The Municipal EcoLink is a monthly e-bulletin designed to inform cities and towns of the latest environmental ideas, trends, grants, rules and more from NHDES. We respectfully request that municipalities electronically distribute or otherwise make available this newsletter to your municipal committees, councils and boards. Please feel free to post it on your municipal website as well.
NHDES' Resilience and Adaptation Program aids municipalities and utilities in identifying natural disaster and climate related vulnerabilities within their systems and assisting with corrective implementation measures. The program covers both drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and integrates with the NHDES Asset Management Program framework. Typical areas of assistance are:
Just as we should only flush the three P’s (pee, poop and (toilet) paper), we also need to be careful about what we throw in our garbage. There are many things we all have in our homes, like household cleaners, paints and other chemical products, that are considered household hazardous waste (HHW) once you have determined you no longer need them. When disposing of these wastes, there are alternative disposal methods (see below) rather than throwing it in with the household trash.
If you’re looking for a change in your life that will reduce your reliance on wasteful packaging, curb your carbon footprint and improve your health, then consider growing your own food or herb garden from home. You can begin to add fresh herbs and vegetables in your home cooking by growing your own ingredients! As a bonus, this practice will also reduce your need to buy products in plastic and excess packaging and cut out the carbon emissions from the trucks transporting fruits, veggies and spices to your local grocery store.
Winter is a time when many New Hampshire residents use wood to heat their homes. Although wood is sometimes considered an environmentally friendly fuel for home heating, it can be a significant local source of particulate matter emissions. Particulate matter, especially fine particulate matter (that is less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, or PM2.5), can aggravate asthma and can cause shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Exposure to airborne PM2.5 has also been linked to cardiovascular disease.
It’s been several years in the making, but NHDES Dam Bureau is excited to announce the release of its new and much improved web portal for Real-Time Data and Information for Watersheds in New Hampshire. The old Real-Time Data page served faithfully for almost 20 years, allowing public access to data and graphs of many hydrometeorological parameters, such as lake and river levels, throughout New Hampshire. But time marches on, as do website standards and IT security protocols.
The New Hampshire Sustainable Craft Beverage Program is recognizing Appolo Vineyards in Derry, a veteran-owned business established in 2006, for its environmental leadership and sustainable initiatives. It is the first winery to be included in the recognition program.
