Water Quality Forum http://waterqualityforum.org A coalition of partners working together to keep our waters clean. Wed, 22 May 2013 01:58:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Quarterly Meeting http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=914 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=914#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 01:58:52 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=914 The next WQF Quarterly Meeting will be on June 26th at 4pm at Ijams Nature Center

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=914 0 Rain Barrel Truckload Sale http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=903 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=903#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 13:27:01 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=903 The Water Quality Forum is partnering with the City of Knoxville, Town of Farragut and Knox County to bring you our 5th annual rain barrel and compost bin sale.  Click on the link below to order yours today and you will be able to pick them up at Chilhowee Park on June 15th between 9am and 1pm.  You can also pick up a Kitchen Compost Bin the day of the event.  Come on out!

Click on the link to pre-order your rain barrel or compost bin TODAY! http://www.rainbarrelprogram.org/water-quality-forum

Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale

June 15th, 2013

Ivy 50 Gallon Rain Barrel

Dimensions: 42.5”H x 22”W x 18”L

** $58.00 **

Normal Retail Price $119.00

88 Gallon Back Yard Compost Bin

**$62.00**

Event date and times:


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Times: 9am-3pm

Location:

Chilhowee Park
3301 East Magnolia Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37914

Directions

Limited Supply So Order Today!

How to Register
For more questions on installation or specifications:
FAQs

Online ordering will close June 11th, 11:00 pm EST. We will have a limited supply of Ivy rain barrels and the compost bins available June 15th. We recommend you come early!

Rain Barrel Sale presented to you by:

Water Quality Forum,  City of Knoxville,  Knox County Stormwater,  Town of Farragut, TN Water Resources Research Center, and the CAC AmeriCorps Water Quality Team


5 Reasons to Harvest Rainwater!

1. Protect our rivers, streams, and ponds from runoff pollution

2. Divert water from the municipal storm drain system

3. Conserve this vital natural resource and reduce your water bills

4. Control moisture levels around the foundation of your home

5. Use the nitrogen-rich rain water to grow healthy and lush plants

Got More Questions

Contact our partner, RainWater Solutions. They’re happy to help!

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=903 0 What we do http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=890 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=890#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:13:40 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=890

The Water Quality Forum is a coalition of diverse partners including municipalities, utilities, non-profit organizations and businesses working together to keep our waters in East Tennessee clean.


The Water Quality Forum aims to provide resources for those interested in learning more about improving our water quality in the greater Knoxville area through education, volunteer opportunities and events.

The next Quarterly Meeting is on June 26th at 4pm at Ijams Nature Center!


Please sign up to receive our newsletter here

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=890 0 Pet Waste Management http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=889 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=889#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:32:50 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=889 We need your input!  Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey on pet waste management.  Results will actually help in the development of new outreach efforts to improve water quality in our region.

Pet Waste Survey

Top 10 Reasons to Scoop the Poop!

It’s your “doodie!”

from the VA Dept. of Conservation

  1. Storm water carries pet waste and other pollutants directly into waterways.
  2. Animal waste adds nitrogen to the water. Excess nitrogen depletes the oxygen in water necessary for beneficial underwater grasses, wildlife and fish.
  3. Animal waste may contain harmful organisms such as Giardia, Salmonella and E. coli that can be transmitted to humans and other animals by ingesting contaminated water.
  4. Roundworms and hookworms deposited by infected animals can live in the soil for long periods of time and be transmitted to other animals and humans.
  5. It’s the law! Many urban and suburban areas require you to pick up after your pet. Even if there is no restriction, cleaning up after your pet is always the right thing to do.
  6. Joining the growing number of responsible pet owners may encourage hotel managers to accept pets when you are traveling and help keep fees to a minimum.
  7. No one likes to step in pet waste and spread it into homes, cars and businesses.
  8. Scooping on a daily basis and applying lime will help prevent odors.
  9. It’s easy to clean up by carrying plastic baggies and paper towels in your pocket. The baggies can be secured and thrown away in the garbage.
  10. Your neighbors will appreciate your good manners.
]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=889 0 Rain Barrel Workshops http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=865 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=865#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:03:09 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=865 Make It, Take It Rain Barrel Workshops,

April 27th, May 11th and June 1st

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=865 0 WaterFest 2013 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=843 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=843#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:35:43 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=843 WaterFest

This year’s WaterFest celebration will be held on May 3, 2013.

WaterFest is an annual festival designed to educate youth about the many values of water. It was initiated in 1995 by the Water Quality Forum (WQF) and has grown into an event with hundreds of elementary school children attending from across Knox County and surrounding counties. Ijams Nature Center hosts and coordinates this spring-time event that is planned by forum partners throughout the year. It is designed to be fast-paced, engaging, educational, entertaining and just plain fun for the students.

On the day of this event, WQF partners come together to make WaterFest happen. The CAC AmeriCorps Team take the lead in conducting games, arts and crafts and model-building activities with the students. Story-tellers and musicians engage students in audience participation performances and forum partners run informational/demonstration booths. Local high school and university students provide great volunteer support. And it certainly would not be WaterFest without teachers, principals, and WQF partners all taking their turns in the dunking booth!

A Poetry and Art Contest is open to students in grades K – 12.  This year’s theme is Fish Tales and Stream Stories.

For more information please call Peg Beute at (865) 577-4717 ext 124.

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=843 0 Knoxville’s America Recycles http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=794 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=794#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:42:37 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=794 Knoxville’s America Recycles Day,

November 17th at the West Town Mall from 10am-2pm

Residents will be able to bring in old or unwanted documents to be confidentially shredded and recycled by Goodwill. There is no limit to how many documents residents can bring, and this may include items such as old tax documents, billing statements, receipts or any other paper document that needs secure disposal. All documents will be securely transported the shredding facility. Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union will be on hand to provide free information on how long old documents should be kept and when it is appropriate to dispose of them.

Other events happening on site at America Recycles Day include: a Unwanted Unused Medication Collection event to be held by the Knoxville Police Department, a Used Mercury Thermometer Exchange for a digital one by the City Solid Waste Office, residents can take the ARD pledge to recycle during the coming year to be registered to win one of 10 Can Crushers to be given away by the Knox County Solid Waste Office. The Knoxville Recycling Coalition and Alcoa will be giving away in home recycling bins while they last. Keep Tennessee Beautiful and Keep Blount Beautiful will be set up to take your questions about volunteer work and keeping our communities clean.  Waste Connections will be available to discuss curbside recycling and Recycle Bank.  Water Quality Forum, City of Knoxville Stormwater, Knox County Stormwater and the Ameri-corps Water Quality Team will be at this event to promote ways to protect our water supply at this event.  The purpose of this event is to collect used and unused medications from those living in Knox County. All the paper and plastic containers will be separated and and recycled and the medications are incinerated once they have been weighed.  This is a great opportunity to make sure that our unwanted medication stays out of the water supply!

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=794 0 Environmental Stewardship Grants http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=760 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=760#comments Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:40:21 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=760 Environmental Stewardship Program Grants

Workers lining a grassy swale

The newest component of the Water Quality Forum’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) is Public Property Grants up to $1,500 for projects to be done on public property (e.g. schools, libraries, town halls)  Funding is available for rain gardens, grass swales, riparian enhancements, streambank restoration and other best management practices that have a demonstrated benefit to water quality.

Applications are accepted from October 1st to December 15th.  Applications will be competitively reviewed in early January with applicant’s being notified by the end of January as to whether they did or did not receive funding.Grant recipients must be willing to complete their project within 12 months and provide an overview of it at a Water Quality Forum meeting.  Extensions may be sought under certain circumstances.

To apply for an ESP, Public Property Grant CLICK HERE, fill out the form, and return it to Peg Beute at the noted address.

Disclaimer: Please note that applicants are responsible for complying with all applicable state, federal and local laws, permitting processes and safety measures to include, but not limited to, aquatic resource alteration permit (ARAP), notice of coverage (NOC), utility delineation/marking, Tennessee One-Call (811), etc.  Failure to demonstrate adequate attention to these details may result in funding not being granted to a project.  Documentation of a Tennessee One-Call for all projects involving digging, planting and/or land disturbance should be included.

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=760 0 Petsafe K-9 Cancer Walk http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=752 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=752#comments Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:55:12 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=752 Petsafe K-9 Cancer Walk

benefitting Morris Animal Foundation

September 23rd at Concord Park

The Water Quality Team and the Water Quality Forum was at the Petsafe K-9 Walk to educate the public on the community impact on watersheds and stormwater.  We distributed materials to help educate pet owners on how they can lessen the impact of animal waste on their local storm water and streams.  We had fun activites for kids on learning what a watershed is and how they can help to protect their local streams. Check out some of our pictures from September 23, 2012!

]]> http://waterqualityforum.org/?feed=rss2&p=752 0 Invasive Plant Removal Project http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=744 http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=744#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:03:51 +0000 WQFGenAdmin http://waterqualityforum.org/?p=744 October 20th, 2012

Invasive Removal UT Community Program on Third Creek

For information on registering:

Fort Louden Lake Association

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