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Is your city leaking?


 
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#1 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 27 November 2011 - 03:11 PM

I could include water, but that's another thread.

And no, the man in the picture is not suffering the effects of a 3 day bender- Posted Image
he's checking for gas leaks.

A scientist in Boston has been driving around the city measuring leaks in the gas mains.
The scientific team says they're surprised at how many they've found, and what those leaks are
doing to the health of the city's trees.  They found about 4,000 significant leaks.

Read full article: Boston's Leaky Gas Lines May Be Tough On The Trees

Can't help but wonder how many other cities are leaking? We have a lot of old cities
in America.

#2 karmaman

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Posted 27 November 2011 - 04:13 PM

I wonder what kind of effect all that methane in the air is having on the people in the area. I can't imagine that it's good for them. I know that there are some sewage gas leaks in our town that they refuse to fix and the people living near them are constantly ill.

#3 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 03:54 PM

All methane, some methane. Both are bad.
http://www.dhs.wisco...fs/SewerGas.htm

#4 Promo

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 04:10 PM

We can't get a hold of government records of gas pipelines due to a 60-year old California law which "requires a vote of the Public Utilities Commission for an outsider to see unreleased paperwork." So I hope that PG&E is actively looking for these types of leaks and be vigilant on aging pipelines that could explode into a potential San Bruno fire incident, which is quite scary.

#5 mariaandrea

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 06:32 PM

The first thing I thought of was the San Bruno fire too. Infrastructure is failing all over the country and there's less and less money to fix it.

And, of course the gas companies dispute the findings.

Between the economy, self-serving politicians and those in the pay of big corporations, I fear for our future.

#6 Mon-Jes

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 08:52 PM

I would not be surprised if Southern California had a bunch. I dislike gas--I know a lot of people prefer to cook with it, but I don't like the fact that it can leak. You don't have that problem with electric stoves....

#7 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 03:18 AM

View PostPromo, on 28 November 2011 - 04:10 PM, said:

We can't get a hold of government records of gas pipelines due to a 60-year old California law which "requires a vote of the Public Utilities Commission for an outsider to see unreleased paperwork." So I hope that PG&E is actively looking for these types of leaks and be vigilant on aging pipelines that could explode into a potential San Bruno fire incident, which is quite scary.
That sounds like a "movement" waiting to happen. "Can't" view paperwork? The freedom of information act
should come into play here. If not, start a petition to get that stupid law changed. Contact Erin Brockovitch, she's
worked against PG & E before.

#8 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 03:27 AM

This interactive, state by state map shows "significant incidents" per year and "serious incidents" per year.
(which you never hear about on the news.) :wacko:
http://www.mnn.com/e...at-a-crossroads

Granted, Texas is a large state but 51 significant incidents in one year? :angry:

#9 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 15 April 2013 - 03:30 AM

Update on our leaking infrastructure.



"According to a newstudy, it (leaks) could become one of the worst climate impacts of the fracking boom—

and yet, it's one of the easiest to tackle right away. Best of all, fixing the leaks is good for the bottom line.

"According to the World Resources Institute, natural gas producers allow $1.5 billion worth of methane

to escape from their operations every year.

That might sound like small change to an industry that drilled up some $66.5 billion worth of natural gas in 2012 alone, but it's a big deal for the climate:

While methane only makes up 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions (20 percent of which comes from cow farts),

it packs a global warming punch 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

The scale of the problem is hard to overstate: The Energy Department found that leaking methane could ultimately make natural gas—which purports to be a "clean" fossil fuel—even more damaging than coal."

Via Mother Jones

#10 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 30 May 2013 - 04:31 AM

Our general infrastructure report card-way too many D's.
http://www.infrastru...ard.org/grades/

And more specifically, wastewater and it's grade of D. (click the arrow on the right for more pages)
http://www.infrastru...org/wastewater/

#11 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 20 March 2014 - 03:43 AM

Granted, older thread but
"Is your city leaking?"
remains a current and ongoing issue.

Other cities for sure, but New York can answer "You bet" to that question; as recently witnessed with
that gas explosion in Harlem.

Grid map in this article shows how pervasive these leaks are.


it is estimated that 2/3 of NYC 6,300 miles of pipes need replacing. con edison (the name fits-con)
has replaced 30 miles a year (vs the almost 4200 miles it needs to replace).

Methane may burn cleaner than coal, but unburned methane leaks are a powerful greenhouse gas
that warms the atmosphere
86 more times than CO-2. :ohmy:

#12 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 03 August 2014 - 05:05 AM

Ok, so I'll include water.

Ancient pipes throughout America are well known.
Recently pipes burst in L.A. gushing
20 million gallons
of precious water in their drought stricken state bringing attention to the problem.

Will it be dealt with? Not so much.

But California is not the only state with ancient pipes. Many states have pipes that date back to the 1920's.

(Oh but hey congress, don't worry about a thing. Just keep suing Obama over nonsense and collecting
tons of money while you remain in office; which won't be long.)
From ABC news via Grist-
"There are 240,000 breaks a year, according to the National Association of Water Companies."
http://grist.org/new...ur-leaky-pipes/

#13 still learning

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Posted 03 August 2014 - 08:24 AM

View PostShortpoet-GTD, on 03 August 2014 - 05:05 AM, said:

Ok, so I'll include water......
.....(Oh but hey congress, don't worry about a thing. Just keep suing Obama over nonsense and collecting
tons of money while you remain in office; which won't be long.)
From ABC news via Grist-
"There are 240,000 breaks a year, according to the National Association of Water Companies."
http://grist.org/new...ur-leaky-pipes/
   I'm not a fan of the US Congress generally, especially as it is now, but what should they do about water leaks?  The federal government historically has had almost nothing to do with domestic water supplies.  Some EPA standards in the last few decades, but generally there is local and state control and regulation.

#14 Dustoffer

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Posted 03 August 2014 - 08:39 AM

Leaky pipes should be repaired.  There are ways to do it that don't require digging up at the leak--necessarily.  An internal sleeve could come from elsewhere.  The main thing with urban systems and socialist countries is that sense of entitlement that is incorrect;
The Blue Dot Tour: The Right to Breathe Fresh Air, Drink Clean Water and Eat Healthy Food

Dr. David Suzuki | July 29, 2014 7:45 pm
http://ecowatch.com/...84d7dd-85901709
How do we get these "rights"??  We did not have the "right" to even life itself.  There are other examples of this type of thinking.
The rights above are something we have to take care of individually through hard won knowledge and hard work in life.
We never had the right to overpopulate to the point of toxic pollution globally, or permanent/long term depletion of resources.  Humans never had the right to build unsustainable structures, habits, and cities.
In the fight for survival, "rights" are not recognized.

#15 Shortpoet-GTD

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Posted 03 August 2014 - 01:35 PM

View Poststill learning, on 03 August 2014 - 08:24 AM, said:

I'm not a fan of the US Congress generally, especially as it is now, but what should they do about water leaks?  The federal government historically has had almost nothing to do with domestic water supplies.  Some EPA standards in the last few decades, but generally there is local and state control and regulation.
Granted, local water pipes (fresh in and sewage out) are the jurisdiction of the cities but you must agree that
our infrastructure is in a laughable (but not funny) state and they are not spending any money on these massive
systems. :angry:

#16 Dustoffer

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Posted 05 August 2014 - 08:54 AM

This article came to me;
The U.S. could supply all of California with water if we fixed our leaky pipes

By Samantha Larson
"As if California didn’t already have enough water issues to worry about right now, last week Los Angeles lost more than 20 million gallons – a day’s worth for at least 100,000 people – when a pipe that was installed a century ago finally broke. But it turns out geriatric pipes aren’t just a problem for the City of Angels. Aging infrastructure means that nationwide, pipes hemorrhage seven billion gallons of treated drinking water each day; enough to meet the daily water needs of the entire state of California."
http://grist.org/new..._campaign=daily

If all the fines owed by everyone in violation of Title8USC1324iv were paid, there would be almost the California population leaving.  The money could pay off the debt, and ALL infrastructural repairs, roads, water and gas lines, et al.
Is California even American anymore??  Not like the Mamas and Papas days, which I, personally would like back!!

#17 Corky

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 10:45 AM

WHEW, THAT IS HORRIBLE SCARY!

#18 mikedall

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Posted 02 November 2014 - 03:58 AM

Because of harmful gases our environment right has been ruined.. We need to use water to fuel our vehicles..

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