Green Life Hawaii

World Water Supply Solutions

2010-04-15T13:04:00.007-10:00

Studies point to infrastructural problems escalating worldwide, placing fresh water supplies at dire risk - unless we can build a sustainable independent water supply. The report echoes the forward-looking philosophy of Hawaii water tank manufacturers, Reliance Water Tanks, as expressed on their website.
http://reliancetanks.com/Agriculture.html
http://reliancetanks.com/worldwaterfuture.swf

The consequences of ignoring water risks in the US

Major new report warns that failure to address water risks could have grave impact on US economy

GreenBiz Staff, BusinessGreen, 14 Apr 2010

Failure to address water risks and other critical issues posed by aging or inadequate infrastructure could further impede the US economy and America's attempts to regain global competitiveness on a number of fronts, a new study has warned.

That is the conclusion of Infrastructure 2010: Investment Imperative, the fourth in an annual series of reports produced by the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young that examine infrastructure trends around the globe.

Earlier reports focused on transportation and the latest report updates previous findings with information showing that the US continues to lag behind Asia and Europe in investments in transit systems.

In addition this year, the report takes its first hard look at water issues. "Falling behind global competitors, the United States struggles to gain traction in planning and building the critical infrastructure investments that are necessary to ensure future economic growth and support a rapidly expanding population," the report states. "Perhaps no other infrastructure category presents the United States with greater challenges than water."

Howard Roth, global real estate leader at Ernst & Young, underscored the urgency of the infrastructure problems at the launch of the report yesterday.

"Over the past several years that we have been co-producing this report, perhaps the most troubling conclusion overall is that the world is moving ahead in rebuilding and expanding its infrastructure without the United States," Roth said. "Bottom line, the US is seriously threatening not only its quality of life now and for the future but also its very basic ability to compete economically with the rest of the world."

In the media briefing, Roth, ULI Executive Vice President Maureen McAvey, Malcolm Bairstow, an Ernst & Young partner in London, and Mike Lucki, global construction and infrastructure leader for Ernst & Young, provided an overview of the challenges facing the US from a domestic standpoint as well as from global perspective. They also touched on possible solutions.

For the US, infrastructure was a "backburner issue" when ULI and Ernst & Young began its scrutiny of the area four years ago, the presenters said, adding that now "noncompetitive and deteriorating infrastructure systems - transportation, water, dams, and power" are of critical concern.

In the study, ULI and Ernst & Young examined 14 US cities - Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. - to illustrate the challenges facing urban America.

The problem becomes apparent when considering that the 14 cities and their greater metro areas are expected add 60 million people to their populations by 2030, McAvey and Roth said.

Overall the US is expected to add 120 million more people by 2050 despite existing water constraints, the presenters noted, adding that the country's water footprint is already among the largest in the world and almost double the global average.

"If you look at infrastructure vs population grown, we're on a totally unsustainable path," McAvey said.

Presenters cited waste from old, leaking pipes and failure to conserve water as the chief reasons for the high water footprint in the US.

Neglected leaks are responsible for 1.25 trillion gallons of wasted water annually - roughly the consumption of Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago combined, according to the report.

"That's the catch with water infrastructure," said Lucki. "There's more problems in what you can't see than what you can." In contrast, other infrastructures problems, such as road conditions or transit system meltdowns, are readily visible and immediately addressed.

Further water challenges include high demand growth and usage even in arid areas of the country and threats of water contamination from industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff. Lack of cooperation among local and regional authorities can also contribute to water problems.

In offering solutions, some of the report's strategies are similar for water and transportation, calling for both issues to be addressed through improved collaboration among governmental entities, incorporating land use and infrastructure considerations in planning decisions, and accepting higher user costs as a necessity.

But looking specifically at water, the report urged for a wide range of new measures including: using federal allocations to encourage the creation of long-range regional management programs to integrate water supply and conservation strategies with population projections, agricultural needs and utility demand; giving top priority to repairing and upgrading existing systems; incorporating land use into water management policies; using only native species in landscaping; building more compactly to reduce runoff and enhance retention; enhanced protection of ecosystems to enable more natural storage and restoration; improved use of all available resources to maximize availability of water - such as capturing rainwater, recycling wastewater, recharging groundwater and making nonpotable water potable; the introduction of incentives for water conservation; and investment in desalinization technology.

The report recommended that the US look to Australia, the world's driest inhabited continent, as an example of how to manage growing water constraints.

Overall, the report said that Americans should rethink how they pay for infrastructure and its maintenance, proposing more public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure development and operate systems; the introduction of a national infrastructure bank that could help align government and private investor interests, and attract greater private capital; and the roll out of innovative tolling technologies and smart meters to help users monitor and manage expenses related to transportation, water, and energy.

"Investing in infrastructure - done well and strategically - can help ensure increasing prosperity and the rising standards of living that Americans have come to expect," the report said.

A version of this article first appeared at GreenBiz.com

Hot tubs are "the life" on the Big Island

2009-10-25T09:23:00.017-10:00

By Kate Almony for Waterworks Hilo

Access to pleasure. Isn't this what we live in Hawaii for? A typical day in Hawaii means making time to enjoy some peace and relaxation. Skip the stress of life and enjoy a Beachcomber Hot Tub experience all year, any time you want. With warm, clean water circulating all around, you can rejuvenate tired muscles and aching joints effectively in the comfort of your own back yard in a Beachcomber Spa or a custom swimming pool from Waterworks Hawaii.

Jetted hot tubs positioned outdoors and away from light sources are perfect for nighttime stargazing. Stargazing from our unique position in the Pacific gives Hawaii residents an exclusive technique to bring spirit and body into balance. Not only are our clear night skies perfect for astral study, but our Big Island weather is also perfect for outdoor bathing. Whatever you do while you lounge in your swirling tub of water, a hot tub will provide many hours of pleasure and opportunities for the health of the mind, the spirit and the body.

Relaxing and therapeutic, jetted water can heal your body, but it is important to keep your water in top condition for your personal health and for longer lasting enjoyment of your pool or spa. Maintaining a natural ph in your spa is also important for the health of the environment. Waterworks Hilo can help you test the water in your system and formulate a regime to keep the Ph of your water supply at a healthy, natural level. The consultants at Waterworks Hilo or Kona will also point out ways to mitigate algae, which can be a challenging problem in lush rainforest environments such as the Puna area of Hawaii.

Privacy is always a top priority in the enjoyment of your pool or hot tub and should be considered during construction and landscape design. A brief calculation will help determine the best size and placement of your custom installation indoors, on your deck, lanai, or in your yard. Skilled installation and wise planning for the configuration of your property will let you and your loved ones escape to a special place every day and enjoy it long into the future.

An independently controlled water supply and rain-fed household water filtration system can enhance your property and meet your residential water supply needs cost-effectively, in an environmentally sustainable manner. The cleanest possible drinking water can be obtained with a secure catchment and filters connected to a UV sterilization kit. Waterworks designed systems make a clean source of free water a priority whenever possible depending on the resources available in each situation, so keeping your pool or hot tub supplied will never be a problem. Read more about catching rainwater and putting in a completely rain-fed independent home water supply system here: http://islandcatchment.com/faq2.html

In-ground or in-deck pools give you the healthy benefits of a lifestyle that provides your whole family with fitness and relaxation opportunities in the convenient privacy of your own property. Check out the website to see the all new line of Viking Pools and to download the catalog. Waterworks Hawaii provides a variety of formed in-ground and custom designed, in or above-ground pools. Call us for more information, or visit a Waterworks Hawaii showroom in Hilo or Kona to see model water tanks, pools, hot-tubs and learn about the features of each.

Big Island homeowners can call 933.9111 for a consultation. Discover how a hot tub, pool or home water feature can enhance your Hawaii lifestyle. lLearn how to supply your water needs independently. You may email Hilo Manager Tony Persson at info@waterworkshawaii.com to get specific questions answered.

Waterworks Hawaii showrooms are conveniently located in Hilo on Kanoelehua Avenue and in Kona on Mamalahoa. The warehouses are fully stocked with pool and spa accessories and water care products for your island oasis. Waterworks welcomes you to stop in to the showroom or visit our website www.waterworkshawaii.com to learn more.

You think your electric bill is high?

2009-10-17T14:33:00.013-10:00

By Kate Almony, for Green Life Hawaii

Five percent of Hawaii's County's total electric usage comes from just one customer. Who is this great and powerful consumer with energy bills totaling in the double digit millions of dollars annually? The Department of Water Supply is the largest consumer of electricity in the County of Hawaii, representing 5% of all the power consumed on the Big Island.

The cost for water is so high because most of our supply comes from ground water aquifers that require extensive pumping to reach homes in each district with enough pressure to reach kitchen sinks at some very high Big Island elevations. The level of power required in municipal water systems to transport water to homes is directly linked to Hawaii's high rate of energy use, and 44% of it is wasted through leaky pipes.

You think your electric bill is high?

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, Hawaii County Department of Water Supply totaled an incoming operating revenue of $37.7 million, of which $17,050,520. was accounted for in power bills from Hawaii Electric Light Company to pump water under pressure through the miles of pipe stretching to communities island-wide, from aquifers throughout the districts into homes.

The overall budget to operate the water supply system serving 41,000 customers was $41.1 million, leaving the water department with a revenue shortfall that year. A cost reduction for energy was negotiated with HELCO and implemented in July of 2009, so the energy costs are expected to be reduced for the 2009 fiscal year. But the consumption of power remains exorbitantly high in terms of kilowatt hours on an island beset by persistent drought, but where more rain falls each year than anywhere else in the United States.
read the source

According to a study commissioned by the Kohala Center for the purpose of identifying ways to mitigate waste, conducted by Jeremiah Johnson, of PA Consulting Group and Marian Chertow, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, "A Systems Approach to Energy Sustainability in Hawai‘i County", identified that in the Hilo area, almost half - 44% of the pumped water supply was being lost through leaks encountered in transport, never reaching the homes farms or businesses it is intended for. read the source

What can be done?

Johnson and Chertow's work revealed five main areas for potential process improvement: repair the most extensive leaks in the water system, create a water conservation policy, develop more storage capacity to prevent the need for peak pumping, institute a pump system maintenance and efficiency program, and install generating pressure reducing valves.

Despite this report and the recommendations made, there is no day-to-day water conservation policy currently in place on the Big Island. Johnson and Chertow mention that increased storage will reduce the need for pumping during peak hours. The more widespread the use of residential rain-fed water supply, the more we can conserve our precious sources of groundwater on the Big Island.

The Johnson and Chertow study recommends the use of easy to implement water conservation programs such as rainwater harvesting in large commercial properties, installation of water re-use systems, creating a progressive pricing scheme that rewards water efficiency, and creating point-of-sale incentives for water efficient appliances. They predict that if a conservation policy were to reduce water demand by 20%, the energy savings would be equal to saving 2 million gallons of diesel.

As pointed out by Tony Persson, Manager of the Waterworks Hawaii Hilo branch, a relatively small 10,000 gallon tank can supply the residential water needs for the average Big Island household, and can be operated at a much lower cost than the county is spending to pump their water to homes. The cost of the energy required to pump rainwater from the catchment tank, typically located within 50 feet of the home is often less than $500. a year and can be far less if the tank is positioned so that gravity is used to assist transportation of the water. Gravity fed water catchment systems can be configured to utilize solar power for the uv sterilization module, pump, and water heater. read the source

According to Persson, a rain-fed residential water system can be easy to install on most property, is simple to maintain and provides the household with an independently managed, economical and sustainable water resource.

While the Department of Water Supply counts 41,000 island households as customers, Dr. Trish Macomber of the UH College of Tropical Agriculture estimates as many as 60,000 islanders get their household water from rain-fed sources. read the source

More importantly, rainwater is not only free of chemicals, additives and pharmaceutical residue, it can free the residents of the County of Hawaii of a 41 million dollar utility bill.

Waterworks VOTED Best of East Hawaii

2009-08-26T19:42:00.008-10:00

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/bestof/

Waterworks Hawaii, Hilo's original hot tub emporium, water tank, and pool service center has been dubbed "Best of East Hawaii" by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald once again! As long as can remember, the crew at Waterworks Hawaii have been the local experts on pools, hot tubs and water storage tanks on the Big Island.

Manager Tony Perssons and his staff are always ready to help customers find water treatment chemicals for their pools and hot tubs throughout East Hawaii and Puna, but more and more often they are again being asked to design and build the sustainable home systems for traditional rainwater storage and safe residential water filtration that have kept the company a mainstay in the local construction industry since 1970.

Rainwater catchment and home water storage systems were commonly used all over the Hawaiian Islands until piped in water came into demand and building codes phased out independent water supply systems in many communities. Today, independently owned and operated purification, filtration and water storage is undergoing a revival across the world as fears of global warming increase and contamination of municipal water supplies becomes apparent. With home rainwater storage systems you control the purity and the safety of your own free water supply for life.

Waterworks showroom, situated conveniently on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo, sells a variety of pumps and pool accessories, and complete custom systems for in or above ground pools and hot tubs. Stop in to see what gets these folks voted East Hawaii's Best year after year!

www.waterworkshawaii.com

Aquaculture Funding Opportunities

2009-08-16T08:47:00.006-10:00

Key scientific, environmental, and socio-economic questions for marine aquaculture are being answered with the help of the NOAA National Marine Aquaculture Initiative competitive grants program.

As a Federal agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administers a variety of competitive grant programs and other financial assistance programs targeted to the development of sustainable aquaculture in the United States. Areas of interest include aquaculture research, technology development, and the commercial development of the domestic aquaculture industry. The programs below outline NOAA-managed funding opportunities for aquaculture and funding opportunities available through other agencies or venues.

NOAA Competitive Grants Programs for Aquaculture

The National Marine Aquaculture Initiative - A national competitive grant program coordinated by NOAA, the National Marine Aquaculture Initiative encourages demonstration projects and research targeted to the development of sustainable marine aquaculture in the United States. The competition is designed to foster dynamic partnerships that channel resources toward the development of sustainable aquaculture technologies. Projects often involve partnerships among commercial companies, research institutions, universities, state governments, and coastal communities.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - NOAA's SBIR Program supports creative advanced research in scientific and engineering areas, including aquaculture, and encourages the commercial application of Government-funded research. SBIR awards lead to major breakthroughs, innovative technologies, and next-generation products and processes.

Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program - Since 1990 the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program has included aquaculture as a priority to fund projects that encourage the development of environmentally and economically sound aquaculture, relieve fishing pressure, and improve market availability. Click here to see a bibliography of information on project reports or products prepared under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program since 1990. In recent years, this competitive grant program has been canceled due to insufficient funding, but it will be funded (contingent on the appropriations process) for FY 2009.

NOAA Financial Assistance Programs

NOAA Fisheries Finance Program - NOAA Fisheries Financial Services Division manages a national financial assistance program in the form of direct loans, a tax-deferred capital construction fund, and vessel and gear loss and damage. Aquaculture businesses are eligible for loans for capital construction and certain other investment costs. Clicking on the link above will take you to a description of each NOAA Fisheries financial assistance program.

Programs Offered Through Other Federal Agencies

USDA-Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) - CSREES offers a variety of funding opportunities through competitive grants, cooperative agreement programs, and other funding mechanisms.

USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - The USDA's SBIR aquaculture program enhances the knowledge and technology base for the continued growth of the domestic aquaculture industry.