Marion County Sheriff's Office. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

A Salem father, his daughter and two pets were found dead at home on Feb. 1 from what Marion County Sheriffs Office detectives believe was monoxide poisoning.

A 911 caller reported finding Richard Yaple, 50, and Hannah Yaple, 17, of Keizer, not breathing inside the fifth wheel trailer in the 5700 block of State Street on Monday morning after not hearing from them since Saturday, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Due to the suspicious nature of the deaths, detectives from the Marion County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Unit were called to the scene.Detectives believe the two deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane heater being used inside the trailer, the release said.

Sheriffs deputies and Marion County Fire District No. 1 firefighters pronounced them dead at the scene. A dog and cat were also found dead inside, according to the release.

The sheriffs office advises people to carefully read manufacturers instructions before using an indoor space heater and to install carbon monoxide detectors inside homes.

Each year about 430 people die accidentally from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-Saphara Harrell

Read more:
UPDATES: Extended unemployment benefits will be cut, but the state will extend another lifeline to those out of work - Salem Reporter

This is the second post in a two-part series about heat pump waters heaters. The first post is here.

What does a heat pump water heat cost and will you break even? The answer is: It costs a lot and you may not break even, but you wont lose your shirt either. If you want to reduce your homes emissions, it will be the right choice for many of you. You can also increase the odds of breaking even with some effort. Read on for the deets.

What does a heat pump water heat cost?

Heat pump water heater installations have been running around $4500 installed, though prices are coming down. The median of the installations recorded with Silicon Valley Clean Energy in 2019 was $4877 and in 2020 was $4231. There is a lot of price variation, so it pays to shop around. For the purposes of this post, I will use a price of $4000, though with some effort you can get one installed today for $3500 or even less. (1)

Costs of 123 heat pump water heater installations over the last 18 months, as recorded by Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Installations to the right of the green line included an electrical panel upgrade. Older installations are shown to the left of each section.

The variation in prices does not seem to be related to tank size or type. If you arrange the installations by tank size, you will see there is little correlation.

Cost does not seem related to tank size

The majority of the cost is for installation. Retail prices of the water heaters are shown below, though contractors typically get a sizable discount.

Heat pump water heater costs filed with Silicon Valley Clean Energy over the period 2019-2020

You can see that a panel upgrade costs an additional $3500 or so. Since that upgrade can often be avoided, or it may be part of a larger project, this blog post will focus on installations without one. (2)

How does the cost compare with that of a gas tank water heater?

For the $4000 it costs to install a heat pump water heater, you could install three gas tank water heaters or two tankless. To encourage adoption until costs come down, local power providers are offering substantial financial incentives to replace gas water heaters with heat pump water heaters. Peninsula Clean Energy is partnering with the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) on a $2500 rebate (you must use a BayREN-approved contractor). Silicon Valley Clean Energy is offering $2000. And the City of Palo Alto is offering $1200 (or $1500 if you have room for an 80-gallon tank). (3)

Will a buyer break even?

The rebates are big, but often not enough to cover the gap between the heat pump water heater (say $4000) and the gas-fired one (say $1200). You will still be running a deficit of about $300 if you use Peninsula Clean Energy, $800 if you use Silicon Valley Clean Energy, or $1500 if you live in Palo Alto. You might be wondering if the savings on your gas bill will make up for that. Unfortunately, the savings are not as big as you might hope. The heat pump uses only one-sixth the energy of the gas heater, but electricity is expensive, 4-5 times more than gas (per unit of energy). In a typical water heater retrofit, energy costs will go down by only $40/year or so. (4) Over the ten-year life of the water heater, you will break even with the Peninsula Clean Energy rebate, but otherwise, at todays energy prices, you will be short $400-$1200. (5)

A comprehensive analysis from energy consulting firm E3 confirms this deficit. While many clean energy conversions are financially beneficial, even without rebates, heat pump water heater retrofits in our area generally are not.

Heat pump water heater retrofit costs, analyzed without rebates and using todays energy prices, are not economical when compared with their gas (tank) counterpart. Tankless water heater replacements compare more favorably. Source: E3, 2019.

Should you get one anyway?

For many of you looking to reduce your emissions, the additional $400-$1200 expense of the heat pump water heater is worth it. Your homes emissions go down by 30%, you remove unhealthy and dangerous gas from your garage or utility closet, you eliminate a source of smog (6), and it all works invisibly once the heater is installed.

You may also be anticipating that energy prices will evolve in a way that discourages adoption of gas appliances. The price on carbon may increase or, even without that, the gradual movement away from gas appliances will increase gas prices. By converting now you will stay ahead of the curve.

You might also consider the cost of the carbon dioxide you would be emitting by burning gas for your hot water. A gas tank water heater emits about 11 tonnes of carbon over its lifetime. To remove that amount of carbon and store it underground would cost around $12,000 today (using Climeworks). The heat pump water heater is a bargain! Or you might consider that many economists believe our emissions should be taxed at $50-$100/tonne, which lines up pretty well with the differential cost. Finally, you might take into account that green upgrades like this can increase the value of your home. This study in Nature Energy concluded that homes that have a heat pump for space heating enjoy a $10,000 or so premium in sales price by appealing to environmentally conscious buyers.

For all these reasons, many of you will decide that a heat pump water heater makes sense.

You can also make an effort to get one for $3500 or less. Some tips include:

- Shop around. Reach out to a number of installers. Check your local power provider, SwitchIsOn, and BayREN for possibilities, or the installation history from Silicon Valley Clean Energy.

- Facilitate the bids. Share with the candidates (a) a photo of your current tank, especially the top half so they can see the connections; (b) a photo of the larger area where it is installed, so they can determine how to drain the condensate; and (c) a photo of the inside of your electric panel, so they can assess capacity.

- Choose 15 amps. Opt for the 15-amp model to reduce demand on your panel (and make sure the installer is aware of your choice).

- Help out. Offer to buy your own heater and/or pull the permit on your own. That may save you some cost.

- Plan ahead. Consider getting any electrical work done in advance so the plumber can save time.

Another option is to wait for 120-volt models to come out. I am told that Rheem will be making two models available in April. These should simplify installation and reduce costs in exchange for some performance compromises. I dont have much information on these yet, but hope to soon.

If not now, when?

When will heat pump water heaters reach cost parity without rebates? I am doubtful that will happen soon. The product and installation costs will have to come way down. One installer mentioned that permitting alone can contribute up to $1000 of the cost. In Palo Alto, a contractor might charge $150 to pull the permit, then the City charges $300 for the permit itself. The contractor might bill another $300-$500 to wait for and meet with the inspector. If our building departments streamline and discount this process, that will help. As installers gain experience (and competition) their time and labor costs for installation will continue to come down. Costs of the heaters should come down as well. But all of this takes a while, and once the installed cost has plummeted from $4000 to (say) $2200, the rebate will probably have gone away, leaving a $1000 gap. Energy prices have to change as well.

If electricity were free, the heat pump water heaters would be an easy win since you would save $200-$300 every year on energy bills. Thats not as far-fetched as it sounds. In Texas, there are many plans that offer free electricity at night. You could heat up your water at night for free, maybe to 130 instead of 120, then use it throughout the day, with a particularly hot shower in the morning. Nice!

Unfortunately, California has expensive electricity with relatively anemic time-of-use differentials. The map below shows how Californias electricity prices rank with the rest of the country.

California ranks 45 out of 50 in electricity prices, behind HI, AK, CT, RI, and MA. (Shade indicates rank.) Source: Choose Energy, 2021.

The E3 analysis mentioned above assessed whether scheduling the water heaters to run at low time-of-use rates would help. In practice it made little difference because the pricing differentials are small. (PG&E rates are shown in the left section, using a model based on the climate of Santa Clara County.)

Scheduling your water heater to avoid peak rates has little impact on bill savings. (This comparison is between a heat pump and a tankless gas water heater.) Source: E3, 2019.

It may be difficult for power providers to drop electricity rates much, given the work needed in California to harden the grid from fires and build in resiliency. Christine Tam, a Senior Resource Planner for the City of Palo Alto Utilities, mentioned that transmission costs went up 15% in just the last year alone. If electricity rates do drop a modest amount, we will still need the price of gas to go up to make the heat pump water heater the cheaper option. For example, if electricity prices drop by 15% and gas prices go up by 15%, then the customer saves at least $100 each year with the heat pump water heater and the switch makes sense. An easier approach may be for California power providers to develop more aggressive time-of-use rates ala Texas.

Some types of electrification retrofits are clear financial wins in the Bay Area, like space heating combined with air conditioning. Its tougher to make the case for heat on its own, whether space heating or water heating. Our climate is mild and getting milder, so we dont use enough heat to justify efficient but costly appliances. Policy and pricing need to come together to wean us off of fossil fuels. The rebates are a big help, and the Building Decarbonization Coalition has other great ideas.

I find it particularly hard to reconcile Californias clear desire to electrify its buildings with the fact that our power providers charge some of the highest electricity rates in the country. Stay tuned next week to learn more about why Californias rates are so high and what might be done about it.

In the meantime, those of you interested in reducing your home emissions by almost one-third can take advantage of aggressive rebates today and a growing list of certified installers to get a right-priced installation with a little bit of planning. This is a one-and-done deal, taking no effort once the change is made. Imagine how nice it would be to take a hot shower without heating the planet at the same time!

Notes and References

0. I want to thank Menlo Park Environmental Quality Commissioners Josie Gaillard and Tom Kabat for their contributions to this blog post. Gaillard and Kabat spend a good deal of time working to understand and improve the economics of electrification, and I particularly appreciated their perspectives on this post and the many tips they shared for lowering costs.

1. Silicon Valley Clean Energy collects information about installers. From their records, Air & Plumbing Systems in Los Gatos, which does its own electrical work, has prices right around the median and has done many installs. The other big installer, EJ Plumbing, has higher prices (median $5208), possibly because it does not do the electrical work in-house. I am told that there are plumbers who, if you order the tank and file for the permit yourself, will do the work for around $2000, for a total expense of around $3500.

2. In Silicon Valley Clean Energys data set, 39 out of the 123 installations, or 32%, did a panel upgrade. Many could likely have done without. It is important to remember to get a 15-amp model rather than 30-amp. If needed, consider sharing a 240v circuit with a splitter like this.

3. These rebates only apply when you are replacing a gas fired water heater. There are rebates to replace an electric resistance water heater, but they are much smaller. Both Peninsula Clean Energy and Silicon Valley Clean Energy are also offering partial rebates for panel upgrades if they are needed.

4. Here is the math for that, in case you want to plug in your own numbers. Lets say your annual gas use is 600 therms, which is about average for our area. Maybe 30% of that, or 180 therms, is used to heat water. In Palo Alto that might cost $216 (at $1.20/therm, assuming costs are split across the two tiers), while with PG&E that might cost $306 (at $1.70/therm, again assuming costs are split).

What will it cost with a heat pump water heater? Electricity is more expensive (a $0.25/kWh rate is equivalent to a $8.80/therm price). But electric heat pumps are much more efficient. A gas water heater that burns 180 therms of gas will waste about 40% of that energy, effectively heating the water with only 108 therms. On the other hand, an electric heat pump that needs to generate 108 therms of energy to heat water will consume only 30 therms (880 kWh) from the wall, getting the rest of the heat from the surrounding air. (This assumes a modern heat pump with UEF 3.55.)

In Palo Alto those 880 kWh might cost about $167 (at $0.19/kWh in Tier 2), while with PCE and SVCE that 880 kWh might cost about $264 (at $0.30/kWh in Tier 2). In either case, the savings is only about $40/year.

You can plug in your own rates to see how much cheaper your electric cost will be. Take your electricity rate (in kWh) divided by your gas rate (in therms), and multiply by 4.95. For example, if your electricity rate is $0.22/kWh and your gas rate is $1.30/therm, then the result is 4.95 * $0.22 / $1.30 = 0.84 or 84%. You will save 16% on the amount you pay today for hot water. (If your use is well into the second tier of pricing, then use that price, otherwise use the first tier or a mix.)

You may also want to keep in mind that gas prices are likely to go up over the coming decade, likely increasing the savings on your energy bills if you switch to electric.

5. Those of you with your own solar power, with large hot water demands, or with a particularly well maintained and long-lasting tank will fare somewhat better.

6. Panama Bartholomy of the Building Decarbonization Coalition estimates that buildings in California produce more smog than cars, and about seven times more smog than power plants.

Current Climate Data (December 2020)Global impacts, US impacts, CO2 metric, Climate dashboard (updated annually)

Comment GuidelinesI hope that your contributions will be an important part of this blog. To keep the discussion productive, please adhere to these guidelines or your comment may be moderated:- Avoid disrespectful, disparaging, snide, angry, or ad hominem comments.- Stay fact-based and refer to reputable sources.- Stay on topic.- In general, maintain this as a welcoming space for all readers.

See the rest here:
Will you save money with a heat pump water heater? - Mountain View Voice

Kitchen taps are used several times during the day by both adults and kids in the house. From washing hands, utensils, fresh produce to raw ingredients and more, water supply is a necessity in the kitchen. To add more comfort and convenience, you can opt for tap water heaters that will instantly provide hot water and eliminate the task of heating water on the stove. Tap geysers are also a space-saving tool in the kitchen as you need not install a hefty geyser for access to hot water. In parts where colder temperatures get freezing, these tap geysers will be a saviour for all kinds of kitchen tasks. Check out our picks below: Access water within the temperature range of about 30 degrees to 55 degrees with this tap water heater. This heater has 360 degrees rotation and will be very convenient to use and install. The heater is also has a LED display to display temperature. The shell material of this heater is ABS plastic and the valve material is ceramic. The power cord length of the heater is 1.2 metre.'; var randomNumber = Math.random(); var isIndia = (window.geoinfo && window.geoinfo.CountryCode === 'IN') && (window.location.href.indexOf('outsideindia') === -1 ); //console.log(isIndia && randomNumber This compact and sturdy tap heater will provide you with heated water within a few seconds, unlike conventional heaters that require time to heat up. The shell material of the tap is made from plastic and the heating element is made from stainless steel. This tap water heater will give a lasting performance with its temperature resistant, strong and body that has anti-stamping qualities. The tap heater will provide about 30 degrees to 40 degrees water in colder temperatures. The heater has a built-in high sensitivity sensor probe, which will provide real-time detection of temperature and display the current temperature. This tap water heater is built with highly sensitive built-in leakage protection and anti-dry design to ensure safety. The ABS plastic and stainless steel construction of the unit is shockproof and can be used safely by anyone. The heating tube of the heater is made from stainless steel.DISCLAIMER: The Times of India's journalists were not involved in the production of this article.

See the article here:
Get temperature-controlled water with tap water heaters for kitchen taps - Times of India

The beginning of astronomical winter arrived more than a month ago, but it took until this week for the real, prolonged, bitter cold to put a freeze on Hampton Roads.

With highs near freezing, wind chill below freezing and two inches of snow this week, its a safe bet many folks were putting on layers, turning up the thermostats, stoking the fires, and maybe even pulling out the space heaters. People with fewer resources may also have turned to less conventional, and more dangerous, methods of heating their living space.

Unfortunately, home heating is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries (after unattended cooking), and the third leading cause of home fire deaths. Fire departments respond to nearly 50,000 fires every year across the United States involving heating equipment.

The National Fire Prevention Association has this list of safety tips to help avoid fires caused by heating equipment:

Read more from the original source:
Stay safe in cold weather - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald

(WWLP)- The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services is reminding residents of ways to safely keep their homes warm this winter and how to prevent house fires.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, heating has caused 6,692 fires over the past five years and is the number two cause of home fires in Massachusetts.

Residents are encouraged to use their home heating system and space heating appliances wisely and responsibly. The following tips were provided by the Department of Fire Services:

The ABCs of fire safety

Be careful when using fireplaces and solid fuel stoves

If you heat your home by burning solid fuels (coal, firewood, pellets), be careful before, during, and after using these kinds of fuels.

Space heaters need space

Fires caused by space heaters are rare but often deadly. If you must use a space heater, doso safely.

Maintain Natural Gas Equipment

Natural gas is a safe and efficient way to cook and heat our homes and hot water.

Gas leaks can be dangerous if you smell something like rotten eggs or you think there might be a leak:

Maintain Oil Heating Equipment

Home heating with fuel oil is also safe and efficient.

Carbon Monoxide: The silent killer

Heating equipment is the leading source of carbon monoxide in the home.

Continue reading here:
Tips on how to keep warm and keep safe during cold weather - WWLP.com

First off, calm down. That price you see for the Aquasana Whole House 10-Year Water Conditioning System is all that youll pay for equipment, filter media, or installation hardwarefor ten years. Thats right: no changing out media and nothing to replacefor ten years (you may have to spring for pipe and fittings for your existing system).

Now, do you understand? Good, because this water conditioner is awesome and theres more to tell you.

The Aquasana filtration system pumps out healthy, clean water from everywhere in your house. 97% of the chlorine from regular tap water is removed along with all sorts of other toxic substances such as pesticides, rust, silt, metals (!), solvents, and more. Plus, the system doesnt use any chemicals or salt to make it all work.

The system is designed to hook right into your existing water supply system in one go. Say goodbye to scale, sediment, and more coming out of your taps and spigots. This water conditioner features a sediment pre-filter, a salt-free water conditioner, activated carbon filter, and a post filter to make sure all the water in your house looks clear and tastes great.

View post:
11 Best Water Conditioners for Your Home (2021) - Heavy.com

The bitter colds months are here and southern tier and northern Pennsylvania homes are turning up the heat.

The Firemens Association of the State of New York reminds you that heating homes is the second leading cause of homes fires, injuries and death.

Many New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians are working from their homes and keeping the heat turned up, and putting more work on our furnaces and heat sources.

According to a FASNY news release December, January, and February are the months for fires caused by heating sources in our homes.

Make sure you are following all safety precautions during these times.

Smaller units like space heaters and plug-in electric heaters can increase the risk of fire in your home, and are responsible for 25,000 house fires, and thousands of burn injuries, if they are not properly used.

Always make sure your heating equipment is maintained and working properly, and make sure you have sufficient smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, and check the batteries.

In the news release FASNY President John P Farrell says We recommend everyone place carbon monoxide alarms outside of sleeping areas in the home, especially as it gets colder and snow may block exhaust pipes in homes. We want all New Yorkers to be fire-safe this winter and remember if there is a fire: get out, stay out, and call 911

Here are a few tips from the Firemens Association of the State of New York.

Be Safe this winter, for more information CLICK HERE

See the article here:
Heating Homes Leading Cause of Fire in Winter - wnbf.com

SELBYVILLE, Del., Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest report "Electric Water Heater Market by Product (Instant, Storage), By Capacity (< 30 Liters, 30-100 Liters, 100-250 Liters, 250-400 Liters, > 400 Liters), Application (Residential, Commercial), Regional Outlook, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2026", by Global Market Insights, Inc., the market valuation of electric water heaterwill cross $22 billion by 2026.

Increasing urban migration, rising middle-class income groups along with growing smart city construction projects coupled with ongoing building infrastructure development, is anticipated to boost the market value. Stringent government mandates and norms to replace the existing units with energy-efficient heating systems will further augment product penetration.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/680

Increasing deployment across the remote off-grid areas along with growing product adoption across various commercial establishments comprising hospitals, resorts and hotels, among others, will fuel the electric water heater market growth. Ongoing construction of green buildings coupled with robust expansion of the service sector will spur the industry value. Furthermore, the rising middle-class income group and increasing disposable incomes will further drive the market landscape.

The storage water heater market is projected to showcase significant growth during the forecast timeframe led by key features comprising higher mass flow, low operation cost and efficient heating capability. Growing consumer spending in the real estate sector coupled with ongoing refurbishment activities to develop the prevalent building infrastructure will strengthen the market revenue.

Flexible installation with the existing electrical circuit combined with easy repair & maintenance will accelerate the product deployment across residential applications. Ongoing government incentive programs to fund commercial infrastructure construction activities comprising airports, hospitals, and educational institutions is set to accelerate product acceptance. Additionally, growing demand for energy-efficient heating equipment coupled with increasing R&D activities and product advancements will positively enhance the market share.

Stringent mandates & norms concerning the growing carbon emissions coupled with the abundant availability of gas resources will influence the Europe electric water heatermarket size. According to the European Commission, the eco-Design and labelling directives regulate the water level standards along with the technological advancements with respect to smart control heaters. Increasing water heating requirements on account of extreme climatic conditions is set to further accelerate market expansion.

COVID-19 has led to a global pandemic that has affected the global economy, impacting numerous industries comprising construction and component manufacturing, among others. The industry manufacturers all around the world bear supply shortages owing to lockdowns imposed by countries.

Eminent players operating in the electric water heater market consist of A.O. Smith, Panasonic Corporation, Rheem Manufacturing, Havells India, Whirlpool Corporation and Bosch.

Request for customization of this research report @

https://www.gminsights.com/roc/680

Some major findings of the electric water heater market report include:

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3Electric Water Heater Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.2.1 Vendor matrix

3.3 Innovation & sustainability

3.4 Regulatory landscape

3.5 COVID-19 impact on industry outlook, 2020 2026

3.5.1 Top 10 countries impacted by COVID-19

3.5.2 Optimistic view

3.5.3 Realistic view

3.5.4 Pessimistic view

3.6 Customer requirement

3.7 Entry barriers

3.8 Price trend analysis

3.8.1 Price trend analysis, by application

3.9 Industry impact forces

3.9.1 Growth drivers

3.9.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.10 Growth potential analysis

3.11 Porter's analysis

3.12 Competitive landscape, 2019

3.13 PESTEL Analysis

Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @

https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/electric-water-heater-market

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free:1-888-689-0688Email:[emailprotected]

Related Imageselectric-water-heater-market.png Electric Water Heater Market Growth Predicted at 5% Through 2026: GMI Stringent mandates & norms concerning the growing carbon emissions coupled with abundant availability of gas resources will influence the European electric water heater market growth.

Related LinksSmart Water Metering Market Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.

More here:
Electric Water Heater Market Revenue to Cross USD 22 Bn by 2026: Global Market Insights, Inc. - PRNewswire

Orchids to

Batman at All Saints Apartments, once again our hero!

the good folks at B&B Plumbing for their timely response, acumen, professionalism and exceptional customer service to repair a water heater.

those who installed the lights in the trees on Washington Street! Our downtown is a wonderland!

Dr. Wagner, Chelsea Spartz, their support staff and all the nurses in the cancer center treatment room at CRH, a heartfelt thank you for your skills, your kindness and everything you do for us, from Chris and Fred Hales.

the person in the white pickup truck at McDonalds on State Road 46 for paying our breakfast food order on Wednesday, we will pay it forward.

Audio Source for amazing customer service.

the gentleman who bought our breakfast at Jills on Tuesday.

Kaylee and Robin at the Columbus Dialysis for all your help the last few weeks, from Tom and Judy.

Wade Meyers and Nicol at the prosecutors office, from Marie.

the meeting leaders who fail to show any concern about putting teachers back into the classroom.

those considering it a plausible and sensible idea to bring children back into schools during the worst wave of COVID-19 cases.

those who insist children are asymptomatic: where is the discussion on how to keep the adults and other students informed, safe, and healthy while teaching and learning in a possible infected environment?

those contributing more than $200 million for election challenge legal expenditures but didnt read the fine print only to discover that less than 5% of that was actually used for that purpose.

the federal elected official for his art of the deal trade deficit of more than $100 billion dollars than when he took office in 2016.

opinionated, negative people.

the federal elected official who right before our eyes with the tacit approval of his political party is trying to steal the election.

the leadership of the political party who are not standing up to say the federal elected officials words are untrue.

city elected officials who keep spending money on flower pots and benches.

the federal elected official supporters who are still drinking his Kool-aid.

Tony Beach, from John, Leta, Joyce and Donna.

ANOTHER beautiful morning

Original post:
Around Town December 17 - The Republic

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University; Amisha Shah, Purdue University, and Kristofer P. Isaacson, Purdue University

(THE CONVERSATION) When wildfires swept through the hills near Santa Cruz, California, in 2020, they released toxic chemicals into the water supplies of at least two communities. One sample found benzene, a carcinogen, at 40 times the states drinking water standard.

Our testing has now confirmed a source of these chemicals, and its clear that wildfires arent the only blazes that put drinking water systems at risk.

In a new study, we heated plastic water pipes commonly used in buildings and water systems to test how they would respond to nearby fires.

The results, released Dec. 14, show how easily wildfires could trigger widespread drinking water contamination. They also show the risks when only part of a building catches fire and the rest remains in use. In some of our tests, heat exposure caused more than 100 chemicals to leach from the damaged plastics.

As environmentalengineers, we advise communities on drinking water safety and disaster recovery. The western U.S.s extreme wildfire seasons are putting more communities at risk in ways they might not realize. Just this year, more than 52,000 fires destroyed more than 17,000 structures many of them homes connected to water systems. Heat-damaged plastic pipes can continue to leach chemicals into water over time, and ridding a water system of the contamination can take months and millions of dollars.

A baffling source of contamination

The cause of drinking water contamination after wildfires has baffled authorities since it was discovered in 2017.

After the 2017 Tubbs Fire and 2018 Camp Fire, chemicals were found in buried water distribution networks, some at levels comparable to hazardous waste. Contamination was not in the water treatment plants or drinking water sources. Some homeowners found drinking water contamination in their plumbing.

Tests revealed volatile organic compounds had reached levels that posed immediate health risks in some areas, including benzene levels that exceeded the EPA hazardous waste threshold of 500 parts per billion. Benzene was found at a level 8,000 times the federal drinking water limit and 200 times the level that causes immediate health effects. Those effects can include dizziness, headaches, skin and throat irritation and even unconsciousness, among other risks.

This year, wildfires triggered drinking water contamination in at least two moreCalifornia drinking water systems, and testing is still underway in other communities.

The problem with plastics

Plastics are ubiquitous in drinking water systems. They are often less expensive to install than metal alternatives, which hold up against high heat but are vulnerable to corrosion.

Today, water pipes under the street and those that deliver water to customers water meters are increasingly made of plastic. Pipes that transport the drinking water from the meter to the building are often plastic. Water meters also sometimes contain plastics. Private wells can have plastic well casings as well as buried plastic pipes that deliver well water to plastic storage tanks and buildings.

Pipes inside buildings that carry hot and cold water to faucets can also be plastic, as can faucet connectors, water heater dip tubes, refrigerator and ice maker tubing.

To determine if plastic pipes could be responsible for drinking water contamination after wildfires, we exposed commonly available plastic pipes to heat. The temperatures were similar to the heat from a wildfire that radiates toward buildings but isnt enough to cause the pipes to catch fire.

We tested several popular plastic drinking water pipes, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC).

Benzene and other chemicals were generated inside the plastic pipes just by heating. After the plastics cooled, these chemicals then leached into the water. It happened at temperatures as low as 392 degrees Fahrenheit. Fires can exceed 1,400 degrees.

While researchers previously discovered that plastics could release benzene and other chemicals into the air during heating, this new study shows heat-damaged plastics can directly leach dozens of toxic chemicals into water.

[Youre too busy to read everything. We get it. Thats why weve got a weekly newsletter. Sign up for good Sunday reading. ]

What to do about contamination

A community can stop water contamination from spreading if damaged pipes can be quickly isolated. Without isolation, the contaminated water may move to other parts of the water system, across town or within a building, causing further contamination.

During the CZU Lightning Complex Fire near Santa Cruz, one water utility had water distribution system valves that seemed to have contained the benzene-contaminated water.

Rinsing heat-damaged pipes wont always remove the contamination. While helping Paradise, California, recover from the 2018 Camp Fire disaster, we and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that some plastic pipes would have required more than 100 days of nonstop water rinsing to be safe for use. Instead, officials decided to replace the pipes.

Even if a home is undamaged, we recommend testing the water in private wells and service lines if fire was on the property. If contamination is found, we recommend finding and removing the heat-damaged plastic contamination sources. Some plastics can slowly leach chemicals like benzene over time, and this could go on for months to years, depending on the scale of contamination and water use. Boiling the water doesnt help and can release benzene into the air.

Avoiding widespread contamination

Communities can take steps to avoid contaminated drinking water in the event of a fire. Water companies can install network isolation valves and backflow prevention devices, to prevent contaminated water moving from a damaged building into the utility pipe network.

Insurance companies can use pricing to encourage property owners and cities to install fire-resistant metal pipes instead of plastic. Rules for keeping vegetation away from meter boxes and buildings can also lessen the chance heat reaches plastic water system components.

Homeowners and communities rebuilding after fires now have more information about the risks as they consider whether to use plastic pipes. Some, like the town of Paradise, have chosen to rebuild with plastic and accept the risks. In 2020, the city had another wildfire scare and residents were forced to evacuate again.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/plastic-pipes-are-polluting-drinking-water-systems-after-wildfires-its-a-risk-in-urban-fires-too-150923.

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Plastic pipes are polluting drinking water systems after wildfires it's a risk in urban fires, too - Alton Telegraph