Posts tagged Water
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Our local governments are fighting harmful litter. Here’s how.
When people litter, their trash regularly makes its way from sidewalks and ditches into waterways, where it eventually begins to break down. The resulting microplastics leach harmful chemicals which can sicken, alter, or kill aquatic creatures, which can in turn cause negative ripple effects for other animals and humans alike. Keep reading…
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National links: Northeastern states and DC have a plan to reduce tailpipe pollution
A coalition of northeastern states and the District released a plan to reduce transportation emissions. Miami-Dade County paid $3 billion for more rail and got three miles. Disney’s master-planned dream town Celebration has turned into a nightmare. Keep reading…
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By 2025, we could fish and swim in the once notoriously-polluted Anacostia River
Hundreds of years ago, people could fish and swim in the Anacostia River without worry, but over time it became so polluted that the prospect of swimming or eating anything from it became absurd. The work of local governments and nonprofits, however, has catapulted this idea out from the absurd straight back into the realms of possibility. Keep reading…
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Beach town urbanism: There’s big density in small spaces in Cape May
Last year my family and I decided to visit Cape May, New Jersey for the first time after a lifetime of mostly sticking to beaches closer to DC. We liked it so much we went back again this year. One reason we returned is because the area is laid out a bit differently than most beach towns. Cape May offers a great example of a walkable and historic place. Keep reading…
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Fairfax County built a levee to protect from floods. How’d it hold up in Monday’s storm?
On Monday morning, the Washington region experienced an intense storm with pouring rain and dangerous flooding conditions. Metro stations turned into fountains, parking garages and roads became rivers, and dozens had to be rescued from rising flood waters. The storm was also one of the first tests of the new Huntington levee in Southeast Fairfax County. Keep reading…
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A proposed change to DC Water fees would hit renters hardest
Since 2009, DC Water customers have paid a fee to help pay for the $2.7 billion federally mandated Clean Rivers Project which stops sewage from overflowing into our region’s waterways. As that fee has gone up, some customers with large parking lots such as churches and cemeteries say they have struggled to pay their water bills. Keep reading…
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Events: Bike to work, speak out against highway widening, and more
Get ready for bike to work day, protect the local watershed, speak out against highway widening, remember fallen cyclists, and more in this week's events roundup. Keep reading…
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Lead in the District’s water is still a problem. Will the DC Council fund a plan to fix it?
Long before Flint, the District faced an acute lead crisis in the early 2000s. Many here believe lead issues in the District's water have been resolved, but alas, it's a false sense of security. Keep reading…
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DC’s rivers could be swimmable in the next several years
The reasons why you can’t safely or legally swim in the District’s rivers could be resolved within the next several years. That would open new outdoor recreation opportunities city-wide and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors, and also represents a concrete milestone for clean rivers which until recently seemed difficult to envision. Keep reading…
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The fascinating story of DC’s aqueducts and reservoirs
Have you ever wondered where the District's drinking water comes from, or puzzled over why the McMillan reservoir is located in the center of the city, far from the water sources that supply it? GGWash contributor Elliot Carter's DC Underground Atlas showcases the history and engineering of this hidden underground world. Here's a taste of what he found. Keep reading…