What does your water taste like?

How would you describe the water from your tap? Metallic, fresh, tasteless, chlorinated, bland, clean...? 80% of water taste testers preferred the taste of our bottled water samples at UM Dearborn's Water Expo. We hosted a blind taste test as part of their Sustainability Week. Along with bottled natural spring water, we had a sample from the bottle refill station at a local grocery store and the campus tap water. Last year we had a similar event where the preference was about tied, so we were surprised at the overwhelming preference for bottled water this time around. Sometimes tap water wins, sometimes it doesn't. If you don't like the taste of your tap, do you filter it, put up with it, or pay for another source?

At what cost?

With our cultural emphasis on hydration and effective marketing, many have just gotten in the bottled water habit. See this 20/20 episode on the impact of marketing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3QBZac3MSY - which also mentions that some bottled water is just tap water conveniently packaged.

If you watched the movie "F.L.O.W.", you might recall the dispute between commercial access to cheap water, the transfer of water out of a local watershed and the differing regulatory oversight of municipal vs bottled water. Here's a trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGd9D4J0lag.

Objections about bottled water also include the production and disposal of the plastic bottle itself, the environmental burden caused by trucking water across the country, and the comparatively high price per gallon.

Visit this website to learn about the energy-intensive production of bottled water and other important factors: http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/bottled_water_university_edition/social_environ/

To avoid the plastic problem, the convenience of bottled water can be met by refillable containers. UM Dearborn has a bottle-filling adaptation on the drinking fountain at the University Center, so students can refill any container with chilled tap water. It does taste better cold. The UMD Student Environmental Association is working to get rid of all plastic bottles on campus with an emphasis on sustainability, but refillable containers help budgets as well. The current decline in bottle water sales are most likely related to the economic downturn. http://moneyland.time.com/2010/02/01/bottled-water-taste-test-challenge/

Tap Water vs Frack Water

This particular taste test included 'natural spring water' from a region threatened by fracking. What will be the results if fracking fluids impact the source? With complaints about water quality coming out of these regions, it may be even more important to know where our drinking water has been and what has been done to it. Start your studies by reading here: http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/fracking/?gclid=CPGH-Lyw8KsCFYlM4AodWBRpIg

Study Up, Stand Up, Stop Fracking.

We all have so much to do that we have to prioritize, and I am asking you to put fracking issues on the front burner this year. This has already gone too far across the states, and it will destroy our greatest treasure without even a speed bump along the way. I'd like to do more than slow them down while getting run over, but we can only make it stop if we work together.

Do you think ANY nationwide industrial procedure should be exempt from environmental regulations? Should ANY industry that uses tons of water and chemicals be set free to do as it sees fit throughout our state?

Some people do prefer less regulation, very few desire NO regulation. When Michigan residents learn about fracking, I expect we will have a consensus to put the brakes on this unhindered pollution threat.

As you consider the consequences to our state when crops, livestock and wildlife are damaged and community water supplies are destroyed, you might also want to consider how profiteers will benefit even more. If you know something about the global privatization and profit potential of water, then you know why pollution doesn't matter to corporate interests. Pollution just opens up another profitable market - selling drinkable water to you will be a great deal for them. If you want a silver-lining, maybe you can dream about getting a job driving water trucks from town to town.

Get started here:

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/613/index.html

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/440/game-changer

The program "This American Life" also highlights the total disregard this industry has for local government. Can your elected officials withstand the propaganda and harrassment? Can you?

Jenni

Listen to This American Life on Fracking

"Environmental Crisis on your Plate" Cont'd

We had a very informative meeting with the Dearborn Sustainability Roundtable on Feb 15th. Thank you to everyone who came to the program. We had a potluck too, with soup, bread, appetizers, fruit, salad and dessert - YUM! Everything was excellent and we had a lot of people attending.

Kathleen Gapa and Mary Bugeia started the meeting with a brief overview of the League of Women Voters. The League's record for environmental causes showed the significant progress that has been made in the last century by grassroots advocacy, and yet there continues to be a battle to protect our natural resources and public health. What a strange era we are in now as hard-won environmental protections are under attack. We need to move forward on new fronts as we've learned in these round tables, yet we find ourselves also holding the line for protections that should be a given. For example, clean air is not an optional preference, it is a necessity. We should be able to focus solely on healthy sustainable foods, but find that even in the 21st century clean water and air are being jeopardized by misguided policy makers.

Lynna Kaucheck, of Food and Water Watch www.fwwatch.org spoke at this event as well. Not only does Ms Kaucheck work with that organization, but she also serves on the Ferndale Environmental Sustainablity Commission. Since Dearborn is in the early stages of sustainability as a city-wide policy, we can learn a lot from Ferndale's example. If you'd like to learn more about Dearborn's activities, visit their website.

The keynote speaker for this 3-part series has been HFCC Professor Lourdes Lore, a highly credentialed and interesting speaker. We are thankful that she has shared her expertise and vast knowledge with us in the series "Environmental Crisis on your Plate." The problems with our food supply would be overwhelming if we didn't have suggested ways to tackle the issues. Katie Hetrick, reporter for the Dearborn Press & Guide, has written a great article on this particular evening, Dinner bell is call to action at roundtable.

We expect to post handouts from Professor Lore's presentations so that those who miss any of the series can still review the resources she provided. Don't miss the third and last installment, “Who Really Controls Our Food Supply?" which will be on March 23, 2011 from 6-8pm at HFCC SME building. We will reserve time for the audience to ask questions, discuss solutions, make plans and network to wrap up this winter long focus on Sustainable Food.

written by

Mary Ann Baier and Jennifer Dunn

Get Involved in Your Hot Topic!

Several of us gathered at the Michael Berry Career Center for the 'Hot Topics' Luncheon -Bon Appetit was a wonderful surprise (most of us had never been there.)

We talked about school funding, war budgets and mercenaries, jobs, outsourcing, fair trade, free trade, the automotive industry, term limits and lobbyists and bureaucrats and contacting our elected officials. It is important to voice your concerns and priorities to our representatives and political leaders, but some want to do more.

What can you do?

What are you interested in?

Choose a few 'hot topics', get informed and find a local group that shares your interest.

For example,

if you care about the environment, get specific. For example, if you are interested in access to clean water (people-oriented) or healthy natural habitats (nature and beauty), there are local groups that focus on that topic.

Here are some examples:

Friends of the Rouge

http://www.hraa.umd.umich.edu/

Alliance for Downriver Watershed

http://www.allianceofdownriverwatersheds.com/index.htm

and MiEarth.org highlights some local organizations here:

http://www.miearth.org/category_home.php?cid=Green%20Team

Water Crisis in the Great Lakes and Global Waters

The Lake Michigan Interleague Organization, now called LMLWV, held its 42nd annual meeting in Saugatuck, MI the first weekend of October.  This beautiful setting, the stunning shoreline and resounding waves of Lake Michigan, prompted great appreciation and awe as we considered this vast resource.    While the Great Lakes are a great treasure that we share with other states and Canada, they are also a great responsibility.  

 

The weekend was well-planned with interesting topics and speakers, along with a vibrant discussion during the actual annual meeting.  Many started out with a 'toxic tour', a cruise along Kalamazoo River highlighting the challenges faced by this Area of Concern. LWVDDH members Gregg and Jenni Dunn arrived for the dinner and evening program, featuring activist, attorney and author Jim Olson.  While the legal situation concerning aquifer usage by Nestle was a prominent issue (see www.savemiwater.org), so was the overall question about the legal status of water.  Mr. Olson explained the historical basis for water as a Public Trust - something held in common by all people and governed for all people.  The Great Lakes Compact undermined the Public Trust Doctrine by calling water a product.  This little word creates a big legal loophole for commercial interests and private gain.   The evening closed with the profound, award-winning documentary, For the Love of Water (www.flowthefilm.com).  This film reveals the political, ecological and personal issues of the 21st century water crisis.  We purchased a similar DVD called 'Blue Gold', which is available for a future program.

 

On Saturday, the LMLWV meeting was very informative, with reports from State delegates - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin along with other news and a report about the Healing Our Waters (HOW) Coalition (see www.healthylakes.org).  The updated LWVMI position on preserving and enhancing Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Ecosystem was adopted.  This group focused on the Lake Michigan Basin and we are in the Lake Erie Basin, but the obvious interlink between local bodies of water, global water and our global ecosystem compels us to work together.  This interleague group will continue working with HOW to implement the Great Lakes Restoration as a top area of emphasis.

 

The nature walk and field trip came indoors due to inclement weather as John Legge, West Michigan Conservation Director for the Nature Conservancy explained the complexities of the world's most extensive freshwater dunes.  We learned of threatened species, invasive species and threats to the dune ecosystem.  The surprise invader was 'Baby's Breath, that popular bit of white in floral arrangements.  Don't be fooled by its name, it has a mighty root!  As overwhelming as the problems seemed, Mr. Legge gave us a simple assignment.  By the time the general public is aware of an invasive species problem, it is almost impossible to eradicate it. Early detection and rapid response (EDRR) will be aided by choosing 3 species to know well enough to identify and notify (see www.misin.msu.edu)

 

A final presentation was given by scientist and author Melvin Visser.  His book, Cold, Clear and Deadly is probably as shockingly informative as this afternoon program.   He explained the atmospheric and global source of POPS, persistent organic pollutants, entering the Great Lakes.  Even though these products have been banned in the US since the 80s, their continued use in other nations means these semi-volatiles will evaporate, move and condense across the globe.  Disturbing data and depressing dilemmas bombarded the audience, but the speaker directed us to a solution.  Pressure our state to be honest about fish advisories.  For example, Large Trout are highly contaminated and yet are not given any restrictions on consumption.  PCB contamination has been proven to hinder motor skills and intelligence.  Michigan needs to take this problem seriously, and LWVMI is a player as a member of the Michigan Environmental Council (www.environmentalcouncil.org).  He also promoted the Stockholm Convention on POPs, which you can read about at chm.pops.int and get this hot topic into our conversations and actions, locally and globally.