Making the Most of Storm Water Drainage Systems

Making the Most of Storm Water Drainage Systems or Yard Downspouts

Homeowners and oftentimes even builders are unaware of the damage done to houses by rain where there isn’t a sensible disposal system in place. Too many houses have a downspout coming off the roof, and a concrete or plastic splash block underneath the spout. The rainwater comes out of the pipe, hits the splash block located right next to the foundation, and continues on its way—into the foundation, into the basement, in rivulets running through the landscaping—everywhere, in fact, that rainwater shouldn’t go. More information on this website
The fact is that even a moderate rain on the roof of an average sized house creates thousands and thousands of gallons of water. When all you have to divert the storm water from your roof is a splash block, you’re effectively channeling the water right where you don’t want it to be—to the base of your house. more plumbing information hereplumbing system - drainage pipesThe answer to the problem of rain on the roof making its way into the basement or crawl space is to extend your downspout piping to the ground, run it out away from the house, and pipe runoff either to a collection area for your own use or to a low lying place on your property where it can drain without putting you or your neighbors in danger of flooding. Before you decide where to lay the underground pipes, first take a look around your home and think about where the rainwater would naturally go if your house wasn’t standing there. Keep in mind that water flows down slope, so that’s the most practical place to pipe the water, since it would fall there anyway. (If you have a neighbor down the slope, you may need to work with that person to make sure you aren’t piping your storm water into his yard). Next, contact the power, gas and water companies to make sure there are no buried cables or gas lines in the place where you plan to dig. This is a vital step—every year, people are killed because they cut into electric or gas lines they forget to check for. If your house is on a septic system, make sure you know where the drains and the leach field are: you don’t want to create yet more drainage problems by digging through a pipe!

One of the tools you’ll want to use whenever installing underground piping is your camera. Take pictures of the trench and pipes before they’re covered up, and show parts of the house in the picture, along with tools or even people. You’re creating a scale you can use when you decide to have your electric lines buried five years from now, and can’t remember for the life of you where the drainage pipes were placed. With a complete set of photos, you’ll be able to figure out where your pipes are in case you ever need to replace a section or do some other work that might otherwise damage your storm water drainage. Keep the photos in the same place as your wiring panel photos, instructions for restarting your well pump, and the warranty on the refrigerator. If you keep all your household maintenance papers in one place, you’ll save a lot of time an energy looking for things whenever you need to take care of things that go wrong around the house.plumbing services

Drains and pipe materials have come a long way in the past 20 years. Use smooth 4 inch plastic sewer pipe instead of the black, corrugated flexible pipe: it doesn’t crush as easily and you can use PVC cement or buy fittings that use rubber gaskets instead of adhesives. Professional drain cleaners can work on the sewer pipe without damaging it—the corrugated pipe doesn’t make that possible.

Clear Braces Will Straighten Your Teeth

Clear Braces Will Straighten Your Teeth

Patients have been reading how this modern approach to teeth straightening is a clear alternative to traditional metal braces. Invisible offers the same great results as metal braces by using clear plastic aligners that gently adjust your teeth to their proper alignment.

The Invisible system is a series of comfortable, clear plastic aligners that will be replaced every six to eight weeks as a new set fitted until your teeth have moved to their proper alignment. Invisible braces are highly effective and can be obtained at prices comparable to traditional metal braces and are covered by many dental insurance plans. Call your insurance provider to see if you qualifyorthodontics

Invisible is a breakthrough development when compared to regular metal braces. Your first visit to the dentist will create your first set of aligners that are custom fitted to your teeth. Invisible aligners are not fixed to your teeth like metal braces, instead these clear plastic aligners can be removed when you brush, floss, eat, or sleep. Anytime you want to remove these clear plastic aligners, you can with ease.

Metal braces restrict the types of food you eat because leftover particles could get stuck in your braces and cause discoloration of the metal, bad breath and even cavities if not removed quickly. With Invisible aligners you simply pop them off your teeth and eat all of your favorite foods whenever you want.

For Braces You Cannot See, Choose Invisible Aligners

Wearing metal braces makes adults and teenagers feel self conscious about their smiles and having people look at the braces. Whether you are laughing with friends or just having a conversation many adults and especially teens feel self conscious about their looks. For teenagers this can be a painful time as they go through their trying adolescent years. Today there are Invisible braces to do the job of traditional metal braces but with clear plastic aligners that are almost invisible almost impossible to see. Teenagers and adults can now get the teeth straightening they need and no one will else will see Invisible.orthodontic treatment

Every six to eight weeks you will need to visit your dentist for a new set of aligners that will be fitted to your teeth. With metal braces the visits to the dentist’s office often are uncomfortable and sometimes painful tightening sessions. But with Invisible aligners, they fit easily and are far more comfortable to wear. Your stay at the dentist office will be shorter and the disruption to your day far less than with traditional metal braces.

Teens Invisible Braces

Invisible braces teenagers are wearing not only are straightening their teeth. They no longer have to be concerned about how they look. These affordable, clear plastic aligners are the preferred alternative over traditional metal braces. And parents can benefit as well if they choose the Invisible no-cost replacement option offer to their children in case they lose their aligners.

Interview with Irvine Chief of Police

The ears of the leader must ring with the voices of the people. For over eighteen years, Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran has been closely listening to the wants and needs of his Irvine citizens. As an Irvine resident for over 30 years, Agran helped shape the City of Irvine to become one of the safest, most advanced, multicultural and community oriented cities in the world.

Graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960’s, Agran attributes his interests in politics and public service to the inspiration he received from Kennedy’s presidential campaign and the civil rights and
anti-war movements of the time. While at Berkeley, Agran realized that government, when properly organized, was the instrument for civic improvement.

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Agran moved back to California and eventually to Irvine where he realized the enormous potential of the city. “When I came to Irvine, it became clear to me that I would be able to shape the future, programs and policies of the city,” Agran said. His desire to become more involved in city politics fueled his decision to run for city council in 1978 where he was elected. Agran served for a total of twelve years, six as Mayor, until 1990 when he was defeated.

After an eight year break from city politics, Agran returned with a dream in 1998. Agran did not want an international airport at the El Toro Marine base – his dream was to create a great metropolitan park in the heart of Orange County instead. Campaigning under the notion of a Great Park, Agran gained support from the people of Irvine and was elected to city council. In 2000 he was elected Mayor for four years and was recently reelected as a city councilmember.

“I feel that over the years, I have learned to become a practitioner of politics and public policy in a way that involves as many people as possible,” Agran said. His style of leadership is truly democratic in the sense that Agran’s political power relies heavily on the support and participation given to him by the people. Agran loves to see citizens and community activists get involved. He urges members of the community to participate and to shape the programs and policies that create the vital quality of life and community for the people. “The fact that we can work together to create these programs and policies is something I am very proud of,” Agran said.

Agran also takes pride in the integration of the large number of people with different backgrounds, religions, cultures, ethnicities, and languages that live in the city. In a highly multicultural community like Irvine, Agran and the rest of the city council has done a remarkable job in celebrating rather than masking the differences we have together. Cultural programs such as the Irvine Sister Cities Project and the Global Village Festival work to maintain these differences. No community can be everything to everybody, but the balance of diversity in Irvine is remarkable. “In Irvine, you can essentially experience the whole world without ever actually leaving the city,” Agran said.Agran feels fortunate to have such a critical mass of Persians living in Irvine. In addition to his experiences with Persian food, language and cultural traditions, Agran also understands the drive and democratic values behind those who fled Iran because of the revolution. He notes that the Persians in Irvine tend to be very committed to retaining their identity but are also not afraid of mainstreaming into American life. He links our rapid and successful transition into the American culture to the disproportionate number of educated professionals that exist in our community – the overwhelming amount of doctors, engineers, and lawyers in the Persian community is undeniable. Statistically, as one of the most highly educated immigrant groups in the United States, we are a great asset to have.

“In the Persian community there is a willingness to get involved in civic life,”
said Agran. This is ground breaking because many other cultural communities in Irvine are unable to engage in politics due to issues of language and the lack of democratic participation within their countries and culture before. For Agran, the election of Councilmember Sukhee Kang, the first non-Caucasian candidate, to the Irvine city council was revolutionary. “His election to the city council sends
a powerful signal that we have arrived; and ethnic boundaries have been broken,” Agran said.

The more unified a community becomes the more powerful it will become.
Agran believes highly in the importance of cultural publications, such as OCPC, that speak to a community. Grabbing people’s attention and getting them to read, to think and to learn is essential in establishing a good democratic nation. “Publications that cater to certain communities are a great asset to the community,” said Agran. “I love OCPC Magazine!”

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