Cellphone shock: Pennsylvanians Paying More in Fees Than Most

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

Nov 26, 2019

Pennsylvanians are paying more taxes on their cellphone bill than all but one of their neighbors and significantly more than the national average. That’s

according to a report

by a nonpartisan tax policy research group.

The combined local, state and federal taxes on a resident’s cellphone bill is 25.4 percent. The Washington-based Tax Foundation noted that was the seventh-highest rate in the nation. Excluding the federal 9.1 percent rate, Pennsylvania’s state and local tax is slightly more than 16.3 percent.

A state resident who has a $100 monthly bill from their wireless provider pays more than $304 in taxes per year. The average U.S. resident pays about $260 annually in local, state and federal levies.

“It’s important that people keep an eye on these things because they are well-hidden within people’s phone bills,” said Ulrik Boesen, a senior policy analyst for the foundation.

Two things stand out regarding Pennsylvania’s higher than average costs. First, Boesen said Pennsylvania charges a 5 percent gross receipts tax that’s in addition to the 6 percent sales tax.

Telecommunications is one of five industries on which Pennsylvania levies a gross receipts tax. The others include electric utilities providers, transportation companies, private bankers and managed care organizations.

The other surcharge that Boesen noted was the $1.65 monthly fee for state wireless 9-1-1 service. That represents a tax rate of nearly 4.4 percent. By comparison, Ohio’s charge is just 25 cents per number per month for state and local wireless 9-1-1.

While 9-1-1 is an essential service for residents, Boesen said that doesn’t mean it should have its own tax.

“In general, we don’t like when you have specific taxes for specific services,” he said. “We like it more when you broaden your tax bases to be as broad as possible and as low-rate as possible.”

A year ago, Pennsylvanians were paying a rate of 22.9 percent, but the bulk of that is due to a nearly 2.5 percent increase in the federal surcharge, which provides funding for certain organizations, such as schools and hospitals, in communities with higher than normal costs. The federal tax also can assist low-income residents in those areas.

Among neighboring states, only New York residents paid a higher percentage of taxes, as its 18.7 percent state-and-local rate ranks fourth in the U.S. Maryland was also in the top half of states at 14.7 percent, 14th highest.

West Virginia was 32nd overall at 10.2 percent, New Jersey landed at 38th at 9 percent, and Ohio residents pay 8.5 percent in state and local taxes, which ranked 43rd. Delaware’s rate of 6.6 percent is 49th in the study, which also includes Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Sweeney Says Murphy is Playing Politics with Critical School Funding

Senate President: Governor doesn’t realize his proposed $1B tax hike wouldn’t put a penny into overfunded districts under bill he signed into law

TRENTON

– Senate President Steve Sweeney today blasted the Governor for playing politics on critical school funding issues by calling for a $1 billion tax increase that would do nothing to help districts facing Adjustment Aid cuts.

“It is disappointing to see the Governor demagogue the critical issues of school funding and property tax fairness in order to call for an unrelated $1 billion increase in the sales tax and the millionaire’s tax,” Senator Sweeney said.

“What is more inexcusable is the Governor doesn’t even acknowledge his proposed $1 billion tax hike wouldn’t put a penny into overfunded districts under the school funding bill he signed into law 15 months ago,” Senator Sweeney said. “Any increase in state funding for schools would go to the overwhelming majority of school districts that are underfunded by more than $1.7 billion, not to the Adjustment Aid districts that would be helped by my plan for cap relief.”

Senator Sweeney’s 2018 school funding reform law restored fairness to the 10-year-old School Funding Reform Act by eliminating the growth caps that kept 72 percent of schoolchildren in underfunded districts – urban, suburban and rural – from getting the state aid they deserved, while establishing a seven-year phase-out of Adjustment Aid payments to school districts for students they no longer have.

On Saturday, Senator Sweeney announced that he was developing legislation that would provide cap relief to school districts facing Adjustment Aid cuts that were spending below the adequacy level established by the School Funding Reform Act – and affirmed by the state Supreme Court – as needed to provide the “thorough and efficient” education guaranteed by the 1947 New Jersey Constitution.

“We need to ensure that students do not suffer in districts that are now taking cuts after receiving more than their fair share of state aid for more than a decade,” Senator Sweeney said. “The new law will give school boards in these districts the ability to make up for past years when they had no incentive to provide their Local Fair Share because the Adjustment Aid windfall they were getting gave them no reason to do so.”

Senator Sweeney noted that the legislation signed into law by the Governor already gave the 31 former

Abbott

districts the ability to exceed the 2 percent cap if they were spending below adequacy, and required any school district facing Adjustment Aid cuts and spending below adequacy because it was not providing its Local Fair Share to raise school property taxes by 2 percent a year.

NJ Taxpayers Give $161.25 Million in Municipal Aid Grants to Municipalities

Change in Grant Cycle Will Help 542 Municipalities Better Plan Future Work

TRENTON

– Governor Phil Murphy today announced that 96 percent of New Jersey municipalities will receive Municipal Aid grant awards, totaling $161.25 million for fiscal year 2020. These are the first awards being made under the new Municipal Aid grant

cycle that better aligns with the state’s construction season and municipal budget cycles.

A total of 542 cities and towns across the state are receiving grants to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements, continuing the Department of Transportation’s Commitment to Communities initiative. With the announcement of the 2020 grants, NJDOT will have awarded nearly $1.2 billion to local governments during the first 18 months of the Murphy Administration.

“Our administration sought to deliver a fairer approach to how government does business and this round of grants will, in the third straight year, reach more municipalities than in the previous fiscal year,”

said Governor Murphy.

“In addition, in the spring the Department of Transportation announced it was accelerating the Fiscal Year 2020 Municipal Aid grant cycle so we could make the awards months earlier than in years past to help municipalities better plan important infrastructure projects. Today, by awarding grants to 542 municipalities in the state, nearly 96 percent of all cities and towns in New Jersey will be poised to break ground as the construction season begins.”

In May, NJDOT announced an

accelerated FY20 Municipal Aid grant cycle

to make awards in November each year, rather than in the spring as was done in past years. The vast majority of towns and cities operate on a fiscal year running from January 1 through December 31. Knowing the amount of Municipal Aid before the fiscal year begins helps municipalities better determine which projects will move forward that year.

“Accelerating the Municipal Aid grant award cycle this year is an example of the Murphy Administration’s commitment to listening to communities and delivering on our promise,”

said NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti.

“This change, along with NJDOT’s new Local Aid Resource Center, are making a real difference in providing municipalities the resources to improve safety and increase the reliability of the State’s transportation system at all levels of government.”

In addition to changing the grant cycle, NJDOT created a

Local Aid Resource Center

this year to support local public agencies, fulfilling a pledge to offer proactive assistance. The Resource Center assists communities with project planning, grant applications, project delivery, and guidance through the federal grant process by offering customized in-person training sessions, webinars, a library of YouTube videos, and a dedicated telephone hotline to receive technical assistance.

The competitive Municipal Aid grant program attracted 661 applications from 546 different municipalities in FY20 with a total of $368 million in work. Project applications are evaluated and rated on their merits by NJDOT Local Aid staff and an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers review the Local Aid recommendations. This process resulted in 545 awards to 542 municipalities. To see the list of FY20 grants, click

here

Under the Municipal Aid grant program, each county is apportioned a share of the total funding based on population and the number of local centerline miles. Municipalities compete for portions of their county’s share. NJDOT provides 75 percent of the grant amount when a town awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project. Of the $161.25 million, there is $10 million allotted for municipalities qualifying for urban aid under state law, with the amounts determined by the Department of Community Affairs.

In past years, applications were due to NJDOT by October. By accelerating the process, applications for Municipal Aid grants this year were submitted to the Department by July 2019. They were judiciously reviewed this summer so the announcement could be made by November 30.

There are seven project categories within the Municipal Aid program eligible for funding: roadway preservation, roadway safety, quality of life, mobility, bikeway, pedestrian safety, and bridge preservation. Past performance in connection with timely award of projects and construction close-out factor were part of the evaluation of the proposals. When evaluating applications, NJDOT also verifies if the municipality has adopted Complete Streets policies. Complete Streets policies, establishes guidelines that require consideration be given to pedestrians and bicyclists when local transportation projects are being planned, designed, and built

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Base Salary $88,610

The Center Square

Nov 25, 201

State lawmakers in Pennsylvania now draw a base annual salary of $88,610, in addition to mileage or travel outlays of 58 cents per mile, according to

a recent study by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Gloucester City News blog files

Pennsylvania legislators receive per-diem payments consisting of $177 per day during sessions.

Lawmakers’ salaries can be set by statute, legislatures or compensation commissions, according to the NCSL, which collects information yearly on state lawmaker pay and per diems in the 50 states.

In addition to this compensation, legislators may also receive insurance and retirement benefits, as well as office and staffing allowances.

Legislator Salaries by State in 2019

State

Base Salary

Mileage in Cents per Mile

Session Per Diem Rate

Alabama

$48,123

58/mile

Up to $100/day depending on length of trip.

Alaska

$50,400

58/mile

$322/day

Arizona

$24,000

58/mile

$35/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Members living outside Maricopa County get additional compensation.

Arkansas

$41,394

58/mile

Current per diem rate for legislators who live more than 50 miles from the capitol in Little Rock is $149. Members who live within 50 miles of the Capitol are eligible to receive a reduced per diem (meals and incidentals, no lodging) of $55.

California

$110,459

53/mile

$201/day for each day in session.

Colorado

$40,242 for members whose terms began in January 2019; $30,000 for others.

52/mile

Up to $171 for members who live more than 50 miles from the capitol; $45/day for members who live 50 or fewer miles from the capitol.

Connecticut

$28,000

58/mile

No per diem is paid.

Delaware

$46,291

40/mile

No per diem is paid.

Florida

$29,697

44.5/mile

$163/day based on the number of days in Tallahassee (V).

Georgia

$17,342

58/mile

$173/day (U). Set by the Legislative Services Committee.

Hawaii

$62,604

Varies depending on distances and circumstances.

$225/day for members who don\’t live on Oahu.

Idaho

$17,879

58/mile; one round trip per week.

$139/day for members whose primary residence is over 50 miles from the statehouse; $55/day for members whose primary residence is less than 50 miles from the statehouse. (U)

Illinois

$65,836

39/mile

$111/session day.

Indiana

$26,490

58/mile

$181/day (U).

Iowa

$25,000

39/mile

$169/day; $126.75/day for Polk County lawmakers.

Kansas

$88.66/day (C)

58/mile

$149/day.

Kentucky

$188.22/day (C)

58/mile

$163.90/day.

Louisiana

$16,800 Senate; $22,800 House

58/mile

$161/day.

Maine

$10,131

44/mile

$38/day lodging (or mileage and tolls up to $38/day in lieu of housing). $32/day for meals. Set by statute.

Maryland

$50,330

58/mile

$47/day, meals. $106/day, lodging.

Massachusetts

$66,257

Members receive stipends based on distance.

No per diem is paid.

Michigan

$71,685

58/mile

$10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim (V). Set by the compensation commission.

Minnesota

$45,000

58/mile

$86/d for senators; $66/d for representatives.

Mississippi

$23,500

58/mile

$149/day.

Missouri

$35,915

37.5/mile

$119/day.

Montana

$92.46/day (L)

58/mile

$120.11/day.

Nebraska

$12,000

58/mile

$149/day for members residing 50 miles or more from the capitol; $55/day for members residing inside the 50-mile radius.

Nevada

$150.71/day for legislators elected in 2016, $146.29/day for midterm legislators

Travel allowances vary

$149/day.

New Hampshire

$200/2-year term.

Varies depending on distances.

No per diem is paid.

New Jersey

$49,000

None

No per diem is paid.

New Mexico

None

58/mile

$161/day or $184/day depending on month.

New York

$110,000

58/mile

$174/day (including overnight) or $61/day (no overnight).

North Carolina

$13,951

29/mile

$104/day (U). Set by statute.

North Dakota

$495/month

54/mile; one round trip per week.

$177/day.

Ohio

$63,007

52/mile

No per diem is paid.

Oklahoma

$35,021

58/mile

$156/day.

Oregon

$31,200

58/mile

$149/day.

Pennsylvania

$88,610

58/mile

$177/day.

Rhode Island

$15,959

54.5/mile

No per diem is paid.

South Carolina

$10,400

58/mile

$170/day.

South Dakota

$11,379

up to 42/mile

$149/day (L) (U).

Tennessee

$24,316

47/mile

$240/day for members residing more than 50 miles from capitol.

Texas

$7,200

58/mile

$221/day. Set by ethics commission.

Utah

$285/day (C)

54/mile

Up to $100 plus tax/day for members who live more than 100 miles round trip from capitol.

Vermont

733.04/week during session.

58/mile

$126/day lodging (including overnight) or $69/day (no overnight).

Virginia

$18,000/year Senate; $17,640/year House.

58/mile

$213/day.

Washington

$52,766/ year as of July 1, 2019.

58/mile

$120/day.

West Virginia

$20,000

48.5/mile

$131/day (U). Set by compensation commission.

Wisconsin

$52,999

51/mile

Senate: up to $115/day; Assembly: up to $162/day. The maximum number of days per year that per diem

can be claimed is 153 days.

Wyoming

$150/day

58/mile

$109/day (V). Set by legislature.

Abbreviations: C – Calendar day; L – Legislative day; (U) – Unvouchered; (V) – Vouchered

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

published here with permission

NJ American Water Highlights Investment at Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant

Continued Investment Ensures Protection and Sustainability of Water Supply for More Than

1 Million People in Central New Jersey

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (November 26, 2019)

–

New Jersey American Water

today released a

new video

about its multi-year, $65 million investment to ensure the resiliency and sustainability of its Raritan-Millstone Water

Treatment Plant. The video can be seen on the company’s YouTube Channel and other social media channels.

The Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant, situated in Bridgewater, Somerset County, N.J., is New Jersey American Water’s largest water production facility and a regional source of potable water supply for seven counties in central New Jersey. The plant is located near the confluence of the Raritan and Millstone Rivers – an area of Somerset County that experiences severe flooding during significant storm events due to the relative low ground surface elevations in the floodways adjacent to the two rivers.

The plant produces an average system delivery of 132 million gallons a day (MGD) and is capable of peaking at 190 MGD. As a Tier 1 New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness facility, the Raritan-Millstone facility is also considered “Critical Infrastructure” by the federal Department of Homeland Security. Water supply from the plant is also provided to five large bulk water sales connections, and two Critical Regional Emergency Interconnections – the cities of Newark and Trenton.

“This video highlights the plant’s history and the investments we have made over the years to continue to ensure its reliability during severe weather events that have tested it,” said Cheryl Norton, president of New Jersey American Water and senior vice president of American Water’s eastern division. “Our recently completed flood protection project was designed to achieve a recommended level of protection from 500-year storm events, to enable us to maintain a sustainable water supply for the more than 1 million people in Central New Jersey who rely on us.”

The first major flood protection project at the facility in the early 2000s was a result of the plant being flooded by Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The recently completed $65 million flood protection project was spurred by the near-flooding of the plant during Hurricane Irene, with peak flood water levels recorded within inches from the top of the facility’s floodwall.

With the completion of this project, the entire floodwall system at the plant was raised by four feet to an elevation of 48 feet, which is the level of flood resiliency supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corp of Engineers. The raising of the floodwall, which accounted for $37 million of the total $65 million investment, provides flood protection from storm events up to 500-year recurring frequency. In addition to raising the plant’s north reinforced concrete floodwall, the earthen berms in the northeast and west were also raised and widened, with additional reinforced concrete flood walls constructed, new flood gates installed, and drainage mechanisms improved at the plant.

For more information about this project and other critical investments the company makes to ensure high quality, reliable water service, visit the company’s website at

www.newjerseyamwater.com

About New Jersey American Water

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.7 million people. For more information, visit

www.newjerseyamwater.com

and follow New Jersey American Water on

Twitter

and

Facebook

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit

amwater.com

and follow American Water on

Twitter

Facebook

and

5 Things That You Need to Know About Car Insurance

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 26, 2019)–Today getting insurance for one’s property is more than trendy. Everybody tries to protect the valuables from some accidents, hazardous natural phenomena, or robberies. Without any doubt, insurances have a well-deserved reputation and are worthy of attention.

But before making a solid decision, there are things to discover about the procedure and peculiarities of insurances in the United States. Safety of vehicles is one of the most requested topics within all existing types of insurance, – and it’s quite logical that people invest so much in safeguarding their automobiles.

That is why this article will run about the important things you will want to know about making car insurance.

P.S. For getting a full picture of how the insurance works, go straight to

www.general.com

Grasping the Core Principles of Car Insurance

Whether you’re a seasoned car owner looking for a new one to meet your expectations, or just a newbie counting how to get your first car ever, car insurance is necessary for both options. Coming strictly to the point, here are 5 fundamentals of obtaining insurance in the USA. Let’s go!

Identify the type of insurance that you need.

As the US policy offers various types of insurance, you should know the peculiar features of the most basic ones. The types that have been proven worthy of trust include mechanical breakdown insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, flood insurance (in areas with the high likelihood of natural disasters), and comprehensive coverage to let you receive another vehicle or get yours repaired in case of some road trouble.

How much car insurance is typically required?

In the US, the bare minimum includes liability for bodily injury and property damage, driver coverage, and personal injury protection insurance. The latter is especially good because it covers your medical expenses no matter which driver is responsible for the accident.

Know the exceptions from rules.

As everybody knows, not all states have equal laws concerning vehicle insurance. In Arizona, for instance, there is no must for minimum insurance, – instead, they require the proofs that you are liable to pay for the possible damage, demanding a deposit certificate to the state budget. To sum it up, if you grow money on trees in your garden, you may be free to drive without insurance. If not, – better get one and feel protected.

Mind your driving record.

In this case, your reputation is everything. Every insurance provider will first of all look at your record and judge how risky you are (including how many speeding tickets you’ve got in your collection). How experienced you are also matters here, since, as statistics show, the young people aged up to 25 with little driving time get into accidents more often.

Consider which cars are cheaper to insure.

In simple words, the value of your automobile is the biggest factor influencing how much the insurance will cost you. However, for expensive car models, you might make use of such life-hacks as anti-theft alarms and other additional safety features, – this will make the price for the insurance go down.

Hopefully, with those five key features of car insurance in the US, you will find your way around and soon be a happy and confident driver.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

Basic Information About Insurance in the USA Everyone Needs To Know

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 26, 2019)–Whether you are a citizen or not, you may know that insurance in the USA is something that everyone is talking about and many own. Besides, there are also many online dealers that offer you financial security for the fairest price. Despite the number of vendors, some of them may be a little less reliable than the others. That is why we offer you pay attention to the

www.americaninsurance.com

website in the first place. The company has the most reliable and acceptable offers on the market.

Insurance – what is it?

However, just before you just to the website, you need to be aware of what you are signing up for, and we are going to start with the basics. The truth is that very often things happen to us when we least expect them. To cover unexpected losses, you may need to have a pretty penny in your pocket. That is when the insurance comes in so handy. No matter the type of insurance you choose, each will help you reduce the financial loss. Think of insurance as of a certain contract between you and insuring company. The company is the one who is going to cover a part of your losses in case anything happens to you. Of course, the contract isn’t free to sign. When you choose a deal you see the fittest, you are supposed to pay your premium. Those premiums are usually paid periodically. The periods and other details depend upon the type of insurance that you choose as well as the policy the provider offers.

How does it work?

When you sign a contract with an insurance provider, you become one of many other people who have done the same. In case the loss occurs to you, you need to provide the insurance company with the proofs that support your claim. Besides, you need to read the contract clearly before you sign it, in case of some loopholes. The truth is that in many cases the insurance is active for a limited time if you miss it, there will be no financial aid from the provider, and there is rarely a chance that you will be able to stand your ground and prove against what you have signed up for.

Types of insurance

There is no one-for-all insurance. There are a few different types of it so that you can choose the one or few that suit you best and those you consider most likely to be needed.

Life insurance – the insurance provider, issues the payment to the family in case of the insured’s death.

Health insurance – in case of certain health problems, the insurance provider will help the insured person cover the payment for the services.

General Insurance – if anything to your insured belongings, such as your house or anything of the kind, happens, the insurance company will pay for it.

Group insurance – this is usually the insurance applied to employees of various companies or work organizations when the employer covers the losses of any employ according to the insurance policy.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

How Long Do Resin Beads in a Water Softener Last?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 26, 2019)–Whether you have just purchased a water softener or still using the one you bought on your last shopping, one of your many worries include when to replace the resin bed. This leads to asking – how long do resin beads in

industrial water softeners

last?

Also, you inquire further about the kind of maintenance it requires, how they work, and which of these resin beads the best is for you. In this post, we\’ll provide answers to these questions and help you get the most out of your resin beads.

What is a Water Softener Resin

Water softener resin

is a media to remove the hardness of your water. This media uses an ion exchange process to eliminate the high amount of heavy metals and other minerals, causing hardness of water, leaving the water in your plumbing network soft.

While the water conditioner does not remove the hardness in water, the resin descales it. For salt-based models, the resin bed plays an integral part in making your water soft. In most commercial and residential houses, water treatment includes the water softening resin to get rid of minerals, causing hardness.

How the Resin Works

The resin bed of a water softener is a collection of thousands of resin beads located in the unit\’s tank. When you turn on the tap, water flows into the water softener and passes through the resin bed, where it comes in contact with the plethora of resin beads in the tank. During the process, the resin beads trap calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, allowing only soft water to flow out in your kitchen outlet.

Type of Resin

In the market today, there are two main types of water softeners, which includes:

Fine mesh resin

Standard ion exchange resin.

It\’s vital that you know more about each model before heading to your local store to purchase just any water softening resin that comes your way. However, you should choose the one that best suits your needs.

Fine Mesh Resin

This type of resin is excellent for removing high concentrations of iron. It comes with small-sized resin beads that are capable of removing as high as ten parts in a million dissolved iron.

That\’s not all: it helps make your drinking water taste better since this resin is sometimes blended with activated carbon. Besides, this type features small-sized resin beads; you must place a flow basket on the upper part to help avoid resin migration when it\’s regenerating.

Standard Ion Exchange Resin

This is the most popular water softener type on the market. Unlike fine mesh resin, the standard ion exchange resin is only capable of removing up to 5 parts per million of dissolved iron. When it comes to water purification, this model does it better.

Further, standard ion exchange resin uses sodium chloride or potassium chloride to regenerate the resin.

Crosslink Percentage

Crosslink is a crucial factor to consider when trying to pin down the best water softening resin. Crosslink is a measure of the amount of divinylbenzene (DVB), which a resin bed contains. Products featuring higher crosslink percentage, often come with a hefty price tag.

However, it doesn\’t mean resin with a higher crosslink percentage is the best choice for every homeowner.

To begin with, there are two variations of crosslink percentage – 8 and 10 percent. Let\’s take a look at each variation and why you should consider it.

8% Crosslink

The 8% crosslink is the most used

water softening resin percentage

. It\’s suitable for removing dissolved iron up to 3 – 5 parts per million while softening your water wholly. This resin should serve you for about 10 -15 years, which is based on your water quality. You can expect maximum effectiveness from this unit when used with non-chlorinated water.

10% Crosslink

When it comes to softening hard water, 10% crosslink packs a lot of strength. This type is recommended for people dealing with chlorinated iron-free water. Higher crosslink helps handle the high amount of chlorine in your water. Besides, it permits a huge capacity for water.

Sadly, owning a high crosslink resin can be way over your budget and often leads to a significant drop in water pressure.

Which is best

Still not sure which resin suits your needs? Let\’s help you make an informed decision.

For homeowners with water offering 5 P.P.M of chlorine, then you should lean more to resin with 8% crosslink. This option is also suitable for people looking to treat their city water.

But if you have got water featuring higher than 5 P.P.M of chlorine, which means you need a strong resin to handle oxidation. Fine mesh or 10% crosslink resin is an ideal choice. Also, for people with well water, you can make sure of any of the resins to remove hardness.

How long do they last

Needless to say, water softener resin requires replacement after a while. Most brands out there boast of a lifetime within 10 – 15 years. But, in the end, it boils down to the

quality of your water

and the number of times it regenerates.

In addition, keep in mind that the concentration of iron in your water and organic coating of your resin determines how long resin beads last. To simply say, a high amount of chlorine or iron can kill the resin bed faster.

New Cleanup Plan Proposed for Superfund Site in Gibbsboro

Gibbsboro, N.J.

(November 25, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a cleanup plan that includes a combination of technologies and

methods to address the former paint manufacturing plant and adjoining areas of the Sherwin-Williams/Hilliards Creek Superfund Site in Gibbsboro. EPA’s study of these areas shows that soil and sediment are contaminated with arsenic and lead, and soil in other areas are contaminated with paint solvents.

“The former paint manufacturing plant area is a major source of contamination at this Superfund site and addressing it will be a major step to getting to the cleanup of Hilliards Creek and Kirkwood Lake, which have been long sought by this community,” said

EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez.

“EPA is working closely with our local and state partners to make progress on this cleanup as we protect people’s health.”

EPA’s cleanup plan addresses a nearly 20-acre area where the former manufacturing plant operated, the headwaters of Hilliards Creek and adjoining areas, which include approximately six residential properties. At the former manufacturing plant area, the plan includes removing and disposing of approximately 67,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the site and backfilling with clean soil, groundwater monitoring, and institutional controls in the form of deed notices.

Floodplain soil and sediment within Upper Hilliards Creek would be excavated and disposed of off-site. Surface water will be monitored. The wetland areas will be restored with vegetation and soil similar in nature to previously existing wetlands.

In areas where paint solvents are present, the EPA is calling for the treatment of harmful chemicals through subsurface treatment. Certain areas containing soil contaminated with paint solvents may also be treated at the site by injecting non-hazardous additives to the subsurface soil to promote the biological breakdown of contaminants. The specific types of additives to be used will be determined by the EPA as part of the design of the cleanup. Soil gas collection systems will also be installed to collect and treat any harmful vapors.

Throughout the cleanup, EPA will monitor and further study the cleanup progress to ensure the effectiveness of the remedy. EPA will conduct a review of the cleanup every 5 years to ensure its effectiveness. Under the proposed plan, the estimated cost of cleanup is approximately $36 million.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on Dec. 5, 2019, at 7 p.m. to explain the proposed plan. The meeting will be held at Gibbsboro Senior Center, 250 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Gibbsboro, New Jersey. Comments will be accepted until Dec. 30, 2019.

Written comments on the EPA\’s proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to: Ray Klimcsak, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email:

klimcsak.raymond@epa.gov

The Sherwin-Williams/Hilliard’s Creek Superfund Site, the Route 561 Dump Site along with the United States Avenue Burn Superfund Site, located in Gibbsboro, are sources of contaminated soil and sediment, which have spread onto a number of residential properties and surrounding waterbodies within Gibbsboro and Voorhees. The residential properties, along with Dump and Burn Sites, are currently being addressed under separate cleanup plans.

To view the EPA\’s proposed plan for the site, please visit

www.epa.gov/superfund/sherwin-williams

It’s Not Merely Flesh and Bones

Gloucestercitynews.net (Nov. 25, 2019)–All human beings are just a diaspora of the nine months confinement, which was regularly fed with love. That very love takes you further on in life, which some of us leave behind, to find momentary joy. Love is the only factor that keeps the world from collapsing all at once, but that love continues being redefined with every new relationship one builds in this wonderful journey called life. Love, these days, has been reduced to just a term and the true essence of this beautiful feeling seems lost on us. Also, the crimes that are being committed in the name of love are countless. The pleasure of groping a fellow being cannot be justified on any grounds. While some do it in the name of love, the others do it out of sheer lust.

The gratification of each person’s sexual urges is necessary; there is no denial of that fact. But that has to happen with consent. The point where a consensual feeling of the need to gratify that urge kindles within, is only when that step should be taken, which is nurtured with the right amount of genuine love for your partner. Where do things go wrong, then? It is when lust takes the place of love, where even the definition of lust takes a rampant turn. The word assault means any action that violates or harms the other person’s feelings when it is done without consent. No woman is sensual. They are only beautiful, with the hearts that they own that beats within them, which can never be scarred by the physical injuries that anyone inflicts on them. In today’s scenario, an assault has become a very familiar term, not just through the blogs you read and podcasts you hear but also through the repugnant encounters one has.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is:

A non-consensual grabbing, fumbling or touching of a private part of another person’s body.

Coercing a person to get involved in sexual acts, which could be oral sex or non-consensual penetration.

A person sexually exploiting you, when under the influence of drugs; could be in parties, pubs or any such occasions (drug-facilitated assault).

Abusing and involving kids in certain sexual acts where these kids are incapacitated or are not in a position to comprehend the devilry of the act.

The world now is in the clutches of a demon that is infusing it with the most dreadful qualities which are taking the world on a regressive roll to the pit of human annihilation.

What do you see when you open the newspapers and media platforms nowadays? Is it love, or is it hatred? It is pure evil in disguise, that lures you into oblivion.

Popular myths about sexual assaults

Sexual assault could also be when a spouse tries to sexually impose specific actions on the partner, which, as some may not know, also requires consent. Being a legal partner does not give a person the right to force their urge for their partner.

People come across such situations at the workplace, in public transport, in relationships, and the list goes on.

Toddlers wearing diapers get sexually assaulted these days. Where do you think the world is going? Multiple cases are reported every day of child sexual abuse, and how does this all culminate? Children, at an age where they aren’t able to fathom the difference between a fumbling touch and a lovely stroke, are made to do obscene acts, which can later even lead to the loss of a valuable life.

One of the biggest myths of the topic of sexual assault is that it is believed to be endured only by women, but that’s not true. Men equally face such assaults, be it from the opposite gender or also ones from the same.

Get back up from the bottom

Dealing with the mental trauma that follows such acts takes a lot of courage and constant support from peers, colleagues, and families. This keeps in happening families too; father molesting his daughter, brothers abusing sisters, and many more such cases still lay unsolved without receiving the deserved justice. People finding difficulty in dealing with such situations can contact

Nehora Law Firm

Conclusion:

Such situations could be a completely baffling experience for people, not knowing what step to be taken next to resolve it legally. Always go to the most reliable people around you and when it is that same person who assaulted you, a piece of advice alone cannot help, but each individual needs to develop the strength and courage to fight it by seeking the help of the law of your country.

With a lot of helpline numbers, organizations and websites to guide you through the bewilderment and trauma that you are facing, keep the confidence intact as you are not alone in this. The whole world would stand with you to augment the will power that you already possess, which cannot be destroyed by any filthy hands.