Apply for emergency utility assistance programs first—many states offer same-day crisis intervention funds that prevent shutoffs without any repayment required. Contact your utility provider directly about payment extensions or budget billing plans; most companies would rather work with you than disconnect service. Check if you qualify for Radcred’s payday option or credit union emergency loans with lower rates than traditional payday lenders. Set up a modest emergency fund starting with just $10 weekly to break this cycle.
**Here’s what you need to know right now:** That …
EPA Settles with Massachusetts Construction Companies over Clean Water Violations
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a settlement with 14 Massachusetts construction companies for violations of the federal Clean Water Act related to silt and sediment discharges from construction sites in Northeastern Massachusetts.
Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will pay penalties totaling $155,000.
These companies violated their Clean Water Act…
The State of New Jersey Finalizes a Cleanup Plan to Address Groundwater Contamination
EPA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and PPG Industries (PPG) finalized a cleanup plan to address groundwater that is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from PPG’s former manufacturing operations at its site in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.
The groundwater at the site contains a non-degradable solvent called trichloroethylene, a chemical that can cause serious health effects if consumed or inhaled in high doses over long periods of time.
The cleanup plan for…
3 Ways Food Processors Can Cut Down on Water Use
The food processing industry uses a significant amount of water. In fact, it uses more than any other sector except thermoelectric power generation and agriculture, according to the US Geological Survey.
Luckily, there are a few ways to fix this. That said, here’s what food processors can do to reduce water use:
Recycling
…
Golf Courses Should Go Green by Treating and Using Recycled Water
Water supplies throughout the world are being depleted, but golf courses aren’t doing enough to reuse water. The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day. Of that, nearly 30% is used in the bathroom. But golf courses use more water than all of our homes combined.
In fact, a single 18-hole golf course can use up to 300 million gallons of water each year. That’s a lot when you …