Arizona Water Resource Volume 12 Number 1

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July - August 2003 Human Dishwashers' Water Efficiency Studied Water -wise consumers in search of an automatic dishwasher to purchase check the machine's water efficiency rating. Research- ers at the University of Bonn in Germany studied the water efficiency rating of human dishwashers; i.e. people who hand - washed dishes. They began their study with the prem- ise that automatic dishwashers use less wa- ter than when dishes are hand washed. They wanted to identify, however, variables affect- ing water use when hand washing dishes. Seventy -five volunteers from seven European countries were recruited and as- signed the task of washing dishes. Each vol- unteer washed a typical family load of 140 pots and plates coated with hardened egg, spinach and margarine. They found that handwashing used between about five and 86 gallons of water compared to the water consumption of a conventional European dishwasher that uses about four to five gal- lons of water. (Americans were not included in the study, but the American Water Works As- sociation web site provides information about hand washing dishes in this country. According to AWWA information an auto- matic dishwasher uses approximately nine to 12 gallons of water while hand washing dishes can use up to 20 gallons.) The German study noted differences among nationalities in dish washing meth- odologies. Professor Rainer Stamminger, author of the study, states, "Whether it be a housewife or househusband, a Spaniard or a Turk, they all have different ways of doing the washing up." He noted that German and British handwashers did the job more economically Arizona Water Resource than did their Spanish and Turkish counter- parts, though the Spaniards ended up with the cleanest dishes. The Germans produced surprising results. Despite their reputation for cleanliness, their dishwashing perfor- mance was merely mediocre. Stamminger's tips for environmentally friendly hand dishwasbing include prevent the food from hardening on plates, soak dishes prior to washing and use a main hot water bath followed by a cold wash rinse. AZ Rivers Must Get Interim Protection Says Court The U.S. Forest Service acted illegally by refusing to consider adequate protection for 57 Arizona rivers a federal appeals court re- cently ruled. In its unanimous decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected government attorneys' allegation that the law is met if an agency intends a future con- sideration of river protection when address- ing forest plans and grazing permits. "An intention to consider the rivers cannot satisfy a requirement that the agency actually have considered the rivers," wrote Judge Wallace Tashima for the appellate court. The significance of the case goes back to a request that the state's congressional delegation made about ten years ago that the USFS prepare a report identifying Ari- zona streams or river segments eligible for inclusion under the Wild and Scenic Riv- ers Act. According to the 1968 law unique streams in free - flowing condition are to be preserved and their immediate environment protected "for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations." USFS pro- duced a report identifying 57 rivers. About two years ago the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit arguing that the USFS had taken no actions since that time to protect the rivers listed in the re- port. USFS said it had no obligation to act. The court disagreed, saying that the agency by writing the report was then required to consider the rivers for legal protection. A CBD spokesperson said the center filed the suit because designating a river for inclusion under the act is a lengthy congres- sional process, at times taking as long as ten years. Interim action therefore is needed to protect the rivers from potentially damaging projects such as dam and power line con- struction, excessive livestock grazing and logging. The streams of concern include the Tonto and Pinto creeks in the Tonto Na- tional Forest, Oak and West Clear creeks in the Coconino National Forest and the Sabino, Grant and Sycamore creeks in the Coronado National Forest. Of the 10,000 miles of rivers the act protects nationally only about 40 miles, consisting of a stretch of the Upper Verde River, are within Arizona. Continued from page 1 of volunteers. Credible and defensible water quality data collected by volunteergraups is of utmost importance since ADEQ, like many other organizations, is continuing to do more with less resources, both personnel and fund- ing. ADEQ will be working with volun- teer monitorioggroups within the Volunteer Monitoring Program to ensure that they de- velop strong Quality Assurance Project Plans and Sample and Analysis Plans. These docu- ments determine how samples are collected and analysed and how information is stored and disseminated and will be used as a reference for training volunteers ADEQ will assist volunteergroups to ensure theirplans are kept current to reflect changes in thegroup's monitoring objectives and that they collect data that complies with Arizona f Credible and Scientifically Defensible Data requirements in the Impaired haters Identification Rule. Gateway Community College in Phoe- nix will be providing water quality sampling training to theAriZona Volunteer Monitor- in ggroaps. The Gateways Water Resources Technology Program has designed a one- credit course for this purpose. In addition, ADEQ c field equipment designated far use by the volunteergroups is being housed at Gateway for equpment maintenance and calibration. The volunteergroups that have thus far signed on with ADEQ in its volunteer mom - toring effort are: The Nature Conservancy in Ari ,-ona - Hassayampa River Preserve; The Nature Conservancy in Ari .Zona - Lower San Pedro River; Friends of Oak Creek; Prescott Creeks Preservation Association; Nuttioso Creek; and Friends of the Santa Crad,� Riven