Posted by Jared Shepherd 
“We expected this year’s bloom to be a 9 (out of 10). It was actually a 10.5.” That was how Jeffery Reutter, Ph.D. introduced his November 11 City Club presentation on Lake Erie’s hazardous algal blooms, a challenge that has affected water quality in recent years. But a mystery...
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The Value of Water reports each of us use more than 100 gallons of water in a single day. Where does it come from, and where does it go? and what would it be like if the resources or the systems that make it possible didn’t exist? This month’s...
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Simple steps around your home can have big benefits in your yard and in our region. On-site stormwater management helps protect water quality and reduce flooding and erosion, but having a comprehensive list of common best practices can be overwhelming. Many local watershed groups provide tips and resources. Here,...
Read More Posted by Jared Shepherd While the Cuyahoga River has had its share of challenges, none compare to the catastrophe going on in Colorado. An Environmental Protection Agency project to reduce pollution seeping into the Animas River resulted in a breach that caused an estimated 3 million gallons of gold-mine wastewater to rush into...
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Green is the color of the St. Patrick’s Day holiday and the Chicago River that is dyed for celebration, but some colors come with questions. Especially when they’re not supposed to be there. Southerly Assistant Superintendent Kevin Zebrowski shared that oddly colored green water has come flowing into our...
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Many Americans are seeking more sustainable alternatives to common household cleaners and chemicals. That’s not always easy when it comes to maintaining your car. Although there are few alternatives to automotive fluids, there are still many things that can be done to lessen the impact our cars have on...
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Two men wearing life jackets on a small boat on Lake Erie, 1976. Both the boat and the men are covered in oil polluting Lake Erie. Image courtesy of Cleveland State University Library Division of Special Collections. When the oozing Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, consider that it...
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If this is what it looks like under your kitchen sink, there has to be a better way. Better for you, better for our water, and better for the environment. From eco-friendly cleaning solutions, to disposal tips for those trash items that don’t belong on your curb, we have...
Read More Posted by Jared Shepherd From eliminating garbage-can odors to clearing clogs, vinegar has a lot more uses than just cooking. More importantly, it can eliminate the need for hazardous chemicals that can affect your plumbing and our environment. For more healthy home tips, check out our “A healthy environment starts at home” handbook,...
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West Virginia’s water-contamination saga is shining the spotlight on water quality, regulations, contaminants and public health. Clean water is at the heart of our work, but our attention is commonly focused on the wastewater side of the water cycle. How do we monitor our treatment processes and the environment...
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