OLCV Talk

Graywater to Governor - Congrats to Dingfelder, Cannon

Sen. Dingfelder and Rep. Cannon had a major victory earlier this week when the Senate passed House Bill 2080, a bill allowing the use of gray water (water used in homes besides sewage and those waters contaminated by toxic chemicals), on a 24-5 vote. Homes with gray water can reuse about half of their water. Read more about the bill, which now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Congrats to these environmental champions!

Out, Out, Damn Phosphates! SB 631 Passes House, Heads to Governor

This morning the Oregon House voted 47-13 to pass SB 631, a bill to reduce phosphates in household dish soap. The bill now heads to the Governor's desk for his signature. A special congrats to Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, lead sponsor, and cosponsor Rep. Jules Bailey, who carried it on the House side. Voting against were Reps. Garrard, Gilman, Hanna, Krieger, Maurer, Olson, Richardson, G. Smith, Sprenger, Thatcher, Thompson, Weidner, and Wingard.

When introduced to surface or ground water, phosphorus increases algae growth which in turn can reduce oxygen levels and kill aquatic life. This has caused major algae blooms on lakes in Oregon, including Woahink and Siltcoos Lake

on the south coast. In 2007 the community between those lakes, Dunes  City, passed an ordinance designed to reduce phosphorus deposits.  This ban will help clean up waters and save on the cost of waste water treatment.

More about the bill

Oregon Senate Acts to Protect Water Quality

Your dish soap could soon become greener. The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 631 today on a 26-2 (Kruse, Whitsett) vote. It now heads to the House.

Senate Bill 631 would ban phosphorus from automatic dishwashing soap, except for commercial dishwashers. This bill closes a big loophole that was allowed in the 1991 phosphorus ban that removed phosphorus from laundry soap. Excessive phosphorous seriously impacts the water quality of many water bodies in Oregon causing algae blooms and fish death.

When introduced to surface or ground water, phosphorus increases algae growth which in turn can reduce oxygen levels and kill aquatic life. This has caused major algae blooms on lakes in Oregon, including Woahink and Siltcoos Lake on the south coast. In 2007 the community between those lakes, Dunes City, passed an ordinance designed to reduce phosphorus deposits.  

This ban will help clean up waters and save on the cost of waste water treatment. The bill was amended to bring the implementation date in line with fourteen other states proposing similar bans.

 Thanks go to the bill's lead sponsor, Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, and to cosponsors Sen. Suzanne Bonamici and Rep. Jules Bailey.

Hooray for Gray (Water)!

House Bill 2080 passed the Oregon House today on a 49-10 vote. The bill would permit the installation and use of gray water reuse systems to water lawns and gardens.

Gray water is water used in homes besides sewage and those waters contaminated by toxic chemicals (see this cool diagram). Right now it is illegal to install these systems in Oregon, although many other states allow and regulate residential gray water systems as a way of conserving water. The average residential water user consumes 68 gallons per person, per day, about half of which could be reused as graywater. 

The bill now moves to the Senate in its amended A-engrossed version.

  Special congratulations to Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, who worked on the bill for months during the interim, and to Rep. Ben Cannon, who shepherded the bill through the House Environment and Water Committee and the full Oregon House!

Countdown to 2009

Countdown to the 2009 Legislative Session that is...

The first day of session is January 12 and we can't wait to get to work.

We'll be working on critical environmental legislation as a member of the Oregon Conservation Network (OCN), a coalition of fifty of Oregon’s leading environmental groups. 

Implement Global Warming Solutions We must take action to reduce global warming pollution, which if left unchecked will lead to increased forest fires, water shortages, and major disruptions to our economy. The Legislature should place a mandatory, declining cap on global warming pollution.

Promote Water Conservation Farmers, fishermen, cities, businesses and local communities all need adequate water supplies to thrive. It’s our responsibility to ensure a legacy of healthy rivers for everyone and everything that depends on them

Preserve Oregon’s Coastal Legacy Global warming, pollution, increasing population, and coastal development are taking a toll – and our ocean’s future health is at risk. The Legislature should create a system of marine protected areas and reserves in Oregon’s Territorial Sea.

Increase Transportation Options As the Oregon Legislature considers new transportation investments, we must make sure to use more efficient land use planning and invest in transportation options. This will reduce the amount of time Oregonians spend in traffic, improve our health, and reduce the amount we spend on gas.

Ensure New Energy Supplies are Responsible Liquefied natural gas (LNG) emits 20-30% more global warming pollution than domestic natural gas. LNG terminals planned for Oregon would mainly send gas to California, which has rejected LNG because of safety and environmental concerns.

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species Oregon must take action to stop the spread of invasive plant, animal, and aquatic species. The Legislature should require boats entering the state be cleaned, to prevent the introduction of invasive snails and mussels into Oregon’s waterways.

Learn more about our Priorities for a Healthy Oregon.

To stay up to date on our priorities and other environmental bills during the session, sign up for SalemWatch, our legislative e-newsletter.