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Safety tricks for a treat-filled Halloween

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

During the Halloween season, the most frightening thing we can think of is a trick-or-treater getting hurt. So please, before your little pumpkins head out to scare up some candy, take some time to make sure they’ve got safety in the bag first. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a great collection of tips to get you started:

  • Treats: Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering.
  • Flame Resistant Costumes: When purchasing a costume, masks, beards, and wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
  • Costume Designs: Purchase or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.
    • For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores.
    • To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.
    • Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
    • Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes . Mother’ s high heels are not a good idea for safe walking.
    • Hats and scarfs should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.
    • Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
    • Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.
  •  Pedestrian Safety: Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child. All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available, rather than walk in the street. Children should be cautioned against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.
  • Choosing Safe Houses: Children should go only to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.
  • Children should not enter homes or apartments unless they are accompanied by an adult.
  • People expecting trick-or-treaters should remove anything that could be an obstacle from lawns, steps and porches. Candlelit jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Indoor jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from curtains, decorations, and other furnishings that could be ignited.

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Fire safety is no accident

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Have you ever thought about what you’d do if there were a fire in your home? Do you have an escape plan? Have you practiced it with your family? Do you have a working smoke alarm in every room?

If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, your chances of becoming a fire statistic just went up. If you think that’s hyperbole, consider this: The senior vice president of Red Cross Disaster Services says the aid group responded to “more than 62,960 home fires in fiscal 2011.” And according to the National Fire Protection Association,  one home structure fire was reported every 87 seconds and seven people died in home fires every day in 2009.

Since October is National Fire Prevention Month, we thought it would be a perfect time to share a few safety tips — borrowed from the American Red Cross  and the NFPA — to keep you and your family safe.

  1. Download this handy escape plan from the National Fire Protection Association

    Make – and practice — a home fire escape plan. That means ensuring everyone knows at least two ways to escape every room of your home (consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor); designating a meeting spot that’s outside and out of harm’s way, and ensuring that everyone knows where it is. Then practice the escape plan during the day and at night — and make sure everyone practices low crawling and knows how to call 9-1-1. Do this at least twice a year.

  2. If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.
  3. Identify and remove fire hazards. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.
  4. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms, and about one in five smoke alarm failures was due to dead batteries. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
  5. Keep matches and lighters away from and out of reach of children.
  6. Don’t leave the kitchen when you’re cooking, and never leave the home while frying, grilling or broiling food. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and associated injuries, and was tied for the third leading cause of home fire deaths. Unattended cooking was the leading cause of these fires.
  7. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of all reported home fires and home fire deaths. If you use solid-fuel heating equipment – wood stoves, fireplaces, coal stoves, etc. — make sure the chimneys are kept clean. And make sure to keep flammable materials clear of heating equipment.

For more fire safety tips, visit this Red Cross Web page and be sure to check out their fire safety fact sheets on the right side of the page.

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What’s the Marcellus Shale?

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Lately, it seems like the terms “Marcellus Shale” and “fracking” are popping up everywhere. There’s a lot of information — and misinformation — and it remains a hot-button topic among environmentalists, lawmakers, and the general public alike.

So what, exactly, is this chunk of rock everyone’s talking about? The Marcellus is a layer of black shale that stretches along much of the length of the northern Appalachian basin. In the United States, it reaches from southern New York, through Pennsylvania and into northern West Virginia. It’s named for a shale outcrop near the village of Marcellus, N.Y., and studies have shown it contains trillions of cubic feet of natural gas. Experts say natural gas — formed over millions of years from decayed animal and plant matter — is the cleanest burning of all the fossil fuels, and it’s being hailed by many as a “bridge fuel”: an energy source that can reduce our dependence on oil and coal while cleaner alternatives are developed.

Courtesy of "Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States: A Primer"

The challenge is getting that gas, which is deep underground, out of the rock and into use, and that’s where “fracking” comes in. Fracking — a shortened form of the term “hydraulic fracturing” — is the process of injecting a fluid into the shale to create fissures that allow the gas to escape. The gas is then collected at a well, and then pumped into a truck or pipeline for shipping.

The process of fracking is what’s creating the most controversy. There are concerns not only about the potential for contaminated groundwater, but also about the amount of water the process consumes. To create the fluid, drillers add a variety of chemicals and substances — many of them toxic — to an incredible amount of water (according to Chesapeake Energy, fracking a typical well uses 4.5 million gallons). The fracking solution becomes even more polluted because of naturally occurring substances in the earth.

A 2004 study by the Environmental Protection Agency states that the fracking of coalbed methane reservoirs — which are closer to the surface than shale gas deposits —poses no risk to drinking water, but that study has come under fire by critics who say it wasn’t thorough enough. A 2008 Scientific American article claims “a series of contamination incidents have raised questions about that EPA study and ignited a debate over whether the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing may threaten the nation’s increasingly precious drinking water supply.”

To help us make sense of the issue, Water Works enlisted the aid of award-winning author Seamus McGraw. McGraw has written extensively on the subject, including the book “The End of Country“ and pieces for Popular Mechanics, Vice magazine and Pittsburgh Quarterly.

“Cornell professor Anthony R. Ingraffea has identified three key areas of concern about the process,” McGraw says. “The first is that frack water  … will somehow work its way up from the Marcellus through several thousand feet of stone to contaminate drinking water supplies. Ingraffea calls that scenario unlikely. Translated from science speak into English, that means ‘no way,’” McGraw says. “Though there was much made of a recent New York Times report that there was contamination in a West Virginia aquifer 30 years ago, that report has been called into question. Reports from the state at the time suggest that the rock-bearing aquifer may have been drilled for oil and gas itself before the state realized that it also contained potable water.”

McGraw says the second issue Ingraffea raises is the possibility of methane contamination: Deposits of gas — which are usually higher up in the ground than the shale — can migrate up through the drill bore and leech into aquifers. “That is a real problem,” he says. “It’s what happened in Dimock [Susquehanna County] and in Bradford County. It led to the establishment of tougher regulations … and that’s a major step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.”

The third problem Ingraffea identifies is contamination from surface spills — something that’s also already happened.  “We’ve had blowouts and surface spills on several occasions, and while so far most of the impact of those have been contained, it remains a real danger,” McGraw says.

McGraw thinks the bigger challenge is water that contains the “witches’ brew of heavy metals, salt, and mildly radioactive materials that mother nature whips up in the shale itself. Unlike the flowback water from fracking, this stuff oozes back over the 30 to 50 year lifetime of the well,” he says. McGraw worries it has the potential “to create a challenge long after we’ve stopped paying attention. There needs to be much greater attention focused on making sure that we’re aggressively monitoring the wells we’re drilling now in the out years.”

Any problems caused by fracking wouldn’t affect The Authority’s water supply. “I can see no scenario in which a fracking accident in those counties would impact [Authority] wells because there is no gas there, and will be no drilling there.”

Clearly, there are pros and cons to the gas extraction. Energy experts say that with proper safeguards and regulation, the Marcellus Shale can provide an invaluable fuel source at a crucial time for the United States. Many environmentalists say that groundwater contamination is inevitable, and that’s too high a price to pay for the potential benefits. Only time will tell who’s right. In the meantime, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the situation.

To read more about shale gas and fracking, take a look at the DEP’s overview on fracking; this article from The Wall Street Journal; and a shale gas primer from the U.S. Department of Energy.

 

 

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Recovering from — and preparing for — storms

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

As Lehigh County Authority’s service area recovers from flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee  — the worst in the state since 1972’s Hurricane Agnes — we wanted to ensure our customers know where to turn for help. If your home or business has been affected, download this handy PDF guide to navigating state and federal disaster recovery services.

And because this year’s hurricane season doesn’t end until Nov. 30, here are a few tips from FEMA to help you create an emergency supply kit for storms all year round:

What to include

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Additional Items To Consider

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov.
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil

Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

 

 

 

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MILL CREEK & HEIDELBERG Boil Advisories Lifted – 9/17/11

Saturday, September 17th, 2011
Boil Advisory LIFTED

9/17/2011 – Mill Creek Division & Heidelberg Heights Division

What Happened?

Lehigh County Authority (LCA) is pleased to report that following 2 consecutive days of water sampling that showed NO signs of bacteria, the Boil Water Advisory issued on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, to your property has been lifted.

You may return to normal usage of your tap water.

Our disinfection and monitoring systems have proven to be effective in bringing your system back to normal. In addition, the electrical power outage that caused the water service disruption has been repaired and service is restored to all customers.

Our tests indicate that your water quality meets federal and state safety standards, and you may return to your normal usage of your tap water.

If your water looks cloudy, please flush out your faucets by letting the water run for a minute or two. If it doesn’t clear up, give us a call at 610-398-1444 (or 610-398-2503 for after-hours emergencies).

Thank You!

We sincerely regret the inconvenience these water quality concerns have caused, and we appreciate the cooperation and support you’ve shown us! Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

HIERVAN EL AGUA ANTES DE USARLA. Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

PWSIDs: 3390080 & 399047
Date Distributed: September 17, 2011

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Turning trash into treasure

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

© Washington State Department of Ecology

Waste is a fact of life. In the kitchen, it doesn’t matter whether you’re slicing a tomato or cutting up a cucumber, peeling an apple or paring a pear, there are leftover skins and seeds to scrap. There are coffee grounds to contend with; eggshells to eliminate; paper towels to pitch.

Then there’s all the debris from yardwork: leaves, grass clippings, brush, weeds that you’ve yanked from the garden. Sometimes it seems like there’s a never-ending stream of stuff headed straight for the garbage can.

But instead of filling up a landfill, why not put all that waste to work? Start a compost heap and turn some of that trash into treasure. It’s easy, interesting, and the payoffs are immense.

Composting works through the magic of Mother Nature. A combination of microrganisms, fungi, and insects work to break down waste material into a dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich soil that’s a perfect, chemical-free growing medium.

There are basically two types of composting: hot and cold. A hot compost heap breaks down material faster, but requires more maintenance, such as frequent turning, balancing of ingredients, and monitoring of its moisture level. A cold heap works more slowly, but requires little work and the end result is the same. A hot heap can produce compost in two months; a cold heap may take up to two years.

For a hot heap, start off with the big stuff: hay, chopped brush, small twigs. That will help air to circulate under the pile. Add a layer of dirt, and, if available, manure (Never use droppings from meat-eating animals, such as dogs and cats. These can carry disease). Then moisten the mix with water and add a sprinkling of lime.

Now it’s time to start adding kitchen scraps. It’s best to stay away from meats, bones and fats. These items can attract rodents and foster disease. Plant-based material, however, is perfect, as are things like egg shells, pasta, coffee grounds, tea bags, napkins, paper towels (as long as they haven’t been used with chemicals), newspaper, fireplace ashes, sawdust and even cardboard such as paper towel and toilet paper rolls. Never use sawdust from pressure-treated wood, and never add plants that have been sprayed with an herbicide.

Add material to the heap, alternating layers of scraps, yard waste, sprinkled lime, soil and manure until you’re happy with its size. (There’s no hard and fast rule about what size works best, though larger piles hold heat better than smaller ones.) Over the next two months, use a shovel or pitchfork to turn it frequently, which will mix the materials together and hasten the decomposition process. In the meantime, you can start a new heap, following the same steps.

The heap will generate heat as bacteria cause the materials to decompose; the interior may reach temperatures as high as 160 degrees Farehnheit. Afterward, fungi, centipedes, millipedes, worms and beetles will start their shifts. When they’re done, that pile of “trash” will smell like earth, and it will be a rich, dark brown or black color and be ready to add to your garden.

The second, and simplest, option is a cold heap. In a cold heap, material is just added to the pile until it’s reached the desired size. Then the pile sits until the composting process is complete. This can take up to two years, but if conditions are right, may take even less time. Turning the heap over is helpful but optional, although some experts say it should be turned at least once. Many gardeners rotate heaps, starting a new one while a previous pile decomposes.

When your compost is finished, it can be added to gardens, flower beds, or even used as a potting medium. It’s free, reduces waste, and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. What’s not to love?

Keep in mind that space limitations or local ordinance may require the use a compost bin or tumbler. These are readily available at many garden supply centers, but with a little ingenuity, you can make your own (a 50 gallon trash can, for instance, makes a fine home composter; plans for tumblers can be found all over the Web).

To learn more about composting, check out these helpful links from Organic Gardening, Mother Earth News, and the Penn State Cooperative Extension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CRESTWOOD Boil Advisory Lifted 9/15/11

Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Boil Advisory LIFTED

9/15/2011 – North Whitehall Division – Crestwood development ONLY

What Happened?

Lehigh County Authority (LCA) is pleased to report that following 2 consecutive days of water sampling that showed NO signs of bacteria, the Boil Water Advisory issued on Saturday, September 10, 2011, to your property has been lifted.

You may return to normal usage of your tap water.

Our disinfection and monitoring systems have proven to be effective in bringing your system back to normal. In addition, the electrical power outage and pump failure that caused the water service disruptions have been repaired and service is restored to all customers.

Our tests indicate that your water quality meets federal and state safety standards, and you may return to your normal usage of your tap water.

If your water looks cloudy, please flush out your faucets by letting the water run for a minute or two. If it doesn’t clear up, give us a call at 610-398-1444 (or 610-398-2503 for after-hours emergencies).

Thank You!

We sincerely regret the inconvenience these water quality concerns have caused, and we appreciate the cooperation and support you’ve shown us! Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

HIERVAN EL AGUA ANTES DE USARLA. Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

PWSID: 3390055
Date Distributed: September 15, 2011

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NEW Boil Advisory – Mill Creek & Heidelberg Heights Divisions

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Click here to download printable copy of this notice.

Drinking Water Warning – Boil Your Water Before Using – Sept. 14, 2011

Heidelberg Heights Division & Mill Creek Division

What Happened?

This notice comes following a water system outage that occurred today (Wednesday, September 14, 2011). Customers experienced a disruption in water service or loss of pressure following a power outage in the Mill Creek and Heidelberg Heights developments. Please conserve water and follow the instructions below for boiling your water until further notice.

As a result of this service disruption, we may not be able to achieve proper disinfection of your water system, and there is an increased chance that your water may contain disease-causing organisms. We are issuing this Boil Water Advisory until 2 days of water quality tests have been completed to ensure no contamination has occurred.

What Should You Do?

Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Boiling the water will kill any bacteria that may be present in the water. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

What Is LCA Doing?

LCA personnel are working to restore water to your system as quickly as possible. After service has been restored, this Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect until tests show no signs of coliform bacteria for 2 consecutive days.

We will notify all customers by phone and an additional posting on our web site at www.lehighcountyauthority.org when this advisory has been lifted.

 For More Information…

We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to bring your water system back to normal as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about this Boil Water Advisory, please call Lehigh County Authority at 610-398-1444, or at 610-398-2503 for after-hours emergencies.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Hiervan el agua antes de usarla. Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

PWSIDs: 3390080 & 3390047

Date Distributed: September 14, 2011

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Boil Water Notice for Crestwood Heights Development in North Whitehall Twp.

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Click here to download printable copy of this notice.

Drinking Water Warning – Boil Your Water Before Using – Sept. 10, 2011

North Whitehall Division – Crestwood Heights Development ONLY

 What Happened?

This notice comes following a water system outage that occurred today (Saturday, September 10, 2011). Customers experienced a disruption in water service or loss of pressure following a pump failure at the well station of the Crestwood Heights Development. Please conserve water and follow the instructions below for boiling your water until further notice.

As a result of this service disruption, we may not be able to achieve proper disinfection of your water system, and there is an increased chance that your water may contain disease-causing organisms. We are issuing this Boil Water Advisory until 2 days of water quality tests have been completed to ensure no contamination has occurred.

What Should You Do?

Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Boiling the water will kill any bacteria that may be present in the water. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

What Is LCA Doing?

LCA personnel are working to restore water to your system as quickly as possible. After service has been restored, this Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect until tests show no signs of coliform bacteria for 2 consecutive days.

We will notify all customers by phone and an additional posting on our web site at www.lehighcountyauthority.org when this advisory has been lifted.

 For More Information…

We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to bring your water system back to normal as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about this Boil Water Advisory, please call Lehigh County Authority at 610-398-1444, or at 610-398-2503 for after-hours emergencies.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Hiervan el agua antes de usarla. Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

PWSID: 3390055                         Date Distributed: September 10, 2011

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September Board meeting schedule change

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Anyone planning to attend LCA’s Board meetings in September, please note:

Our regularly scheduled Workshop meeting (September 12) and Board meeting (September 26), have been consolidated into a single meeting, which will be held on Monday, September 19.

Please visit our Board Schedule & Agendas page for upcoming meeting schedules, agendas and minutes from prior meetings!

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