[Communications] Gardeners Say Access to Water Limited by New Chicago Rules – NBC Chicago

[Lorraine Kells]

Amy,

This is not new, worrying comments have appeared on our CCGA Facebook
starting April 30 where I recommended to everyone to join the forum.
 Marsha Wyatt responded on July 1, but no one has a solution.  It also came
up in conversation at some point with Julie and Gina about the content of
their discussions with the Field Museum interviews with them.  I asked
Julie to please understand that community gardens have this problem.  She
has long insisted (as an organizer, but not a gardener) that rain barrels
are the answer.  I think Gina and I may have finally convinced her that
this is a serious issue for community gardens because we have no place to
hook our rain barrels up to a downspout.  Relying on rain water alone is
not the answer.

The article does nothing for community gardeners, offers no AUA
suggestions, no approach to discounts or waivers that could be offered by
Department of WAter Management or grants available by the city or other
orgs.

I tried to post a reply on this topic, but I'm rusty and I don't see it.

So yes, we could add this issue to the newsletter, but not without further
comment from Sean Ruane at least. I found an email contact for him. Amy,
let's compose a quick draft email for  director at auachicago.org

Suggestion, please comment

Dear Sean,

Over the last two months CCGA has heard from it's community gardeners that
the new rules that the Department of Water Management has now set for water
access at fire hydrants is crippling our gardeners.   Acquiring, installing
and certifying a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) unit  for any community garden
is cost prohibitive.  In an article in this morning's NBC news the issue
may have been given wider reach, but other than pointing out a serious
issue facing community gardens that we are already aware of, what more can
we say or do.  CCGA would like to put this issue into our upcoming Summer
Newsletter.  Is there something more you can say to our gardeners?



On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 10:19 AM Amy Olson <akeo at me.com> wrote:

> Hi Lorraine - Did you see this? Should we mention it in the newsletter?
> Am working on finishing the draft now!
>
> Amy
>
> *Subject: **Gardeners Say Access to Water Limited by New Chicago Rules –
> NBC Chicago*
>
>
>
> https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/gardeners-say-access-to-water-limited-by-new-chicago-rules/2304394/
>
>
>
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