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Re: High Water Consuming Residences: Correspondence Ideas to Drive down Demand?
2015-12-01 11:12:28 UTC
Hi Chris,
Can you contact me when you have a chance? We have some similar issues and the first step, it seems, should be clearly determining how the water demand is getting so high at these locations (eg. leaks, large family units, significant irrigation use) and I am wondering how you have determined that the consumption is being knowingly used or is somehow otherwise under the direct control of the occupants?
Cheers,
Aaron
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: Biochar as a Medium for Water Treatment
2010-09-22 11:26:02 UTC
Sounds interesting. Have you contacted a group called SHAC Environmental? I know that they have products they manufacture and use in wastewater treatment that are similar to the biochar you mentioned.
You should be able to find out more by sending an email to [email protected]
Cheers
Aaron
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Litres per Capita Day
2010-03-17 11:05:09 UTC
I have been researching lpcd around the world and the values reported are often old. If you are in a position to know the recent (2008-2009) lpcd values (residential only or total demand)for your home town or country and would like to share, it would be much appreciated. If you can include some reference about your information source that would be great too!
Cheers
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: Washable Diaper Barriers
2010-03-08 12:34:25 UTC
The short answer is I don't know of any research. I would imagine there are annual conventions/trade shows in Toronto similar to the ones we have in Calgary for Parents and Children, which might be a good place to set up a booth and get some survey information from visitors.
Like Lisa from Ann Arbor, we chose washable diapers for our first child and plan to use them for our second. From experience I would say the 'yuck factor' of packing dirty diapers in ziplocks and washing them (even if you are just tossing them into the washing machine from a bucket and not pre-hand washing) may be too much for some people in this day and age. As well, as a water conservationist I found myself flushing the toilet a few extra times a day for baby's diaper deposits before filling the washing machine and washing a load of diapers every day (on extra rinse to reduce any chance of biofouling the washer). I would guess each diaper stage child would increase home water use by about 100 litres per day for the average home in Canada. I guess I won't be watering my yard again this year!
As well, now that there are a few more options for disposable diapers (eg. President's Choice Green Diapers) - this industry reaction to a washable diaper resurgence may be a barrier as well. That is, the perception of most people may be that they are still trying to 'do their part' even if their diapers are going to landfill.
A side by side comparison of the water and energy employed in creating, delivering, using (re-using) and washing or landfilling various types of diapers (disposable and washable) would be interesting and I think would help address some mis-conceptions either way.
Good luck!
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: CBSM Consulting Firms in British Columbia
2009-11-12 17:06:55 UTC
Try 'Ecconics' out of Victoria BC - The directors name is Kirk ....?
www.econnics.com
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: Toilet Recycling - the "Low Flush Hang-Over"
2009-10-21 13:06:04 UTC
We have reviewed the numbers regarding the loading our toilet rebate program has had on the landfill in Calgary. As of last year the estimated mass of toilets being landfill disposed was at 200 metric tonne/year. At that level toilet disposal hardly registered as a fractional percentage of the annual waste going to landfill in Calgary annually. Currently we have just begun to divert all manner of recycleables from residential single family homes so the percentage will be greater relative to what is going to the landfills now, but it is likely still very low. Our goal is to divert 80 of waste from our landfills by 2020 and at that point toilets would become a much greater percentage of the overall disposal. That said I sincerely hope the majority of toilets are replaced in Calgary by that time. So I am not sure diverting toilets from the landfill will ever become a priority.
Researching some of the end uses for toilet porcelain I have found similar results stated by the others. Unfortunately I have had very little success locally finding an end user willing to utilize the material in weight bearing construction (road crush or concrete wall construction) largely due to the lack of knowledge in the engineering community about how the material reacts to compaction and or bonding in concrete compared to conventional material.
Other end uses I am exploring is as a weeping tile aggregate, landfill roads applications or base material for 'backyard' concrete patio projects where engineering specs are a bit lighter.
Hope this is helpful....
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: Sexiest Reason to Recycle?
2009-09-04 11:26:29 UTC
Of course that has nothing to do with recycling! How about those inuendo 'I do it' commercials? You know the ones - 'I do it at work' 'I do it in public' 'I was doing it wrong, but a friend showed me how to do it properly'
Go Memphis!
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: Sexiest Reason to Recycle?
2009-09-04 11:17:29 UTC
Recently (and along the lines of tailgate parties) David Suzuki's commercial about how much money you save from unplugging that mostly empty beer fridge in the basement/garage - I think it was $100 a year (so whatever that is in beer equivalents). I don't have a beer fridge but I found a way to get everything in my basement freezer moved up to my fridge-freezer so I could unplug it! I prefer scotch anyways so no refrigeration required!
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Providing Water Conservation Assitance to Social/Affordable Housing
2009-09-02 11:41:37 UTC
We are looking at providing assistance regarding water conservation tools to social/affordable housing in Calgary and would like to hear about any other cities that have already done this. We would like to know what, if any, unique challenges have come up and what sort of assistance was provided (rebates, fixtures, audits, etc).
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada -
Re: Social Marketing Consulting Agency in Montreal
2009-08-25 13:37:28 UTC
Hi Charlotte,
Interesting comments from our friends to the south. Not on point, but interesting. Your grasp of the English language in a written format aside, I think you will find searching for a position in this field of sustainability in an international city like Montreal challenging, yet ultimately rewarding. To find a position where you might focus on fostering sustainable employee behaviour I would first look to large companies with a tendency to have face to face customer relationships (eg. retail/food serivice). These companies likely feel much more obligated to create a culture of environmental sustainability in order to 'separate themselves' in the marketplace. Similarly you may want to look at opportunities working for municipalities (eg. The City of Montreal), as the expectation of municipal employees and cities in general is to be leaders and 'do the right thing'.
I share your interest in sustainable behaviour of employees and I have been lucky enough to find opportunities with The City of Calgary to work on projects that monitor and measure employee behaviour regarding water conservation and waste/recycling.
When you find positions available, then worry about having that resume proof read! I sure hope this response passes the grammar/spell check of our English professors out there....Cheers and good luck!
Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada
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