The largest water waste is ignored!

Do you know the difference between "Household water use" and "Residential water use?"  Figures vary regionally, however nationally are averaged by the American  Water Works Assoc. (AWWA) and the EPA, among others.  Residential water use is water that has been measured to supply residences.

Household water use is the sum total of water use fixtures WITHIN the house.  The Residential figure includes outdoor water use and household water use combined (about 50/50) .

AWWA states that approx. 50% Residential water use is "Outdoor water use"  AWWA  and EPA along with Irrigation Assoc. of America figure approx. 30 % of spray irrigation water is lost to wind and misting!. Most irrigation systems when audited fall below 50% uniform distribution efficiency and that means 50% wasted!
Let me "recap" that for you.  50% is outdoor and 50% of that is lost to mist and other losses.  If 50% of 50% is outdoor loss, then 25% of Residential use is wasted outdoors.  This is what I call an "Elephant " in the landscape.  Plumbing manufacturers use household figures to "weight " the fixture savings they have designed!  Pie charts become "statistical monkeys"   for social political and commercial gain.  A figure of 27% toilet use with a 20% savings due to the manufacturer's design sounds more important than 20% of the actual 13% of "Residential" water use.  Same goes for all household water use fixtures!  Meanwhile, the Elephant is dancing in the yard without an audience!

One of the reasons for the excessive amount of misting in irrigation systems is that the systems are often exposed to the full street water main pressure of 120 psi or more, while they should only be getting 80 psi or less.

I have proposed a plumbing code change that would change the location of any required pressure regulator from at-the-building (which, obviously, only protects the building), to at-the-meter, which will provide the proper regulated pressure to the building and the outdoor systems. This will also reduce the stress and "hammer" effects on the water main from the meter to the house and irrigation valves. Keeping that line pressure at 80 psi or less reduces the possibility of damage and leaks - which get really annoying and expensive when it's located under your driveway,  sidewalk, or favorite planter area.

What is "Green" who is "Green" Oh give me a break

Prejudging or grouping "green things" together in oneness is Just that!  Does someone who wants to save a buck on electric bills think a republican vice pres. is responsible for dead fish in Sacramento Ca.? (Smelt) ?  Is Al Gore a man of conviction or a demigod socialist?  Will we all burn up in hell ? The media will sell/tell you anything...

Let me start off by saying I have a photovoltaic solar system at my house that makes my electric meter go backwards, (sometimes), as a result my electric bill is lowered.  My system will pay for its self in another 6 yrs. at the current price of electricity. (7 yrs. total) the remainder of the systems life I will get "free" electricity.  This is Green, pun intended.  I also have a solar thermal system at my house, making such hot water, that I need to cover one of the two panels from April to Oct. so the system doesent over heat.  this system will be paid for in heating savings in about the same amount of time as the PV system.  This is also green.  The remaining 20 yrs. of  the 90% hot water I get from the sun will be "free"/ "green"  The HE "green" washer and dryer I got uses less water and power than a "regular" set and I save money there too!  I drive a very high MPG van for my job, it gets 20+ mpg unlike my old gas guzzler 5 mpg! DUH!  I am schooled and trained to engineer plumbing systems that are green, by GreenplumbersUSA.  Waste heat recovery is green sometimes, tankless waterheaters can save energy.

Greenwashing is wrong; I am trained not to do that, I am Green.  Not all things smart, are green, and not all things green are smart.  Have you seen "Smart Water"  I will match wits with a bottle of water any day, and win, for bottled water is neither green, nor smart.  3.5% of the Greenhouse gasses are man made, the rest are made by our green planet, including cow intestinal gases!

On that note, I leave you to your thoughts on what/who is green.
  Greg Chick a licesned GreenPlumberUSA.

I am going to be a "Father"

Let me start by defining "father".  The International Assoc. of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) is the code body world wide.  This code body is accepting my code proposal for upcoming publication.  I have been thinking about this plumbing issue since I was a Teenager! and a newly licensed contractor!  I am now 54 yrs. old and  I am getting my "Baby".  I am assured my child will do well and save millions! probably save a human life.  Thousands of contractors will know my child, but more importantly I am assured good will come.  I am planning another child as well.  Next one will live directly next to the first for life and they will have  replacements to follow their footsteps.  A third is planned as well, I am not really a family man or anything, but  I am ambitious.
  Keep watching for the names of my "children" and the deeds they will achieve . 

World Plumbing day

The world Plumbing Council has declared March 11 2010 the first annual WPD.  This is the same month with World Water Day  (22nd.).  One might ask why, just Google liveearth.org , 8 to 10,000 people die daily from dirty water.  No they aren't Americans, mostly not white, so "what the hell",  "I got my plate full"  The world is shrinking, boarders are not what they were fences aren't either.  more than 1/2 the world is in dire need of water daily.  Sanitation waste removal is equally needed (when water is used it comes out dirty)  The AWWA stated in a report that 40% of Americas water dist. systems had a cross connection with sewer/E Coli.   Na sayers can factually say "we Americans use less water to day than in 1973!"  True to a point, that means "Per capita"  Population has grown to a point that we use 30% more.  Rain is not increasing, lakes not growing.  only 2% of the fresh drinkable water on earth is available (not frozen in glacier)  AWWA report also stated 30% of water we have harvested and intended for use is unaccounted for!  lost is transport to your town.  Some alarmists and some nay sayers debate "Climate Change"  The facts about water are not debateable, facts as they are, ignorance is the only buffer we have.  Walk for water is a new social awareness program, check it out.  Oh and respect for all is the theme of my message, not dooms day or anything else. 
  Thank you for allowing me to share my convictions, now read up and get your own.
  Greg.

Do it yourself ( DIY ) Gas

I got a call today from a man who wanted to know some code issues on gas piping. He was one of many who have become victim to folklore . He didn't think galvanized pipe was OK to use to pipe gas. I assured him it was required when exposed to exterior and above ground.

He then wanted me to sell him "that flex yellow pipe", I replied "what do you mean, CSST or MDPE?" After clearing up what "that flexy pipe" meant, I said that it requires special training and that installers have a card with their name on it by the manufacturer. He understood, but is still piping his gas system himself.

I ask you , if you want to live next door to a Propane gas pipe system installed by an unlicensed, untrained person. I was told that my freedom to swing my fists ended at my neighbors nose. Should there then be a required distance between his house and the public and neighbors? Should gas pipe be sold to non licensed people? Have you ever seen propane explode? Just some thoughts today from the people who call me and my responsible replies. DIY is a great thing, I assist anyone to a fault, but gas pipe is for skilled people who have liability insurance.
Greg Chick, Green Plumber USA licensed, and, yes I have Insurance.

Not your Grandaddy's Spigot

This was your granddaddy's spigot.
It was tough, It had weight. It had enough lead in the brass to kill a rat.
You could replace the washer, ream out the brass and be good for another decade. It has been in service for 60 years.

This is a modern spigot.
It's lightweight. The lead content in the brass is virtually non-existent - and so is its ability to last very long. After 10 years, it's a tired pup.
Stay tuned technology is at work! First generation low/no lead brass is here now, tomorrow is a new day!

Potmetal parts in less expensive " Brand Name Faucets"

Here is the underside of a sink faucet made from cheap pot-metal components.  The homeowners took reasonably good care of it, yet it rotted out from underneath anyway. This faucet was in use about 2 yrs.

The thin tubular brass spout also didn't last long. In this case the water ate right through the side of it. When I arrived on the scene they had tape wrapped around it in an attempt to stop the leak.

What a fixture is made from, really does matter!