Journalism 208, media production; sidebar revision.
Original Graphic
Revised Graphic
The first, and simpler, graphic was created to show the treatment/testing process on Reno’s Water. The second graphic is a revised version that is more visually appealing. I think my revised version maps out the process in a much more elaborate manner. I used photoshop to create the graphics.
Brent Coulter
8 December 2010
In 2009, Yahoo! News published a story called “Cities with the Best and Worst Tap Water.” The list was released by Environmental Working Group (EWG), which placed Reno fifth for worst tap water. The unsuspected placement of Reno raised concerns for residents in Washoe County and immediately received attention from local news media. Is Reno’s tap water really that bad? Should locals avoid drinking the tap water for concern of their health?
Firstly, what is the Environmental Working Group? Not to be confused with the Environmental Protection Agency—a federal entity—the EWG is a non-profit organization that focuses on public health and environmental issues, such as water contamination. The organization was founded in 1993 with goals to protect children from health problems related to toxic contaminants and to change federal policies in order to better conserve the environment.
The organization published a drinking water quality report late last December. Water quality tests are mandated by the federal government and are therefore considered public information. Subsequently, EWG obtained these tests results from state agencies then compiled a national drinking water database. Reno appears on a list called “EWG’s Top-Rated and Lowest-Rated Water Utilities,” which ranks municipalities based on their quality of tap water. Out of the 100 cities ranked, one meaning the best quality and 100 meaning the worst quality, Reno appears at spot 96. So by word of EWG, out of 100 U.S. cities, Reno has the fifth worst tap water. But why?
According to their website (www.ewg.org) the reason Reno placed so low on the list is because its tap water contains various contaminants. The detected contaminants that EWG says are of primary concern are arsenic and PCE. According to EWG, arsenic levels in Reno’s water are higher than the national average; however, they do not exceed federal standards set by the EPA. Despite this, EWG claims that the amount of arsenic is still considerably unhealthy.
EWG also reports that PCE contaminates Reno’s water. PCE, formally known as Tetrachloroethylene, is a chemical commonly used in dry cleaning. Again, the levels of the contaminant do not exceed federal standards; however, EWG insists there is a health risk.
Chalk Bluff water treatment facility
To better understand the appearance of these contaminants in Reno’s tap water, one need look no further than Chalk Bluff water treatment facility. Chalk Bluff is the name of a water treatment plant located in West Reno that has been operating since 1994. It is a conventional surface water treatment plant, which means it takes water from the Truckee River and sends it through multiple treatment processes before being distributed as tap water. The plant produces drinking water for the majority of the Reno/Spark area.
associate water quality engineer at Chalk Bluff
Will Raymond is an associate water quality engineer at Chalk Bluff. “A lot of my job entails treatment operations as well as laboratory analysis,” said Raymond, who oversees the process of moving water from the river—through the plant—and to the tap. “We’re blessed with a very clean water source in that we don’t have a whole lot of industry and waste water influence upstream,” said Raymond. The Truckee River is essentially water from Lake Tahoe, a lake known for its purity. So if the water treated at Chalk Bluff comes from a virtually unpolluted water source, how is it that Reno ranks fifth on EWG’s list? What about those contaminants? Well, the answer isn’t simple.
Not all of Reno’s tap water comes from the Truckee River. In fact, there are multiple groundwater sites that play an important role in Reno’s water system. Some of these sites serve as backup reservoirs for times when the Truckee River cannot meet water demand. For example: during the winter, when there is low demand, Chalk Bluff sends treated water to underground reservoirs where it remains until needed. Oftentimes this water is used during droughts. In addition to this, naturally occurring groundwater is sometimes taken from wells. Water that is pumped from the wells travels back to Chalk Bluff where it goes through the same treatment process as the water from the Truckee River.
water quality tests are conducted regularly at Chalk Bluff
However, despite the fact that groundwater is treated by Chalk Bluff before it is distributed as tap water, “EWG went ahead and considered that [the groundwater] is the water that goes into the distribution system. Well that’s not the case; it’s a raw water source. That would be essentially the same thing as taking the water that’s in the river and delivering it to the customers,” said Raymond, who added that some wells are hardly used. More simply put: EWG used test results for water that you don’t drink. This is a flaw in EWG’s data compilation among others, believes Raymond, who also said that EWG entered the same data more than once. Chalk Bluff went through great lengths to present EWG with accurate information and “they said they’d be more than happy to correct inaccurate data.”
Let’s say for one second that the levels of arsenic and PCE that
EWG reported were taken from Reno’s tap water: it still wouldn’t be unhealthy. Chalk Bluff is capable of treating water to nondeductible levels of both contaminants; however, it would be too expensive and unnecessary. Chalk Bluff complies by federal EPA guidelines, which take into consideration both cost benefit and health effects. Even if Reno’s drinking water contained the amounts of arsenic and PCE that the EWG reported, the water would still be within federal health guidelines.
In response to the Environmental Working Group’s report, Chalk Bluff held press releases to demonstrate full compliance with EPA health standards. Chalk Bluff followed up several times with the EWG and sent them additional data; however, the EWG ultimately stopped correspondence and never followed through on revisiting the Ranking. Based on EWG’s lack of action, it is unsure whether or not their list is entirely factual. However, based on federal regulations it is a fact that Reno’s tap water is safe to drink. And in the final words of Will Raymond: “When you look at the environment upstream from us, the water provided by the Tahoe basin is very clean and I think we’re very fortunate to have such a clean water source.”
*********
For more information on Enironmental Working Group, visit www.ewg.org
For more information on Reno’s drinking water, visit www.tmh2o.com
Advertising for UNR’s New publication, The Hound
Made for The Hound
These photos are for my Journalism 208 media production class in which I was required to take photos of a particular subject (Project 2). Out of the photos I took, these 3 are my favorite:
I went to Canada’s wonderland and took as many photos as possible, which is what was recommended, to guarantee some good shots. After looking through all the photos, I realized that there were many blurry ones and I was fortunate to have a few that turned out great. These are the three I chose because they have fairly interesting compositions and not to mentions good contrast. My photos successfully capture the feeling of delirium and disorientation that one experiences at an amusement park.
This is for my media production class and was labeled assignment 1. I was required to find various websites that show excellent design and during my search I found some very interesting sites that successfully conveyed a message or were just simply outstanding.
But does it float? This is website is the brainchild of two bloggers who collaboratively feature artists. The site is very simple and clean- it’s all about the art. I think there’s something to learn from simplicity because oftentimes we overlook the actually material we’re trying to present and our websites end up cluttered and unappealing.
Neave.com This website is fun and interactive and excels at aesthetics. Again, it’s very simple, which makes it extremely easy to navigate. The website’s designer is very good at flash and creativity floods site visitors’ monitors.
PSY/OPS An interesting website that offers font styles. The page linked is of the different fonts available for download and the way they are presented is very cool. It’s very sleek design with a lot to offer.
Paris 26 Gigapixels Wow. This website is amazing! It shows that anything can really be done; all you need is a creative mind.
Methamphetamine is the drug that destroys families, friends and communities and it has long played a role in Reno, Nevada. After years of efforts to halt the drug’s destructive path it remained abundant well into the 2000s. However, since a united community effort in the mid 2000s, methamphetamine use has seen a considerable decline in Washoe County.
“I definitely feel like we’ve made progress,” says Eric Ohlson, the coalition coordinator at Join Together Northern Nevada (JTNN), an organization that serves as a catalyst to bring together other organizations in Northern Nevada, to deal with issues such as methamphetamine use. “If you look from 2005 to 2007 there was a significant drop in number of students who reported using methamphetamine,” says Ohlson, who seems optimistic, yet vigilant about the future of meth use in Northern Nevada.
decline in meth use
One of the most problematic gateways to meth use is through social encouragement in school. I spoke with a previous meth user who requested anonymity. We’ll call her Lacy. Lacy was introduced to methamphetamine in a Nevada high school at the age of 15. Her experience with meth hits home and really opens eyes to the problem Nevada faces. “When you’re doing meth, chances are you’re doing it with other people,” says Lacy, “When I was alone, it didn’t matter because my thoughts were so controlled.“
This problem was recognized by organizations such as JTNN and was challenged a few years ago. With the help of JTNN and other organizations, a campaign against meth use that particularly targeted high school students took place. They created a documentary about meth addiction to show people the truth behind the drug. It was called Crystal Darkness and it aired on local television stations and in public schools. The following results were positive for Washoe County. The number of people being admitted to rehab for meth use declined and students fewer students reported using the drug.
See a decline in meth use
Executive director of JTNN, Kevin Quint is sure that the community has seen a decrease in use and praises recent legislation. Quint believes that meth use has decreased largely because of the decision to move pseudoephedrine behind the counter. “The local meth lab is pretty unusual now,” says Quint. “A few years ago you would see numerous reports of meth labs.” The progress of Washoe County should be applauded and people working for organizations like JTNN are to thank.
Thanks to efforts of local organizations and the support of the community, methamphetamine use has greatly declined. However, Ohlson reminds us that “we definitely can’t say we’re there.” Thursday, October 7th, Brent Coulter
Check out the interactive poll and testimonial below:
Meth, A Testimonial:
The award winning Awful Awful diner makes its way to the University. The world famous diner—which is located in the Nugget in downtown Reno—will be opening a second restaurant on the corner of Virgina St and College. It’s called the “Wolf Den” and it will serve the same mouthwatering burgers as the original diner, except the restaurant hopes to attract a younger, more college oriented crowd. Large flat screen televisions will line the walls to show sports games and the overall design for the new location focuses on university life, old and new with the schools colors proudly shown all around the bar. Student Evynn McFalls is especially excited about the hot spot, “After a long night it’s going to be nice to have somewhere to hang out and watch the game.”
Wolf Den AUDIO
Although most are excited for it to open, the Wolf den will be an inconvenience for Michelle Tiscareno. “I live right by it so I don’t want to hear all the noise.” Nonetheless, college students seem excited and even Michelle says she will most likely go there to hang out. Owner George Buddy says The Wolf den is expected to open May 15th and with Fall semester right around the corner it is sure to be a new hotspot for college students.
In light of recent budget cuts as a result of Nevada’s financial shortfalls, several major programs at the University of Nevada, Reno are at risk of being cut from the curriculum. One of those programs is the French major. Students are not taking this treatment lying down.
Budget cuts have left many state workers jobless and now students at the University of Nevada, Reno face losing their majors. The foreign language department is amongst the many entities under fire, and the over 120 French majors and minors face the chilling fact they may not receive their degree.
Frustrated students rallied o
n March 11 in front of the Knowledge Center in hopes of saving UNR’s French program. Supporters rushed around campus with clipboards and pens encouraging people to sign a petition that they hope might prove to the University administrators that the program is worth saving.
French minor Rachael Loban is particularly upset with the situation at hand. “I want to move to France after college, but how can I do that if I can’t learn the language?” says Loban, “The irresponsible fiscal spending of others should not ruin my chances of getting a proper education.”
Many students share Loban’s frustration, like student and ASUN senator Shirley Diaz. “I, like many Spanish speakers at UNR, want the option of learning a language other than Spanish,” she said.
French Program Threatened – Audio
Students are working around the clock to save the program by coordinating events, such as Jaclyn Davis, who uses Facebook to supply students with information. The Facebook group, called “Save the UNR French Program,” has hundreds of members who have easy access to event times and there is a link to an online 
petition. The response has been great and support for the program continues to grow.
“The Facebook group has been so helpful for both the rallies and the petition,” says Davis. “Students really care about the complete wipeout of programs we’re experiencing, even if they’re not foreign language majors.”
Although language department statistics have already been submitted for curricular review, the elimination of the French major and minor is not yet set in stone, and it is possible that the continued efforts of students and faculty to protect the department will be successful. Changes in the academic program at the University of Nevada will be made official this coming June.
A priceless Renaissance painting from the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy hangs gracefully in the Nevada Museum of Art. The painting is called “La Donna Velata,” or “The Woman with the Veil.” It is a breathtaking portrait painted with oil on canvas by Raffaello Sanzio. Simply put, it leaves viewers speechless.
Raffaello Sanzio, better known as Raphael, painted the Woman With The Veil in 1516. There is a lot of mystery as to who the woman is, and there is no real answer. For hundreds of years people have speculated and made their own conclusions. However, the woman is widely believed to be one of Raphael’s mistresses. The director of communications and marketing at the museum, Rachel Milon, points out that there are different elements to the woman in the portrait. The veil she wears suggests a woman that is potentially married or engaged. She wears a necklace that would be very expensive, which brings into question whether Raphael could have afforded such jewelry. Furthermore, she is not wearing underclothes, which suggests that Raphael was very intimate with her. This is interesting because when Raphael painted the portrait he was engaged to the daughter of a Cardinal. Some critics also believe that the painting may be a combination of many different women that depict Raphael’s vision of an idealized woman.
It is impossible to ignore the enormous frame surrounding the woman with the veil. The Medicis, a powerful Italian family, acquired the painting but waited to commission a frame until nearly a century after the painting was completed. Carved from wood and gilded in gold leaf, the 400-year-old frame has become a part of the visual experience. In other words, “It is very powerful.”
Only three museums were able to secure the piece for display this year. Arte Italia helped bring the painting here to celebrate the Italian roots in Reno. Milon says that the museum was able to get the piece “through very strong connections and the desire for the foundation to share with smaller museums in smaller locations.” People who do not have the chance to travel to Italy now have a chance to see the woman in Reno. This acquisition also puts Reno on the map as one of the top 5% of museums in the country.
Security is a huge issue for both transportation and where the painting will hang. “We have a very secure building that meets the strictest of standards in the museum world, so they know that they could trust it hanging here in the museum,” says Milon. “There is someone who has eyes on it at all times, and it will not be publicized what day it will leave the building. “
Next year, the Nevada Museum of Art celebrates its 80th anniversary as an art institution. The museum is the oldest cultural institution in the state, the only art museum in this state and the only accredited institution in the state. Admission to the Nevada Museum of Art for students is $8 and it is $25 for a year. If you are not a student in Nevada you can view the museum’s website at www.nevadaart.org for pricing information. The painting will be at the museum from January 9 through March 21, 2010.
From 1890 until it closed in 1980, the Stewart Indian School in Carson City was the only off-reservation boarding school in Nevada for Native American children. Children from Nevada and throughout the West were forced to attend the institution through secondary school age. Students came from many tribes including the Nevada-based Washoe and Paiute tribes, as well as Hopi, Apache, Pima, Mohave, Walapai, Ute, and others.
Group of boys in 1894
In 1888 the Nevada Legislature passed a bill that authorized the sale of bonds to purchase land for an Indian boarding school. Once purchased, the land was conveyed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs who established the boarding school to train and educate Indian children with the ultimate goal of assimilation.
Listen to an interview with Daisy Smith
The campus began with a Victorian-style wood framed dormitory and school house. As enrollment increased, new buildings included shops for training, a hospital, and a recreation room. A Virginia and Truckee Railroad stop was established by 1906 to deliver supplies and facilitate transporting students to and from the school. By 1919, 400 students attended the school.
Classes included reading, writing, and arithmetic but focused on vocational training in various trades, agriculture, and the service industry. Classes offered for boys included ranching and farming, mechanics, woodworking, painting, and carpentry. Students learned stone masonry from their teachers, including Hopi stone masons, and helped to construct more than 60 native stone buildings on the campus.
Stewart girls attended classes in baking, cooking, sewing, laundry, and practical nursing. Much of the school’s basic needs were supplied by students’ products or fulfilled by their newly acquired skills. Vocational training remained the school’s principal focus until a shift to academics occurred in the late 1960’s.
The Stewart Indian School was initially intended to assimilate the young people into mainstream American culture. Policies prohibiting speaking native languages and practicing native customs anguished both students and their parents. The Federal policy toward American Indians radically changed with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, after which self-determination and self-government were supported.
1905. Organized sports began at Stewart Indian School in 1896. Teams competed under the school mascot the Braves. The football team became Nevada State Champions in 1916. In the late 1920s Stewart became a member of the state interscholastic athletic league. In 1937 a new stone gymnasium was built. Team sports such as baseball and football provided friendly interchange between schools and communities.
In later years, the Bureau of Indian Affairs encouraged schools such as Stewart to let students speak their native languages and to promote classes in native cultures. Today, the State of Nevada Indian Commission annually hosts the Stewart Father’s Day Powwow, which presents traditional competition dancing, Stewart School alumni recognition, arts and crafts, special events and exhibits. Photograph courtesy Nevada State Museum.
Frederick Snyder, who served as the school superintendent from 1919 to 1934, began the practice of using colored native stone (quarried along the Carson River) for campus buildings; much of the masonry used in the vernacular-style buildings is the work of student apprentices working under Hopi stonemasons. The majority of the surviving buildings were built between 1922 and the beginning of World War II.
Text and audio courtesy State of Nevada Indian Commission
Photographs courtesy Nevada State Museum
Video by Howard Goldbaum
