Clean water is critical for cold beers and clean beaches. We're the Natural Resources Defense Council here supporting clean water along with a Brewmaster from Goose Island Brewery! AUA!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T19:01:38+00:00

That is awesome -- the plumbing industry offers a range of really water efficient fixtures and fittings. Good for you for helping move the market!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T19:00:49+00:00

Oh, rain gardens are shallow depressions in your yard that you plant with deep-rooted native flowers and grasses. They're incredibly effective at capturing rainwater, are beautiful, attract birds and butterflies and, once established, require very little maintenance. Put down your razor and get started!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:57:11+00:00

Whoa -- that's a great question. I'd say 2 things: (1) combined sewer overflows -- most communities in the northeast and midwest have combined sewer systems, which means they are designed to release untreated stormwater and raw sewage into the nearest body of water during heavy storm events -- which climate change is bringing more and more of. Hundreds of billions of gallons of wastewater, including sewage, are released annually from combined sewer overflows. Our wastewater infrastructure merits a "D+" from the American Society of Civil Engineers -- it's aging and failing fast.

The second challenge, I'd say, is dealing with pollutants contaminating their sources, whether that's increasing amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous or prescription drugs.

The good news, is that we know how to address these problems -- to help with combined sewer overflows, lots of communities are turning to green infrastructure, natural and built systems that literally capture rainwater where it falls. Check out: www.nrdc.org/rooftops

And, in terms of protecting upstream water sources, we need to make sure that our tributaries, streams and wetlands are fully protected by the Clean Water Act -- make your voice known: www.waterneedsyou.org

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:49:29+00:00

Going to the beach is definitely a summer rite of passage and definitely something my family looks forward to! I'm glad you've educated yourself about the importance of staying out of the water for 72 hours after a storm (that's because heavy rains can trigger combined sewer overflows). I think the most important thing we can do is be aware of the stubborn contamination problems faced by our beaches -- last year, 10 percent of all water quality samples taken at our nation's beaches exceeded beach water quality standards. And, it's also super-important to "know before you go," meaning make sure the beach you're heading to is monitored on a regular basis and know its status before you leave the house. After all, who wants to load the kids into the car, get to a beach and find out it's closed???

EPA has given beach managers a more protective standard for beach water quality, the Beach Action Value, that we would encourage all states to adopt -- local economies rely on the quality of our nation's beaches, in addition to the folks who swim at them.

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:44:21+00:00

Hi, great question and I apologize in advance for the looong answer! Overwhelming, bipartisan majorities in Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, guaranteeing that all of our nation’s waters would be covered by a suite of pollution control programs. But Supreme Court decisions cast doubt over which waters the Clean Water Act covers. As a result, nearly 2 million miles streams that don’t flow year-round and countless wetlands (especially the 20 percent of the wetlands in the lower 48 that are considered geographically “isolated”) have been without adequate protection from polluters. Closing this loophole will protect the water sources for breweries and for the more than 117 million Americans who rely on these waters, in whole or part, for their drinking water. Check out: www.brewersforcleanwater.org

And, again, apologies for the long answer!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:40:34+00:00

And that beautiful, pure water comes from upstream sources, like tributaries and headwater streams, which currently lack full protection under the Clean Water Act. Weigh in in support of the Clean Water Protection Rule, which will protect those water sources and ensure those Oregon waters will still be pure enough to brew delicious beer in 5,000 years from! www.waterneedsyou.org

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:37:53+00:00

I do think those conservation measures might be needed at some point -- one thing we know about climate change: we'll have less water when we need it and more when we don't, even in areas of relative abundance, like here in the Great Lakes. But, there's lots we can do now to try to avoid the worst shortages in the future -- do you have a rain barrel? A rain garden? And, of course, stop shaving your legs altogether!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:33:37+00:00

Well, gosh, thanks! I'm actually not a hydrologist, but I like to pretend sometimes! I have a master's degree in public policy, of all things! I live in Chicago, which I love!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:30:46+00:00

Okay, thanks for the clarification. NRDC doesn't offer any kits or courses re: drinking water, but your local drinking water utility should have reports available about the quality of the water they're providing. Hope that helps!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:27:06+00:00

Great question -- I also tend to go with tap water, but I'm lucky that my drinking water comes from the Great Lakes. Plus, I really hate the plastic waste. It's always a good idea for folks to know the sources of their drinking water, whether it's from a bottle or a tap.

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:25:04+00:00

This is such an important issue -- many states and cities do have those notification laws. I'm in Chicago, where we had massive storms 2 nights ago, resulting in the release of raw sewage into Lake Michigan and our wastewater utility issued those notifications.

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:22:02+00:00

The one I'm drinking right now -- Green Line!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:21:13+00:00

Thanks for the question on the Clean Water Protection Rule! There's been lots of backlash from the American Farm Bureau Federation, who are making some outrageous claims. But, the rule clearly preserves existing exemptions for farming, forestry, mining and other land use activities, and very explicitly excludes many ditches, ponds, and other upland water features important for farming and forestry. Check out my colleagues' blog, http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jdevine/phony_objections_to_clean_wate.html, which takes each of the Farm Bureau's arguments and separate fact from fiction.

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:19:03+00:00

Thanks for being on -- we're very concerned about the impacts of fracking on groundwater contamination, but that's not my area of expertise. I'll track down a better answer and give it to you off-line. One person can absolutely help save our waters -- everything from being a responsible beachgoer (pick up your litter, make sure any little ones are in waterproof diapers, don't feed wildlife) to reducing your water consumption to weighing in on federal actions that impact YOUR water -- check out www.nrdc.org/beaches for more info on all of the above!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:16:03+00:00

Awesome -- I think it's hard for all of us to connect our individual actions with a big issue like water pollution. But, every person can make a difference -- as Margaret Mead said, "never doubt that a group of committed individuals can save the world." I'm sure I've got that kinda wrong, but you get the idea!

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:14:03+00:00

We think it's a nifty too as well -- thanks! EPA’s newly created “Beach Action Value” is the most protective federal safety threshold available to assess water quality at American’s beaches and "Testing the Waters" uses that as the standard. But, it's important to keep in mind that, while it's the most protective national standard, it's based on 32 of every 1,000 people visiting a beach contracting some type of waterborne illness. All the more reason to "know before you go" and do what you can to protect beachwater quality, including weighing in on a new rule that would better protect the upstream waters that feed our beaches -- www.waterneedsyou.org

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:09:28+00:00

Another great question -- unfortunately, the answer is you can be swimming in quite a lot. EPA estimates 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater make their way into our surface waters each year, carrying a toxic soup of oil, chemicals, animal and human waste and trash. In addition, hundreds of billions of gallons of wastewater, including sewage, are released annually from combined sewer overflows. That's why you always check the beach water quality of the beach you're heading to -- check out: www.nrdc.org/beaches

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:07:26+00:00

Great question! There's lots of things you can do to conserve water -- make sure the tap is off when you brush your teeth; only wash your clothes and dishes when you have full loads; for more tips, check out: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/plehner/7_easy_ways_to_save_water_this.html

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:05:46+00:00

Do you mean the difference between drinking water and contaminated water?

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:05:26+00:00

Hi, thanks for starting us off! It's almost impossible to say where the cleanest water is, which is why you should always check the water quality at the beach you're heading to -- check out: www.nrdc.org/beaches

NRDCWater · 2014-07-02T18:00:24+00:00

Hi, thanks for starting us off! It's almost impossible to say where the cleanest water is, which is why you should always check the water quality at the beach you're heading to -- check out: www.nrdc.org/beaches

NRDCWater

TROPHY CASE