Comments on: The governance of wastewater and the culture of flushing http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/ The random thoughts of a specialist in environmental issues. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:04:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Naheed Ghazanfar http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-6502 Naheed Ghazanfar Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:35:29 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-6502 Very interesting, the water quality in Vancouver definitely can be managed - a water quality management policy is of course the answer. I was wondering that in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, where hazardous wastes of bomb blasts and explosives are regularly washed or flushed in the municipal drains or sewers, which ultimately reach the agricultural land. Can we mitigate the multiple risks? What policies shall be adopted and what will be the role of good governance???? Very interesting, the water quality in Vancouver definitely can be managed – a water quality management policy is of course the answer.

I was wondering that in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, where hazardous wastes of bomb blasts and explosives are regularly washed or flushed in the municipal drains or sewers, which ultimately reach the agricultural land.

Can we mitigate the multiple risks?
What policies shall be adopted and what will be the role of good governance????

]]> By: diala martins http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 diala martins Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:58:46 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-2949 i love your articles and commentary, please do keep it up. i love your articles and commentary, please do keep it up.

]]> By: Putting back the public in public policy « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1507 Putting back the public in public policy « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:48:28 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1507 [...] water policy in Canada and a deficient regional strategy in Metro Vancouver, particularly in the management of wastewater. * The lack of transparency in the development of Bill C-61. - The need to re-assess the whole [...] [...] water policy in Canada and a deficient regional strategy in Metro Vancouver, particularly in the management of wastewater. * The lack of transparency in the development of Bill C-61. – The need to re-assess the whole [...]

]]> By: Water footprint: A new tool to examine water scarcity and use « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 Water footprint: A new tool to examine water scarcity and use « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:37:20 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1506 [...] rather passionate about (and I’ve previously written about it, like my discussion of the culture of flushing and the concept of water governance). I love researching it and writing about it, particularly [...] [...] rather passionate about (and I’ve previously written about it, like my discussion of the culture of flushing and the concept of water governance). I love researching it and writing about it, particularly [...]

]]> By: Environmental groups mobilization and protests: More than meets the eye « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1505 Environmental groups mobilization and protests: More than meets the eye « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:30:28 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1505 [...] deep way (that is, it must be scary enough to make people put words into action). As I mentioned in my previous post on the governance of wastewater, it irks me to know that other pressing problems, such as dwindling supplies of water and [...] [...] deep way (that is, it must be scary enough to make people put words into action). As I mentioned in my previous post on the governance of wastewater, it irks me to know that other pressing problems, such as dwindling supplies of water and [...]

]]> By: Greg Andrews http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 Greg Andrews Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:52:04 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1504 When no one is around, I'll stand at an angle to the urinal so the auto flush doesn't go off. When no one is around, I’ll stand at an angle to the urinal so the auto flush doesn’t go off.

]]> By: Jonathon Narvey http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1503 Jonathon Narvey Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:20:05 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1503 Great post, Raul. The other side of conserving water is ensuring we don't contaminate it all with human crap. The pink algae levels off the west coast of BC are off the charts. And then there's False Creek, where we've got the issue of boaters essentially dumping their waste straight into the water a few yards from where kayakers go by in the daylight... You'd think we would have had this issue nailed down by now. Great post, Raul. The other side of conserving water is ensuring we don’t contaminate it all with human crap. The pink algae levels off the west coast of BC are off the charts. And then there’s False Creek, where we’ve got the issue of boaters essentially dumping their waste straight into the water a few yards from where kayakers go by in the daylight… You’d think we would have had this issue nailed down by now.

]]> By: inaequitas http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1502 inaequitas Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:34:04 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1502 (I figure this might be only slightly on-topic, but I think it speaks about attitude) In UBC, some of the newer buildings have waterless urinals. A combination of chemicals, technology and whatnot saves an estimate of 40000 gallons of water pe urinal, annualy. That sounds like a lot, and is good. Of course, once in a while something breaks - but a lot of people have complained that these urinals are bad because 'they stink' (mind you, I don't think they're worse than the classic ones) and they never flush, so they must be germ-heaven. I had to ask these people how often they were camping in the washrooms, to let these issues become a problem, and if they understood the motivation behind the project (some had thought it was all about the University saving money). Luckily, UBC didn't pull fresh water lines to the urinals, so they're there to stay. (I figure this might be only slightly on-topic, but I think it speaks about attitude)

In UBC, some of the newer buildings have waterless urinals. A combination of chemicals, technology and whatnot saves an estimate of 40000 gallons of water pe urinal, annualy. That sounds like a lot, and is good. Of course, once in a while something breaks – but a lot of people have complained that these urinals are bad because ‘they stink’ (mind you, I don’t think they’re worse than the classic ones) and they never flush, so they must be germ-heaven.

I had to ask these people how often they were camping in the washrooms, to let these issues become a problem, and if they understood the motivation behind the project (some had thought it was all about the University saving money). Luckily, UBC didn’t pull fresh water lines to the urinals, so they’re there to stay.

]]> By: Karen http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1501 Karen Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:47:44 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1501 My exposure to this topic isn't so much in Vancouver but in Hong Kong - I visited their Planning and Infrastructure Exhibit (that's a blog post in progress :D) where they had a diorama and a detailed description of their <a href="http://civcal.media.hku.hk/sewage/intro/default.htm" rel="nofollow">wastewater treatment plant on Stonecutter's Island</a>, and the work that went into building out the pipeline, etc. Hong Kong is also a super-interesting case because the buildings there have a separate grey water management where ocean water is used for flushing, then it's treated. Don't know all that much about it but I thought you might appreciate the reading/link to see how it's done somewhere else, both the water treatment itself and the education about it. My exposure to this topic isn’t so much in Vancouver but in Hong Kong – I visited their Planning and Infrastructure Exhibit (that’s a blog post in progress :D ) where they had a diorama and a detailed description of their wastewater treatment plant on Stonecutter’s Island, and the work that went into building out the pipeline, etc. Hong Kong is also a super-interesting case because the buildings there have a separate grey water management where ocean water is used for flushing, then it’s treated. Don’t know all that much about it but I thought you might appreciate the reading/link to see how it’s done somewhere else, both the water treatment itself and the education about it.

]]> By: Anya http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1500 Anya Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:21:50 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1500 I try to implement the "if it's yellow let it mellow; if it's brown flush it down" thing as often as I can, but as long as there is stigma about that sort of thing it's hard to do, especially in public places. I think you're right to point out that everyone's too focused on climate change to notice a lot of the other problems that are very salient. Case in point: everyone was grossed out about the False Creek story, but then it really went nowhere. I try to implement the “if it’s yellow let it mellow; if it’s brown flush it down” thing as often as I can, but as long as there is stigma about that sort of thing it’s hard to do, especially in public places.

I think you’re right to point out that everyone’s too focused on climate change to notice a lot of the other problems that are very salient. Case in point: everyone was grossed out about the False Creek story, but then it really went nowhere.

]]> By: Mel http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1498 Mel Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:53:29 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1498 Very interesting post, Raul! When I was in junior high and high school, I went to local water treatment plants twice on field trips, so I think I know more about water treatment than the average person. It is very rarely discussed, though. But even though I have a knowledge base, I don't think about it very often, to be honest. Very interesting post, Raul! When I was in junior high and high school, I went to local water treatment plants twice on field trips, so I think I know more about water treatment than the average person. It is very rarely discussed, though. But even though I have a knowledge base, I don’t think about it very often, to be honest.

]]> By: Green Living means ‘Don’t shit where you eat’ « mtippett http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1497 Green Living means ‘Don’t shit where you eat’ « mtippett Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:58:12 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1497 [...] hummingbird604.com via [...] [...] hummingbird604.com via [...]

]]> By: Green Living means ‘Don’t shit where you eat’ » BlockGarden.com http://hummingbird604.com/2008/07/16/the-governance-of-wastewater-and-the-culture-of-flushing/comment-page-1/#comment-1499 Green Living means ‘Don’t shit where you eat’ » BlockGarden.com Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:56:47 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-1499 [...] Source: hummingbird604.com [...] [...] Source: hummingbird604.com [...]

]]>