California Water Restrictions

[NW-Bound]

I'll bet the treatment plant still has to have to have a approved NPDES discharge permit with pollutant loading standards and discharge requirements.

I am sure certain requirements have to be met. But if the effluent is absorbed into the ground and does not reach a natural water body, then it is not the same problem as you have in Michigan or Illinois.

Come to think of it, what treatments do home septic tanks and leach fields have?

 

[aja8888]

I am sure certain requirements have to be met. But if the effluent is absorbed into the ground and does not reach a natural water body, then it is not the same problem as you have in Michigan or Illinois.

Come to think of it, what treatments do home septic tanks and leach fields have?

Pollution laws were written for industry and municipalities. I was on the front end of that in the 1970's when I worked in industry (heavy manufacturing). Normal citizens have to follow local rules. There are rules on septic systems as I had to follow the local codes in Connecticut when I had my system installed (we lived on three rural acres).

 

[JoeWras]

^i remember surveying along the banks of the des plaines river in Joliet in the early 80’s. Everything that you can imagine being flushed was on the gravel bars along the shoreline.

Usually during periods of heavy rains. Some sanitary manholes would have overflow pipes several feet above the normal sanitary sewer pipes. It was typical for storm water to infiltrate the sanitary sewers , sometimes directly. The effluent would flow through the overflow pipes into streams during periods of heavy flows.

Measures have been taken over the past several decades to separate storm from sanitary water. The result is much cleaner rivers.

Old Cities like Chicago had/have 100% combined sanitary and storm sewage. It is not good, and will take many decades to unwind, if ever.

The deep tunnel project of the Chicago metropolitan area stores it all during heavy rain, then it is slowly released and all treated. It's inefficient to treat storm runoff, but it is what it is.

The suburbs are doing better, so the Des Plaines is in better shape as they don't have as many cross connections, which you describe well, and as you say, they've made progress in eliminating.

 

[Koolau]

^^^^^

When we had a septic system, it had to be inspected before being used for the first time. Also, lots with septic systems were required to be 5 acres. IOW the large lot size gave lots of room below ground to absorb from the system. It also gave a buffer between houses. YMMV

 

[Turbo29]

I am sure certain requirements have to be met. But if the effluent is absorbed into the ground and does not reach a natural water body, then it is not the same problem as you have in Michigan or Illinois.

Come to think of it, what treatments do home septic tanks and leach fields have?

"Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful coliform bacteria, viruses and nutrients."
EPA --How Your Septic System Works

Lake Havasu City, at Lake Havasu along the Colorado River, used to be all on septic. A lot of it didn't work in the ideal manner put forth by the EPA above and went into the lake. A friend of mine, who grew up in Arizona, said that when he was a kid they called Lake Havasu, "Lake Have-a-sore," as that could be the result of swimming in it back then.

This is the same lake that the water for the Colorado River Aqueduct (much of Southern California) and the Central Arizona Project draw water from.

 

[NW-Bound]

"Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful coliform bacteria, viruses and nutrients."
EPA --How Your Septic System Works

Lake Havasu City, at Lake Havasu along the Colorado River, used to be all on septic. A lot of it didn't work in the ideal manner put forth by the EPA above and went into the lake. A friend of mine, who grew up in Arizona, said that when he was a kid they called Lake Havasu, "Lake Have-a-sore," as that could be the result of swimming in it back then.

This is the same lake that the water for the Colorado River Aqueduct (much of Southern California) and the Central Arizona Project draw water from.

It's crazy to allow septic tanks near a lake.

On the other hand, wells in AZ are typically 750 ft deep. That's how low the water table is. It was estimated that it took 10,000+ years for the water to percolate down that deep. No danger of pollution there from septic tanks.

The problem is when people pump the aquifer dry, it will take that long to refill.

Our goose is more than cooked. It's burnt.

 

[Koolau]

It's crazy to allow septic tanks near a lake.

On the other hand, wells in AZ are typically 750 ft deep. That's how low the water table is. It was estimated that it took 10,000+ years for the water to percolate down that deep. No danger of pollution there from septic tanks.

The problem is when people pump the aquifer dry, it will take that long to refill.

Our goose is more than cooked. It's burnt.

Maybe you can talk ERD50 into sharing Lake Michigan with you. But I wouldn't count on that.

 

[NW-Bound]

Maybe you can talk ERD50 into sharing Lake Michigan with you. But I wouldn't count on that.

He already said no. That's OK. I am not sending him any of my solar power.

 

[ncbill]

^^^^^

When we had a septic system, it had to be inspected before being used for the first time. Also, lots with septic systems were required to be 5 acres. IOW the large lot size gave lots of room below ground to absorb from the system. It also gave a buffer between houses. YMMV

I don't think the septic up at our family's mountain cabin has ever been serviced since it was built in the early 1960s.

Of course, it normally only sees 6-8 weeks of use annually.

 

[ERD50]

He already said no. That's OK. I am not sending him any of my solar power.

That's OK, you need all that solar power and more to run the AC.

Of course we use up a lot of energy heating our homes in winter, (and some in cooling). But not everyone can live in a mild climate, and then who would harvest the crops that develop in the 4-season environment, or mine minerals in those areas?

No easy answers.

-ERD50

 

[Scuba]

Our bill was $54 for around 6,600 gallons. We had them come check the meter because our normal usage is in the range of 3K gallons. The meter seems accurate. We are testing our toilets for leaks. Not sure what else we can do to better understand this huge increase. All of our landscaping is on HOA water.

 

[Pellice]

That's OK, you need all that solar power and more to run the AC.

Of course we use up a lot of energy heating our homes in winter, (and some in cooling). But not everyone can live in a mild climate, and then who would harvest the crops that develop in the 4-season environment, or mine minerals in those areas?

No easy answers.

-ERD50

I think we are now in the proverbial slow-boiling pot. That is what I am seeing. Perhaps I am wrong, and the big hope of most people, that "Someone will thing of something. They always do," will come true.

 

[JoeWras]

The dystopian movies of the past always showed a growing population bumping into each other. Sometimes they portrayed food shortages.

They forgot the water issue.

In the 1200's, the indigenous people of the 4 corners region of what is now the United States just took off in a short period of time, leaving behind the cliff dwellings. That time period had an extended, multi-generational drought and was one of the factors of the move.

History repeats.

 

[zinger1457]

In the 1200's, the indigenous people of the 4 corners region of what is now the United States just took off in a short period of time, leaving behind the cliff dwellings. That time period had an extended, multi-generational drought and was one of the factors of the move.

History repeats.

Not so sure we're as smart as they were, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada have been dealing with long term droughts and are among the fastest growing states.

 

[NW-Bound]

My sister-in-law from San Diego is visiting us. When I mentioned water shortage and drought out here in the West, she gave me a blank look.

I then talked about potential electricity shortage and rolling black outs, another blank look.

I think people nowadays think nothing about amenities they take for granted. Food and TP are something that come from the supermarket shelves. Electricity from the wall sockets, and water from the faucet. People need to know nothing more.

 

[Koolau]

My sister-in-law from San Diego is visiting us. When I mentioned water shortage and drought out here in the West, she gave me a blank look.

I then talked about potential electricity shortage and rolling black outs, another blank look.

I think people nowadays think nothing about amenities they take for granted. Food and TP are something that come from the supermarket shelves. Electricity from the wall sockets, and water from the faucet. People need to know nothing more.

I think about this often. Perhaps this summer, we'll get a wakeup when folks (other than in Cali) will experience black outs just about the time it's 99 outside in the Midwest. Will we wake up? Check this space in 2 months since YMMV.

 

[GenXguy]

I think about this often. Perhaps this summer, we'll get a wakeup when folks (other than in Cali) will experience black outs just about the time it's 99 outside in the Midwest. Will we wake up? Check this space in 2 months since YMMV.

I'm in the midwest and served by MISO, which is a region that is likely to have rolling blackouts, and we have multiple days in the week or so ahead forecast in the upper 90's.

 

[Ronstar]

I'm in the nuclear triangle southwest of Chicago in the midst of 3 nuclear plants, 6 reactors totaling 6551 mw. We'll still probably have some blackouts.

 

[swakyaby]

My wife just opened the monthly bill from the city.

Out of the total of $120.45 only $26.82 is for water usage, and it's for 12,000 gallons last month. The rest of the bill is for sewer, garbage collection, and various environmental things.

My wife said "See that. I should be able to water my plants more."

At first, I thought 12,000 gallons/month sounded like a lot. Then I converted my cubic feet of water per month to gallons. Yup, 12,000 gallons water per month in the summer. No pool, 0.25 acres, mostly drip irrigation, very small front lawn, 3 raised vegetable planters, water-saving dual flush toilet valves, water conserving hot water recirculator. But triple digits this week and near zero humidity. Living in the desert in California takes a lot of water.

 

[ERD50]

I'm in the nuclear triangle southwest of Chicago in the midst of 3 nuclear plants, 6 reactors totaling 6551 mw. We'll still probably have some blackouts.

What makes you think so? I gather we must be in the same general area of SW Chicago-land (I'm suburban, you're more rural, but sometimes that's just a mile or two difference). Com Ed is my supplier.

From those earlier maps, I think we are both in a pretty stable zone, though anything can happen.

-ERD50

 

[street]

My sister-in-law from San Diego is visiting us. When I mentioned water shortage and drought out here in the West, she gave me a blank look.

I then talked about potential electricity shortage and rolling black outs, another blank look.

I think people nowadays think nothing about amenities they take for granted. Food and TP are something that come from the supermarket shelves. Electricity from the wall sockets, and water from the faucet. People need to know nothing more.

You said a mouth in just a few sentences. A lot take everything for granted and that it will always be there, and most don't know where it comes from in the first place.

 

[Ronstar]

What makes you think so? I gather we must be in the same general area of SW Chicago-land (I'm suburban, you're more rural, but sometimes that's just a mile or two difference). Com Ed is my supplier.

From those earlier maps, I think we are both in a pretty stable zone, though anything can happen.

-ERD50

We are in a stable zone, but there are lots of coal plants being shut down over the next 8? years. So I don’t expect coal plants to provide much backup to the nuclear fleet. Lots of windmills and solar farms going up, but I doubt they will produce as much as the coal plants being closed.

 

[JoeWras]

Try growing your own food and get an appreciation for how close we are to starvation.

A lot of people in my area gave up on their pandemic gardens. It's tough, even with sufficient water. It's all the other critters who want to enjoy your food that drives growers crazy.

 

[Koolau]

I'm in the midwest and served by MISO, which is a region that is likely to have rolling blackouts, and we have multiple days in the week or so ahead forecast in the upper 90's.

Yeah, I was freaked out by that forecast having just arrived a couple of weeks ago. Never guessed we'd be having August weather in mid June. What a time for black outs, eh? (I know what some folks are thinking. Who vacations from Hawaii to the Midwest in summer? Well, it does beat winter - but just barely it would appear.)

I've been trying to think of some defensive moves in case the power does go out. I'm more worried about AC than, say, the fridge. Lights I've got covered. Cooking - who cooks PB&J? Water is no problem.

Now I'm thinking I'll stockpile ice and pour it into our 2 person shower. We can sit on the built in seats and read by flashlight while we wait for the power to come back on. As long as it's no longer than several hours, we should be good. YMMV

 

[ERD50]

We are in a stable zone, but there are lots of coal plants being shut down over the next 8? years. So I don’t expect coal plants to provide much backup to the nuclear fleet. Lots of windmills and solar farms going up, but I doubt they will produce as much as the coal plants being closed.

Yes, things may get much worse in the coming years. I was just commenting on the maps for this year.

Hopefully, if these plant shutdowns do create problems, other areas will act as an early warning system, and our area will think twice about shutting down those plants (though they could be used less with wind/solar providing more power). That's probably optimistic though.

-ERD50