Latest Articles
Flint has a pulse- my visit to Flint two years after ‘the switch’
Flint has a pulse, but it’s going to take a while to truly come alive Reporting back from Flint, April 2016 By Erin Huber On many streets in Flint, you feel the Midwest, ex-car manufacturing town poverty in your face. It seems for every ten homes with boarded up windows, fallen roofs, smashed windows or … Continued
Statement on Flint and Sebring Lead-Water Crises
As we all likely know by now, two cities in our backyards – Flint, Michigan and Sebring, Ohio – are dealing with the aftermaths of lead contamination of their water systems. We have received a number of quests and requests from supporters and partners to give our thoughts on these tragic events. Unfortunately, I am … Continued
Our Responsibility
Our responsibility, to each other It’s been a record year for DLDT in Uganda. We’ve made three trips, celebrated our 4 year mark on our first borehole at St. Bonaventure Primary School, built 6 projects, started funding, installing and monitoring bio-sand filters in the Katanga slum, have trained over 150 people on water committee leadership … Continued
Kinetico Dealer friends, passionate about safe water #ItTakesAVillage
(This is a guest blog from Chris Knippa, the owner of Kinetico San Antonio, an independent Kineticodealer in Texas. The trip Chris is writing about was neither attended nor affiliated with Drink Local, Drink Tap. But he shares our mission of helping provide clean drinking water to the people of Uganda.) Here in the United States, … Continued
2nd Annual Giving Splash Party – Details and Ticket Sales – September 26th, 2015
DLDT’s 2015 Journey & 2nd Annual Giving Splash Party Regular Admission- Limited Qty $75.00 USDExclusive Pre-Party Chef and Coffee Tasting Experience $150.00 USDDirect donation (I cannot attend, but would like to donate) $75.00 USD Water is the lifeblood of our planet and the people on it. Drink Local. Drink Tap. (DLDT) was founded on this … Continued
Read moreIt’s beach cleanup season!
Join us April through October each year to clean up Perkins Beach at upper Edgewater Park (Cleveland Metroparks Reservation), Cleveland, OH. See Facebook for details! June 27th 10-noon Facebook Event (Perkins Beach) July 25th 10-noon with Afterparty! (main beach, lower Edgewater) August 29th 10-noon (Perkins Beach) September 12th in partnership with the Great Lake Erie Boat … Continued
Off to Africa: Biosand filters, rainwater harvest, monitoring
I’m off to Africa… Photo by: Erin Huber December 2014 In two weeks, I’ll be going to east Africa once again to work on sustainable water projects with Drink Local. Drink Tap.. I am honored that I’ll be accompanied by David Christof and he will see the fruits of his labors, we will be implementing our first rainwater … Continued
Current Events: Great Lakes wetlands, California almonds & global water insecurity
Last week, people around the world commemorated Earth Day, which environmental activists established in 1970 as a response to continued degradation in the United States and beyond. Each year, the calls to make Earth Day an everyday event seem to gain a bit more steam, and now some people suggest that we celebrate Earth Week … Continued
Why 4 Miles 4 water is going green
Every year in Northeast Ohio, nonprofits and other organizations host dozens of 5ks, 10ks, marathons, fun runs, and other related events. These occasions tend to do a lot of good for our community: they raise awareness and thousands of dollars for worthwhile causes, promote health and well-being, encourage healthy competition, and bring people together. But have … Continued
Read moreMoen, a longtime DLDT supporter, becomes Lake Level sponsor of 4 Miles 4 Water
Moen, the leading faucet brand in America, has been a key backer of Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc.’s ongoing work since the very beginning. The relationship is a perfect fit. Moen designs and sells the faucets that brings tap water we value so much to millions of Americans. And since their start in 1937, Moen has … Continued
Kinetico signs on as Lake Level sponsor for 4 Miles 4 Water
Since 2010, Kinetico has consistently supported Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc.’s ongoing work to educate people about the importance of clean water and bring access to clean water in Uganda. In particular, their continued support, which is now entering its fifth year, has been invaluable to our work abroad. Kinetico has acted as a Platinum … Continued
NEORSD continues their support of DLDT’s work as a Lake Level sponsor
Since 2009, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) has played an integral role in supporting the work that we do at Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc. NEORSD has been involved in our World Water Day activities each year, and through their continued support, we have been able to expand our Wavemaker Program – we … Continued
Current Events: One fish, two fish, red paint, blue green algae
Last week, people all over the planet joined together to celebrate World Water Day 2015, which focused on the vital role that water plays in sustainable development. Here at Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc., World Water Day is central to what we do. Our annual World Water Day activities began six years ago with a … Continued
Water is life, but have you ever thought about what that really means?
World Water Day 2015 is coming up this Sunday, March 22. This year, in advance of this September’s UN summit to create a set of Sustainable Development Goals, World Water Day will focus on the links between water and sustainable development. The axiom that “water is life” has become something of a cliche. But … Continued
Infographic: The water rich vs. the water poor
World Water Day 2015 is this weekend. This year’s event celebrates the vital role that water plays in fostering sustainable development. But it’s also important to remember that, just as levels of economic and social development are uneven worldwide, so too is access to safe drinking water and sanitation uneven. This inequality of water creates … Continued
Current Events: Great Lakes ice, pig poop & artificial glaciers
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it definitely doesn’t feel that way to those of us living in the eastern half of the United States. This month has brought record cold temperatures to much of this part of the country; last Friday, the thermometer dipped to -17ºF at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, … Continued
Road salt is costly & harms our environment. Here’s what can you do about it.
It’s been another wicked winter here in Cleveland. January’s average temperature was just 23°F, according to the National Weather Service, making the month 5.1°F colder than normal. February has been brutally cold, and we have already seen 7 days with sub-zero temperatures this year. The continued cold snaps have largely been accompanied by clipper systems … Continued
Is lax regulation enabling the energy industry to poison aquifers?
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has become one of the leading hot button issues of the past few years. Though fracking has been used to extract oil and natural gas in the United States for decades, it has dramatically picked up steam recently. The controversy and debate around the topic has evolved just as rapidly. Here … Continued
Got 3 minutes? Learn why rivers change their courses
Rivers. They’re pretty amazing things. They provide humans with water for drinking, irrigation, and sanitation. They give us fish and other aquatic animals for food. They can be harnessed to power grind our grain, run our looms, and even power our cities. Their seasonal floods can bring rich silt to our fields or destruction and … Continued
Read moreCurrent Events: Lake Erie’s algae, Yellowstone’s oil spill and Malawi’s floods
2014 was an incredibly eventful year for water. From the Freedom Industries chemical spill in West Virginia’s Elk River to the Duke Energy coal ash spill in North Carolina’s James River; from California’s historic drought to Kashmir’s biblical floods; from the ongoing saga of Detroit’s water shutoffs to the Lake Erie algae bloom that closed … Continued
Watch how sprawl transformed one watershed in Northeast Ohio
A few months ago, I looked at the root causes of Northeast Ohio’s recent flooding problems. I placed the blame largely on two culprits – a changing climate and land use changes. The latter cause is particularly acute in Cuyahoga County, where the overall population has actually shrunk since 1948, while the amount of land … Continued
Current Events: News from the world of water
Welcome to the December edition of “Current Events,” our new feature that gives you an update on what’s going on in the world of water, from Lake Erie to Lake Victoria, and everywhere in between. There has been a lot of important water headlines in the news the past few weeks, so let’s get started: … Continued
It’s time to talk openly about sanitation
Today is World Toilet Day, “a day to raise awareness about all people who do not have access to a toilet.” This year marks the second time that that United Nations has recognized this event. Now, some may find it odd that the world’s supranational governing body would devote an entire day to the symbol of … Continued
In the wake of the Detroit shutoffs, do Americans have a right to water?
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly formally recognized there exists a human right to water and sanitation. The body called upon governments worldwide “to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all.” But, apparently, that right does not apply in the United States. You may be aware of the severe … Continued
DLDT Executive Director ‘Taking Cleveland International with Local and Nonprofit Leaders’ hosted by IPM at the Cleveland Foundation
On Monday October 13th, IPM will be hosting Taking Cleveland International with Local and Nonprofit Leaders. This panel aims to highlight the tremendous work that organizations are doing to maintain Cleveland’s active citizenship in global affairs. Their goals of inspiring engagement in international affairs through the creation of globally minded citizens aligns with IPM’s role in connecting Cleveland to the … Continued
Your driveway is making you sick: On the health risks of coal tar sealants
Coal constitutes a hellish cocktail of toxic substances, ranging from heavy metals like mercury and lead to known carcinogens like cadmium and arsenic. The utilization of coal for various purposes also creates a number of harmful byproducts. These include coal ash (also known as fly ash), which is left over after coal is combusted for … Continued
11 steps you can take today to fight harmful algal blooms
As we all know by now, at 2:00 on the morning of Saturday, August 2, officials in Toledo issued a do not drink advisory, depriving more than 400,000 people in the region of safe drinking water. Officials took action after tests revealed levels of microcystin, a dangerous liver toxin, reached 2.5 parts per billion (ppb), … Continued
September 6th Barefoot Wine and Bubbly Beach Cleanup/ Party after Lake Erie Boat Float
***MEDIA ALERT*** FACEBOOK EVENT LINK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1391985461042118/?ref=br_tf Volunteers invited to Edgewater Park to help keep Great Lakes’ beaches “Barefoot” friendly Public beach cleanup and celebration planned for volunteers WHAT: Barefoot Wine is teaming up with Alliance for the Great Lakes and Drink Local. Drink Tap, Inc. to host a public Adopt-a-Beach™ cleanup at … Continued
Microplastics threaten ecosystems and human health in Northeast Ohio
Last July, I took part in my first beach cleanup with Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc. This event was a truly eye opening experience for me, as I was able to get firsthand exposure to the scale of the trash problem on Lake Erie’s shores. But while most of the other volunteers focused on the … Continued
If you care about water, you need to worry about energy production
Saturday was World Water Day 2014. This year’s theme centered on the water-energy nexus, a topic which has become increasingly important in recent years. According to the United Nations, energy production currently accounts for 15% of global water use, a number which is projected to grow to 20% within the next two decades. In the US, this … Continued