Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge

That’s the theme for World Water Day 2011. PHLUSH is responding to the challenge by getting out basic information, both on the situation globally and in our cities here in the Pacific Northwest. Look for information on this blog and on developing portions of the website. We’ll also be communicating directly with the media and with public officials. And as World Water Day events take shape in the Portland, we’ll have updates on our participation. International World Water Day is held annually on March 22nd to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Among the campaign materials is the UN brief “Water Quality and Sanitation.” It is possible that Oregon’s city dwellers are already changing household sanitation practices to preserve fresh water resources? A front page story in The Oregonian looks into new US Census data on plumbing facilities in occupied housing units. These show a significant increase in the number of Oregon homes that lack “complete plumbing,” which is defined as homes with all of the following: hot and cold piped water, a flush toilet and a bathtub or shower.

On the surface one might attribute this to growing rural poverty. However, “Oregon’s five most-populous counties accounted for the entire 33 percent increase in the number of homes without plumbing from 2000 to 2009.” Are urban homeowners taking matters into their own hands? Figuring out what the Census data mean might be interesting topic for World Water Day 2011.

This Tuesday: Composting Toilets & Supporting Codes and Policies

With the support of PHLUSH, the Jefferson County Sanitation HAT has been hard at work this year strengthening community relationships, surveying local residents on sanitation needs and educational interests, and collaborating with local and regional experts to address rural sanitation challenges. A Housing+Sanitation Learning Series kicked off this fall, starting…

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