Here is an AP comment posted in reply to a New York Times blog post about weather modification. You can read the original posting @ http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/on-the-pursuit-of-weather-modification/#comment-78643

AquaPro reply:
Will we ever learn?
“Weather modification”; the term itself causes me great concern! I believe we are asking for trouble and serious trouble at that. This may be one of the biggest hurdles we face at this current point in human evolution. Rather than modifying human behavior to act more in accordance with the Earths natural processes, we continue to spend incredible amounts of money and resources in an effort to work against nature rather than work with it. Are we really so arrogant as to believe that we have the depth of knowledge or an adequate understanding of the intricacies’ of Earths planetary processes that we can effect changes and know what the long term results are going to be? If we expect to survive we need to recognize our place as a species living “on” this planet rather than “owning” it. Earth was here long before us and it will be here long after we are gone.
We should turn our efforts and resources toward figuring out how we should adapt to surviving in harmony with the earth rather than in conflict with it. We can do it, we should do it, I hope we will do it in time. Will the children of generations to come look back at us and wonder how we could have been so naive” or will they be thankful for the wisdom of our generation. Let’s do our best to ensure the later.

That's what I think. what do you think.

AP
www.AquaProSolutions.com
www.AquaEnvi.org

When you think "Greening" consider "The Forgotten Factor"

I am seeing lots of articles lately about business efforts to lower energy consumption. Below is my reply to an article posted on the Green, Inc blog for the New York Times.

Across the country we are witnessing sincere efforts to reduce energy consumption from both the consumer and commercial perspective. Mr. Odeh's effort is commendable and deserves recognition.

What about "The Forgotten Factor"; the connection between improved water efficiency and the reduction in energy consumption? Studies have clearly identified this relationship. If you do even a minimal of research, the troubling truth about global fresh water supplies should put water efficiency and water conservation at the forefront of everyone's "greening" efforts. I wonder if Mr. Odeh considered the value of improving water efficiency at his restaurants. No mention therein leads me to believe this is not the case. In most business a practices “greening” is as much about improving the bottom line as as it is about lessening impacts on the environment. As consumers and businesses, our water footprint is a very significant part of our overall carbon footprint.

A Water Efficiency Assessment and ROI Analysis can easily demonstrate that even something as minimal as a plumbing fixture upgrade can produce a substantial reduction in wasted water thereby lowering utility bills, and lessening overall environmental impact. I have witnessed the results. I have seen a $70,000 investment in water efficiency improvements (toilets, showerheads, faucet aerators) at an apartment complex in Charlotte, NC resulting in a reduction in metered water expenses of greater than $10,000 per billing cycle. I am aware of similar projects taking place in Louisville, Pittsburgh, Detroit and South Florida. It makes financial sense and helps substantially lower human impacts on a natural resource that we just can not do without.

When you think "Greening" consider "The Forgotten Factor"
AP
AquaPro@AquaEnvi.org
www.AquaProSolutions.com

Cooperative venture to assist hospitality industry lower overhead & improve water efficiency

AquaPro Solutions has partnered with Aqua Environmental Resource Center and Asheville Green Plumbing in developing an industry specific water conservation program. The program is designed to help lower operating cost and improve water efficiency for the hospitality and housing industries. The pilot program will be available to owners of hotels, motels, condominiums, housing & apartment complexes in the Western North Carolina region. The program will offer an upgrade to existing facilities that includes converting toilets into a Dual Flush High efficiency toilet, replacing showerheads' with a water saving 1.5gpm multi-function pressure compensating showerhead and replacing the faucet aerator with a water saving 0.5gpm tamper resistant aerator. Cost to qualifying businesses is $125.00 per bathroom which includes labor to install the EPA Water Sense Approved products. The upgrade will cut water consumption per room by approximately 30%. This will result in lowered annual operating costs and a substantial increase in water efficiency. Resource for this pilot program are limited and available on a qualifying basis. For details on this program send inquiries to: info@aquaenvi.org

AP
Www.AquaProSolutions.com

"The Forgotten Factor"

As is typically the case, one of our most important "greening" opportunities’ is overlooked or at least goes without mention. I am coining the phenomenon as "the forgotten factor"; the direct relationship between improving water efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
When considering energy efficiency improvements no one seems to employ the very relevant connection between Water Efficiency and Energy Reductions. Studies have been done, the information is clear yet little attention is afforded to the value of "the forgotten factor"; water efficiency. The potential savings of dollars & kilowatts, directly related to improving water efficiency is staggering; and along with that we reduce societal demands on our potable water resources. Improving water efficiency is one of the most important environmental efforts we can employ; just ask any of the communities that are running out of water. When was the last time you worried about turning on a faucet or flushing the toilet? It will likely happen sooner than you think.

AP
www.AquaProSolutions.com

What is a Flapperless Toilet?

This is revolutionary flush technology. I love it when manufacturers think outside the box. It's about time someone redesigned the gravity flush toilet. This is so simple you have to wonder why it hasn't been done sooner. Maybe the flapper manufacturing companies had something to do with keeping the simplicity of this design off the market?

Standard toilet designs contain rubber flush balls that can leak due to improper seating or normal “wear and tear” from corrosive minerals in the water. This is not the case with a “true” flapperless toilet, which has NO sealing devices that control the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. A “true” flapperless toilet eliminates all such sealing devices and resultant concerns for the water conservation industry. In the Niagara Flapperless® tank, water is self-contained in either a 1.28- or 1.6-gallon “tipping bucket”.

There has been some confusion in the industry regarding flapperless toilets. A number of manufacturers with unconventional flappers are attempting to define their flexible seal as “flapperless”. Any flexible seal controlling the flow of water from the tank to the bowl can eventually deteriorate and leak. As a result, the user will waste water or, alternatively, have to replace the flexible seal, possibly increasing the consumed water amount per flush and compromising water conservation gains – something that is crucial we avoid, given the growing need to save water.

True Flapperless Technology: The only gravity-flush toilet that controls water flow with the use of patented “tipping bucket” technology, eliminating rubber flappers and flexible seals in the toilet tank.

The Niagara Flapperless® “Tipping Bucket” technology contains no flush balls or flappers. It’s virtually maintenance-free and will never leak.

As a conservationist company, it has been an ongoing challenge to keep the user from unintentionally or intentionally converting a 1.28- or 1.6-gallon per flush (GPF) toilet to a higher amount of consumed water per flush after the flexible seal has been replaced. A “true” flapperless toilet addresses this issue. The user will not have the responsibility of detecting possible leaks from a flexible seal within the tank and the additional challenge of locating the right replacement part – simply because with a Niagara Flapperless™, there is no maintenance involved, and no leaky seals to replace – EVER! A “true” flapperless toilet will remain a permanent 1.28- or 1.6 gallon per flush fixture!

Details about the Niagara toilet:

The Niagara Flapperless® TANK
• Water is self-contained in either a 1.28- or 1.6-gallon
“tipping bucket”
• Solid porcelain construction – 100% vitreous china
• Oversized to cover unsightly wall exposure
• Opposable handle positioning

The Niagara Flapperless® BOWL
• Oversized footprint
• Adjustable 10” to 12” rough-in
• Fully glazed 2 1/8” trap way
• Oversized throat
• 28 separate siphon jets around the rim a plus!

Niagara Flapperless® BENEFITS
• Two of our models are ADA-approved HET!
• The EcoLogic™ 1.28 gpf HET toilets meet EPA WaterSense® criteria
• Our EcoLogic™ 1.28 gpf HET elongated model meets HET
R
ebate standards
• Powerful one-time flushing
• Less moveable parts to leak and break
• Easy flush action
• Top-rated flushing system
• Ten-year warranty on component parts
• Lifetime warranty on porcelain

The 1.6 & 1.28 GPF Niagara Flapperless® toilet offers water and related utility bill savings without sacrificing performance or comfort. Because of its unique, patented flush system, the Niagara Flapperless® will never leak, and it is maintenance-free. This toilet has been through comprehensive industry testing and performed exceptionally. Available in both round and elongated bowl types, the 1.6 GPF Niagara

Flapperless® toilet has a number of appealing features:
• Tamper-proof flush, cannot exceed 1.6 or1.28 GPF
• Large water spot
• New high-performance bowl hydraulics
• Fluidmaster fill valve seal
• No flapper to leak or replace – EVER!
• 10-year warranty on components
• Lifetime warranty on porcelain
• Large 10” x 20” footprint, ideal for retrofitting
• Meets ULFT rebate standards
• No maintenance necessary
• Uses 54% less water than a 3.5 GPF toilet (1.6gpf model)
• No double-flushing required
• Sweat-free tank
• Adjustable rough-in
• Fully glazed 2 1/8” trap-way

If a family of four replaced a 3.5-gallon per flush toilet made between 1980 and 1994 with the Niagara Flapperless® 1.6GPF toilet, they will save 20,805 gallons of water A YEAR!
Aside from its superior, unique flush system and other benefits detailed above, a Niagara Flapperless® toilet is affordable. With the help of a Niagara Flapperless® toilet, save water and money, experience advanced performance, and feel the power of Niagara!

See how it works- http://www.aquaprosolutions.com/index_files/Niagara_Conservation.htm

This is probably the smartest toilet design on the market.
That’s what I think. What do you think?
AP

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Poison in our tap water??!!

It’s one of those things we just take for granted; water from our tap is safe to drink and shower or bathe in. The truth is it may be a leading contributor for the increase of cancer, birth defects, heart disease and many more of the health scourges rampant in society. It’s not the “water” mind you, but what’s in it that is the problem. When considering the situation, it is evident that the “deciders” of the world knowingly chose the “lesser of two evils”. The chemical treatment of water began some 100 or so years ago as a means to remove or at least manage known viruses & bacterium. Chlorine, the most commonly used chemical in Water Treatment Facilities world wide, is also one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet. So basically it was decided to that it would be better to expose the public to low levels of a very toxic chemical and deal with the unknown consequence later rather than continue the know risk of mass illnesses and deaths associated with water borne diseases. Now don’t get me wrong I believe the intention was right, but I also believe the method was poorly considered. Chlorinating was the easy and inexpensive choice. A choice that is returning to haunt the ghosts of those who made it, and those of us that are left to deal with the consequences; many of which are only beginning to be recognized. There is an irony here in that the chemical treatment of water supplies allowed societies to stabilize and grow, which promoted advancements in medicine and technology. Through these advancements we gain an understanding of what the chemicals are doing to us and to the environment.

There is certainly a lot more to be said about the state of our water, and Chlorine is not the only contaminant to be concerned about, but we have to start somewhere. The list of know contaminants in public water supplies gets longer every year. The statement “if you don’t use a water filter you are the filter” is a scary reality. Use a filter-Don’t be the filter!

That’s what I think-what do you think?

Water Is Life

Fresh Water is more valuable than gold. The control of Fresh Water is the basis for many conflicts, in many countries and brings big profits’ to Big Business. “Those who control the flow of water, control civilization”. It doesn’t take much research to discover the mechanisms through which Governments and World Corporations are positioning to control the flow of fresh water.

Every aspect of day to day human life on this planet is sustained in some way by the availability fresh water. Water is the second most important of the three necessities for survival of human life; Air, Water, Food. Everything else is non-essential. Connecting the dots in understanding this paradigm is easy. If you remove any one of these, human survival is impossible. It is by this understanding that these necessities should be provided as an undeniable right of every human being and declared as such in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Beware: Bottled Water, Not That Pure.

Bottled water contains disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, and medications.

The bottled water industry promotes an image of purity, but comprehensive testing by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveals a surprising array of chemical contaminants in every bottled water brand analyzed, including toxic byproducts of chlorination in the Walmart, Sam’s Choice and Giant Supermarket's Acadia brands, at the same levels routinely found in tap water. Several Sam's Choice samples that were purchased in California exceeded legal limits for bottled water contaminants in that state. Cancer-causing contaminants in bottled water purchased in 5 states (North Carolina, California, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland) and the District of Columbia exceeded the voluntary standards established by the bottled water industry by a substantial margin.

Unlike tap water, where consumers are provided with test results every year, the bottled water industry does not disclose the results of any contaminant testing that it conducts. Instead, the industry hides behind the claim that bottled water is held to the same safety standards as tap water. But with promotional campaigns saturated with images of crystal clear mountain springs, and prices 1,900 times the national average price of tap water, consumers are clearly miss-led to believe that they are buying a product that has been purified to a level beyond the tap water.
To the contrary, tests strongly indicate that the quality of bottled water cannot be trusted. Given the industry's refusal to make available data to support their claims, consumer confidence in the safety of bottled water is simply not justified.

Laboratory tests conducted at one of the country’s leading water quality laboratories found that 10 popular brands of bottled water, purchased from grocery stores and other retailers in 9 states and the District of Columbia, contained 38 chemical pollutants altogether, with an average of 8 contaminants in each brand. More than one-third of the chemicals found are not regulated in bottled water. In the Sam's Choice and Acadia brands, levels of some chemicals exceeded legal limits in California as well as industry-sponsored voluntary safety standards. Four brands were also contaminated with bacteria.

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Water Conservation by Aqua Pro Solutions

As population growth increases the demand on potable water supplies throughout the world, many regions are experiencing severe water shortages. This problem is amplified by current drought conditions and is causing many government officials and municipal leaders to re-think existing conservation strategies.

Water conservation refers to reducing use of fresh water through technological or social methods. The goals of water conservation efforts include:

Sustainability - To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate.
Energy conservation - Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world (for example, California) over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management.
Habitat conservation - Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure.

One approach that the media endorses is asking consumers to make behavioral changes that will reduce water consumption in their homes and businesses. While the tips they offer are useful and excellent advice, they are simply not enough. Many people have other concerns that fill their minds, let alone planning and making the extra effort that is required to save water. This is where AquaPro Solutions’ products and services can help.

Installing water conservation and water recycling fixtures is the first step in successful long-term conservation planning. Some simple and inexpensive measures such as changing old water wasting showerheads and faucet aerators for more efficient ones can result in tremendous savings. Significant amounts of water can also be conserved by changing to a new high efficiency toilet (HET). Some local municipalities offer rebate incentives to consumers who make this change. Another possibility is installing a point-of-use or whole house greywater reclamation system.

We know that there are several ways to reduce water usage and understand that individual customer needs may vary. Therefore, AquaPro Solutions offers these and other water conservation products:

§ High Efficiency Toilets (HET)
§ Low-flow aerators
§ Water-less urinals
§ Water saving / energy saving showerheads
§ Waterless urinals
§ Automatic flood prevention devices
§ Greywater recycling/reclamation systems
§ Rainwater harvesting barrels
§ Water conserving industrial pre-rinse spray nozzles
§ Demand control hot water circulating systems

As part of our commitment to educating consumers and assisting them with meeting their water conservation goals, AquaPro Solutions has partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the EPA WaterSense Program. Additionally, we are charter members of the U.S. Green Building Council. Many AquaPro products count toward LEED point accumulation in building projects.

Contact AquaPro Solutions LLC today to learn how you can conserve water, improve water quality and make a difference in the future of our planet.

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Water, Water Everywhere; Not a Drop to Spare

Water Conservation; it’s not just a passing fad.

Water Conservation is one of the humankind’s highest priorities. It is clearly evident that serious consideration and definitive action toward the efficient use, recycling-reclamation and effective management of our fresh water resources is required. Our fresh water resources are already overburdened by human demands. The natural processes of our planet are not capable of sustaining our current needs and certainly not the future needs for fresh, potable water. Water is a limited resource that is the birth rite of every form of life indigenous to this planet. Water efficiency, conservation and management are a necessity not a past time. To this end, Water Conservation, Water Filtration, and Water Management Practices are our passion.

AquaPro Solutions

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Water: If the rising water doesn’t get you, the lack of it will!

I have spent the majority of my adult life, doing business in one way or another with water. I have spent the last several years considering the fast approaching dilemma we face; not only as a nation but as inhabitants on this jewel of a planet we call Earth. Of all the troubling environmental considerations before us, it’s seems the most worrisome is getting the least amount of attention. While all the politically motivated topics; oil, gas, energy, crops etc, most certainly need our immediate consideration and action, the worsening situation of available clean water should be our greatest environmental concern. To allow continued disregard he probable impacts on generations to come and life as we know it,

Regardless of our political, religious, personal views we will all be adversely affected to some degree by the lack of fresh water in the very near future. A great deal of the world already is.

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Who is Aqua Pro Solutions?

AquaPro Solutions is based in the ancient, scenic mountains of Western North Carolina. We are a privately owned, globally minded company with a humbled appreciation for the fragile environment that surrounds us. Our founder possesses over 25 years experience in the water service and treatment industries.

Our team works together with architects, engineers, designers and contractors to offer water conservation solutions for large scale projects such as hotels, stadiums, schools, and municipal buildings. (Members of these professions are encouraged to contact us directly for custom pricing and quotes for large orders.) We also provide products to homeowners and small businesses who wish to reduce water waste, increase water quality and experience savings on utility bills. In the interest of better serving our clients, we have representatives positioned in North America, Central and South America, the United Kingdom and greater Europe. Additionally, we offer world-wide shipping for all of our products.

Each of our inventory items has been thoroughly investigated, tested, and approved with the consumer’s best interest in mind. AquaPro products are carefully constructed using UL, NSF, and WQA approved parts and media. Upon request, we will provide documentation to substantiate any claim we make regarding product life, performance, effectiveness or LEED points.

AquaPro Solutions strongly encourages sustainable practices and is in business to help people become better educated about the importance of water quality and water conservation, offer solutions for problems to consumers from our vast line of products, and to promote a greener, cleaner earth.

Combined with limited manufacturer’s warranties, our 60-Day Money Back Product Satisfaction Guarantee* allows to you make your purchase with ease of mind. We hold this policy as one of our core values. At AquaPro Solutions, you will receive post-sales service that cannot be rivaled. We believe that our job does not end with the sale. The AquaPro Solutions team will always be available to assist you with your questions and concerns.

www.AquaProSolutions.com

Water Conservation and Efficiency, Our Mission

To be a global resource for the promotion and advancement of water filter and water conservation technologies. To assist in the exchange, analysis, synthesis, and dissemination of knowledge in the fields of water conservation, water filtration, and management. And to discover, create, and distribute sustainable, quality products that assist in the reclamation & preservation of our most precious natural resource... Water.

AquaPro works together with architects, engineers and green builders to offer water conservation solutions for sustainable design projects. We also provide products to homeowners and small businesses who wish to reduce water waste, increase water quality and experience savings on utility bills. Headquartered in the United States, AquaPro has offices around the globe.

www.AquaProSolutions.com