#2 When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

#3 Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.

#4 Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.

#5 Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

#6 Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.

#7 Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.

#8 Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.

#9 Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.

#10 For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain..

#11 Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.

#12 Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.

#13 Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.

#14 Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time and money.

#15 Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.

#16 If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model.

#17 Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.

#18 If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.

#19 We’re more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, sprinklers and hoses for leaks.

#20 If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.

#21 Check the root zone of your lawn or garden for moisture before watering using a spade or trowel. If it’s still moist two inches under the soil surface, you still have enough water.

#22 When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They’re more water and energy efficient.

#23 Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

#24 Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.

#25 Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.

#26 When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.

#27 Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.

#28 Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month..

#29 When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.

#30 Walkways and patios provide space that doesn’t ever need to be watered. These useful “rooms” can also add value to your property.

#31 Collect water from your roof to water your garden.

#32 Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.

#33 Rather than following a set watering schedule, check for soil moisture two to three inches below the surface before watering.

#34 Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.

#35 Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.

#36 Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots where it’s needed..

#37 Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.

#38 Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.

#39 When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.

#40 Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.

#41 Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape.

#42 Use a water-efficient showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.   See how Waterpik® EcoFlow® can help reduce your water use..Waterpik® EcoFlow® Shower HeadBefore you lather up, trade up your current shower head to a water-efficient shower head such as the Waterpik® EcoFlow® which helps reduce water consumption by up to 40%. Water-conserving shower heads are inexpensive, easy to install, and can save a family of four up to 17,000 gallons of water a year.

#43 Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

#44 Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.

#45 Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.

#46 Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save water and prevent damage to your home.

#47 To decrease water from being wasted on sloping lawns, apply water for five minutes and then repeat two to three times.

#48 Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.

#49 Use a layer of organic material on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.

#50 Use a minimum amount of organic or slow release fertilizer to promote a healthy and drought tolerant landscape.

#51 Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spraying water into the air.

#52 Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.

#53 Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.

#54 Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.

#55 Use a rain gauge, or empty tuna can, to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce your watering accordingly.

#56 Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.

#57 Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or you get an unexpected rain.

#58 Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute.

#59 If your toilet flapper doesn’t close after flushing, replace it.

#60 Make sure there are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.

#61 Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year..

#62 Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.

#63 Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later to see if you have a leak.

#64 If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.

#65 Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry it’s time to water.

#66 If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.

#67 When you save water, you save money on your utility bills too. Saving water is easy for everyone to do.

#68 When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.

#69 Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.

#70 Bathe your young children together.

#71 Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings.

#72 Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.

#73 Insulate hot water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings.

#74 Wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your lawn at the same time.

#75 Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save water every time..

#76 Direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems toward water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.

#77 Make suggestions to your employer about ways to save water and money at work.

#78 Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.

#79 Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.

#80 Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbors.

#81 If your toilet was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank.

#82 Setting cooling systems and water softeners for a minimum number of refills saves both water and chemicals, plus more on utility bills.

#83 Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while it helps your clothes to keep their colors.

#84 Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.

#85 Report broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water provider.

#86 Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.

#87 Plant with finished compost to add water-holding and nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil.

#88 Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller water drops and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.

#89 Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. Fixing a leak can save 300 gallons a month or more.

#90 Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.

#91 One more way to get eight glasses of water a day is to re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.

#92 Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements..

#93 Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month.

#94 Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.

#95 When shopping for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some of these can save up to 20 gallons per load, and energy too.

#96 Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.

#97 Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.

#98 When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink basin or a large container and rinse when all of the dishes have been soaped and scrubbed.

#99 Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. One inch of water on one square foot of grass equals two-thirds of a gallon of water.

#100 Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month.

#101 When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.

#102 If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.

#103 To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.

#104 While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.

#105 When backflushing your pool, consider using the water on your landscaping.

#106 For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.

#107 Throw trimmings and peelings from fruits and vegetables into your yard compost to prevent using the garbage disposal.

#108 When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don’t throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.

#109 Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn’t allowed in your area, start a movement to get that changed.

#110 Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.

#111 When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.

#112 Look for products bearing the EPA WaterSense Label for items that been certified to save 20% or more without sacrificing performance.

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

By the Oregonia

Silent toilet leaks can account for up to 300 gallons of day of lost water without anybody noticing the leakage.

The Portland Water Bureau offers these easy steps to check your toilet for leaks:

1. Lift off the toilet tank lid. Without flushing, place several drops of food coloring (or one dye tablet, available from the bureau) in the toilet tank.

2. If water in the bowl turns color within 10 minutes, you have a toilet leak.

If you find that you have a leak, give us a call (513)770-5590 and we will get you taken care of.

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

In 1596: Sir John Harington published A New Discourse of a Stale Subject, Called the Metamorphosis of Ajax, describing a forerunner to the modern flush toilet installed at his house at Kelston. The design had a flush valve to let water out of the tank, and a wash-down design to empty the bowl.

He installed one for his godmother Queen Elizabeth I at Richmond Palace, but some reports say she refused to use it because it made too much noise.

Not much has been improved upon the valve design up until now. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has taken up the call to improve the modern day flush valve toilet in order to accommodate the conditions in Africa where there is less water and the requirements for environmental disposal of waste is needed.

It is estimated that 2.6 billion people in Africa do not have facilities and are forced to use open latrines that are beds for disease. It is reported millions become ill from the unsanitary conditions.

Gates Representative Makes Commitment in Africa

The new toilet designs must innovative ways to dispose of human waste that can e used to create its own energy and water. Salt and nutrients can be recovered from sludge. All of this must cost less than 5 cents day to use. The current cost to use a public toilets twice a day is about 13 cents in rural Africa. Those who cannot afford the cost, dig holes in the ground in their yards.

In Kigali, Rwanda the representative from the Gates Foundation Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the foundations’ Global Development Program called on donors, governments, the private sector, and NGOs to address the urgent challenge, which affects nearly 40 percent of the world’s population most of who reside in developing countries.

“No innovation the past 200 years has done more to save lives and improve health than the sanitation revolution triggered by the invention of the toilet, Burwell said at AfricaSan, the third African Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene, organized by the African Ministers’ Council on Water. “But it did not go far enough. It only reached one third of the world. What we need are new approaches. new ideas. In short, we need to reinvent the toilet.”

Eight Universities Contacted to Submit New Designs

At the conference the foundation announce $42 million in new grants that aim to spur innovations in the capture and storage of waste, as well as its processing into reusable energy, fertilizer, and fresh water. The foundation will support work with local communities to end open defecation and increase access to affordable long-term solutions.

Of the eight Universities contacted, here is what three of them have proposed.

1. The California Institute of Technology plans to use solar panels to provide energy for a reactor that will break down the waste into hydrogen vapor. This gas can serve as a fuel source itself for people who need to use the bathroom at night and can still have electricity.

2. The Swiss federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology will design a toilet that separates human waste from useable contents. Clean water is then extracted from the urine, which people can use to wash their hands when they are done. The whole process will be done on site.

3. The Loughborough University in United Kingdom proposes a toilet prototype that will change human waste into charcoal, water and salt through a heat and pressure.

The five other universities each with unique designs are: University of Kwazulu-Natal in Africa, Stanford University, University of Toronto, Delft University of Technology in Netherlands and the national University of Singapore.

These innovations can have an impact around the world, not only in third world countries.

by Dava Castillo

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

Almost 80% of infectious diseases are passed on by human contact, and on average only 50% of people wash their hands after toileting, emphasizing the benefits of ‘hands-free’ toileting. Total Hygiene, the British company behind the UK’s top-selling Clos-o-Mat toilet, which eliminates the need to use toilet tissue, says latest findings reinforce the argument for a combined toilet/bidet/drier(automatic toilet), showing its Clos-o-Mat uses a 1/10th of the water and energy consumption required to produce just a single roll of toilet paper- and 100% reduction in wood.

“A single roll of toilet paper requires 37 gallons of water, 13kWh of electricity and 1.5lbs of wood to be produced,” says Robin Tuffley, Total Hygiene Marketing Manager. “By contrast, a typical Clos-o-Mat toilet uses less than 2 gallons of water to flush and wash, and less electricity than a kettle- 0.12kWh- to warm the water and air-dry. The eco credentials speak for themselves, even before you factor in the health benefits of improved hygiene.

“We know germs are passed by hand/body contact, so removing that contact improves hygiene. Washing with water rather than wiping is also more effective, especially if you have a limiting physical or mental condition, and, for some, a religious consideration. And a combined unit takes up less space, and requires less cleaning, than separate toilet and bidet.”

Total Hygiene has over 40,000 of its Clos-o-Mats installed in the UK, both in individual’s homes, and public/ multi-user environments. Actor Kenny Baker, most famous for his role as Star Wars’ R2D2, has a Clos-o-Mat in his Lancashire home, which he installed after coming across a similar product in Japan, where 60% of households have such units. He says, “The Japanese love technology, and to them such toilets are normal. I thought ‘I’ve got to have one of those!’ It was a treat to go to the toilet. The Clos-O-Mat has been a fantastic buy, so comfortable, and so much more hygienic and pleasant.”

Published by Angela May

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

Dear Angie:

I’m thinking about purchasing a tankless water heater and would love some feedback.

- Jean C., Clarendon Hills, Ill.

Dear Jean:

There are plenty of great reasons to purchase a tankless water heater. A tankless heater is able to provide an almost endless stream of hot water and occupies a minimal amount of space, compared to the conventional storage tank water heater, which requires the use of fuel to maintain hot water temperature, even when the water is not in use.

A tankless heater only heats the water that you use, meaning it’s more efficient when it comes to fuel usage. Once it gets to the faucet, you never run out of hot water.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates gas-fired tankless heaters can save the average U.S. family 30 percent off their water heating expenses an average of more than $100 per year over their traditional counterparts. Qualifying non-electric tankless water heaters are eligible this year for a $300 federal tax credit.

Tankless systems typically cost about twice that of a conventional system from about $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the type of unit and the necessary installment requirements, including a minimum 3/4-inch gas line. While the initial cost is higher, the tax credit helps offset that. Plus, a tankless unit should last 20 years about twice as long as a tank unit.

There are some limits to tankless water heaters. Because the unit provides only water it can heat, it’s important for homeowners to manage their water use. For example, while three people could take back-to-back-to-back showers and wouldn’t run out of hot water, if one person is taking a shower, you have a load of laundry washing in hot water, and the dishwasher is being used, not enough water can be heated at once, so the system will limit the amount it will produce.

In most home applications, a gas heater is your best bet. Electric tankless heaters are available as well, but those are best in limited situations, such as smaller apartments or point-of-use applications, like sinks or smaller areas that require hot water.

Tankless units do require proper venting upon installation and should be installed close to gas lines to operate at their highest efficiency. It’s important that only a qualified, licensed plumber install them.

Tankless heaters do require regular maintenance every year or two to reduce scale buildup with a professional flushing process that costs about $150-$200, but they can be easily repaired, compared to storage units, meaning fewer tanks end up rusting in a landfill as a result.

Courtesy of Angie Hicks

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

“Do you want to drink pee?” David Shaff asked.

About 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, water officials say, a 21-year-old Molalla man was caught on camera urinating in one of Portland’s uncovered reservoirs — one that provides water to a majority of Portlanders.

From a gross-out perspective, that’s enough to make residents wary of turning on the tap.

“I think I’m going to have a Coke with my lunch today,” said city Commissioner Randy Leonard, who oversees the Water Bureau. The bureau recently began work on an $80 million project elsewhere to comply with federal rules to cover city reservoirs.

But does tossing out so much water — at a cost of more than $36,000 — make sense from a scientific or health angle?

Urine is pretty sterile chemically speaking, said Dave Stone, an assistant professor in toxicology at Oregon State University who specializes in chemical contaminants in water.

“It’s inappropriate behavior. But how many animals are doing that or birds?” he said. “I don’t want to second-guess the city, but I can’t think of anything chemically that would have me be concerned.”

But Chris Wanner, director of operations for the Water Bureau, said he was worried — though less about the urine than about unknown items thrown into the water by a group of five people who hung around Mount Tabor early Wednesday.

Even so, Portland’s five open reservoirs are susceptible to dead rodents, birds or bird poop. Water quality is tested, but reservoirs aren’t drained because of dead animals.

“We look at that as part of the business of open reservoirs,” Wanner said.

Water officials disconnected the same reservoir in April 2010 after tests found E. coli in samples. Five months before that, they issued a rare boil alert after tests at a Washington Park reservoir found E. coli.

Dr. Gary Oxman — the Multnomah County health officer who advises officials on infectious diseases such as salmonella, hepatitis and H1N1 — said the average bladder holds 6 to 8 ounces of urine and would be vastly diluted in a reservoir.

“The health risk associated with that is really, really tiny,” he said. But because of concerns about the unknown objects, he did say draining the water is “an appropriate thing to do.”

A surveillance camera captured the incident. Once officials contacted the group, and after the 21-year-old was told he urinated in drinking water and his actions were disrespectful, he reportedly said, “I didn’t mean to show disrespect. I thought this was a sewage treatment plant.”

Police did not cite the man or his friends, though video and reports by police and the Water Bureau will be submitted to the Multnomah County district attorney’s office for possible criminal charges. The Oregonian is not naming the 21-year-old because he was not arrested or charged with a crime.

“It’ll kind of depend on what the surveillance video shows,” said Sgt. Pete Simpson, a police spokesman. “He’s not out of the water yet.”

Draining the reservoir will take several days, keeping it offline until perhaps late next week. Shaff originally said dumping the water would cost about $600,000 in lost revenue but he later clarified that his math was way off and that the water would have sold for a retail price of almost $28,500. Disposal fees are expected to reach about $7,600.

Shaff noted that Portland’s Bull Run water supply contains billions of gallons of water, and it makes sense to clean the reservoir.

And it goes back to the idea of drinking pee. “Answer the question,” he said. “It has nothing to do with ‘scientifically.’

“Most people,” he added, “are gonna be pretty damn squeamish about that.”

by Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

The 30-second spot shows men apologising for their toilet behaviour with men and boys of all ages apologising for their bad aim, failure to flush, the “splattering” and the stench.

Jennifer Osborne, Reckitt Benckiser category manager for Harpic, said: “Consumer research tells us that the brand is mainly used for a serious weekly clean of the toilet. But, lets face it, that good work is quickly undone by the toilet habits of Australian men. So Euro’s campaign encourages the use of Harpic for quick ‘emergency’ cleans of the toilet too.”

Steve Coll, executive creative director Euro RSCG Australia, said: “Toilet cleaner is normally considered a pretty low interest category. But I’m delighted to be working with a client and an agency team who are determined to break those expectations. In particular, huge credit goes to the creatives, Chris Johnson and Dave Ladd, who have worked tirelessly to produce a wonderfully engaging campaign.”

To view the ad click here.

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Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

Students Build an allotment toilet

STUDENTS at Oxford Brookes University have designed and built a composting toilet.

The five students spent spare weekends and evenings designing and making the facility, which has now been opened in Pullens Lane Allotments, in Headington.

Architecture student Andy Edwards, 26, from Old Botley, applied for a grant of £500 from Brookes’s Student Community Fund while the St Clement’s and District Allotment Association provided the rest of the £2,200 build cost.

Mr Edwards said: “The group had written a brief of all the community facilities they had a wish-list for.

“We ran a brainstorming workshop with them and threw around a lot of ideas about the designs and what their priorities were.

“It became clear a compost toilet was at the bottom of their list because it would have cost around £9,000. We knew we could do it for a lot less if we built it from scratch.”

Mr Edwards and fellow architecture student Sophie Morley ran a series of workshops with Brookes students on bricklaying, timber framing, joinery and other techniques used in the building.

Because the students had to fit the work in around their studies, it took them months to complete about two weeks’ labour.

Mr Edwards said: “We were bricklaying in snow in December, then we had sleet and hail and rain in January. We weren’t able to call it off when the weather was bad because we had limited time to do it.”

It is planned for students to continue to work with the allotment association on providing other facilities on the site.

Mr Edwards said: “It is something you generally don’t get to do, working with real clients and building real things with a genuine agenda.”

Composting toilets work by compacting human waste in an aerobic, or oxygenated environment, until they become nutrient-rich fertiliser.

After using the toilet, people put a scoop of sawdust into the composting chamber beneath. No water is used in the process. Mr Edwards admitted he hadn’t tried out the facilities as yet, but said: “I’m told it is a very relaxing experience, you can hear the birds singing.”

He said he hoped compost toilets would take off at other allotment sites and the attractive construction would take away the mindset that they were unhygienic or smelly.

Marie Power, secretary of the allotment association, said: “Not only is it functional, it’s also beautiful.

“We certainly wouldn’t have got one for a number of years had they not taken the initiative.”

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

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We service our valued clients in Mason, Ohio and  all surrounding areas such as Lebanon, Loveland, West Chester, Kings Mills, Landen, Bethany, Wetherington, Olde West Chester, South Lebanon, Monroe, Springboro,  Morrow, Maineville, Cincinnati, Blue Ash and many more.

Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

Three Mason businesses and NECC Chamber Members received Small Business Recognition Awards during City of Mason Small Business Recognition Week in June. The businesses were honored for their entrepreneurship, successes, and commitment to the Mason community.

Jeff Heger accepted the Green Business Practices award for Nixco Plumbing, located at 4281 U.S. 42. The business was started by his father, Jim Heger, in 1978. Jeff currently runs the company, which employs about 25 people. Nixco’s philosophy with regards to customer service is to earn the lifelong business of the customer. The company supports local schools and churches through many advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Diane and Brad Sheltrown, owners of Campioni’s Pizzeria, received the Retail award for their restaurant at 6691 Western Row Road. The new Mason location opened in April of 2010. They also have a restaurant in Springboro. The Sheltrowns enjoy working with local schools, sports teams, and other groups with their fundraising endeavors.

Everybody’s Health, a medical practice that has grown to 4 locations with 6 doctors and 6 massage therapists, opened in 2002 and is currently located at 6213 Snider Road in Mason. Owner Dr. David Berring and his staff are committed to helping patients reach their health goals by providing chiropractic care, massage therapy, and nutrition care in one location. They support area businesses by providing free wellness programs and speakers. They received the award in the Professional/Service category.

Congratulations to these deserving winners.

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

Nixco Plumbing Coupons – Click Here

Find out About Nixco Plumbing Inc.

Become a Facebook  Fan of Nixco Plumbing Inc.

We service our valued clients in Mason, Ohio and  all surrounding areas such as Lebanon, Loveland, West Chester, Kings Mills, Landen, Bethany, Wetherington, Olde West Chester, South Lebanon, Monroe, Springboro,  Morrow, Maineville, Cincinnati, Blue Ash and many more.

Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

According to the magazine, Bill Gates says it’s time to leave the era of the classic toilet behind, and he points out that despite all of the recent achievements, 40 percent of the world’s population, or some 2.5 billion people, still live without proper means of flushing away excrement.

Toilets aren’t the only focus for the Foundation. The Associated Press reports that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is planning to provide a dozen researchers with an additional $1 million over five years to test life-saving ideas, such as using microwaves to kill malaria parasites. The toilets seem to be another unique focus for the Foundation, with potentially huge results.

TIME reports that the lack of sanitation facilities increases the spread of disease, and UNICEF estimates that globally, 1.1 billion people don’t have access to any kind of toilet or means of safely eliminating waste. At least 1.2 million children under the age of five die from diarrhea each year, caused by undrinkable water.

The project is working on two important initiatives. The first is to construct sanitation facilities in rural areas and slums, and the other is a research project that is giving grants to scientists who come up with new ideas for using human excrement.

TIME writes:

In view of the world’s limited water resources, both the Gates Foundation and German Development Policy support various projects for dry toilets that do not use water to flush and that separate excrement from urine in order to dry it.

World-wide access to adequate sanitation is a long time goal for the Gates Foundation. At the Techonomy conference last year, Gates took the stage to discuss something most people shy away from, reports TechCrunch:

“We’re gonna have a breakthrough in the latrines,” he continued. He said that while the flushable toilet is the gold standard, it isn’t efficient at all. Someone is going to fix that, according to Gates.

According to TechCrunch, Gates read many books on the subject, and later discussed investing in sanitation. “When it comes to things like investing in new toilets, not much money goes into that. You end up with the low IQ guy on the toilets.”

The Gates Foundation has a strong history of philanthropic projects. In 2008, the organization began helping thousands of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia grow more productive, profitable and sustainable crops. Since 2006, they have committed more that $1.5 billion in grants to agricultural development efforts. Just last week, Reuters reported that the Foundation received a boost when investor Warren Buffett donated $1.78 billion to several charities, with over $19 million going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

Nixco Plumbing Coupons – Click Here

Find out About Nixco Plumbing Inc.

Become a Facebook  Fan of Nixco Plumbing Inc.

We service our valued clients in Mason, Ohio and  all surrounding areas such as Lebanon, Loveland, West Chester, Kings Mills, Landen, Bethany, Wetherington, Olde West Chester, South Lebanon, Monroe, Springboro,  Morrow, Maineville, Cincinnati, Blue Ash and many more.

Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.