It’s time Americans learn about personal responsibility, and maintain their own water supplies, Community water supplies, etc, and in this way learn how to help clean up the planet!

Read the following article to understand the Political input for those standards:

Federal government to allow Florida less stringent water standards

By Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Despite complaints by environmental groups that it will lead to more pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Florida’s request to change state standards for its waterways so they aren’t as stringent.

The new standards allow for some waterways — man-made canals, for instance — to be classified as no longer appropriate for swimming or fishing, allowing only “incidental contact.”

The reason, say state officials, is that cleaning them up would cost more than it’s worth.

State Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Dee Ann Miller said changing the classifications for such waterways allows the DEP “to focus protection on our most valuable water resources.”

But Linda Young of the Clean Water Network contended that the change “is so broad and all-encompassing that it undermines the basis for Florida water protection.” The fact that the Obama administration approved it, she said, means Obama is “as bad or worse than Bush” at protecting water quality.

The current state standards were created in 1968. They divide the state’s waterways into five categories based on their usage.

Class I is for drinking water. Class II means it’s clean enough to eat the oysters and other shellfish harvested there. Class III means it’s clean enough for someone to swim there or to eat the fish caught there. Class IV means it’s only good for irrigating crops, and Class V is primarily for industrial use.

No one is supposed to dump pollution into those waterways in quantities sufficient to change their use. In other words, no one can degrade a Class III waterway so that it becomes a Class IV or V. To make sure that doesn’t happen, the state sets limits on how much pollution can be dumped into each waterway per day, something called a total maximum daily load.

In 1998, state officials drew up a list of 1,200 Florida waterways that had trouble meeting their classification because they were impaired by pollution. About 80 percent had problems with high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen — both manifestations of fertilizer-heavy runoff, which is the target of some controversial regulations that federal officials plan to impose in Florida.

Most of the state’s waterways are designated as Class III, safe for fishing and swimming. What the EPA has approved is a new subcategory called Class III-Limited, which is aimed at waterways that the state says can’t be cleaned up enough to meet Class III status without spending more than it’s worth.

The rules for each one would be site-specific. In those waterways, boating might be allowed, for instance, but not prolonged physical contact with the water.

“They wanted a classification that didn’t have to be clean enough for people to swim in,” Young said.

Class III-Limited would also not have the same kinds of fish and other aquatic life found in a natural system. Whether people would be allowed to catch and eat those fish — or would want to — is a matter of debate.

A Sept. 6 letter from EPA official Jim Giattina to DEP Secretary Herschel Vinyard says the Class III-Limited designation is being approved because it meets the legal requirements for “the highest uses that are attainable.”

The EPA’s letter says the state cannot change any waterways to the new classification without showing that the change “will result in the protection of all existing uses, as well as the standards of downstream waters.” The DEP must post a public notice and also let EPA review the change first.

Craig Pittman can be reached at craig@sptimes.com

U N s Green Economy report

By LOUISE NORDSTROM – Associated Press  AP 26aug2011

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Investing as little as 0.16 percent of the world’s gross domestic product — or $198 billion per year — could give half a billion people regular access to safe drinking water within four years, a U.N. official said Friday.

That would halve the number of people who risk serious illness and death on a daily basis, the United Nations Environment Program said.

The findings are presented in the U.N.’s Green Economy report, which also warns that if the global community continues to ignore water services investments, demand for water risks outstripping supply by 40 percent before 2030.

UNEP spokesman Nick Nuttall said the world total of people without access to safe drinking water currently totals around 1 billion people.

According to the report, people living in countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are particularly prone to catching waterborne diseases because of the poor water sanitation there.

“Accelerated investment in water-dependent ecosystems, water infrastructure and water management, coupled with effective policies, can boost water and food security, improve human health and promote economic growth,” said U.N. Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

Prof. Mike Young, lead author of the water chapter of the report, said that “without this investment and policy reform, water supply crises will become increasingly common.”

UNEP said that more water productivity, recycling, new dams and desalination plants could largely help avoid increased drinking water scarcity but that money also needs to be put toward infrastructure, water policy reforms and technologies.

The findings were presented during this week’s World Water Week in Stockholm.

Its participants also signed a statement urging next year’s Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to commit to achieving “universal provisioning of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and modern energy services by the year 2030.” That would include making water safer and more available, reducing water pollution, increasing the quantity of recycled water, and using water more efficiently in energy production, agriculture and the food supply chain.

Message from Blogger: Rainworks

SOLUTIONS:

Rain Water Harvesting (RWH): Benefits and Advantages

1.     Applicable to rural and/or urban environments

2.     High quality water

3.     Soft water

4.     It is free water

5.     Reduces Erosion

6.     Needs minimal treatment for potable use

7.     Reduces utility bills for consumers

8.     RWH are relatively low-cost systems

This is a perfect example of utilizing the most available and abundant resource for clean fresh water – Rainwater Harvesting. Already so many cities, counties, and states recognize this solution. Many parts of the globe utilize this resource. It is time to promote this resource locally and put many of our local labor force back to work.

This is a: “Shovel Ready Work” on a local level!

An example would start with a new Steel roof, they now have 50 year warranties and are designed to look like Tile, Slate, Standing Seam, or even shingles in a multitude of colors. They are fireproof, Wind proof, and a perfect solution to help the salability of your home.  Next is the Point of Entry Infrastructure (POE) for your fresh water. Add a professional gutter system with leaf guards, (the 1^st line of defense for clean water), and add a diverter as the 2^nd line of defense for clean water, these will divert any large materials missed (from by the gutters leaf guard) to your storm drain.

3^rd is the Roof wash off system,  this will finally provide you with a clean water source to fill your cistern (Extra large rain barrel). By ensuring  the remaining water entering the catchment cisterns are free of; dust, pollens, remaining bird dropping residue, and other small particulate matter which may even cause allergies, or carry harmful micro organisms/pathogens. The roof wash off diverts the 1^st gallon+ per 10 sq feet of roof surface washing the dust, pollens, of finer debris from wind born seed dispersals, bird droppings, Squirrel droppings, etc. This can be considered Gray water and useful for Irrigation practices. Gray water is simply wash water; laundry, showers, flushing toilets, and bathroom vanity).

Finally after that gray water is diverted the clean Rainwater enters the storage Cistern. From the Cistern to the home, also known as Point of Use (POU), you need to be concerned with Water qualities a for potable (Consumption) and Non-potable; washing Irrigation etc.

Why Catch the Rain?

Unsustainable Water Facts:

•       90 percent of all groundwater systems under major cities in China are contaminated

•      75 percent of India’s rivers and lakes are so polluted that they should not be used for drinking or bathing

•      60 percent of rural Russians drink water from contaminated wells

•      20 percent of all surface water in Europe is seriously threatened

•      Globally – Major rivers are so degraded that they no longer support aquatic life

•      UN warns of rising demand for clean water  AP 16 March, 2009

•      Rivers are siphoned off for the agricultural and other domestic uses that at times 90% for the usual outflow volume never reaches the ocean

•      February 4, 2009 – With California in a critical drought, every shower, load of laundry and glass of tap water counts. But only in Bolinas, CA could those things cost you your water connection. Each customer – with the exception of schools and some businesses – may use no more than 150 gallons a day, about 4,500 gallons each month.

February 4, 2009  – Reporting from Washington — California’s farms and vineyards could vanish by the end of the century, and its major cities could be in jeopardy, if Americans do not act to slow the advance of global warming, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said Tuesday. February 27, 2009 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday because of three years of below-average rain and snowfall in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20 percent.

Black Gold to Blue

1.   Gold Oil Tycoons: Now Drilling for Water!

2.   Water Rights go for up to $45,000 per acre-foot.

3.   Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway revealed a new position in one of the world’s largest water-treatment companies.

4.   Blue Gold - the largest opportunities will be in the private sector providing employment at the local level.

At this point because there are so many varied opinions and regulations per city and state, use this following resource: http://www.harvesth2o.com/statues_regulations.shtml This resource also specifies the Cities, Counties, and States that offer Residential and Commercial rebates or subsidies.

 Many State are producing Statewide Guidelines such as:

Georgia ; www.dca.state.ga.us/development/constructioncodes

or Texas; http://texrca.org/index.html

As well, local Governments are beginning to see Residential Rainwater Harvesting as big Business as a source of revenue, See the following for the city of Atlanta, GA http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2011/06/28/atlanta-proposes-charging-for-collected-rainwater-2.html

Tucson AZ http://www.tucsonaz.gov/dsd/What_s_New/DS_10-03_Commercial_Water_Harvesting_04-27-09.pdf

Keep in mind Rainwater Harvesting has been in use globally for many years. I have yet to find a figure that proves how many people have died as a result of drinking clean rainwater. No lead or arsenic poisoning, Ground water contaminations, and other man induced contaminations.

As a simple example concerning costs of implementing a Rainwater Harvesting system, please review the following examples:

How much does it cost:  “To Put In a Water Well”

On the Ground; Drilling a Well

(Point of Entry (POE)

—Average depth/6-8” casing @ 40-300 feet (@ $12-20/ft)

—Site preparation and road for drill rig,  sludge or trailing pond $1,200 – 1,800

—Infrastructure for water system. $200 – 500

Sub-total; Water access costs  @ $2,480-10,200

Water Use/Qualities; smell, taste, color, hardness/softness

(Point of Use (POU)

—Pump, filter, pressure tank @ $800-1,600

—Carbon filter, Debris filter 10-20mu

—Water softener $550 -2000.00

—Annual upkeep – @ $140 & $600, typical service contracts @ $20 to $50 per month.

TOTAL 1st year water costs (POE and POU)  @ $2,970-12,000

—Additional annual costs after first year @ $140- 600

How much does it cost to implement “Rain Water Harvesting”

On the Roof

(Point of Entry (POE)

—Upgrade roofing and gutters @ $1,000- 3,000/1000 sq/ft (unless its new construction)

—Pre storage filtering/wash off @ $500 – 1,200

—System infrastructure @ $200-500

—Cisterns -1000-3000 gal @ $800-1700

Sub-Total; POE  @ $3,100-7,200

Water Use/Qualities; smell, taste, color, hardness/softness

(Point of Use (POU)

—Pump, filter, pressure tank @ $300-800

Non-potable only; irrigation, laundry, car washing, etc.

—Smell, color, particulate matter; filters

—Annual upkeep – @ $100 & $200 (filters and cleaning)

Potable (drinking, cooking, etc.)

—UV sanitizer light @ $500

—Annual upkeep – @ $200 & $300 (filters,

UV bulb, and cleaning)

TOTAL 1st year Rainwater Harvesting costs (POE and POU) @ $2,900 – 7,700

—Additional annual costs after first year @ $100-300

Senator calls for Citizens sinkhole rate hike hearings

By Janet Zink, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Posted: Jul 27, 2011 11:35 AM

TALLAHASSEE — The board that oversees Citizens Property Insurance unanimously approved massive increases to sinkhole premiums on Wednesday, saying the rate hikes — which could cost policy holders thousands of extra dollars — are necessary to cover the cost of sinkhole claims.

Sinkhole premiums would rise by an average of 429 percent under the Citizens proposal, though rates would rise more than 2,000 percent in some parts of the Tampa Bay area. The rate hikes, which surfaced Monday, still must be approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation. It is expected to schedule a rate hearing in Tallahassee.

The increases are on top of a proposed 8.8 percent average increase in non-sinkhole related coverage.

Citizens officials say the increases are necessary because premiums collected don’t cover the cost of payouts made for claims. In 2010, the company collected $32 million in premiums and but had loss-related expenses of $245 million, Citizens chief financial officer Sharon Bunnun told the board.

“Our rate need for sinkhole coverage is enormous,” she said. “We’re optimistic that the sinkhole claims will stem losses over time and help reduce premiums.”

The board approved the tentative increases 4-0 during a meeting via conference call.

If approved, the rate increases mean the average premium for a sinkhole policy in Tampa would increase from $156 to $3,651. In coastal Pasco County, rates would increase from $1,270 to $3,598. In coastal Hernando County, premiums would soar from $1,356 to $5,734.

Overall, about 94,400 property owners in the Tampa Bay area currently have sinkhole coverage provided by Citizens.

Bunnon said the state-run insurer is working to develop plans so policyholders can pay premiums on a semi-annual or quarterly basis.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who unsuccessfully fought 2011 legislation that allows Citizens to massively boost its sinkhole insurance premiums, is calling for statewide hearings.

“The economic impact on homeowners will be devastating,” Fasano wrote in a letter to insurance commissioner Kevin McCarty. “In light of these almost incomprehensible rate increases I respectfully expect that all Floridians be given the chance to have their voices heard on this issue before the Office of Insurance rules on the application. Hearings held throughout the state, especially in those areas which will receive the highest rate increases, must be held before the application is given consideration.”

Comments on the rate proposal can be sent to ratehearings@floir.com, with the word Citizens in the subject line.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.

Hot spot for sinkholes

Sinkhole claims to insurance from 2006-2010. Percent is percent of statewide total, which was 24,671. The Tampa Bay area had 72 percent of the total claims in the state.

Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Proposed increases at a glance

Citizens Property Insurance released proposed rates for

sinkhole insurance Monday. Here is a look at what average rates could be:

Comments by the Blogger

Sinkholes – Insurance Companies call for 2000% Rate Increase

Why, because in 2010, Insurance paid out $245 million in claims. That’s like an average of 1225 – $200,000 dollar homes lost in Sinkholes in Florida in one year; how many more in the next 5-10 years? Florida the new Atlantis!

Rainwater Harvesting Infrastructure for the Indigenous of Bocas del Toro.

http://operationsafedrinkingwater.org/blog/tank-location-map

Click on this link to and see rich and basic
Healthcare,  people helping people.

Floating Doctors we are so excited for the collaboration with Operation Safe Drinking Water for next week’s clinic! Joe, you have put together an amazing trip for us!

prep prep prep for next week’s mobile clinic! Five 600 gallon water tanks being delivered tomorrow, boat getting ready for departure, and meds being pre bagged! The team will consist of 15 for this trip including 4 doctors! BOCAS Residents- we are taking donations of school supplies and non-perishable foods that can be dropped off at the Bocas Marina!

In this photo: Floating Doctors We carried 5 – 600 gallon water tanks on board for Joe Bass and Operation Safe Drinking Water for installation in the schools we visited

See the complete Slide Show

Schools for the Indigenous in Panama were provided by the Government, along with a subsidy for food and clothing of each student.

 

Excerpted from TBO.com Published: June 16, 2011

January 2010 The Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud (SWFWMD) reported that Strawberry farmers in 11 days to protect their berries from freezing pumped millions upon millions for water on their berries.

The farmers lowered the aquifer so much that it also dried up 750 residential wells, besides causing 140 sinkholes, in Hillsborough County/Dover/Plant City.

Therefore, Swiftmud implemented new rules:

New water pumping rules for farmers take effect today, 16/Jun/2011

There is now a 256 sq mile water-use caution area, and Swiftmud has awarded $1,900,000 in cold protection alternatives to help five area strawberry farms reduce their groundwater consumption, particularly for freeze protection. This measure will help reduce groundwater withdrawals in eastern Hillsborough County by 550,000 gallons per day on average, and the additional 18,000,000 million gallons on days when water is needed for frost/freeze protection.

Swiftmud is paying up to 75 percent of the cost for such water-conserving measures as creating ponds that will collect water that drains from farms so it can be used for irrigation.

Farm ponds can significantly offset farmers reliance on purchased water (or cost of permits).

Alternative Solutions:

Example: One calculation in Pennsylvania showed that a 2-acre clay-lined pond with an average depth of 7 feet will provide roughly 10 acre-feet of irrigation water, accounting for loss to seepage and evaporation. For a vegetable crop that requires 4 inches of irrigation water, this 2-acre pond will irrigate 30 acres of crop.

Ponds also present an opportunity to store water in ways that can have other beneficial effects on water supply for farmers, fire protection, and as well, the environment. For example, seepage from ponds can recharge groundwater and help to offset pumping from groundwater basins. Irrigation in its self also recharges the Aquifer. In this sense, ponds act to slow the flow of water through the basin reducing flooding, allowing more of it to be retained for use. In a clay soil-lined pond, seepage of only 500 gallons/day is considered excellent and 1,000 gallons/day good, so even in these cases the ponds will augment groundwater supplies throughout the year.

However, in Florida due to the soil types in these areas would require more prudent pond linings. Due to the lack of clay in Florida soils there are catalysts that can be engineered into the compacted soils lining the pond. For instance; Bentonite can be added to engineered soils for pond lining in areas which never dry out. 

Using waterproof linings is another method of reducing excessive seepage in both coarse-grained and fine grained soils. Polyethylene, vinyl, butyl-rubber membranes, and asphalt-sealed fabric liners are gaining wide acceptance as linings for ponds because they virtually eliminate seepage if properly installed.

For purposes of comprehension of magnatudes:

The average in-ground swimming pool volume; 16x34x5’ uses 20,400 Gallons 2727 cubic feet of water or 0.063 acre feet

(In-ground pool estimated costs are $7,000,00-$16,000 for a vinyl-lined model, $15,000-$25,000 for a fiberglass shell and $170-$45,000 for concrete or gunite.)

Pond construction:

(Cost estimates unknown)

Relating to the text above: 1 acre = 43560sq ft x 2 acres = 93120sq ft x 7 deep = 651840 cubic feet, 651840 cubic feet = 15 acre feet (theoretically, 5 acre feet loss due to seepage and evaporation.)

550000 gal = 1.688 acre feet

11 days x 18,000,000 gallons = 198,000,000 or 608 acre feet of water to save the Strawberries.

This all relates to Rain Water Harvesting, but in a massive scale! It can also provide a lot of wildlife habitat resources, fishing resources, and other recreational job resources.

Are you ever going to see a billboard similar to this allowed in the USA?  

(This photo was submitted by Forrest Walker, in honor to Joe Bass of operationsafedrinkingwater.org with caption; Hey Joe Bass! These signs are all over Chennai, India. Homes or buildings that harvest rainwater proudly proclaim so with a sign on their wall.)

It is the authors hope that someday, we will come to our senses and divert our impending Fresh Water Crisis. However, those that profit from the Monopoly Games “Water Works” syndrome, will insist its socialism.

In a few cases, users are not thoroughly trained in Hygiene (includes many Americans), and some scream there is the potential of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) contributing to infections and illnesses.

Rain Water Harvesting in its self is only the beginning of the initial life giving support mechanism.

First for the most part, the rain is the collected before it is reaches the ground, where it then becomes contaminated; natural bacteria from waste (Manure) and decay of wildlife and other animals, Agricultural pesticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical waste, residential waste run-offs, municipal infrastructure materials, and of course natural earth borne elements (hard water).

All over the Caribbean people survive very well utilizing Rain Water as their primary source of water. Many of the Indigenous in the Bocas del Toro, Panama region now at least learning to collect rainwater as their primary source. Before, they relied on small streams trickling down through the rainforest. They also bathed in these streams, did their laundry, and even washed their anal areas after a bowel movement in the same stream.

As a Project Manager for a development I was required by the Panamanian governments’ agency ANAM to collect water samples annually to be tested by:

UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE CHIRIQUI

FACUL TAD DE CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS     _

LABORA TORIO DE AGUAS Y SERVICIOS FISICOQUIMICOS

Their Report follows:

Enclosed I am delivering the report of the Analysis results of the 20 samples of water of the Project. Giving as a result that;

9 of the samples analyzed are out of permissible limit for superficial water, as for coliformes fecal.

16 of the samples are below the permissible limit; as for the dissolved oxygen.

4 of the samples are above the maximum permissible for superficial water concerning the BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand).

 As for the solids in suspension, they are normal.

It can be reckoned that before the rain entered the indigenously inhabited forest area; it had none of the above attributes!

The Rain Catchment systems installed only at the schools by Joe Bass’s team www.operationsafedrinkingwater.org, is only the FIRST step in healthcare education. Now every day individual indigenous households are learning to collect rainwater with their own “Safe Water” tanks, and therefore at least start with safer water in their homes. Many go to government clinics, which instruct them in further sanitation preventative methods, like washing their hands, etc. At least they now have a great start to a healthier life. It is now up to the schools, teachers and parents, and community elders to promote additional healthcare information. As well, there are many USA Peace Corps volunteers in these regions that promote better healthcare. Some may say installation of these “safe water” tanks is basically useless in preventing water-borne diseases, so where would they start?

As a side note:

Just after I arrived in Bocas del Toro, November 2004 to start my 4 year position as Project Manager I had some of the local Indian children bring me fresh hot Johnny Cakes, small pocket sized breads shaped like a bun. (I understand the original name was Journey Cake long ago, uses as a source of sustenance during their travels). Anyhow, I bought 4 of the hot fresh out of the oven Johnny Cakes, ate one and put the other 3 in the refrigerator. Two days later I took one out and found it with green, blue, and pink moldy fingerprints on it. That was it for me! I thereafter welcomed volunteer organizations to at least start the education process.

As for another note;

As part of a Rain Water Harvesting infrastructure; proper pre wash (roof wash-off), should be implemented, and debris diverters should be used at the Point of Entry (POE) to help prevent solids from entering the tank. Thereafter, filtration and or UV sanitizer could also be used at the Point of Use (POU) for cleaner soft water.

Non-commercial and rudimentary, but it works: capturing rain in rooftop buckets. Most locals have some sort of capture system, gutters and tanks are everywhere.

After the severe Drought on this Caribbean rain forested island community five years ago, that was shutting down hotels and restaurants, the USA Army engineering corps rebuilt the towns reservoir after installing a temporary humongous desalination plant. There after Panamas  Government installed new water mains throughout Bocas town to replace those 1955 installed pipes most likely ruptured by the 1992 earthquake. Still, there is a daily water shortage due to the massive surge of tourism taking place.

Many new hotels and restaurants install their own RWH systems to compensate for those shortages.

Many expats have settled on various tropical islands (and mainland) living well from captured rainwater. The author too has also lived a healthy life for many years using RWH.

It’s not unusual to sit in a Bocas bar and hear of the good deeds by the “Operation Safe Drinking Water” team. This team led by Joe Bass and Maribel Bass whom continue to donate and install RWH systems to the various island Indian community schools. They also monitor the reduction of intestinal illnesses due to this heartfelt effort.

They are members of “Bocas Sustainable Tourism Alliance” Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), and BESO, Bocas Educational Service Organization whom secure donations/funding for the local indigenous schools. Please take time and read the following post; http://rainworks.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/safe-drinking-water-for-the-indigenous-of-bocas-del-toro/

Now for a Commercial RWH application.

On a recent vacation back to Bocas del Toro, Panama, I stayed in a rather unique 5 unit bungalow apartment complex. Built by a European expat, it not only uses Cement board throughout to be rot and bug resistant, but it also utilized RWH as the primary water resource. Each unit has a gutter downspout entering that unit’s 300 gallon tank, and an equal overflow pipe connected to the storm drain out to the street. Each storage tank also has an input float valve from the city water supply should there be a rain shortage and the tank level becomes too low. He also included water conservation fixtures in each unit, such as low flow showerheads and low flush toilets.

The follow photos show his existing system.

 Individual unit capture system.

Back-up city water comes from the ground valve. There is a backflow preventer valve added to the systen by code. Note the  overflow output pipe is the same size as the input down spout, this is a must.

All overflow is directed to the storm drain.

There is no end to the many such projects taking place, and the ingenuity of man and sustainable life.

Revenue shortfall $1.5 million

By  Associated Press

6:09 p.m., Wednesday, January 5, 2011

District of Columbia shoppers have spent approximately $2 million on paper and plastic bags in the past year, one nickel at a time.

The city’s 5-cent tax on bags began in January of last year, but consumers spent much less pocket change than predicted to pay for bags from grocery, liquor and convenience stores.

City officials had guessed the fee would raise $3.5 million to clean up the city’s Anacostia River before the end of 2010. The tax brought in a total of $1.9 million in the first ten months of 2010, according to the city’s latest data.

City officials said they were surprised so many consumers appear to have changed their habits, bringing reusable bags to carry everything from milk and eggs to shampoo and toilet paper. A city official said the fee has already made a positive impact by reducing the amount of garbage in the river.

“In a town where we talk about trillions of dollars all the time it’s amazing the power a nickel has,” said Christophe A.G. Tulou, the director of the District Department of the Environment, which is charged with spending the bag money to benefit the Anacostia River.

A report on the Anacostia prepared two years ago found plastic bags made up about half of the trash in the river on the city’s east side. This year, an environmental group that does an annual river cleanup said it collected a third as many bags as it did in 2009.

The head of a nonprofit watchdog group for the river said it’s hard to explain that difference without looking to the bag bill.

“There’s still trash in the river, but I do see fewer plastic bags,” said Dottie Yunger, the executive director of Anacostia Riverkeeper.

City officials estimated that before the fee residents used about 270 million bags a year at grocery and convenience stores. For 2010, residents are on track to use around 55 million bags. Retailers, meanwhile, are telling city officials they are buying half as many bags.

Yesim Yilmaz, a city employee who helped estimate the amount of money the city would collect from the new fee, said it was difficult to predict customers’ reactions to the charge.

“I think we failed to take into consider the emotional reactions,” Ms. Yilmaz said. “There were stories of people balancing 20 things on their hands.”

As to where the tax money has gone, the District Department of the Environment said it has thus far spent about $228,000, largely for outreach programs that include giving away reusable bags to residents.

Washington resident Jewelyn Sanders, 57, said she occasionally brought bags with her to stores before the bag fee, and that frequency has since increased to about a quarter of her shopping trips. She has resolved to do better in 2011.

“I’m going to keep them by the door,” said Ms. Sanders, who toted a collection of bags for a Christmas Eve shopping trip.

From Blogger:

Although the DC government enacted a nickel per plastic grocery bag to save our districts rivers, they are not even concerned about plastic bottles, liquor and beer bottles, etc, cluttering our sidewalks and entering our rivers ……………..Just take a walk down Bladensburg Ave, NE Wash DC; basically paralleling the Anacostia River.

It’s time to educate our communities; Bottle recycling for profit, from a 5 cent Deposit. Implement existing Crusher/shredder vending machines at supermarkets, etc, and the resulting resource management of the pick-up and delivery service industry; putting people to work, and therefore cleaning up our water resources. It works in a dozen other states!

Agency wants House to switch to tap

By P.J. ORVETTI

Updated 7:39 AM EST, Fri, Jan 7, 2011

One of the first acts of the new Republican Congress was to push through a 5 percent cut in House members’ office budgets, a symbolic measure that will reduce the budget deficit by $35 million. (The vote was overwhelmingly bipartisan, though Virginia Democrat Jim Moran was one of just 13 “no” votes.)

Getting in on the budget-trimming trend, DC Water GM George Hawkins is hoping the Capitol Hill Republicans will switch to tap water for brewing up their tea.

In a letter to Speaker John Boehner, Hawkins notes that House offices spent $190,000 on bottled water in the first three months of 2010, even though “water is a resource that is essentially free at the tap.”

“If fiscal responsibility is your aim,” Hawkins continues, “I should point out that our water costs about a penny a gallon. Bottled water costs hundreds of times more.”

DC Water is offering members of Congress free reusable water bottles, and sent 10 to Boehner and his top staff to give it a try. The local water authority is also offering free water quality testing in any congressional building.

DC Water’s Pamela Mooring said it’s about more than just saving money.

“Bottled water production and transportation in the United States uses enough oil to fuel about 1.5 million cars each year,” she said. “And that plastic has to go somewhere. Nearly 2.5 million tons of plastic bottles and jars were thrown away in 2008,” and “often, it chokes our environment.”

Sounds like a no-brainer for Boehner.

Follow P.J. Orvetti on Twitter at @PJOinDC