Improve Water Quality, Drink More Beer

Improve Water Quality, Drink More Beer

The "Blue Taps = Blue Water" program is a cool new effort by the Iowa Agricultural Water Alliance and West Okoboji Brewing to help clean up Iowa's water. West O Beer is turning their tap handles blue and for every keg they sell, they're putting $5 towards improving water quality. The owner, Matt Matthiesen, says this is all about connecting city and country life by making sure the water is top-notch for their beer. They picked West Okoboji to set up shop because the lake there has really clean, soft water that's perfect for brewing.

Arizona’s Response to Water Shortage: Use Wastewater

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is rolling out a new plan to turn wastewater into clean, drinkable water, which is a move to tackle Arizona's water shortage (which isn’t such a crappy idea after all). The plan, known as the Advanced Water Purification Program, is about making sure everyone understands the process and keeping communication clear. Phoenix's mayor is already on board, talking about a big facility that could pump out 60 million gallons of water a day.

Turning wastewater into safe water involves several steps - from adding chemicals to remove dirt, to filtering out harmful germs, to using advanced methods like ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. And then, in the end, the water is disinfected to kill any leftover germs. The Department is also introducing a new certification for water treatment operators, making sure the people in charge know their stuff and keep the water safe.

Does Water Purification Remove Healthy Minerals?

WES Water of Scottsdale, AZ tackles the question of whether purifying water means losing good minerals. They explain that water purification, like using filters or reverse osmosis, is key to getting rid of bad stuff in water and keeping it safe to drink (as we all know). Regular filters usually keep important minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water, but more intense methods like distillation or reverse osmosis might take some out. Even so, losing a few minerals from water isn't a big deal because we usually get enough from our food. The harder problem to solve? Replacing Chick-fil-A with salads to get to those important minerals.

Water You Paying For? Sewer Rates on the Rise

Sewer rates in Pennsylvania are on the rise after private companies started buying local water systems, thanks to a 2016 state law. This law lets these systems be sold for more money by considering their value to the community, not just their physical parts. While this brings in quick cash for towns with old water systems, it also leads to big increases in water bills for residents. Groups like Keep Water Affordable are pushing back, saying these costs are unfairly passed onto everyday people and studies have shown that private ownership is a major reason behind higher water bills. That said, 15 states have similar laws, leading to more private ownership and higher costs.

What else is happening:

• EcoWater Tampa releases “The Definitive Guide to Choosing the Best Water Filter for Your Home”

• Connecticut Valley Artesian Well Co writes about how professional well water services can help improve communities

• Family-owned and operated Ultra Pure Water Technologies explains why purified water is so important in manufacturing