Month: April 2025

PLAYA DEL REY, Calif., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Ballona Wetland Land Trust, a non-profit environmental group, has raised concerns that the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, a California state agency, voted last Thursday to delete all references to the phrases “climate change”, “ocean acidification”, and “environmental justice” from its work plan, which will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency with a request for federal funding. Numerous environmental groups, and several members of the Commission, opposed the changes. However, a majority of Commission member entities, including Heal the Bay and a prominent UCLA climate scholar, reasoned that the replacement of established scientific and policy terms with what Commission staff called “alternative language”, was justified to preserve $850,000 in funding. The move was in response to vague “informal guidance” from EPA.

A written statement from Gabrielle Crowe, co-chair and secretary of environmental sciences for the Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation of Southern California, was read by Commission staff, stating: “Climate change is an issue that impacts all communities, but particularly the same disadvantaged and underserved communities and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities that you are erasing from your work plan.” Crowe argued that if without a written commitment to tribal engagement and inclusion, the Commission would lack accountability.

E.J. Caldwell, general manager of the West Basin Municipal Water District and alternate to District President Gloria Gray, was especially vocal in his opposition to the proposed deletions. Caldwell was supported by Hermosa Beach Mayor Dean Francois. “The informal guidance, to me, is insufficient to really make these changes,” said Caldwell. In response, an EPA employee acknowledged that she could not say which phrases might cause grant applications to be rejected, adding that “I don’t think I’m going to be able to give you a satisfactory answer.”

The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust, a local non-profit that first discovered and publicized the proposed language changes, indicated that it is exploring a potential legal challenge. “The willingness of a California environmental protection agency to bend so easily on replacing scientific language with ‘alternative language’ poses an existential threat to all environmental protection efforts,” said the Land Trust’s President Walter Lamb. “We can’t effectively address the impacts of climate change by going silent on the issue. The Commission is ignoring the Clean Water Act.”

More information, including documentation, is available at www.ballona.org/climate.

Contact: Walter Lamb, 310-384-1042, walter@ballona.org, www.ballona.org/climate

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SOURCE BALLONA WETLANDS LAND TRUST

DES PLAINES, Ill., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Chicago Faucets launches its redesigned Low-Flow MVP® Metering Faucets, a product line that exemplifies the company’s deep-rooted commitment to ecological responsibility and sustainable innovation. The new MVP metering faucet series, featuring a sleek and durable 765 push handle, expands on this legacy with five low-flow models engineered to deliver exceptional performance while dramatically reducing water consumption in high-use environments.

Low-Flow MVP™ Series of Metering Faucets for Sustainability and Durability

The Low-Flow MVP metering faucets combine a contemporary aesthetic with robust functionality, making them the ideal choice for schools, parks, libraries, and all commercial buildings committed to sustainability. 

“Chicago Faucets is thrilled to showcase these contemporary Low-Flow MVP® Metering Faucets during Earth Month,” said Richard Nortier, Director of Marketing at Chicago Faucets. ” They underscore Chicago Faucets’ commitment to water conservation and sustainable practices. The 765 handle provides a modern look and vandal-resistant solution that meets the demands of today’s public facilities, while also aligning with our customers’ sustainability initiatives.”

• Enhanced Water Conservation: Low-flow models (0.35 GPM and 0.50 GPM) significantly reduce water consumption, contributing to sustainability goals and lower utility costs.
• Durable and Dependable: The 765 handle features solid metal construction and a vandal-resistant design ensuring long-lasting performance in high-traffic and high abuse environments.
• Sustainable Design: Metering faucets eliminate the need for electrical power, further reducing the environmental footprint and saving energy. Utilizing Low-Flow or Econo-Flow faucets are instrumental in meeting EPA WaterSense, CALGreen, and LEED requirements.
• Proven MVP® Cartridge: It features automatic shut-off, cast construction, is usable in hard water, and offers a slow close with adjustable run time (2–25 seconds). Maintenance is simplified with a solid brass actuator, stainless-steel sleeve and a large replaceable filter screen.
• Hygienic Push-Button Operation: Self-closing push button handle provides precise water flow for a preset cycle time.
• ADA Compliant: The contemporary and durable metal handle is ADA compliant.

Modern Push Button Design Easily Updates Existing Faucets

With the design of the 765 cylindrical handle, Chicago Faucets has engineered a contemporary handle with vandal-resistant construction for unmatched dependability in public areas that take heavy use and abuse. The one-touch convenience of the 765 handle ensures ease of operation and promotes improved hygiene while minimizing water usage.

For buildings with existing Chicago Faucets metering fittings, it is easy to upgrade with MVP 765 Handle Conversion Kits:

• 765-RKPABCP: Single handle kit, includes handle, actuator, cartridge, filter
• 765-RKPHABCP: Single handle kit, includes handle and actuator
• 765-RKECOABCP: Double handle kit: handles, actuators, cartridges, filters, 0.5 GPM laminar insert

The Chicago Faucets Low-Flow MVP™ Metering Faucets along with standard flow Metering Faucets with the 765 Handle Series are available now visit chicagofaucets.com/low-flow-metering-faucets or call 847/803-5000. To meet with a representative for a faucet demonstration click here.

As a longstanding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a charter sponsor of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, Chicago Faucets continually advances water conservation through both its products and its operations. Chicago Faucets is also a member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), American Society of Health Care Engineering (ASHE), International Well Building Institute (IWBI), and a partner with EPA WaterSense. For more information visit: https://www.chicagofaucets.com/about/corporate-responsibility

ABOUT

The Chicago Faucet Company is part of the Geberit Group, a European sustainability leader, s innovator and global provider of sanitary technology with products available in the United States at geberit.us. This launch reflects Chicago Faucets’ holistic approach to environmental stewardship. The company actively monitors and reduces its use of electricity, natural gas, and water, and has achieved a 60% reduction in landfill waste at its Milwaukee foundry Chicago Faucets recycles 98% of its scrap brass—over 20 tons internally and more than 600 tons with outside partners annually—while utilizing a clean, virgin alloy process that allows scrap to be recast as new product. For more information visit www.chicagofaucets.com.

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SOURCE The Chicago Faucet Company