Springing Stories - March and April

Monthly recaps of all Spring to the Tap related news-- tap water, bottled water, plastic, and more!

California Orders 12 Oil-Field Wells Shut to Protect Groundwater - LA Times
March 3rd, California officials order 12 oil-field wells, including some used in hydraulic fracturing, to stop operating due to concern of groundwater contamination.

California is pumping water that fell to Earth 20,000 years ago - Reveal, from The Center for Investigative Reporting
March 9th, "As California farms and cities drill deeper for groundwater in an era of drought and climate change, they no longer are tapping reserves that percolated into the soil over recent centuries. They are pumping water that fell to Earth during a much wetter climatic regime – the ice age."

Prince Charles calls for end to dumping of plastic in world's oceans - The Guardian
March 19th, Prince Charles says our our "throw-away society" is having a major impact on the ecology of the world's oceans.

Surprise Finding Heightens Concern Over Tiny Bits Of Plastic Polluting Our Oceans - Huffington Post
March 23rd, scientists have been finding that plastic is in everything: deep sea sediments, coral reefs, crab gills, the digestive systems of mussels, German beer, and now, even in the scales of fish, both farmed and wild.

Should bottled water companies sell national forest water? - CBS MoneyWatch
March 20th, despite major water shortages in California, Nestle has been pumping out groundwater from the San Bernardino National Forest with an invalid permit that expired 27 years ago.

Plastic microbeads: A toxic substance in waterways from the Great Lakes to the Arctic - Alaska Dispatch News
March 27th, research shows that the Great Lakes have concentrations of microplastics as high as those in the major oceanic gyres in addition to findings that show that Arctic sea ice is another sink for manmade plastic particles.

Plastic pellets found in puffin tummies - CBS News
March 27th, Scottish researchers discovered that puffins are ingesting plastic pre-production pellets, adding to the list of species shown to eat toxic plastic.

Activists 'Shut Down' Nestlé Water Bottling Plant in Sacramento - Daily Kos
March 27th, protesters blocked the entrance to a Nestle bottling plant disagreeing with their favorable treatment from the local government and their unsustainable water usage during a time of drought.

California Imposes First Mandatory Water Restrictions to Deal With Drought - New York Times
April 1st, California's governor imposes mandatory water restrictions for the first time in the history of the state.

Mediterranean Sea 'accumulating zone of plastic debris' - BBC News

April 2nd, a survey found around one thousand tonnes of plastic floating in the Mediterranean.

ODFW agrees to new approach for Nestle bottled water plant in Cascade Locks - The Oregonian
April 10th, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife agreed to give rights to the water flowing out of Oxbow Springs, which is used to supply an endangered salmon hatchery, over to Nestle for bottling water.

Forest Service: Expired Nestle Water Permit A Priority - The Desert Sun
April 11th, an investigation in March discovered that Nestle is bottling water in the San Bernardino National Forest with a permit that expired 27 years ago, now the U.S. Forest Service is looking into the issue.

Nestlé Waters: Bottled water is not contributing to California’s drought - San Bernardino County Sun
April 28th, a Nestle Waters North American official writes that Nestle bottles an amount of water equal to two California golf courses over the course of a year, and that their operations are not contributing to the drought.

Starbucks bottled water plant draws ire from drought-stricken California residents - Puget Sound Business Journal
April 30th, Starbucks' Ethos brand water, a product supposedly trying to help solve the world water crisis, pumps water for free in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Did you see any other interesting stories the last two months? Be sure to share them with us in the comments, or on Facebook or Twitter!

Springing Stories - January and February

Monthly recaps of all Spring to the Tap related news-- tap water, bottled water, plastic, and more!

The Politics of Drinking Water - The Atlantic
A history of tap water shows how the growth and importance of clean tap water in the United States reflects the status of the nation.

The Unlikely Champion of a Water Bottle Ban - The New York Times
A story of how Xanterra Parks and Resorts, which operates concessions for many National Parks, is championing efforts to promote tap water, despite losing revenue from their choice not to sell bottled water.

Water and Classical Civilizations - Crash Course Word History
John Green explains how water's life-giving power has influenced the course of world history.

Ocean waste hits home: Plastic-filled fish guts ruins Chilliwack man's catch - The Province
A steelhead trout caught on the Vedder River in British Columbia contained a stomach full of dangerous plastic particles likely ingested at sea.

Corals on the Great Barrier Reef Eat Plastic. And That's Bad - Planet Experts
Scientist have long suspected that a wide range of marine life ingest microplastics, new research adds corals to a growing list of incidental 'plastivores'.

Study Finds Rising Levels of Plastics in Oceans - The New York Times
A recent study pinpoints which countries are likely responsible for the most plastic waste cast off into the oceans.

Did you see any other interesting stories the last two months? Be sure to share them with us in the comments!

Enumclaw Water Fountain Public Information Meeting Recap

Last Monday, Spring to the Tap hosted a public information meeting to share ideas, answer questions, and collaborate with the community about Spring to the Tap's proposal to install a drinking fountain in downtown Enumclaw. The meeting was led by Ross Brown, a nationally-renowned Enumclaw-based bronze sculptor, who will be designing and creating this unique piece of functional art from scratch.

During the meeting Ross presented his ideas for a uniquely-designed drinking water fountain to be installed on the corner of Cole Street and Stevenson Avenue in downtown Enumclaw (left). The video above is a condensed version of Ross' presentation given at the Enumclaw Public Library on January 26th (the premature ending is a result of technical difficulties).

The fountain will include both a traditional drinking water spigot and a bottle refilling mechanism. Its design will meet ADA standards for accessibility. Ross Brown also discussed how this drinking fountain will also represent both the local image of Enumclaw and the significance of global issues surrounding water resources.


Above are three Stage 1 concept sketches Ross Brown presented at the meeting for public review. We welcome any and all ideas that you think might improve the design in any way. Below are some suggestions taken at the public meeting:

• A spigot and bowl for passing dogs is a definite feature to be included in the final fountain.
• We will explore possible options in reusing or redirecting the water that normally drains away following the use of the fountain, including sanitation concerns.
• Also important is the inclusion of local elements that make Enumclaw unique, such as the image of Mt. Rainier and the featured wildlife tracks (including aquatic) and symbols important to the Muckleshoot Tribe in the design of the fountain.
• Other great suggestions from community members present at the meeting related to design appearance, aesthetics, and safety.

Using your input to hone his design, Ross Brown will begin the creation of a scale model drinking fountain as the next step in the project. Look for more public events leading up to the presentation of the model this summer!

We would love to hear from you! Do you have any suggestions for the design of the drinking fountain?

Please leave a comment below, email us, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter. 

Thanks, and we look forward to receiving your input!