuylkill River has ruptured again – near the area that was just repaired.  Say it ain’t so Joe!

Of course, the high water from Lee is complicating repair efforts!

Murphy’s Law!

Harrisburg Mayor Gets Poor Marks For Keeping Low Profile

Image via Wikipedia

The Harrisburg Patriot has given Mayor Linda Thompson a very public chiding in today’s editorial due to her public absence during Harrisburg’s water main crisis that shut down state, county and city government, the school district, HACC and local businesses. 

Harrisburg’s main water line was accidentally ruptured and released thousands of gallons of water into a brownfield site near Cameron Street.  Millions of gallons of drinking water a day were lost due to the break and everything in Harrisburg came to an abrupt halt.  There was concern about having adequate water supplies for fire stations and Harrisburg Hospital.  The entire city could have been without water had this situation not been handled quickly and efficiently.

While the mayor was doing things behind the scenes, her lack of visibility has raised some eyebrows.  Mayor Thompson held no news conference until Wednesday.  The crisis occurred on Sunday and city residents have boiled water for several days.

The Ten Biggest American Cities That Are Running Out Of Water

This is extremely thought-provoking and worth taking a few minutes to read.  It may also make you glad you live in Pennsylvania!

http://247wallst.com/2010/10/29/the-ten-great-american-cities-that-are-dying-of-thirst/2/

D Is For Drought!

I have wondered how long it would take before we started talking about water problems with this hot, dry summer!

Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties are under drought warning.  Chester and Delaware are under drought watch.

We are being asked to conserve water between 10% and 15% under a drought warning.

All of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are being asked to conserve water!

NASA

Crashing rockets into the moon to see if there is water…OMG are you people serious?? 

Anyone who is thinking drugs should be legalized in the United States needs to take all this evidence into account before making any decision.  Drug use must be running wild.  Between NASA, Norway and the Nobel Peace Prize going to Obama I think we have an epidemic that nobody wants to talk about.

You heard it here first!