Healthy Drinking Water and Healthy Homes – Communicating to the Public: What is a Drinking Water Advisory?

Healthy Drinking Water and Healthy Homes – Communicating to the Public
can you buy isotretinoin online What is a Drinking Water Advisory?

http://thehistoryhacker.com/test DO NOT PANIC !  What are Drinking Water Advisories and What Should You Do ?

Drinking water advisories let customers know that their tap water or drinking water could be contaminated and make them sick.  There are no advisories for private well owners or drinking wate systems that are NOT regulated. Advisories are used to send a message to users, customers, individuals, business, schools and other institutions that there is a potential problem with the water and how to act without getting into the details that are part of a Community Water Supply System or a regulated Non-Community System like a school, gasoline station that serves food, etc.  One thing we learned from Flint, Michigan and other case studies is that the citizens and most users do not really know what a “Drinking Water Advisory Means” and most Authorities or Water Companies DO NOT Know How to Explain the Situation.

The drinking water advisories typically fall into one of these 3 categories:  “Boil Water Advisory”, “Do Not Drink Advisory”, and “Do Not Use Advisory”.   Just to confuse you a little more, there is also something called a  Health Advisories that are published by EPA and we will deal with these separately.

Boil Water Advisory

If your local health officials, water company, water provider, or Authority issues a boil water advisory, you should take the immediate action of not using your drinking water for consumption (DO NOT DRINK !).

The boil water advisory means that the water may or does contain a pathogen, i.e., a disease-causing agent.   The primary actions would include establishing another temporary water source, such as bottled or bulk water, or boiling the water prior to use and consumption.  (Please Note:  I did not say filter the water or Microwave the water and I did not say drink hot water. I said BOIL!)

Boil water advisories the details.

  1. Use bottled water, bulk drinking water, or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cooking food, feeding the pets, brushing your teeth, and making baby formula.
  2. If bottled water is not available, bring your tap water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute for elevations below 6,500 feet and if you live at an elevation of over 6,500 feet a 3 minute rolling boil is needed.  After boiling, allow the water to cool before use and while it is cooling give a good shake to try and “re-aerate” the water, it will taste better.
  3. If a boil water advisory is issued, you CAN NOT just filter your water through a particle filter or install or use a Class B UV water treatment systemthis is NOT adequate. The verb in the sentence is “BOIL” not filter, but it is ok to boil and then filter (YES).   They make some very good home water coolers
  4. Do not use ICE comes from your automatic ice maker even if the unit has a filter or inline UV unit, the water must be cooled and then cooled and then you can make ice.
  5. Breastfeeding is the better choice. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible, or the water must be boiled (not Microwaved or heated) and cooled.  The boiled water should be used within 72 hours (Source: Allinahealth.org)
  6. You a water screening test on your temporary water source and your water source when it comes off the boil water advisory.

Handwashing – (After COVID you should be a PRO)

  1. In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. DO NOT wash your hands in boiling water or hot water. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
  2. Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water, but make sure to dry your hands.
  3. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol (Source: CDC).

Bathing and showering

  1. Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
  2. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water. You do not need to use bottled water, but you can if you wish.

Brushing teeth

  1. Brush teeth with boiled water that has cooled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled. You may want to then store your toothbrush in some saline or salt water to prevent bacterial regrowth.

Washing dishes

  1. If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
  1. Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if:
    • The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or
    • The dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
    • At the end of the boil water advisory, we recommend running a sanitizing cycle and using a dishwasher cleaner tablet approved by the manufacturer.
  2. Sanitize all baby bottles.
  3. To wash dishes by hand:
    • Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
    • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
    • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
    • Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.

Laundry

Washing Clothes  (Assuming the drinking water is not discolored or turbid)

  1. Assuming the water is not discolored or turbid, it is likely safe to wash clothes as usual, but I would clean the unit by using chlorine or a citric acid cleaner or a clothes washer cleaner tablet approved by the manufacturer.

Do Not Drink Water Advisory

Local health authorities issue a do not drink water advisory when your community’s water is, or could be, contaminated with harmful chemicals and toxins, and when boiling water will not make it safe.

Authorities may recommend limited use of tap water for some tasks, depending on the harmful chemical or toxin contaminating the water. Follow health officials’ advice carefully to protect your health and your family’s health.

During a do not drink water advisory, use bottled water for: drinking and cooking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, mixing baby formula, making ice, and drinking water to pets and livestock.

In some instances, it will be safe to wash hands, flush toilets and shower; in other instances, it will not. You should be cautious when bathing a baby and young children; they might swallow water.

Do not drink or use water from any appliance connected to your water supply lines. This includes the water and ice dispensers in your refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher.

Do Not Use Water Advisory

Local health authorities issue a do not use water advisory when your community’s water is, or could be, contaminated with germs, harmful chemicals, toxins, or radioactive materials. Under this advisory any contact, even with the skin, lungs, or eyes, can be dangerous. Do not drink or use tap water from the impacted system for any purpose as long as the advisory is in effect, including for bathing. These types of advisories are rare.

EPA Health Advisory (HAs)

HAs primarily serve as information to drinking water systems and officials responsible for protecting public health when emergency spills or other contamination situations occur. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes EPA to issue HAs for contaminants that are not subject to a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) (Source:  42 U.S.C. §300g-1(b)(1)(F)). HA documents provide technical information on chemical and microbial contaminants that can cause human health effects and are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water. HA values/levels identify the concentration of a contaminant in drinking water at which adverse health effects and/or aesthetic effects are not anticipated to occur over specific exposure duration (e.g., 1 day, 10 days, a lifetime).

HA: Health Advisory- An estimate of acceptable drinking water levels for a chemical substance based on health effects information; a Health Advisory is not a legally enforceable Federal standard, but serves as technical guidance to assist Federal, state, and local officials.

“One-day HA: The concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects for up to one day of exposure

Ten-day HA: The concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure.

Lifetime HA: The concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects for a lifetime of exposure.”

Drinking Water Advisories – Water Standards and Health Advisory Tables (2018)

Listing of Drinking Water Contaminants

EPA Health Advisory’s for PFOA, PFOS, GenX ChemicalsHexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and Ammonium Salts, and Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid and Potassium Salts (PFBS)

Drinking Water Health Advisories for Two Cyanobacterial Toxins

Water Treatment Systems

Crystal Quest – Point of Use, Point of Entry, Whole House, Coolers, Pitchers
US Water Systems – Disinfection, Iron, Manganese, PFOS, Taste, Odors

Free Pesticide Recertification Credit Events and Mid-Season Turf Care

Aquarius Supply are holding some valuable (and FREE) PA and NJ pesticide recertification credit events in the coming weeks. I understand your time is valuable, so I make sure to cater the content of the presentations to maximize the amount of recertification credits you receive in only 1 hour. As a bonus, NJ ProFACT, ISA, and PCH credits will also be offered during these 1 hour credit talks at select locations. Please see the dates, times, locations, and recertification credit offerings below.

All of the PA and NJ events will offer free lunch (optional) from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The credit talks will start at 12:30 PM and end promptly at 1:30 PM. Please reach out to me to register.

NJ Pesticide Recertification Credits Approved: (2)-CORE, (2)-3a, (2)-3b; (2) ProFACT Credits Pending
7/29 Aquarius Supply, Lakewood, NJ
7/31 Aquarius Supply, Hawthorne, NJ
8/1 Aquarius Supply, Whippany, NJ
8/8 Aquarius Supply, Sewell, NJ


PA Pesticide Recertification Credits Approved: (1)-CORE, (1)-PC, (1)-05, (1)-06, (1)-23; PCH and ISA Credits Pending
8/6 Aquarius Supply, Allentown, PA
8/9 Aquarius Supply, Norristown, PA

Lastly, have you ever wondered where your grass seed comes from? Or, what Blue Tag Certified seed actually is? Do you know that it takes one full acre of farm land to produce only 1 ton of grass seed? Please join us for a short webinar on July 25th from 2-2:30 PM hosted by Aquarius Supply and Mountain View Seeds to get these and many more questions answered. This educational event will arm you with the knowledge needed to make an informed buying decision when it comes to your upcoming seed purchase. Please click on the link below to register.

SIGN UP FOR OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR ON JULY 25TH:
“WHAT’S IN THE BAG?” HOSTED BY AQUARIUS SUPPLY AND MOUNTAIN VIEW SEEDS.

RSVP ON EVENTBRITE

Penn State Extension to Provide No-Cost Drinking Water Testing for Lead and Other Pollutants in a Limited Number of Private Wells, Springs and Cisterns

Community Announcement

Have you ever had the drinking water from your well, spring or cistern tested for lead and other health-related pollutants?  If not, here is your chance.

Penn State Extension has received funding from the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide no-cost drinking water testing to a limited number of homeowners using private water wells, springs or cisterns in Luzerne County.  The testing is for private water supplies that are actively being used for drinking water in the household. Camps or seasonal households that are not continuously used are not eligible for this program. The commercial value of this water testing would be $100.

This testing is limited to the first 40 households using a private well, spring or cistern that register at  https://extension.psu.edu/safe-drinking-water-workshop

Once you register, you can pick up your drinking water test kit at the Luzerne County Extension office at 16 Luzerne Ave, Suite 200 West Pittston, PA 18643 starting on June 10. Instructions on how to collect the water sample are included in the kit.  Water tests kits will be collected at the Luzerne County Extension office on July 22 & August 8, 2019.

 


Individual water samples will be analyzed for numerous drinking water parameters including total coliform bacteria, E. coli bacteria, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, corrosivity, nitrate, arsenic, copper and lead.  Results of your testing will be available during two separate one-hour workshops to be held at 2:00 PM or 6:00 PM on August 27 at the Dallas Emergency Services Building, 3593 State Route 118 Dallas PA 18612. You will be asked to attend one of these workshops to get your water test results.  A brief presentation will also be given including professional interpretation of your results and information on how to solve drinking water problems.

Diagnose a Drinking Water Problem

Other Water Testing Products

1. City Water Users (lab test)
2. Well Water Users (lab test)
3. Home Screening Test

Job Posting: Forest Watch Coordinator – Sierra Club Pennsylvania

Note: The Keystone Clean Water Team is  a political.  We are a fact based organization and to maintain this balance, we are posting this job announcement. Please review.


Chapter:   Pennsylvania

Reports To: Chapter Director

Context: Pennsylvania’s public spaces are in peril from drilling. In order to prevent this catastrophe, we need to organize and implement the Pennsylvania Forest Watch Campaign to  increase the number of people involved, leaders trained, and engagement of people with influence to achieve our conservation goals. Plans, organizes and coordinates the activities of staff and volunteers in carrying out the Forest Watch Plan, a campaign that leads members on outings in state parks and forests threatened by oil and gas drilling.  Develops organizing strategies and priorities for moving campaign forward with our allies.

Scope: Under direction of the Chapter Director or the assigned volunteer leader, implements the Chapter’s PA Forest Watch Initiative in the Delaware River watershed. Responsible for recruiting, engaging, and motivating large numbers of new people to take repeated action which will further Sierra Club’s Forest Watch campaign.  Working closely with Chapter and National staff, the Program Coordinator will identify and develop volunteers to take on the role of team outings leaders and build grassroots power and networks. Identifies and builds alliances with other organizations that will provide assistance with the Forest Watch Program.

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and effective implementation of the Forest Watch Campaign.  Oversees creating the conservation campaign and developing the strategy and helps to carry out organizational and issue visibility in regional, national media and in the local community.  Provides leadership in working with volunteer leaders, national, state and local conservation staff on conservation. Evaluates and measures success of activities within the campaign to ensure progress towards the campaign or program’s mission and goals. Helps determine changes to strategies needed to reach goals.


Job Activities:

  1. Develops and implements campaign strategies for the Forest Watch Initiative in the Delaware River watershed in accordance with the chapter policy.
  2. Recruits, coordinates and facilitates grassroots involvement and cultivates relationships with public officials and our allies, like ALLARM and Stroud Water Research to implement the Forest Watch Campaign in the Delaware River watershed.
  3. Works with staff volunteer leaders and other interest groups to identify, recruit and organize volunteers for conservation campaigns.
  4. Plans, develops and implements campaign strategies  to obtain media coverage in regional and national media outlets.  Participates in the development of media campaigns; may represent the Sierra Club in the media; promotes volunteer media exposure.
  5. Monitors, analyzes, and evaluates laws, initiatives and new developments affecting a specific conservation issue at the community, state and national levels.
  6. Makes presentations to community, political, and governmental bodies regarding chapter conservation efforts.  Writes press releases newsletters, flyers, etc. to keep the Club membership and the general public informed.
  7. Advocates the Sierra Club position on proposed legislation involving conservation programs; informs and communicates with elected officials, business leaders, governmental agencies, and other nonprofit organizations.
  8. Conducts surveys, investigations, and research needed to achieve objectives of conservation program.
  9. Works on task forces, committees, etc. representing the Club’s objective or mission.
  10. Works closely with media representatives to ensure that the message of the Club is accurately represented by the media.
  11. Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills:

—   BA/BS degree or equivalent experience in Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education or a closely related field.

— 1-2 years experience in the environmental field that includes outdoor education, organizing campaigns, and public speaking.

— Excellent written and oral communication skills.

— Proficient computer skills

— Demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with volunteers.

Resume and Job Search
Try the Resume Writing Workshop.

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More Online Training – Sustainability and Energy Issues


Free Workshop: Build Your Home Energy Toolbox

Learn the latest tools and online resources, to help manage home energy costs and shop for electricity. Save money by learning how your home uses and loses energy. Explore an overview of the benefits and limitations of renewable and nonrenewable fueled systems, including mini-split heat pumps and on-demand hot water systems. What is the latest and greatest heating technology? What do you buy if your hot water tank fails?

Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance, PPL and SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) will present this workshop to help you build the tools needed to make wiser choices about your home’s energy use. Attendees will receive an overview of subzero air source heat pumps, air source hot water heaters and on demand hot water systems. This workshop is geared for residential electric and heating fuel customers. Learn what to shop for and what rebates are available. Computers will be available for demonstration of some of the online tools and resources available. Or bring your own a personal smart phone/tablet. Free WIFI is available. If you are a PPL customer, bring a current bill.

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Presenters include PPL Electric Utilities’s Regional Affairs Director Alana Roberts, and Michael Touey, Key Accounts Manager, also Larry Reeger, Green Building Associate Professor at SUNY Sullivan.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED as space is limited.

Click HERE to register or call: (570) 245 – 1245

Or visit www.seedsgroup.net for more info

All registrants will be provided with information about any changes that weather may impose.

This event is free and open to the general public. Light refreshments will be served. Donations are appreciated.

Other Training

Residential Energy Audits
Commercial Energy Audits

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) is a non-profit organization that promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable living. Click HERE to join the SEEDS newsletter.

 

Ticks – Sars and Zika: ticks are the next global health threat

“Since the beginning of our species we have been at war. It’s a continuous, never ending fight against the smallest of adversaries: armies of pathogens and parasites. As we have developed new ways to survive and stop them, they have evolved ever more complex and ingenious methods to thwart our efforts.

Humans have faced numerous attempts to challenge our dominance on planet Earth , and from the Black Death to the Spanish flu, we have weathered them all. However, since the start of the 21st century, with its trend towards global interconnection, these onslaughts are ever-increasing. In the past 17 years we have battled Sars, the Ebola virus, Mers, and more recently the mysterious mosquito-borne Zika virus. These diseases seeming to appear from nowhere and rapidly ravage our populations. One commonality is that they almost always originate in animals before jumping across to people, and few parasites are as good at jumping between animals and people as the tick.”

Read More

 

Ticks in Pennsylvania

1) PA Department of Health – Lyme Disease
2) Sawyer Products SP6572 Twin Pack Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Trigger Spray, 24 oz,Yellow

Master Watershed Steward Program Monroe County Pennsylvania

January 8, 2018
Penn State Extension and the Monroe County Conservation District are excited to launch the Master Watershed Steward Program.
The Master Watershed Steward program is a collaborative effort between Penn State Extension, Monroe County Conservation District, and local conservation groups. It is similar to the Master Gardener program and is designed to train people in a formal way about the basics of water resource stewardship, creating an energized and educated group of citizens. Currently, the MWS program is in 13 counties across the state and has 194 volunteers that have contributed over 7,500 volunteer hours in 2017.
We are recruiting 20-25 interested people for the class of 2018. The class will consist of 40 hours of training on various topics, including water quality, stream health, groundwater, native plants, and recreational resources. Once this part of the training is complete, trainees perform 50 hours of volunteer service on selected projects such as:
– Organizing and executing stream cleanups.
– Designing and installing demonstration rain gardens.
– Assist in stream restorations.
– Organize educational workshops addressing topics such as rain barrels, pollution prevention, invasive plant control, and stormwater management.

 

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Applicants are welcome from all walks of life. If under 18, you must be accompanied by a guardian or adult. The program will start on Thursday, March 1, 2018, 6:00-8:30 pm and will continue every Thursday through May. There will be several Saturday field trips.
An informational session at 6:30 pm will be held on January18 at:
Monroe County Conservation District
8050 Running Valley Rd.
Stroudsburg, Pa.
If interested, please contact:

Jim Vogt
Phone: 570-421-6430
Email: jav45@psu.edu
Web: extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards/counties/monroe
Penn State Extension
Monroe County
724 Phillips Street, Suite 201
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Supporting Solid Organizations in the Wyoming Valley – Buy a Poinsettia – Kingston Rotary

We always try to help the community, Kingston Rotary is holding a poinsettia sale. There biggest project to date just happened this year, and that is the Forty Fort Park Pavilion. If you are driving down Wyoming Avenue take a look at this structure and the picnic tables etc, that are there. This project cost over $ 50,000, and is completely paid for through grants and our fundraising such as this.  Another major project they did over 25 years ago, was the Church Street Park in Kingston. This park was turned over to the borough and is still in use today.  They also support many Non profits such as Candy’s Place and WVCA, see Poinsetta order form flyer 2017 and other historic projects in area.

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We need to replenish our treasury so we can continue to do these projects. These poinsettias are beautiful plants, and are grown by a local grower  (BUY LOCAL) , so not only are you helping Rotary you are helping a local business. They make a beautiful holiday decoration for your office.  You can email your orders, or just print out the sheet and fax or hand to me then next few weeks,  As in the past if you order 10 plants or more I will deliver to your place of business.

 

Details Contact:

Edward W. Stanks Jr., C.P.A.
458 Wyoming Avenue
Kingston, Pa. 18704
Phone: 570-288-9990
Fax: 570-288-2553

Job VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Executive Director, Pike County Conservation District, Pike County, Pennsylvania

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PIKE COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) is accepting applications for a full-time Executive Director (ED). Challenging position responsible for management of the overall administration and supervision of Conservation District programs, personnel, and operations implementing the Conservation District Mission within Pike County. Must be a leader, a service-oriented individual with high ethical standards and excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Must have a knowledge of current natural resource conservation issues, practices and programs. ED supervises a staff of 7. Pike County position with a competitive salary and benefit package. Pike County is an EOE. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental science or related field with demonstrated experience of at least two (2) years (including supervisory experience), or any equivalent combination of experience. Must possess and maintain a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. Clear Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check, all Child Abuse History Clearances and FBI fingerprint clearance are required. Applicants must submit: 1) Letter of Interest addressed to Conservation District Selection Committee and 2) A Detailed Resume including references. Send to ATTENTION OF: Selection Committee, Pike County Conservation District, 556 Route 402, Hawley, PA 18428. Must be received by PCCD no later than January 5, 2018 closing date for applications. Hard copy submissions preferred. Email submissions send only to scorrigan@pikepa.org. Please read minimum qualifications thoroughly and demonstrate you meet requirements in the materials you submit.

THANK YOU
Sally Corrigan, Executive Director
Pike County Conservation District
scorrigan@pikepa.org
570-226-8220 (t) Ext. 1338
www.pikeconservation.org

Training Courses

Professional Management Courses including Project and Non-profit Management

Water Resource Training Courses – Wetlands, Smart Development, Sustainability, Stream Restoration, and More.

Susquehanna River Basin Commission – Water Withdraws – Fact Sheet Registration.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (Commission) is contacting you because you may have clients who are affected by a new program for registration of unapproved water withdrawals and consumptive water uses in the Basin.  We are seeking your assistance to help ensure that facility managers are aware of and complete registration by the deadline of December 31, 2019.

An initial contact letter and registration factsheet (GFregistration-grandfathered-water-withdraws-factsheet) was sent to more than 1,300 facilities by direct mail this week. The targeted grandfathered facilities/sources are those where water withdrawals or consumptive uses equal or exceed the regulatory thresholds, but began operating before the applicable regulations became effective. These water withdrawals and uses are generally considered to be exempt from obtaining a Commission docket, provided there has been no environmental harm and no changes are made at the facility.

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The Commission has initiated the registration effort after reviewing the results of our Cumulative Water Use and Availability Study that highlighted major gaps in the data the Commission needs in order to effectively manage the water resources of the Basin.  We estimated that there are possibly more than 700 older, unpermitted facilities with an estimated water use of nearly one billion gallons per day. If accurate, this volume of water use is roughly equal to the total amount currently accounted for, and managed, by the Commission across the entire Basin.

Informational webinars explaining the registration program will be conducted by Commission staff on November 14 and December 13, 2017. To register for a webinar, visit www.srbc.net/grandfathering-registration.

If you need additional information or assistance, visit the website or contact Commission staff at GFregistration@srbc.net.

Thank you,

Susquehanna River Basin Commission