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Continued Support for Peecyling in VT from Long Island Sound
Rich Earth is honored to continue to receive funding from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. We received two awards (one for planning and one for implementation) for 2019 during a ceremony held in Bridgeport, CT.
From the windows of the office building, we could look out onto the glistening waters of the Sound. We often think of this water body, but rarely visit during our daily work in Vermont. Every gallon of pee saved through our Urine Nutrient Reclamation Program helps to prevent nutrient pollution in the Connecticut River, which ultimately connects us to the Long Island Sound.
The Sound has long struggled with harmful algal blooms, which are dangerous to human health, cause shellfish to produce neurotoxins, and create large fish die-offs. In 2019, around 89 square miles of Sound waters were hypoxic, or low-oxygen. While up from 2018 numbers, this represents a 57% decrease from pre-2000 numbers.
Since 2005, the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), developed under the EPA’s National Estuary Program, has been working to mitigate nutrient pollution and create healthy waterways for all. The Long Island Sound funding supports a wide range of projects including opening fish passages, restoring critical fish and wildlife habitat and open space, treating pollution, and education and volunteer engagement.
This funding will enable Rich Earth to divert even more urine in Windham County, prepare for new, permanent urine-diverting toilet installations, and begin planning for future projects to expand urine diversion along the Connecticut River Watershed.
Check out the feature on Rich Earth’s work on Page 4 of the Long Island Sound 2020 Update.
