Your
Drinking Water: Don't Take it for Granted...
Walter the Water Saver is an educational hands-on exhibit that depicts all the components of the CT Section AWWA Conservation Kit. The exhibit was created by David Kuzminski of the Portland Water Department in Portland, Connecticut and actually shows how much water can be saved utilizing a low flow shower head, low faucet aerators and toilet displacement devices such as a toilet dam or displacement bags. You can actually flow two shower heads side by side into plexiglass tanks and see the savings. It also has a working toilet on board with window so you can actually see how the toilet devices function.
David is the author of Building a Conservation Plan on a Budget and Building a Conservation Program for a Small Utility. He has presented at Conserv93 in Las Vegas, Nevada and Conserv96 in Orlando, Florida and has pioneered many innovative techniques in the Water Conservation Field. For information on his programs and Walter The Water Saver contact David T. Kuzminski at 104645.2572@Compuserve.Com or Walters_Dad@Compuserve.Com, or by calling (860) 342-6769. David is also available for educational programs on Water Conservation for utilities or school systems.
Walter at the
CPTV Science Fair
This weekend, Thursday, March 26 Thru Sunday, March 29, Walter the Water Saver and his creator Dave Kuzminski of the Portland Water Division educated students and parents on the merits of conserving water at the Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) Science Fair at Trinity College in the CT Section AWWA booth. Attendence records were broken as thousands of children and adults came to the fair. Dan Meaney, chair of the public information Committee, together with committee members Kate Powell, Matt Nuzzolio, and Dave Kuzminski created the trivia game "From the Source". Children coming into the booth would be asked questions, they could spin the dial and move spaces to the next set of questions.
Let's Not Take It For Granted . . .
Connecticut is fortunate to have water supplies of high quality and sufficient quantity to meet the needs of consumers throughout the state. This is not strictly a matter of geography - it is the result of effective regulations by town and federal agencies, careful planning and operations by water utilities, and responsible use by consumers.
The Portland Water Division has an obligation to provide sufficient quantities of high quality drinking water at a reasonable cost to consumers. As such, your utility takes a strong leadership role to ensure its water supplies are protected and its drinking water isn't wasted. We are calling on our consumers to do their part as well - to follow some simple guidelines to protect the quality of your drinking water and ensure that it is not wasted.
Drinking Water Quality: The Source Protection Connection . . .
How Does Connecticut Law Protect Drinking Water?
Source water protection is an important tool for maintaining and managing our drinking water resources. Preventing pollutants from entering reservoirs and underground aquifers is the focal point of water supply source protection. Connecticut has been taking action to minimize the threat to our drinking water supply from cryptosporidium and other contaminants by providing protection of public water supplies at the source. In 1996, a legislative task force of public health and water supply experts concluded that the risk to Connecticut's consumers from disease causing organisms, including cryptosporidium, in drinking water is greatly reduced because of a strong commitment to source water protection.
You Can Help To Protect Connecticut's Public Water Supplies . . .
- Connecticut is one of only two states that prohibts discharge of potential disease carrying wastewaters into public drinking water supply sources.
- Mandatory filtration and disinfection of all surface water supplies.
- Land areas (watersheds) that drain into public water sources must be inspected annually for sources for pollution.
- State and local regulations govern land use and development on watershed lands.
- Strict regulations govern the sale and use of water company owned land which are critical to the protection of public water supply resources.
- The Aquifer Protection Act requires regulation of land use in critical areas around public drinking water supply wells.
- Operator certification is required for water treatment facility personnal to ensure the effective operation of water treatment facilities.
- Don't Dump! Dispose of trash, waste motor oil, and household hazardous wastes properly. Check with your city or town hall or water company about proper disposal of these wastes.
- Use pesticides and fertilizers wisely! Follow the directions, apply only what's needed, and don't over use. When in doubt - consult an expert!
- Report any polluting activities! If you see illegal dumping, waste discharges, chemical spills, etc. please report them immediately to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (860-424-3338), the local police (860-342-6780), health department (860-342-6718), or the water company (860-342-6735).
- Use and maintain your septic system properly! Don't pour fats, grease, oils, or harmful chemicals down the drain--they can interfere with the septic tank function and may cause groundwater pollution. Have the septic tank inspected and cleaned every 2 to 3 years.
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