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Resort’s Snow Won’t Be Pure This Year; It’ll Be Sewage

JFP

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Understand the angst against dumping on sacred ground; don't believe in the negative enviro impacts presented as the waste effluent would likley end up in a river anyways. Pretty creative and usefull means for conserving water in the southwest. (though I would resist the temptation to ingest). Imagine some more deep seeded issues are rising to the surface in this debate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/u....html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0moc.semityn.www
 

AdironRider

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Water is scarce out west but this is disgusting and so disrespectful to native tribes.

Have you been to that part of Arizona? Theres pretty much no water.

This is no different than any other sewage treatment plant, they all dump the water after its been treated. You often drink it.
 

JimG.

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This is why I never let my kids pick up snow and put it in their mouths when they say they are thirsty.

That is a bad way to battle thirst anyway.

As FZ says, "watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow".
 

JFP

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Water is scarce out west but this is disgusting and so disrespectful to native tribes.

I strongy doubt the natives Americans were cool with putting a ski resort on sacred ground in the first place. I think more likely this issue presents a new avenue and means by which to re-express their anger with the owners and forest service (i.e. deep seeded issues- though, I don't know the history). As far as the water, likley no different than the treated effluent that enters our rivers and streams (and meets federal and state water quality rules) from just about every sewage treatment plant anywhere.
 

Huck_It_Baby

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Have you been to that part of Arizona? Theres pretty much no water.

This is no different than any other sewage treatment plant, they all dump the water after its been treated. You often drink it.

I've been to Tuscon. Yes it was dry with no water I understand. The article states the water is one level below drinking water.

I have also been to a water treatment plant here in NY and saw the tanks of infectious, disease water that they treat and we drink. I couldn't drink tap water for months after visiting. Amazing how clean they get it though.

I still think it's gross.
 
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drjeff

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I've been to Tuscon. Yes it was dry with no water I understand. The article states the water is one level below drinking water.

I have also been to a water treatment plant here in NY and saw the tanks of infectious, disease water that they treat and we drink. I couldn't drink tap water for months after visiting. Amazing how clean they get it though.

I still think it's gross.

The reality is that with modern waste water treatment plants, the final water that is emitted post treatment on a bacterial basis actually has less colony forming units (CFU's) of bacteria in it than the water that leaves most municpal water systems and heads for our taps. The filtration and sterilization technologies that we have today are really amazing.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately ;) , I had to learn way more about water filtration and purification tecnologies for my own office (and most dental offices have to do this too) as the waste water that we emit from my office has to go through multiple filtration systems (I have 3 seperate filters that waste water in my office goes through before it is discharged in the sewage line) and the standards that I am subject too actually in the town where my office is has the waste water that is discharged from my office actually "cleaner" than the municipal water than enters my office, especially with respects to certain types of bacteria and levels of certain metals in the water
 

drjeff

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I strongy doubt the natives Americans were cool with putting a ski resort on sacred ground in the first place. I think more likely this issue presents a new avenue and means by which to re-express their anger with the owners and forest service (i.e. deep seeded issues- though, I don't know the history). As far as the water, likley no different than the treated effluent that enters our rivers and streams (and meets federal and state water quality rules) from just about every sewage treatment plant anywhere.

But yet, I'm pretty sure those same native Americans would be more than happy to build say a casino or some major tourist attracting item (such as a sky walk over the rim of the Grand Canyon) on that exact same "sacred" ground if given the opportunity :smash: :rolleyes:

And I say that as somehow who does have a small percentage of native American blood flowing through my arteries and veins
 

Huck_It_Baby

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The reality is that with modern waste water treatment plants, the final water that is emitted post treatment on a bacterial basis actually has less colony forming units (CFU's) of bacteria in it than the water that leaves most municpal water systems and heads for our taps. The filtration and sterilization technologies that we have today are really amazing.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately ;) , I had to learn way more about water filtration and purification tecnologies for my own office (and most dental offices have to do this too) as the waste water that we emit from my office has to go through multiple filtration systems (I have 3 seperate filters that waste water in my office goes through before it is discharged in the sewage line) and the standards that I am subject too actually in the town where my office is has the waste water that is discharged from my office actually "cleaner" than the municipal water than enters my office, especially with respects to certain types of bacteria and levels of certain metals in the water

I'm filling my camelback at the dentist office from now on!!
 

millerm277

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Water is scarce out west but this is disgusting and so disrespectful to native tribes.

All water has been sewage/waste/"impure" at one time or another, and this is quite clean (far cleaner than many rivers/other bodies of water are).

So how is it either, beyond you having a gut reaction to shortening the time before it gets reused for something else?
 

deadheadskier

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But yet, I'm pretty sure those same native Americans would be more than happy to build say a casino or some major tourist attracting item (such as a sky walk over the rim of the Grand Canyon) on that exact same "sacred" ground if given the opportunity :smash: :rolleyes:

And I say that as somehow who does have a small percentage of native American blood flowing through my arteries and veins

Exactly.

There's now a BJ's warehouse and Stop and Shop located on some farmland distant family members of mine owned two hundred years ago. I just wish I could prove lineage like Native American's such that I could collect a little rent today. :lol:

Regarding the :puke: factor of sewage being used to create snow? I bet there are hundreds of golf courses out west using sewage to water their fairways. I know it's a very common practice in Florida. How the hell else do you think they achieve pristine golfing conditions in the deserts of Arizona? It sure as hell isn't all irrigation drawn from the Colorado river.
 

Huck_It_Baby

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All water has been sewage/waste/"impure" at one time or another, and this is quite clean (far cleaner than many rivers/other bodies of water are).

So how is it either, beyond you having a gut reaction to shortening the time before it gets reused for something else?

Not totally clear what your question is but pretty sure water started out fairly pure before modern society/industrial revolution. The fact that it is now all recycled sewage/waste/impure at one point is what is disgusting if you get down to it. So many of our natural resources have just been mucked up. You're not even supposed to eat too many fish each year out of many of our lakes and streams. Or none at all.

My reaction isn't totally "gut" as you might believe. As I mentioned in another post I am aware of what treated sewage water is. The article cites that this is the first resort to use 100 % sewage effluent for snow making purposes and that there is concern for damage to the environment. Who knows. Prob will do nothing to the environment but i still find it disgusting.

It's impressive we can take raw waste and make it drinkable but depressing that's what we have to resort to.
 

deadheadskier

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Haha =)

Mayonaise the filthiest substance on earth!

emulsified eggs and vegetable oil is filthy? Do you realize how many salad dressings and sauces most people consume all the time where mayonnaise is the base?

Do you not eat Caesar Salad?
 

Huck_It_Baby

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emulsified eggs and vegetable oil is filthy? Do you realize how many salad dressings and sauces most people consume all the time where mayonnaise is the base?

Do you not eat Caesar Salad?

Nope. I think the only condiment I use is sriracha.
 

deadheadskier

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It's impressive we can take raw waste and make it drinkable but depressing that's what we have to resort to.

Take the human element out of it and do you think much "fresh" water truly exists? We have to resort to filtering and treating water without humans taking a dump in it. Think of all the fish in "fresh" water that pee and poop away. Think of all the wildlife on the banks of our fresh water where that pristine mountain stream is nothing more than their latrine. All of these creatures die, decompose and get washed downstream. Never mind all of the microscopic organisms and bacterias that occur in nature's "fresh" water that can make you sick or kill you.
 

deadheadskier

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Nope. I think the only condiment I use is sriracha.

mustard?

good ole olive oil or a flavored olive oil?

I like Siracha a lot in certain applications, but I think I'd kill myself if that's the only variety of condiment I had in my quiver.
 
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