March Review: Tips to Save Water All Year Long

March was a busy time for the water industry. The Clean Water Act turned 40-years-old, the U.S. EPA hunted down loose faucets and leaks for a week, and March 22nd was World Water Day.

The Safe Drinking Water Act, established in 1974, helped to establish a set of national standards and regulations for all public water suppliers. The federal government provided leadership and funding to help states nationwide to help meet these standards. These nationwide standards help regulate states by meeting federal standards. Minnesota has always had strict water standards even before the federal mandate was issued. This act ensures safety procedures carried out by water suppliers and water treatment facilities. The water has been tested, it is safe to drink, and it has met the standards of the SWDA. 

Walter Mondale, who was U.S. Vice President when the act was passed, said, “Safe drinking water is almost the first requirement of a prosperous community.”

More than 97% of Minnesota water supplies meet all Safe Water Drinking Act standards.

The U.S. EPA, partnering with Water Sense, chased household water-wasters down for a week to reduce annual household waste in its “Fix a Leak Week”. The focus was to reduce household leaks that annually contribute to over one trillion gallons of water wasted nationwide. By fixing or repairing simple maintenances, for instance, a dripping faucet, a running toilet and other leaky valves, it will reduce the cost of water consumption while promoting sustainability.

Tips to Help Save Water Year-round 
· Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.
· Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
· Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
· Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

The UN System raised awareness of the inter-dependency between water and energy on March 22, titled World Water Day. This awareness event reached over 700 million worldwide, highlighting the importance and necessity of clean sources of drinking water in areas that need it most. 

Without water, there would be no life. That is why it is essential for our industry to keep growing, thriving from new innovations, to provide a healthy and dependable resource to those who matter most: you.

Cheers!

The 5 Cleanest Lakes in Minnesota

Water is one of the most abundant resources on earth and is more than plentiful in Minnesota. Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes, but there are actually 11,842 lakes that are larger than 10 acres. These lakes were created by the movement and thawing of glaciers that went through Minnesota. At one point in time all these bodies of water were clean, but this is not the case anymore. Our list covers the five cleanest lakes in Minnesota today and why they are unique from other lakes in the state.

Deer Lake

#1 Deer Lake, Itasca County
Deer Lake is located in Itasca County and covers 4,156 acres, reaching about five miles long and 1.5 miles wide. What is truly amazing about Deer Lake is that the water is crystal clear up to 11 feet, making for a truly scenic view. Another feature that makes Deer Lake unique is the mineral-content in the lake. On bright summer days the lake appears to turn a bright blue-green color, giving it its nickname the lake of changing colors.


Lake Vermillion

#2 Lake Vermillion, Tower
Lake number two hails from Tower, Minn. and is great if you want to visit an island a day for the next year. Located 85 miles north of Duluth, Lake Vermillion is known as the Crown Jewel of the North. It features over 1200 miles of shoreline, decorated with resorts and lodges, along with a champion golf course, some of the best fishing in Minnesota and a top-notch casino.

Lake Minnetonka

#3 Lake Minnetonka, Hennepin County
Just southwest of St. Paul, Lake Minnetonka reaches 14,000 acres and is best known for the ample amount of fish in the lake. This lake is truly a fisherman’s paradise and will not disappoint its reputation. Northern Pike, Muskies, Largemouth Bass and Walleye are just a few examples of the different species that call Lake Minnetonka home. Lake Vermillion has something to offer to the non-fisher too. The long winding road around Lake Vermillion has breathtaking views that draw a lot of attention to the lake.

Lake of the Woods 

#4 Lake of the Woods, Baudette
Lake of the Woods in Baudette and has been called one of the most scenic lakes in the country. A uniqueness about Lake of the Woods is that it has the best beaches in northern Minnesota with over 65,000 miles of shoreline and more than 14,000 islands, making the trip to Baudette well worth the ride. Spend some time at Zippel Bay State park for some inspiring views and enjoy yourself with the numerous water activities. These include canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, wake boarding and jet skiing to name a few.

Lake of the Isles

#5 Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis
Lake of the Isles is known as “the best lake in your backyard”, which is due to the fact that it is located in the heart of a neighborhood. Reaching just 120 acres, Lake of the Isles has everything from canoeing in the summer to ice skating in the winter. Swimming is not suggested for this lake but you can easily spend your time with a picnic on the water, a game of frisbee, or a walk with your dog in the dog park.

Bill Spain Wins 2013 George Warren Fuller Award

 

 The Minnesota section of the American Water Works Association is proud to present to the winner of the 2013 "George Warren Fuller Award". This year’s winner is Bill Spain, the water environmental technologies instructor at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. Spain was presented the award at the Minnesota Section’s annual meeting where he was recognized for his distinguished service to the water supply field.

Partick Shea, Bill Spain, Matthew Keil
(MN AWWA Past Chair, Award Winner, Dean of Trades & Industry - St. Cloud Technical College)

Sound engineering skill, brilliant diplomatic talent, and constructive leadership are a few of the many traits that have allowed Spain to contribute to MN AWWA’s success. As a committee member, Spain is known for going above and beyond what is expected of him. His performance reflects his exceptional character and work ethic.

Spain has committed his life to the water industry - he has provided over thirty years of excellent service to the water industry and over twenty years of equally excellent service to the St. Cloud Technical and Community College. As an educator, Bill taught and inspired students of all ages in the realm of water and wastewater operations. Bill is also a long-time member of the AWWA and has served on a number of committees. His work on the section board as a District Trustee, Section Chair, and Section Director helped create awareness and solve problems for Minnesota’s water industry.

To visit MN AWWA's Facebook page, click here.
For more info on the George Warren Fuller Award, click here.

George W. Fuller