It's Baaack -- the Sonoma County Direct Install Program

Just  a few weeks ago we put out a reminder that there were still rebates available in Sonoma County for water efficiency upgrades - even though the County's Direct Install Program was no more. Well, yes there are still rebates availabe. That part's true. But we were a bit off the mark on the other thing.

The Direct Install Program did end awhile ago - but it's back. Sonoma County is once again paying customers of select sewer districts to have their old-style non low-flow toilets changed out for the latest water efficient models.

It's a good deal all around. The County saves money in the long run by reducing water use and load on the sewer system, and you finally get those old water hungry fixtures out of your place.

This is not a rebate program. You are not required to pay any money up front for the toilet, seat, new angle stop or the standard installation. It is important to note, however, if there are any associated repairs or upgrades necessary when changing out your toilet, there could be charges not covered by the County.

But don't let that discourage you from checking it out. Our experience during the first incarnation of the program (and we installed several hundred toilets as part of the County program) was that extra repairs were rarely needed. So in general, you will be able to change out your non low-flow toilet fixtures - at no charge - and certainly for significantly less money than you would normally have to spend.

Trust us - this is an excellent opportunity.

The County is handling things a little differently this time. Instead of just making an appointment with us (or any of the other participating plumbers), you need to go ahead and sign up with the County. Once they get you signed up and queued up (they plan to fund a limited number per month), you can give us a call and we'll change out whatever antique thing you've got for a brand spanking new state-of-the-art water-saving wonder.

Visit the Sonoma County Water Agency Direct Install web page for more information and to get your name on the list.

Mining Wastewater for Electricity

Solar-collecting panels / SCWA

At the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District treatment plant, one-third of the power needs are met by a solar collecting system. It's great that our local wastewater treatment plant can take advantage of all that readily available sunshine to do its work, but what if sewage treatment could actually generate electricity?

That's a question researchers at Oregon State have been investigating -- and they're finding that the possibilities are quite promising. Here's what the Smithsonian Institution had to say recently about the studies on their blog:

Could Sewage Be Our Fuel of the Future?

"Previous methods relied upon anaerobic digestion, in which bacteria break down biodegradable elements in wastewater in the absence of oxygen and produce methane (natural gas) as a byproduct. This gas can then be collected and burned as fuel.

"The Oregon State team’s technology, in contrast, harnesses the biodegradable material in wastewater to feed aerobic bacteria, which digest the substances with the use of oxygen. When the microbes oxidize these components of sewage—and, in turn, clean the water—they produce a steady stream of electrons. As the electrons flow from the anode to the cathode within a fuel cell, they produce an electrical current, which can be directly used as a power source. Additionally, this process cleans the water more effectively than anaerobic digestion and doesn’t produce unwanted byproducts."...

Kind of takes the Reduce, Reuse, Recyle mantra to a whole new level, wouldn't you say?

Aeration ponds / SCWA

You can find out more about how our wastewater is treated these days from this nifty interactive diagram on the Sonoma County Water Agency website.

And read more of the background of the Oregon State work -- as well as other 'Surprising Science' news -- on the Smithsonian science blog.

Here's the article again...
Could Sewage Be Our Fuel of the Future?

Plastic - the new Mermaid Tears

Did you know that plastic is the largest form of ocean litter? If you're still drinking water from plastic bottles (INSTEAD OF FILTERING YOUR OWN TAP WATER duh...), maybe this short video from Surfers Against Sewage will motivate you to make a few changes.

TheWaterChannel

More info: www.sas.org.uk

We found this video on The Water Channel.

Do You Have a Sewer Line Clog? Know the Signs...

Why is it that mainline sewer backups always seem to occur (1) after hours for the plumber, or (2) when you have a house full of people? Seriously. Why is that?

Usually we chalk that kind of thing up to Murphy's Law - "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." But truthfully, there are often signs of impending problems. Heed the signs and you just might be able to respond before the line becomes completely clogged and waste water backs up into the building.

Here are a few things to pay attention to:

1.  Are Multiple Fixtures Affected?

A very obvious sign of a sewer drain clog is when more than one plumbing fixture is draining slowly or backing up at the same time. If you suspect that you have a sewer drain clog, check other fixtures in the home - particularly the tub and shower.

Toilets have the most direct path to the sewer and the biggest drain line in the house, so if there is a problem with the sewer line you shoiuld notice it when you try to flush the toilet. It's rare to have a mainline sewer stoppage when the toilets are working properly.

And then tub and shower drains sit lower than sink drains, so check them next. Do you have water backing up or failing to drain in your tub/shower? If so, it's probably time to call the plumber.

2.  Out-of-the-Ordinary Occurences (with respect to plumbing fixtures).

Don't ignore burbling sounds or waste water moving upstream.

If you've got an issue with the sewer line, air may get trapped in the plumbing system. Do you get bubbles in the toilet bowl when you run the faucet in the closest sink? Do you get ominous gurgling sounds when you flush the toilet or take a shower? These are all signs that waste water isn't moving smoothly through the system.

And definitely if you have water rising one place when you're using a fixture another place, you've got issues somewhere in the sewer line. For instance, if the water draining out of the washing machine causes the toilet to overflow or backs up into the tub or shower it could mean a clog on the main sewer line. (Although if the toilets are still flushing fine while this occurs then this is likely due to a washing machine stoppage and not a mainline stoppage.)

3.  Check the Drainage at the Clean-Out

If you have a mainline clean-out (and hopefully you do), you can remove the cap and physically check to see whether or not the line is draining. You should not be able to see the water coming up the clean out pipe. If water is flowing up and out of the clean out or standing in the pipe, the line is not draining.

4.  And Lastly...

If your house has a septic system, always ask yourself: "How long has it been since the tank was cleaned out?"

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Whatever you do, once you realize you have a mainline blockage, stop running any water (or flushing any toilets) until the stoppage is cleared.

The problem could be a straight forward clog or there could be roots or some other kind of break in the line that prevents the line from clearing completely. These issues don't necessarily happen all of a sudden but develop over a period of time. Watch for indications that something is not right on the drain lines.