Why is a snowfall important for restoring freshwater resources?

It’s not really complicated. Snow melts slowly and therefore more of the water that results from the melt is retained by ground sources.

When it rains the water that falls to the ground generally doesn’t have time to soak in; the heavier/faster the rainfall the less that is retained. Rainwater ends up traveling to storm water systems and ends up dumping into rivers or streams and is carried out of the region on which it fell.

Using a rule of thumb that each 10 inches of snow, if melted, would produce one inch of water, then each inch of snow produces about 2,715 gallons of water per acre. Actual amounts can vary considerably depending on whether the snow is heavy and wet or powdery and dry, so this is based on an average water content of snow.

Heavy snow has high water content. 4 or 5 inches of a heavy, wet snow contains approximately one inch of water. It may take 20 inches of dry, powdery snow to equal that one inch of water. The 10=1 equation also assumes a 'perfect' snow-melt without evaporation which put some of the moisture back into the atmosphere.
Snow pack that accumulates each year in the mountains across the United States are a vital part of the hydrologic cycle. The snows that melt off each spring provide essential runoff to streams and reservoirs which recharge critical fresh water reservoirs and filters into underground which are being depleted at a rate that Mother Nature can’t keep up with.
As inconvenient as they seem, seasonal snowfalls are a crucial part of our lives. We should be thankful for them.

AP

www.AskAquaPro.com  
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com  
www.AquaEnvi.org

WaterSense News: Approved Showerheads Coming Soon!

Good news for water efficiency is on the horizon. On March 4, EPA WaterSense division announced the final specification for showerheads. Manufacturers can now submit showerheads for testing to qualify for the WaterSense label. Consumers will soon be able to renovate their bathrooms utilizing a full suite of WaterSense labeled products.   

If every household in the United States installed WaterSense labeled showerheads, it would save Americans more than $1.5 billion on their water bills, and more than 250 billion gallons per year. That is enough water to supply more than 2.5 million U.S. homes with the water they need for a year. In addition, this simple change would also reduce the nation’s heating water energy bills by $2.5 billion.

Standard showerheads use a minimum of 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm). WaterSense labeled showerheads will have been tested and to demonstrate that they use no more than 2.0 gpm. As with all WaterSense specifications, EPA included performance criteria to ensure a good shower experience. EPA worked with a variety of stakeholders—including consumers who tested various showerheads—to develop criteria for water coverage and spray intensity. Independent laboratories test showerheads for these attributes before certifying them to earn the WaterSense label.

Whether they are replacing an older, inefficient showerhead or simply looking for ways to reduce water use and utility bills in the home, consumers can look for the WaterSense label on showerheads, faucets, aerators and toilets to help identify models that save water and conform to the WaterSense guidlines for quality and performance. EPA encourages partners and interested to help raise awareness about WaterSense labeled showerheads when they begin to hit the marketplace in April!  For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

If manufacturers have questions about joining WaterSense or having products tested for WaterSense labeling, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or e-mail watersense@epa.gov.

Stop by again soon,

AP

www.AskAquaPro.com
AquaPro@AskaquaPro.com 

www.AquaProSolutions.com, www.AquaEnvi.org, www.AshevilleGreenPlumbing.com,