Posts tagged clean
News briefs on flood recovery
Sep 26th
The City of Boulder and Foothills United Way have developed a partnership to help repair flood-related damage to the city’s parks and open space areas. Today, the city began working with Foothills United Way, utilizing its established Volunteer Connection web portal to enroll and assign volunteers to city projects.
Individuals who are interested in assisting with city projects should visit BoulderFloodInfo.net and click on Volunteer Opportunities. From there, select City of Boulder Flood Recovery for a list of projects with the city or city departments. If you click on a project, you will be given more details and an opportunity to sign up online.
A few opportunities, starting as soon as this Saturday, are already listed and more will be added as the organization continues to prioritize work plan items and determine which projects are safe enough to invite public participation.
“We are so thankful for the outpouring we have seen from community members who are eager to volunteer,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “We hope this partnership with United Way will make it easy to find the opportunities that are most-suited to your interests, skills and schedule. We look forward to rebuilding together.”
Disaster Assistance Centers to reduce hours as help transitions back to city, county offices and network of non-profit partners
Boulder County’s Longmont and Boulder Disaster Assistance Centers (DACs) will reduce their open hours beginning Friday, Sept. 27, as all services being offered at the centers begin to transition back to city and county offices and community non-profit organizations.
On Friday, the Boulder DAC’s hours will shift to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Longmont DAC’s hours will remain the same, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, both DACs will maintain a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. County and city staff will transition out of the centers at some point early next week. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel will remain at both locations for an undetermined period of time from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
“These Disaster Assistance Centers have collectively served over 3,600 households in a week and a half,” said Garry Sanfacon, Boulder County Flood Recovery Manager. “Because of excellent collaboration between city, county, state and federal agencies and local non-profits and volunteers, we’ve provided crucial support to thousands of people hit hard by the flooding. As we transition out of the centers, we will continue to provide these services efficiently and effectively from our offices.”
The Disaster Assistance Centers have been serving those impacted by Boulder County’s severe flooding since Monday, Sept. 16 in Longmont, and Thursday, Sept. 19 in Boulder. At both locations, residents have received help with housing, food, transportation, clean-up, medical needs, and much more.
The DACs are located at Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont (1250 South Hover Road) and 5495 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder. More information is available at BoulderCountyFlood.org or BoulderFloodInfo.net.
City’s Public Works Call Center to change hours starting Monday
Due to reduced call volume, the City of Boulder’s Public Works call center is amending its hours of operation beginning Monday, Sept. 30. The new hours will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Boulder residents and businesses may call 303-413-7100 to report new water, wastewater or stormwater issues within the city limits, including:
- sewage backups or odors;
- water main breaks, which may cause water to come up through the ground;
- water service disruptions; and
- missing manhole covers or storm drain concerns.
Parks and Recreation eager to serve the public; most city parks and facilities are open
Did you know that despite all the damage that occurred as the result of the recent flood, the majority of Boulder’s parks and recreation facilities are open and being actively used by our community?
Limited closures remain in effect due to hazards. These are:
- Three city parks – Elks, Eben G. Fine and Elmer’s Two Mile;
- Boulder Reservoir
- Knollwood tennis court
- Boulder Creek Path
All three recreation centers are buzzing with activity with the exception of two gym closures (at the South Boulder Recreation Center and the North Boulder Recreation Center) and the gymnastics facility. Boulder Reservoir is expected to re-open on Saturday, and the gymnastics facility is expected to re-open on Monday.
While the city is asking the public to honor the closures, Parks and Recreation staff members invite the community to enjoy all of the services and facilities that are available during this stressful time. The department is also working to make the necessary repairs to re-open closed areas as soon as possible. VisitBoulderFloodInfo.net for the most up-to-date closure information.
–CITY–
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CU scientists: New battery extends range and safety of electric-powered vehicles
Sep 22nd
A cutting-edge battery technology developed at the University of Colorado Boulder that could allow tomorrow’s electric vehicles to travel twice as far on a charge is now closer to becoming a commercial reality.
CU’s Technology Transfer Office has completed an agreement with Solid Power LLC—a CU-Boulder spinoff company founded by Se-Hee Lee and Conrad Stoldt, both associate professors of mechanical engineering—for the development and commercialization of an innovative solid-state rechargeable battery. Solid Power also was recently awarded a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy for the purpose of creating a battery that can improve electric vehicle driving range.
The rechargeable batteries that are standard in today’s electric vehicles—as well as in a host of consumer electronics, such as mobile phones and laptops—are lithium-ion batteries, which generate electricity when lithium ions move back and forth between electrodes in a liquid electrolyte solution.
Engineers and chemists have long known that using lithium metal as the anode in a rechargeable battery—as opposed to the conventional carbon materials that are used as the anode in conventional lithium-ion batteries—can dramatically increase its energy density. But using lithium metal, a highly reactive solid, in conjunction with a liquid electrolyte is extremely hazardous because it increases the chance of a thermal runaway reaction that can result in a fire or an explosion.
Today’s lithium-ion batteries require a bulky amount of devices to protect and cool the batteries. A fire onboard a Boeing Dreamliner in January that temporarily grounded the new class of plane was linked to its onboard lithium-ion battery.
Lee and Stoldt solved the safety concerns around using lithium metal by eliminating the liquid electrolyte. Instead, the pair built an entirely solid-state battery that uses a ceramic electrolyte to separate the lithium metal anode from the cathode. Because the solid-state battery is far safer, it requires less protective packaging, which in turn could reduce the weight of the battery system in electric vehicles and help extend their range.
Research into the development of solid-state batteries has gone on for a couple of decades, but it has been difficult to create a solid electrolyte that allowed the ions to pass through it as easily as a liquid electrolyte.
“The problem has always been that solid electrolytes had very poor performance making their use in rechargeable batteries impractical,” Stoldt said. “However, the last decade has seen a resurgence in the development of new solid electrolytes with ionic conductivities that rival their liquid counterparts.”
The critical innovation added by Lee and Stoldt that allows their solid-state lithium battery to out-perform standard lithium-ion batteries is the construction of the cathode, the part of the battery that attracts the positively charged lithium ions once they’re discharged from the lithium metal. Instead of using a solid mass of material, Lee and Stoldt created a “composite cathode,” essentially small particles of cathode material held together with solid electrolyte and infused with an additive that increases its electrical conductivity. This configuration allows ions and electrons to move more easily within the cathode.
“The real innovation is an all-solid composite cathode that is based upon an iron-sulfur chemistry that we developed at CU,” Stoldt said. “This new, low-cost chemistry has a capacity that’s nearly 10 times greater than state-of-the-art cathodes.”
Last year, Lee and Stoldt partnered with Douglas Campbell, a small-business and early-stage product development veteran, to spin out Solid Power.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to achieve commercial success for the all solid-state rechargeable battery,” said Campbell, Solid Power’s president. “We’re actively engaging industrial commercial partners to assist in commercialization and expect to have prototype products ready for in-field testing within 18 to 24 months.” Important to the early success of the company has been its incubation within CU-Boulder’s College of Engineering and Applied Science’s applied energy storage research center, a part of the college’s energy systems and environmental sustainability initiative.
Solid Power is a member of Rocky Mountain Innosphere, a nonprofit technology incubator headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo., with a mission to accelerate the development and success of high-impact scientific and technology startup companies.
“We’re very excited to be working with Solid Power’s team to get them to the next level,” said Mike Freeman, Innosphere’s CEO. “This is a big deal to Colorado’s clean-tech space. Solid Power’s batteries will have a huge impact in the EV market, and they have a potential $20 billion market for their technology.”
Learn more about Solid Power at http://www.solidpowerbattery.com.
-CU-
National Health Service advises how to stay healthy after a flood, Watch out Nebraska
Sep 18th
Flooding presents a number of risks and hazards to health, either directly (such as injuries caused by fast-flowing floodwater) or the longer-term impact of dealing with the aftermath. The main health risks associated with flooding are drowning and being injured by an accident in flowing water.
Avoid going into floodwater if you can. If you have to go in, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves. Be aware of any potential dangers under the water, such as drains without covers.
Infections caused by flooding are rare in the UK. See your GP if anyone in your family has symptoms such as sickness, diarrhoea or stomach cramps.
Mental health
Being affected by a flood and cleaning your home afterwards can be physically and mentally stressful. If you feel overwhelmed and need some help to cope, talk to your GP. The Citizens Advice Bureau can help with practical things, like money and alternative housing. Getting involved in community activities and talking to friends, neighbours and family may also help.
Food, water and general hygiene
Maintaining good hygiene reduces health risks. Always wash your hands with soap and clean water:
- after you use the toilet
- when you handle food
- after being in contact with floodwater or items contaminated by floodwater
Don’t allow children to play in floodwater areas. Wash their hands frequently, especially before meals.
Keep open cuts or sores clean and use waterproof plasters to prevent them being exposed to floodwater.
Food preparation and storage
Don’t eat any food, including tinned food, that has come into contact with floodwater.
- Wash all food preparation surfaces, plastic and glass chopping boards, crockery, pots, pans and other utensils with hot clean water and detergent, then a normal kitchen disinfectant. Powerful disinfectants such as bleach are unnecessary.
- Throw away wooden chopping boards that have been in contact with floodwater.
- Wash your hands before and after preparing food.
- Make sure that all shelves and surfaces that food will touch are disinfected and undamaged.
- To wash food that you will eat raw (for example, salad or fruit), use boiled water that has been cooled.
- It’s safe to use unboiled tap water for boiling food or for preparing food that is going to be cooked.
Water
If your water comes through a mains supply, follow the advice of the local water company. If your water is a private supply from a well or spring and you notice changes in the way it looks, smells or tastes, ring your local council for advice.
If you’re concerned about the purity of your water, boil it before you use it. Continue doing this until the water supply has been shown to be safe.
Boiling water
Boiling water kills harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites. Bring the water to the boil and allow it to cool before you drink it.
Also remember:
- Water from the hot tap is never suitable for drinking.
- Water taps must be cleaned and disinfected before use after a flood.
If you’re bottle-feeding a baby, use boiled water. Don’t use bottled water for your baby unless it’s recommended by a doctor or health visitor, as some bottled water is unsuitable for babies.
Cleaning inside your home
You can clean and disinfect your home using normal household products. However, floodwater can contain sewage, chemical hazards and animal waste, so when you’re cleaning up:
- Wear waterproof gloves, wellington boots and a face mask (available from DIY shops).
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area until the clean-up is complete.
- Clean walls, hard floors and other surfaces with hot soapy water, using ordinary household detergent such as washing-up liquid, until they look clean.
- Remove and throw away soft furnishings, such as curtains, and fittings that are mouldy or damaged beyond repair.
- Contaminated soft furnishings that can’t go in a washing machine need to be professionally cleaned. If this isn’t possible, you may have to throw them away.
- Wash clothes and bedding in a hot wash (60C or the hottest on the items’ instruction labels).
- Clothes worn during the clean-up should be washed separately from other items.
- Heating and good ventilation, fans, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers will all help drying.
Petrol- or diesel-powered generators, dehumidifiers and pressure washers should never be used indoors without adequate ventilation as their exhaust gases can build up and kill.
Visit the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website to find out more about what to do after a flood.
The HPA also has some useful questions and answers about flood safety.
Floods heading toward the Northeast Plains and Nebraska
Nearly all the rainfall in last week’s flood fell in the South Platte River basin. The basin sends the water toward Nebraska, where the water is collecting i n the main river basin and rushing toward the flat farm land, where the crest could as high as 10 entering the state. In Nebraska, the South Platte follows I-80 eastward and could damage the interstate highway.
How far into Nebraska the flood does damage depends upon, in part, where the South Platte joins the North Platte River near the city of North Platte, about 90 miles from the Colorado state line. Currently, the North Platte is running about 800 c.f.s, which is close to the historical norm for this time of the year. The South Platte is currently running at 10,000 c.f.s higher than the historical average.