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<p class="p" style="margin-top: 0;">There is no time like winter to slow down and learn from the wildlife, <a href="/outdoors/landscapes/healthysoil">soil</a> and rain in our gardens. </p>
<p class="p">These long nights are also great for dreaming up plans for the return of spring. When the sun is absent so much, it's hard not to be introspective and think about the profound impact of the sun. </p>
<p class="p">Thanks to plants, the sun is the actual fuel for our every action and thought. Perhaps this is part of why gardening is so compelling. <a href="/resources/newsletter/Winter_dream.pdf">Read more</a></p>
<p class="p"><img src="/images/news/w_art2copy.jpg" width="345" height="30" /> Whether remodeling a bathroom, starting construction of a new home, or simply replacing an old, leaky toilet that is wasting money and water, you may want to consider installing a high efficiency toilet (HET). </p>
<p class="p">New HET go beyond the federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) by using 1.3 gpf, and are certified through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <a href="http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/het.htm">Watersense</a> program which uses a third party to test the toilets for both performance and efficiency.</p>
<p class="p">Unlike first generation “low-flow” toilets, design advances enable WaterSense labeled <a href="http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm">HETs</a> to save water with no trade-off in flushing power. In fact, many perform better than standard toilets in consumer testing.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;"><span class="p">If every home in the United States replaced one old toilet with a new HET, we would save more than 900 billion gallons of water per year, equal to more than two weeks of flow over Niagara Falls! </span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0;"><span class="p">Looking for something entertaining to do with the kids during the busy holiday season? </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;"><span class="p">Check out our <a href="/kids">kid’s section</a> for fun <a href="/kids/coolstuff">activities</a> and <a href="/kids">games</a> that will keep those active minds busy and put a smile on their faces! </span></p>
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<p class="h3" style="margin-bottom: 0"><strong>Jan. 25-27: Build, Remodel&amp; Landscape Show</strong> Planning a landscape or irrigation project this year? Stop by our booth to find out what you need to know before you hire the pros or get started on your own. </p>
<p class="h3" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><strong>Feb. 15-17: Yard, Garden &amp; Patio Show<br /></strong><span class="style4">Did you know that over watering is the most common problem in home and commercial landscapes? Visit our booth for info on watering basics and other info that will make your garden thrive this summer.</span></p>
<p class="h3" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><strong>Mar. 5: Grow lean. Grow Green. </strong><br />Free workshop for landscape professionals that covers best management practices for waterwise landscapes. <a href="/resources/meetings/RWPC_PMW_002.pdf">More details</a></p>
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<p>With the cooler weather comes the possibility of frozen pipes. Here are some tips to help you avoid the expense and inconvenience of frozen pipes during an extended cold spell. </p>
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<li><span style="font-weight: bold">Find the master shut-off.</span> If a pipe bursts anywhere in the house – kitchen, bath, basement, or crawl space – this valve turns it off. Be sure everyone in the family knows where it is and what it does.<br /><br /></li>
<li><strong>Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses</strong>. If you don’t have a separate valve to turn off the outside faucets then wrap the outside faucets. <br /><br /></li>
<li><strong>Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas. </strong>Hardware or building supply stores will have good pipe wrapping materials available.<br /><br /></li>
<li><strong>Have your plumber and water provider’s telephone numbers handy. </strong></li>
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<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">Check out our <a href="/outdoors/outdoorconservation">website</a> for these and more conservation tips.</p>
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<p><a href="/about"><img src="/images/news/1007/hl_rwpc.gif" alt="Regional Water Providers Consortium" width="225" height="70" /></a><br /><span class="p"><a href="/about">Regional Water Providers Consortium</a> provides planning and management support for the Portland metropolitan region's municipal water supplies. <a href="/about/contact">Contact us</a> to learn more.</span></p>
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<td colspan="5"><img src="/images/news/1007/footer.gif" alt="Serving the greater Portland Metro Area since 1997" width="640" height="33" /></td>
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<h4 class="h4">Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.</h4>
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