More than 2 million people in the U.S. lack running water and basic indoor plumbing, according to a new report by the human-rights nonprofit DigDeep and the nonprofit U.S. Water Alliance and race and poverty are key determinants of who has access to clean water and sanitation.

Native Americans are 19 times more likely to lack indoor plumbing than their white counterparts, putting them in the worst spot of any group, and African-American and Latinx households lack indoor plumbing at almost twice the rate of white households, the report found.

The United States is home to some of the most reliable water and wastewater systems on earth, and many Americans believe access is universal, the authors wrote. But in fact, millions of the most vulnerable people in the country low-income people in rural areas, people of color, tribal communities, immigrants have fallen through the cracks.

Lacking access to safe water and sanitation makes it difficult to stay healthy, earn a living, go to school, and care for a family, they added.

The reports analysis drew upon data from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey. Given that surveys limitations it doesnt ask about wastewater services or about the affordability or reliability of water service, the authors said they also conducted qualitative research on a handful of regions (the Navajo Nation, Californias Central Valley, the Texas colonias, Appalachia, Puerto Rico and the rural South) that struggle with adequate water and sanitation access.

Race, the authors found, proved the strongest predictor of whether a household has access to water and sanitation. About 0.3% of white households in the U.S. dont have complete plumbing, for example, versus 5.8% of Native American households and 0.5% of African-American and Latinx households.

Racial water gaps for Latinx and African-American households are particularly salient at the regional level, the authors added: In parts of the South, African Americans are the group most likely to lack complete plumbing. In California and Texas, Latinx people are the most affected.

Economic status also played a role, as the report found that complete plumbing access was correlated with household income, unemployment rates and educational attainment. Higher educational attainment and income in African-American and Latinx households, for example, was positively associated with complete plumbing access. (Complete plumbing refers to running water, shower or bath, tap and flush toilet, though the Census Bureau eliminated the toilet question in the 2016 ACS.)

Whole communities often clustered in specific areas experience lack of access to complete plumbing, the researchers found. Access gaps are concentrated in places including Alaska, Maine and the Dakotas, as well as regions in which the researchers conducted field research. At the same time, smaller pockets experiencing lack of access to water and sanitation are nestled into some counties that generally have better access.

Disparities in water access arent the result of individual choice, the authors said; rather, they stem from historical and geographical factors that have left entire communities without adequate services. The report points to federal water-infrastructure funding that has dried up over the decades, and an even greater disadvantage for communities in which the government didnt initially invest money.

Vulnerable communities disproportionately lack access to water and sanitation, in part due to discriminatory practices embedded in some past water infrastructure development initiatives, the authors said.

A separate study published in the Annals of the American Association of Geographers earlier this year also found hot spots of racial and geographic inequality in Americans water insecurity. Having incomplete plumbing was concentrated in specific regions and was clearly racialized, the authors wrote.

Living in an American Indian or Alaskan Native, black, or Hispanic household increases the odds of being plumbing poor, and these predictors warp and woof through space, they said.

A 2017 analysis published in the journal PLOS One projected that the share of American households that will experience unaffordable water bills could spike from 12% to nearly 36% over the next five years. Factors like infrastructure repairs, climate change, water quality and sanitation all place an increasing strain on water prices, according to the research.

Continued here:
2 million Americans dont have access to running water and basic plumbing - MarketWatch

By Ed Del Grande, Tribune News Service

FridayNov22,2019at6:55PM

Q: Dear Ed: My wife and I plan some aging-in-place changes to our home. One big upgrade in the bathroom will be a walk-in shower stall with grab bars and hand shower. Any other AIP shower ideas we can add?

Mike, Nebraska

A: When removing a standard bathtub to install a walk-in shower, usually a new mixing valve needs to be roughed in as well.

If you want to be trendy and pick up some additional AIP features, check out the new digital electronic shower mixing valves. These push button temperature control valves feature large LCD display screens along with built-in diverter controls.

Aside from easy fingertip operation, other AIP features can include high-temp limit settings, pause settings and second control option outside of shower stall. Eco-mode setups are also available for multi-zone showers.

So when you add up all the numbers, a digital shower valve can be a smart choice for any bathroom.

Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate.

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Plumber: Digital shower valves are a growing trend - The Topeka Capital-Journal

With festive turkey-based feasts fast approaching, and having just re-watched a classic Thanksgiving-themed Steve Martin video, I thought it appropriate that I share a few of the things for which I am thankful. I apologize if the list is too predictable and schmaltzy, but please bear with me.

I am thankful for the deer that frolic in my yard, for indoor plumbing, for pimento cheese, for CBD oil, for a loyal readership, for online treasure troves of long-ago photographs.

I am thankful that in this country a person no matter his station in life has the opportunity to pursue his wildest dreams, at least until he awakens to find that his friends have dipped his hand in a bucket of warm water.

I am thankful that the conscientious use of abbreviations, nicknames, acronyms, hand gestures and emojis has provided mankind enough spare time to conquer the common cold and land a human on Mars. Oh, wait

I am thankful that today is the first day of the rest of your life, unless somebody knocked you into the middle of next week, which would make it the eighth (?) day of the rest of your life, unless they hit too hard and youre, you know, dead. In that case, I am thankful I have a new suit coat for the funeral.

I am thankful that the government hasnt yet placed a microchip underneath my skin to keep track of my every movement, because that landline phone my mother got Dr. Rutledge to insert back in 76 made wearing long sleeve shirts a pain in the keister.

I am thankful that I am wise enough to know to keep my friends close, my enemies closer, my cousin over on the sofa in the corner and that guy I kind of remember graduating with my brother somewhere in the nosebleed section of the auditorium.

I am thankful that you cant always get what you want, because someone has to keep Amazon humble.

I am thankful that my white privilege means shopkeepers dont profile me and watch warily as I search for 7 million SPF sunscreen.

I am thankful that the advertisers who announce get a great meal and HAVE CHANGE LEFT from a five apparently live in a delightful world where only leprechauns and unicorns must pay sales tax.

I am thankful that my sudden realizations involve thoughts like Oh, I left the steam iron plugged in instead of Duh, I just realized that what I overheard the president say was probably significant to this investigation. Do over!

I am thankful that I have never served serious jail time for strangling mental giants whose idea of holding up their end of the conversation is Oh, did you? Is that right? Really? Can you beat that?

I am thankful that when one door closes, another opens, because otherwise we would have a roomful of losers packed in like sardines.

I am thankful that history is written by the winners, because history written by those who received a participation ribbon would be lame as heck.

I am thankful that only God can make a tree, because humans would be selling you an extended warranty on a sugar maple.

Finally, I am thankful that all those times I was dropped on my head as a child have not had the slightest long-term cognitive effects on me

Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol.com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyrees Tyrades.

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DANNY TYREE: On being thankful for indoor plumbing - The Albany Herald

Dale Anderson

Special to Village News

The holidays are prime time for a plumbing crisis, especially Thanksgiving. It's easy to imagine why; it's all that cooking and cleanup.

It's stressful enough getting the house spiffed up for guests. Then the food shopping begins and shoppers must lug that huge turkey home.

Next, families begin preparing the vittles, but this time is the moment to think about plumbing. Yep, think about protecting the plumbing now and help prevent a disaster when guests arrive.

The garbage disposal will get more of a workout over the holidays than any other time of the year. Consider this list of what not to be feeding it.

The main troublemakers for garbage disposals and a home's plumbing are potatoes and potato peelings sweet potatoes and regular potatoes; oil, grease, butter and margarine; bones; banana peelings, celery, artichokes, corn husks, onion skins and other fibrous foods; egg shells; fruit pits; pasta and coffee grounds.

Yes, some of these items may make it down the garbage disposal fine at first. In small bits, it may not have a problem at all.

But let's get real. Families will likely be frazzled with the prep work, looking at the clock, wondering if the mashed potatoes will be pasty enough to apply wallpaper and if they have enough wine so no one will notice. Best to keep it simple and just say "no" to putting even "small bits" of these items down the garbage disposal.

The real problem isn't so much that the garbage disposal may break down. It's that the kitchen sink and other plumbing may back up.

That's because the garbage disposal, naturally, feeds into the rest of the plumbing. When those bits and pieces are pushed down into the garbage disposal and ground up, they need to make it through the home's main plumbing and into the sewer line. The problem comes when they can't make it all the way through the line.

When looking at the list above, it's understandable why they may not all make it through the plumbing pipes. Potatoes, after all, are primarily starch. With enough starch and just a little water these are times of water conservation, the potatoes turn to paste. That paste lays somewhere inside the plumbing line and eventually mixes with everything else that goes down the drains.

Bones are hard to grind and may break the garbage disposal. But even if the garbage disposal is powerful enough to grind up bones, then what is left? Mostly calcium particles. And calcium is one of the minerals that build up in plumbing pipes. Egg shells may grind up in the garbage disposal, but like bones, they're made up primarily of calcium. That mineral build up eventually causes pipes to corrode and leak, but not right away.

At first they lay there in the pipes and mix with the oil, potato paste and coffee grounds just a few feet below the kitchen sink inside the drainage pipes. Then imagine if a few bits of fibrous foods like banana peelings, celery or onion skins are pushed through. These fibers often get wound up in the blades, making them difficult to grind up. They may even cause garbage disposal to stop working altogether.

Voila. It's the perfect recipe for a plumbing backup. And it's most likely going to back up at the kitchen sink, either right before guests arrive or after the meal while everyone is helping to clean up.

This very scenario actually happened to a friend of mine. It was her first Thanksgiving meal with her new husband and her husband's family. She's a vegetarian so it was her first time cooking a turkey. She'd peeled a massive amount of potatoes to make mashed potatoes, continuously pushing those potato peelings down the garbage disposal.

The peelings mixed with the egg shells and coffee grinds she'd previously dumped in the garbage disposal after breakfast. The garbage disposal chugged through the onslaught of peelings, egg shells, coffee grinds and butter drippings from breakfast.

And the sink backed up; then the smoke alarm went off. The paper holding the gizzards inside the turkey caught on fire she didn't know to look for paper inside the turkey. Then the doorbell rang.

Her mother-in-law arrived in time to throw baking soda into the oven to extinguish the fire. It all ended well in her case. In fact, her in-laws had a good laugh about it. It turned out to be a great bonding experience. They had enough wine that no one complained about the pasty mashed potatoes or burnt turkey. Since they couldn't use the dishwasher or wash the dishes by hand, they all helped to stack up the dirty dishes. First thing the next day, she got to know her plumber.

Yes, the day after Thanksgiving is a busy day for plumbers. Call them for any plumbing issue. We are locally owned and operated. In fact, I grew up in Fallbrook helping in my dad's plumbing business, and now I've been running my own plumbing business here for over 30 years.

If we're too busy, I'll recommend another locally owned and operated plumber. Most plumbers people find online may appear local, but actually many are contract plumbers from all over. So with those guys, people will never know who will show up at their door.

Hopefully, these tips about what to keep out of the garbage disposal will help reduce stress over the holidays. Helping neighbors save money and reduce the stress of plumbing issues is our mission at Waterheaters Plus Plumbing.

Dale Anderson is the owner of Waterheaters Plus Plumbing in Bonsall, Fallbrook, Oceanside, Temecula and Vista. For more information, visit http://www.waterheatersplusplumbing.com.

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How to guard against a sink backup and other potential plumbing crises on Thanksgiving - Fallbrook / Bonsall Villlage News

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma City Utilities Department wants to remind residents to prevent clogs by tossing your FOG.

This means tossing any fats, oils and grease into the trash and not down the train.

If poured down the sink, FOG can clog sewer lines and cause costly repairs to you and to the city.

Officials say more than two-thirds of sewer line blockages in Oklahoma City are caused by FOG.

People tend to think that small amounts of oil or grease dont matter, said Michelle Aumiller, the Citys environmental unit supervisor. But even small amounts will build up over time and cause significant problems by clogging household plumbing or the Citys lines. Throwing fats, oils and grease in the trash is an easy way for residents to avoid expensive plumbing visits and help prevent blockages in the citys wastewater system.

To help prevent clogs, pour liquid FOG into an old can and place it in the freezer until it becomes solid, then throw the can in the trash.

Also, use a paper towel to wipe out any remaining FOG from pots and pans before cleaning them in the sink or dishwasher.

People tend to cook larger meals and use more grease and fat in their holiday cooking, Aumiller said.

Aumiller notes that while FOG is a year-round problem, the holidays are a good time to remind people to be careful.

For more information on how you can protect your pipes from FOG and other contaminants, visit okc.gov/water.

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OKC Utilities: Stop holiday plumbing clogs by tossing fats, oils and grease into the trash, not down the drain - KFOR Oklahoma City

For the past three years, Nunes has used his perch on the Intelligence Committeefirst as chairman and now as ranking memberto do Trumps bidding. That continued this morning, as he used his question time to try to get first Williams and then Vindman to publicly identify the whistle-blower whose complaint set off the investigation that has become an impeachment inquiry into the president. Nunes asked both witnesses whether they had spoken with anyone in the press about the call. Both replied that they had not. Nunes then asked who inside or outside the White House each of them had spoken with in the immediate aftermath of the July 25 call between Trump and Zelensky. Williams replied that she had spoken with no one about it, so Nunes quickly moved on to Vindman, and thats where it got interesting.

Read: Take it from me, the attacks on Vindman are disgraceful

Yes, I did, he replied. My core function is to coordinate U.S. government policy, and I spoke to two individuals with regards to providing some sort of readout of the call. Both, he explained, were cleared U.S. government officials with the appropriate need to know.

Vindman said one of those individuals was Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state who testified last week. The other was an individual in the intelligence community.

When Nunes asked him to identify that person, Committee Chairman Adam Schiff interjected. We need to protect the whistle-blower, the Democrat said. Please stop. I want to make sure that there is no effort to out the whistle-blower through these proceedings.

He advised Vindman to be careful, and Vindman listened. After consulting his lawyer, he said he had been advised not to answer specific questions about members of the intelligence community.

After another minute of protest, Nunes moved on, but his ally Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio later took up the same line of questioning, with a similar result.

Both Schiff and Vindman have said they do not know the identity of the whistle-blower, but the exchange left little doubt that the person Vindman spoke with in the intelligence community is the one who ended up filing the initial complaint. The whistle-blowers employment in the intelligence community was established in the complaint, which also said that the whistle-blower had heard about the July 25 call from multiple officials in the White House.

As of this writing, Nunes and Jordan were not successful in their efforts to out the whistle-blower, but their very public attemptlike the many tweets Trump has sent criticizing the personcould have a chilling effect on future whistle-blowers, who must decide whether to report wrongdoing up the chain of command. Indeed, that may have been the intent of the GOP effort.

Vindman did not file a formal whistle-blower complaint, but he did report his concerns about the Trump-Zelensky call and other meetings involving Ukraine to lawyers in the National Security Council. His appearance and testimony this morning made plain the risks he faced in doing so. Vindman is a decorated military veteran who was wounded serving the nation in Afghanistan, and is still currently serving in the White House even as he testifies against the commander in chief. Conservative loyalists of the president have used Vindmans Ukrainian heritagehis family fled the Soviet Union for the United States when he was 4 years oldto question his loyalty. Shortly before the hearing began, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Army had made preparations to move Vindman and his family to a military base to secure their physical safety if necessary. And while the hearing was going on, the White House issued a tweet undermining the credibility of one of its own employees. The GOP committee counsel, Steve Castor, pressed Vindman to detail offers he rejected to become Ukraines defense minister. I immediately dismissed these offers, did not entertain them at all, he replied.

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Trumps Committee to Protect the President - The Atlantic

Homeowners are often engrossed in daily home activities that sometimes they miss the fact that they need plumbing work in their homes. Some homeowners try to fix everything in their homes, but when it comes to plumbing, it is better to get a professional. This is to keep you from always needing the work of a plumber in your home or office. It was revealed that 10% of Americans suffer from small leaks around their homes, and most times, they do not know about it. Some plumbing issues can be managed to a while; however, when it is time to get a plumber in your hope, you will see the signs.

Sometimes, it is not only enough to get a plumbing professional in your home; there are some plumbing companies that will not do a fantastic job and leave you to suffer for it. This is why you need to be careful when you are choosing a plumbing company to work in your home or office. There are several tips on how to pick the best plumbing company, but you must be ready to follow through.

Tips on How to Get the Best Plumbing Services From A Company

Make Sure They Are Authentic

It does not take a lot for a group of people to dress in plumbing clothes to deceive oblivious people. One way to make sure that you are working with a trustworthy company is to ask for their credentials. If they do not have a valid identification card to show that they are from a registered company, then dont entertain their services. Sometimes people create fake credentials, but you as a homeowner can take it a step forward to check online for the companys website. If you are sure that you are working with a licensed company, then you can go ahead and work with them.

Ask For Insurance

When you invite a plumbing company to work in your home, you should be on a safe side and ask them for an insurance policy. This politely is one that states that any client that is not satisfied with the services of a company can be compensated. If the plumbing company has a registered license document, then you can go ahead and work with them.

Check Rates

Sometimes, plumbing companies can cost a fortune, so you should check ahead to know their rates and see if you can afford it. You can go through several company rates to know the one that is better for you.

Check For Online Reviews

People are often faced with difficulties when it comes to choosing a plumbing company, but you do not have to if you go through their online reviews. This will help you know which company is preferred in the city. One of the best plumbing companies with excellent reviews is known as Express Rooter in Toronto, Canada.

Check For Emergency Plumbing Services

Before you allow a plumbing company works on your plumbing issues, you should ask if they offer emergency plumbing services. Often, plumbing issues occur when it is least expected, so you must ensure that there will be someone who will respond to your call if you find yourself in that situation.

Read more:
5 Tips To Choosing The Best Plumbing Company In Your Area - Explosion

PHILIPPI Daves Plumbing and Heating, doing business as DPH, and The Taylor Michael Insurance Agency, a Horace Mann Co., are the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce Members of the Month in November.

Max Chevalier is the owner of DPH, while Taylor Michael Smith is the owner of the Horace Mann Insurance agency in Fairmont.

Daves Plumbing and Heating is a mechanical contracting business specializing in plumbing, heating and cooling installation and service located on U.S. 250 in Barbour County at the intersection of Ten Mile Road. The firm, said Chevalier, provides professional heating and cooling sales and service at a price that leaves our customers no reason to seek our competition. Chevalier is a state licensed and registered contractor.

Chevalier, born in Akron, Ohio, and raised in Philippi, graduated from Philip Barbour High School. He is a member of the board of directors of the Barbour County Community Health Association and was recognized in 2010 in Whos Who Among Business Professionals. He has been a Lennox dealer for over 40 years.

Horace Mann Insurance Agency owner Taylor Michael Smith said the agency was built by educators for educators, and tailors its products to the needs of people in the education system. We pride ourselves in being partners in the schools. We work with auto, fire, life and retirement services and, as partners, we help with student loan forgiveness, Donors Choose and other school-specific programs.

We arent a large, marketed company to the general public, she said, because all of our marketing dollars go back into the schools. We believe that the people shaping our future deserve the best, and we strive every day to make that happen.

Smith began a career in physical therapy in Fairmont, worked for Lesa Yoho State Farm, and became an agency owner two years ago. Her Horace Mann insurance agency is located at 726 E. Park Ave. in Fairmont.

Read more:
Horace Mann Insurance and Dave's Plumbing are Barbour Chamber Members of the Month - WV News

MANKATO The Salvation Armys building will be closed until the nonprofit resolves a major plumbing issue, although cold lunches and the mens homeless shelter will be available.

The plumbing issue arose Tuesday and worsened overnight. Plumbing and flooring crews were working on site Wednesday.

Salvation Army Business Director Leslie Johnson said the Mankato nonprofit is trying to work through the problem, adding its difficult to guess how long services will be impacted.

Its definitely a hardship for our staff to be in a building that doesnt have plumbing, and its definitely a hardship for people that rely on the Salvation Army on the daily for something as simple as a shower or laundry, she said.

The mens shelter will have a port-a-potty for guests to use until plumbing is back online. The shelter housed 10 men Tuesday night but has seen as many as 18 since opening in early November.

With the buildings cafeteria temporarily off limits, the nonprofit distributed sack lunches Wednesday and will do so again at least through Thursday. The lunch program has been feeding about 120 people daily.

The Salvation Armys 700 S. Riverfront Drive building is at least 100 years old, Johnson said.

She encouraged the public to pray for a quick resolution and said those interested in helping can make donations specifically to the plumbing project. People in need of emergency social services can still work with their case worker by calling 507-345-7840.

Were just doing the best we can kind of putting out fires as they come and trying to serve the public as best we can, Johnson said.

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Salvation Army working through plumbing issue - Mankato Free Press

Peter arrived within one hour of us calling him, and was quick, friendly, and did a great job fixing the issue. See all The Original 718 Sewer & Drain reviews

I called JCA plumbing which was recommended to me by a friend. See all JCA Mechanical reviews

Hub SAVED MY LIFE! Dishwasher started leaking right at the dinner party, Rich came out repaired it quickly! See all Hub Plumbing & Mechanical reviews

I know Roto Rooter charges around $500 for snaking, so I searched Yelp and found Johnny to have very good reviews. See all Johnny Drain's Sewer & Drain Cleaning reviews

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John of Peral Plumbing doesn't play this game. See all Peral Piping & Heating Sewer Service reviews

He was very conscientious and thorough, and I'm grateful that Yuda connected his old customers with Jay. See all J V MECH reviews

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Called Manny this morning for what I thought was a clogged drain, and he was able to come over lunch to fix it. See all Manhattan Sewer Drain reviews

At $1.65 a pop for standard copies, the pricing is the best in the area. I know that's pretty normal for outside of Manhattan, but the competition around here charges way more. See all Brothers Hardware reviews

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Plumbers in New York - Yelp