Category: Uncategorized

There’s a lot in the news this morning on utility disconnections that I want to share, and we hope you can help us amplify on social media and within your networks. Also! Join us today in taking action for long term water-justice solutions! We’re mobilizing to show Congress that they must address our water crisis in the upcoming infrastructure package.  

Congress and the Biden administration are working on a huge infrastructure package right now that must include The WATER Act – to fix broken water mains, keep our drinking water safe and bills affordable. This is a very popular idea – our allies at the Water Hub just published new polling that shows 93% of voters believe fixing America’s outdated and unsafe drinking water systems should be a top priority for President Biden’s economic recovery plan.

Join us in taking action today! Here are three easy steps:

• Call your Representative!

    Dial: 202-609-9041

” Hi my name is ____ and I live at ______. I am calling to urge Rep ____ to cosponsor the  WATER Act (HR 1352) and include these policies in the infrastructure package. We need more federal investment in our water systems to keep our water safe, affordable, and publicly managed.“

• Call your Senators!

    Dial: 202-609-9043 (call twice to get connected to each Senator’s office)

“Hi my name is ____ and I live at ______. I am calling to urge Sen. ____ to cosponsor the WATER Act (S 916) and include these policies in the infrastructure package. We need more federal investment in our water systems to keep our water safe, affordable, and publicly managed.”

Our work on the Human right to water is moving forward on many levels, and today as a member of the People’s Water Project is being sent to Radhika Fox, EPA’s Administrator for Water. Please read our coalition letter.

This #WorldWaterDay and every day, water is a human right. We are still promoting the solution to water affordability and accessibility on the premise that water is a human right and that it is a part of our public health and not a commercial utility . Therefor, a basic amount water needs to be provided per person per day for drinking and sanitation. This basic water service should be paid for from a public health budget.

We were inspired by Central City Concern’s visualization of the rules guiding (and limiting) reuse of water and nutrients in Oregon, to make our own now that rules have changed.  Ever wondered what permit you need for a site built composting toilet? Or how graywater and blackwater are regulated? Or just really like graphical representations of complex systems?  Feel free to send feedback to molly@recodeoregon.org.  It’s open source so feel free to modify it or use it for your own purposes.

Oregon Regulations for Water & Nutrient Reuse

We (Melora, Mathew and Molly)  just got back from our first Recode Ecosan Tour.  We visited DEQ offices in Bend, Medford and Coos Bay.  We held public presentations in Bend, Coquille and Ashland. Thanks so much to our hosts for welcoming us in to their communities.

 

Yesterday Recode participants and 15 DEQ staff from the DEQ’s NW Regional office sat down and discussedwe manage our water and excrement.  Recode researchers Mathew Lippincott and Molly Danielsson have been asking experts in conventional and alternative treatment in the US and Europe what they see as the future for managing water and excrement on sites.  They shared five case studies that showcase the myriad solutions to these dynamic issues.

Thanks to everyone at the DEQ office for bringing your voice to this nuanced issue.

Recode volunteers Mathew Lippincott and Molly Danielsson will be at Oregon Water Education Foundation’s Water Environment School at Clackamas Community College this week.

Thanks to Abe Ingle of Fine Design Group for helping us get our new website up and running.  We’re currently researching how Sweden and Finland have dramatically revolutionized onsite treatment systems to make them more cost effective, meet higher nutrient standards for the output and become a leader in the sustainable water and sanitation sector.  Check out Sweden’s web portal for homeowners to find out how to make decisions about their onsite treatment systems: The Onsite Guide.  We’ve been able to read it thanks to Google Chrome’s translation feature. Everything that says “sewer” or “drain” is meant to say septic tank or system. What’s nice about this is it outlines all the current options for onsite systems, who can install them and how well they treat them. It’s interesting to see how many more choices they have for ecological sanitation than we have here in the States.