Open Campgrounds, But No Water

Above, camping at a Ridgway, Colorado RV park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Checking into a campground and finding that the water system has been shut off has not occurred in my experience. That's not to say that the possibility doesn't exist.

In the Four Corners region, we are facing drought conditions and that has led to some campgrounds to shut off their water. 

RV Travel posted an article on this topic.

They begin it with:

Campground water availability is something most RVers rarely think about until it’s gone. Most travelers assume that if a campground is accepting reservations, basic services such as water will be available when they arrive. Increasingly, that’s not always a safe assumption.

Recent reports from Colorado describe campgrounds that remain open even though water systems have been shut down because of drought conditions. In some cases, visitors are being warned to bring their own water or prepare for limited services.

While the situation is unfolding in Colorado, the lesson applies almost anywhere. Water shortages, well failures, infrastructure problems, wildfire impacts, and maintenance issues can all affect campground services, sometimes with little notice.

For RVers, that means an open campground doesn’t necessarily mean a fully functioning campground.

To read more, go here. 

Pumping Ground Water Affecting Earth's Tilt and Rotation

Above, the upper water storage tanks in our subdivision. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We in Jamestown, New Mexico rely upon ground water from the aquafer under our community. 

Apparently, according to an AOL article, pumping ground water is having an affect upon the Earth's rotation and tilt. The planet has tilted 31.5 inches over the past two decades.

They wrote: 

Water has power. So much power, in fact, that pumping Earth’s groundwater can change the planet’s tilt and rotation. It can also impact sea-level rise and other consequences of climate change.

Pumping groundwater appears to have a greater consequence than ever previously thought. But now—thanks to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters—we can see that, in less than two decades, Earth has tilted 31.5 inches as a result of pumping groundwater. This equates to.24 inches of sea level rise.

“Earth’s rotational pole actually changes a lot,” Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University and study lead, says in a statement. “Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole.”

 To read more, go here.

Trump's Present To Southern California: More Water

As promised, President Trump issued an executive order that would provide Southern California more water.

According to Western Journal:

Among President Donald Trump’s first executive orders issued on Monday was one directing that a plan be implemented to deliver more water from northern California to the central and southern parts of the state.

He argued lack of water was a reason the California wildfires did such damage.

Trump recounted in his Jan. 20 order — titled “Putting People over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California” and directed to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior Departments — “During my first term, the State of California, at the direction of its Governor [Gavin Newsom], filed a lawsuit to stop my Administration from implementing improvements to California’s water infrastructure. My Administration’s plan would have allowed enormous amounts of water to flow from the snow melt and rainwater in rivers in Northern California to beneficial use in the Central Valley and Southern California.”

It has been reported that Trump will pay a visit to the fire stricken areas on Friday.

To read more, go here. 

James Woods Rips 'Blithering Idiot' Newsom

 

LA Fires Rest ‘Directly’ On Gavin Newsom’s Policies

Grand Canyon Pipe Breaks Forcing Shut Down of Water Supply

Above, South Rim's Trailer Village restroom facility faucets remain operational. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A major water pipeline broke in four places this past week at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This caused the closure of hotels within the park forcing guests to find accomodations outside of the park.

As for the South Rim's campgrounds, here's the latest from RV Travel:

Heading your RV to the Grand Canyon National Park? Make sure you go with full fresh water tanks. Effective this afternoon, August 29, Grand Canyon campground water is shut down.

Pipeline headaches lead to Grand Canyon campground water shutdown

The park is implementing Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim starting this afternoon. The dry taps are due to a series of four significant breaks in the 12.5-mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the canyon for use in the park.

Since July 8, the park has faced challenges with the water supply. Currently, no water is being pumped to either the South or North Rim.

For RVers with camping plans, only dry camping will be permitted. Campgrounds on the South Rim will turn off spigot access. You’ll still be able to wash your hands after hitting the bathroom. Faucets in bathrooms will remain operational. Water spigot access will be available at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk.

To read more, go here. 

RV Water Filters Explained

Above, the fresh water hose is connected to the water filter at the RV's water intake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I camp, I generally drink, make coffee and cook with bottled water instead of the water available at the campground. You never know what you're getting.

But, there are those who drink from their RV's tap and it is important to make sure your fresh water tank has been sanitized. But if one drinks the water provided by the campground, having a water filter is a good idea.

That's the topic of an article in RV Life.

They begin it with:

We all need water, but many take it for granted. Open the tap at home and safe drinking water fills your glass, cooking pot, and coffee maker.

Most municipalities treat and ensure the safety of drinking water. Some people still choose to add filters to eliminate the bad taste that can come with treated water. However, the water is filtered and safe for drinking straight out of the tap.

When RVing, access to treated water isn’t always the case. This can result in water that’s unsafe for drinking and can cause issues with your RV.

The easy solution is adding an RV water filter to your RV water-supply system. Just like you may have a filter in your home at the main water supply or under your sink, the setup is similar for RVs.

RV water filters add a level of protection through the filtration of incoming water. They are an easy DIY add-on to any RV.

Canister-style round filters enclosed in a plastic housing direct water through the filter (or filters in some cases), and into the RV water lines. The most common installation location is between the water-supply hookup and the inlet for the water supply into your RV. 

To read more, go here. 

Using Dump Station Water Faucets To Fill RV Fresh Water Tanks

Above, the dump station at Malibu State Park.The faucet is on the green pedestal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV holding tanks (black and grey water) need to be emptied when they get full, so a trip to the local dump station is in order.

At dump stations, there is usually a water faucet for rinsing out the sewer hose or the empty holding tank. 

People often wonder if they could use the water faucet at dump stations to refill their fresh water tanks

RV Travel has posted an article on just this topic.

It begins with:

When it comes to RV travel, one of the critical concerns is maintaining a clean and safe potable freshwater tank. Finding a safe source of freshwater is especially important for those of us who boondock. A common question among RVers is whether it’s safe to use the water faucet at dump stations to fill their freshwater tanks. This topic has sparked lively discussions in RV communities, particularly on social media platforms such as this recent post on BLM RV Camping group on Facebook.

Let’s dive into the various perspectives and considerations surrounding this hotly debated issue.

To read further, go here.

Water Maintenance & Repairs

Above, the white water tanks. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the weather has gotten nicer and warmer, things that need to get done in the community are beginning to get done.

I saw a post on Facebook that our community's water association are currently upgrading the repairing (where needed) the water facilities up the hill. The water association is comprised of resident members who volunteer their services for the betterment of the community. We are lucky to have them.

They are currently working at the white tanks which supplies water to the upper portion of the community and feeds to the green tank that supplies the lower portion of the community.

Pipe Break Fixed

The pipe break near the fire station has been fixed. The water is back on.

There's air in the lines, but that should be resolved as time goes on. There's some rust in the water, but that's also resolving.

A big "thank-you" to the Whispering Cedars Water Association repair crew for getting on it right away.

Nandoh Munoz posted this photo on Facebook of the repairs in progress. The fire station is in the background.

 

Water Leak Near The Fire Station

Above, the water tank that feeds our end of the subdivision. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like the water will be turned off for the better part of the day today.

A water leak has sprung up near the fire station, so the water will have to be shut off while repairs are made. 

This may be the first water leak we've had on our end (green water tank) of the subdivision since I've moved here. The others have been further up the hill that is fed by the white water tank. 

I'll have to jump into the shower before the water is shut off.  

Biden Plans Cutting Water Supplies To Western States

Above, Lake Mead directly behind the Hoover Dam in November 2018. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One has to wonder what happened to all the water from the heavy rains and snows that the west received during this past winter. One has to also wonder why, given this past winter's rains and snows, such tampering is even necessary

California got so much rain that nobody is talking drought there.

Now the Biden Administration is planning to cut water supplies to several western states. 

Fox News reported (some snippets):

The Biden administration proposed actions Tuesday that would significantly reduce water supplies in seven western states amid severe drought conditions that stretch back decades.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a draft proposal that highlighted two potential actions it could take to combat the Colorado River Basin's deteriorating water levels. The two proposals would each consist of federally-mandated supply reductions for states that are dependent on the river system which provides water for more than 40 million Americans and is vital for western states' economies.

"Failure is not an option," Tommy Beaudreau, the DOI's deputy secretary, said in a statement. "Recognizing the severity of the worsening drought, the Biden-Harris administration is bringing every tool and every resource to bear through the President’s Investing in America agenda to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System now and into the future."

In addition to the water it supplies to millions of Americans, the 1,450-mile Colorado River supports 5.5 million acres of agricultural lands, provides electricity to millions of residents through hydroelectric dams and has key recreational and ecological uses.

Overall, the river provides water resources to seven states which are divided into two groups: the Upper Basin and Lower Basin. The Upper Basin consists of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming while the Lower Basin includes Arizona, California, and Nevada.

While Upper Basin states mainly receive water from smaller rivers that branch off the Colorado River, the Lower Basin states largely receive water pooled in Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir along the Utah-Arizona border, and Lake Mead, a reservoir along the Nevada-Arizona border. The Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona and Hoover Dam in southern Nevada are able to control water flows from the respective reservoirs to the Lower Basin states.

Under DOI's first proposed action laid out in a draft supplemental environmental impact statement Tuesday, Lower Basin states would undergo water supply reductions based on seniority of the entities that receive water from the reservoirs. 

The DOI's second proposed action would result in even water supply reductions across the Lower Basin states regardless of seniority. That proposal would lead to less water for farmers in California that supply the U.S. with a large share of the nation's vegetables and fruits.

I have some serious concerns on these proposals. Everything Biden touches turns into into a steaming pile.

To read the full article, go here.

Grand Canyon To Get $208 Million Waterline Repair

Above, the South Rim's Grand Canyon Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every so often, one hears on the news about a water line break at Grand Canyon National Park.

The repairs made tend to be a band aid approach that just "kicks the can" down the road.

Finally, substantial repairs to the water system at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon totaling $208 million will begin. 

Fox News reported:

A $208 million multi-year repair is planned for the Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water for the local community and millions of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park.

National Park Service officials said the repairs and upgrades on the waterline within the inner canyon and the South Rim will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for at least the next 50 years and support 6 million annual visitors and some 2,500 year-round residents.

They said work planned for the coming months will focus on establishing construction infrastructure and staging areas in the Grand Canyon Village Area on the South Rim.

To read more, go here.

The Incredible Disappearing Lake Mead Via Satellite

Above, Lake Mead just behind the Hoover Dam in November 2018. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

NASA satellite photos of Lake Mead has been released and they show a slowly withering lake in a time span of 22 years.

Naturally, there are those who blame "climate change". 

Here's how Lake Mead has slowly disappeared during the past 22 years:

Biden's America: Even Water Costs More

Above, I used to get these at 2 for $4.00, now one costs $3.19. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few minutes ago, I returned home from picking up my mail at the Flying J.

While there, I was going to buy two one-gallon jugs of water for my coffee maker. I was shocked to see the price for one-gallon: $3.19. 

Before today, I was able to buy two for $4.00. Not anymore! So I just bought one.

I use bottled water for my coffee maker as the aquifer water is too hard for it with the mineral deposits.

Since I have to go into Gallup Wednesday to take Larry Lucier to his physical therapy, I'll buy more at Albertsons where they're cheaper.

Unbelievable! 

We can thank Joe Biden for this!

Let's Go Brandon!

Transforming Seawater Into Drinking Water By Sunlight

Above, the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An interesting article just came to my attention.

Scientists down in Australia have harnessed the power of the sun to convert seawater into fresh drinking water.

My Faith News reported:

According to a UN report more than 780 million people worldwide lack basic clean drinking water, and by 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in drought affected areas, along with a staggering population growth of over 10 billion people by 2050, and over 10.9 billion by 2100.

Ironically, about 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and almost 97% is ocean seawater, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Seawater, up until now, wasn’t safe for human drinking consumption. However, thanks to a group of dedicated scientists in Australia they have been able to transform seawater into safe, clean drinking water using the power of the sun along with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), in less than 30 minutes.

To read the full article, go here.

Well Pump Replaced

Above, the green tank serves the lower section of Whispering Cedars. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, well.

The saga over the community well pump appears to be over.

The well for the Whispering Cedars community has two pumps. One gave out last week and the other is slated to be replaced in the not-too-distant future. The well pumps water from the underground aquifer.

Two days ago, the busted pump was replaced, but a line came apart in the well house about 11:15 PM and the well had to be shut off. Repairs to the busted line took place yesterday and since then, the upper water tank was refilling.

In general, the well feeds the white upper tank, which then feeds to the lower (or green) tank. I get my water from the green tank. Luckily, the green tank had enough water in it (plus conserving), so we down at the lower section of the community wasn't affected as much. From what I understand, the tank capacities are: Green Tank, 100,000 gallon capacity; the white tank has a capacity of 50,000 gallons.

So, sometime today, the folks who get their water from the white tank will be able to use their water normally. No reports of any more problems have surfaced.

The water board for the community are all volunteers and we appreciate their service.

A Stormy Fourth of July?

Above, one of our water storage tanks (the rusty one is not hooked up). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, the skies are clear, but we may have thunderstorms coming in this afternoon.

At least that's according to the National Weather Service. If that's the case, the storms may prevent any wildfires in the area. 

The situation here is somewhat dire as we are down to one water well pump (we have two). The north one gave out a few days ago and we are trying to limit water usage to what's needed. The repairs will come Wednesday at the earliest. 

We should get a third well. Then we can say, "Well, well, well." 😄

It would be nice if we do get heavy rain today.

According to the National Weather Service:

Independence Day

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

RV Life: Best RV Water Hose

Above, the first fresh water hose I bought was this blue one. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An essential accessory for an RV is...a fresh water hose.

Most RV water hoses are either white or blue in color. Like anything else, quality varies. Also, they are of varying sizes.

RV Life has an article on the "best" RV fresh water hose.

They begin with:

Having drinking water available in the RV is important for most people. If not for drinking, fresh water is needed for cleaning, bathing, and washing dishes. So how do you get that water from the source, through your water filter, into your RV’s holding tank, and then out the tap? One place: your RV water hose.

We searched the many options on the market and have found the best RV water hose based on a number of factors.

To read more, go here. 

Study Shows Airplane Water Is Dirtier Than You Think

Above, an airliner being prepared for a flight. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Here's a YUCKY one for you!

After reading the following, I have to thank my lucky stars that I usually have a soft drink or bottled water while flying.

Condé Nast Traveler reported:

With hundreds and hundreds of passengers boarding, sitting, sleeping, and eating on them every day, airplanes can be dirty places.

But a new study shows it's not just the tray table or seat-back pocket that could be harboring germs and bacteria. The tap water on both major and regional U.S. carriers was found to be contaminated with varying levels of E. coli and coliform, according to the newly released 2019 Airline Water Study conducted by DietDetective.com and Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center.

"The quality of drinking water varies by airline, and many airlines have possibly provided passengers with unhealthy water," the study states. The water in question comes out of the airline taps in the galley and the lavatory—it's what passengers use to wash their hands and what most flight attendants use to brew the coffee and tea handed out during beverage service.

To read more, go here (if you dare).