Climate Change in CA

There's a new online tool, called Cal-Adapt, which allows users to explore the possible impacts of climate change on California.  Google, the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey, and several universities were involved in the project.

Check it out:  http://cal-adapt.org/

They should make one for Georgia!

Virtual Water Conference Today

Just letting everyone know there's a free virtual conference on "The Future of Water" starting today at 11AM Eastern time.

Go to http://futurewecreate.com to participate.

The conversation should last about an hour, and includes scholars, engineers, and industry people from around the world.

Keep in mind that it's sponsored by Dow Chemical.

SB 122

You probably all know by now that Senate Bill 122 has passed - the bill providing for public-private partnerships in the construction of Georgia's water infrastructure.  Georgia Water Wire does a great job summing up people's concerns about the bill:

http://gawaterwire.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/post-session-news-with-a-dash-of-political-history/

In my opinion, this bill takes decision-power away from the public when it comes to water infrastructure projects, and places way too much emphasis on the construction of new reservoirs to feed Georgia's projected future needs.  We're going to have to see where this all goes, but I have to say I'm a bit worried . . .

UCR on iphone

For those of you who are anxiously awaiting WeTap for iphone (like I am), Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper just released their own, iphone-ready app that helps keep you updated with news about their organization, and the major river feeding Atlanta.  The app features news, events, maps, ways to get involved, and (my favorite part) the sound of the river.  Download it - UCR.

Get involved! Smartphones and public water

The Pacific Institute in California is releasing a new smartphone app called "WeTap."  Read about the project here:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/gleick/detail?entry_id=87700

As Americans drink more and more bottled water (up from an average of one gallon per person in 1980 to around thirty gallons per person today, according to Peter Gleick) the public drinking fountains we used to take for granted are falling by the wayside.  This app lets users map public drinking fountains, helping people find a non-bottled drink of water when they need it, as well as raising awareness about the state of our public drinking fountains and urging municipalities to maintain water fountains.

Get involved!  Download the app when it becomes available, and start mapping your local drinking fountains.  While there isn't an iphone version of the app yet (it will only be available on Android) this is a great idea.  Water should be a public resource - lets work together to keep it that way.

Happy Earth Day!!

Hello Water People-

Sorry it's been a while - I was at the American Society for Environmental History conference last week.  I got to see the Salt River (see the picture above), meet with representatives from Arizona State University's Decision Center for a Desert City,  and listen to the most cutting edge historical research on water, rivers, and other environmental topics.  It was a blast!!

In honor of Earth Day, I'd like everyone to think about the water system that we take for granted.  Take the quiz at http://lifebytheliter.org/ and see if you can live on the 30 liters a day available to many people around the world - only 30 liters for drinking, cooking, sanitation, bathing.  FYI - the average American uses 262 liters a day.

Fishman's new book on Water

Today on NPR's "Fresh Air," host Terry Gross interviewed journalist Charles Fishman about his new book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water.  You can listen to the interview and read an excerpt from the book at :
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135241362/the-worldwide-thirst-for-clean-drinking-water?sc=fb&cc=fp

After listening to the interview, it sounds like Fishman hits many of the major points that we need to address in Atlanta - water used in energy production, lawns, recycled water and "purple pipes," increased metering and tiered pricing structures  . . .    I wonder if he has anything to say about agriculture?  Or Georgia in particular?  I'm looking forward to reading the book!