Benefits of Water Filtration Systems

In a filtration process, solid particles in a liquid are removed using a filter medium that retains the solid particles while allowing the fluid to pass through. Several technologies can be deployed depending on your particular water needs, such as reverse osmosis water filter systems or deionized water, among others. Reverse osmosis systems leverage air pressure to force the liquid through a semi-permeable filter or membrane. It removes unwanted particles like contaminants.

Also known as demineralized water (DI water), deionized water is water whose mineral ions are removed. This includes cations (positively charged ions) from iron, copper, sodium, calcium, and anions (negatively charged ions) such as bromide and chloride. Most water impurities are dissolved salts, and the deionization process produces high-quality pure water levels similar to distilled water. However, the process doesn’t cause scale buildup and is quick.

Over time, even harmless minerals in the water can build up and damage your plumbing system. The components of your plumbing system, such as faucets, laundry washers, dishwashers, showers, toilets, cisterns, and water disposal, can be affected by contaminated or hard water. Your plumbing system can last longer when filtered water flows through your pipes. Calcium and lime buildup can cause lots of pipe damage and clogged drains. It also reduces the costs that might accrue from appliance and plumbing repairs.

If, for example, you inspect the bottom of your tea kettle, you might notice chalky, white deposits on the appliance’s bottom. Known as limescale, that is a buildup of minerals from minerals and lime in your tap water. In addition, limescale often makes the taste of your water unpleasant. Also, water with a high concentration of minerals diminishes soap’s effectiveness because the water hardens.

It’s not just the plumbing system that can be affected. Individuals prone to skin irritations and conditions such as psoriasis or eczema can also suffer from chemical exposure to substances like chlorine. Also, filtered water is much easier on your stomach’s natural chemical balance than tap water, which can help reduce the risk of acid reflux and ulcers. Besides, even if nobody in your household suffers from these conditions, nothing compares to the feeling of pure, soft clean water when enjoying a tub or taking a shower.

Compared to filtration, bottling water is very wasteful and costly. The plastic for all the bottles must be created, which requires expensive equipment and long chemical manufacturing processes. In addition, the plastic used in bottled water is not biodegradable and poses a big threat to the environment.

Most water bottles end up in landfills, which take many years to break down. Also, many plastic water bottles often contain chemicals that can seep into the bottled water and introduce more potential contaminants. A filtration system gives you clean, better-tasting water and helps conserve the environment.

Finally, a water filter installation is not complicated, and your local plumbing company can help with the process. Also, water professionals can help you choose the most suitable filtration system depending on your needs and budget.

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Trends in Strategic Planning

 

The shutdowns and lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted business strategies and activities. Those disruptions have shaped project management trends as organizations scrambled to adapt to a changing business environment and embrace new ways of planning and management.

Strategic planning involves designing specific business strategies and implementing them. It also entails evaluating the outcomes of a company's strategic plan on overall long-term business goals, mission, or vision. If organizations are to be profitable and survive in today's cutthroat business environment, which is also increasingly complex and dynamic, they must keep tabs on trends in strategic planning.

For example, enterprises must proactively prepare and respond to future disruptions and change. To thrive in a disruptive future, organizations must continuously scan and promptly respond to business environment disruptions that might threaten or impact their place in the market space. Organizations that successfully leverage new tools and innovative strategies to reinvent work, protect their market share, and retain customers and employees.

The Great Resignation, remote and hybrid work models, inflation, supply chain issues, and many other factors today profoundly impact business decisions about tomorrow. Now more than ever, it is important to include market trends, customer insights, and best practices relevant to a company's focus area to make it future-proof. With demands for accountability on the part of businesses, opinion metrics and customer and employee feedback must be part of strategic planning.

Also, consumers increasingly expect organizations and brands to place values before profitability, transparency, fair trade, sustainability, diversity, inclusion, or another cause. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) must be integral to any strategic planning if companies are to attract and retain top talent and build an ethical, trusted brand. In the future, a successful strategy must take a broad stakeholder approach that covers customers, employees, partners, and communities interests and concerns.

Today, organizations need to include emotional intelligence in their strategic planning. Although analytical and organizational skills have always been critical for project managers, the current situation also demands they possess emotional intelligence. For example, in its Future of Jobs report, the World Economic Forum has repeatedly shown that employers seek candidates with emotional intelligence.

In addition, the growth of remote and hybrid work models has increased the demand to empathize and connect. In particular, project managers and business leaders need to understand people well if projects are to succeed in a fast-changing digital environment.

Technology is playing a bigger role in planning and operations. For instance, as more businesses transition to cloud technology, the days of manual processes and legacy systems are rapidly fading. In the future, organizations must allocate more strategic planning time to collaborate with information technology (IT) professionals as technology upgrades take root across departments.

Also, as more and more enterprises turn to software solutions to reduce costs and boost productivity, creating an integrated technology ecosystem within organizations will be paramount. In turn, the role of IT teams will become strategically critical, and they must be involved in all strategic planning exercises.

Finally, social responsibility is no longer a buzzword but a critical priority in strategic planning as movements for climate and social justice gains more urgency and global prominence. New technologies, including social media, will see pressure from citizens and lawmakers to prove that their business models promote social good.

Preventing Animal Encounters during Camping Trips

Camping is a great way to return to nature. However, it could put you in danger with certain animals. While some animals, like squirrels and raccoons, can be fun to watch, others, like bears and mountain lions, can become dangerous if you don’t take precautions beforehand. Camping has some risks, so taking the necessary precautions before going out on your trip is important.

Before going in-depth about what tips to follow to prevent an accident with any animal, it must be noted that in most hiking and camping areas, there will be signs put up to warn campers of specific animals. Some signs may also contain specific advice for particular animals.

First, you need to be aware of bears. Bears are the most well-known animal-related danger associated with camping. Bear encounters are fairly common, especially in rural areas such as national forests and parks. While they can be dangerous, bears are also quite predictable. If you know what to expect of bears and how to behave around them, you’ll greatly reduce your risk of an encounter. Your best option is to bring food inside a bear-resistant canister. Also, ensure to keep your campsite clean, as bears are attracted to odors. If you don’t want to bring a canister, you can also hang your food in a tree using a rope, but make sure the branch is high enough that a bear can’t climb up. Bring some bear spray if you’re camping in bear country.

While bears are common in the lower 48 states, mountain lions are found in the West. About 30,000 mountain lions live in the US (including the black panther species). Despite their name, mountain lions can be found in any habitat, although they prefer wooded areas. They are nocturnal and very secretive, so people rarely see them. To avoid a mountain lion encounter, ensure you do not hike alone and also try to make noise while in the woods. You can also reduce your risk by not wearing or bringing fragrant or brightly colored clothing. Like bears, you’ll want to bring food inside a canister and clean your campsite.

Camping in areas with lots of trees and foliage brings you closer to snakes. While rattlesnakes are more commonly sighted during desert camping, you can also find other snakes at high elevations. You can reduce the risk of snake encounters by wearing proper footwear when walking through brushy areas. If you encounter a snake, do not try to kill it. Instead, move away from the snake slowly and carefully. If there’s one thing to remember about snakes, they’re less likely to bite when there’s movement nearby.

Finally, try to be careful with your cooking. Avoid cooking more than you or your family can eat at a sitting, as animals may pick up the scent of leftover food. Avoid cooking food that will give off a strong scent, such as fish. You can cook frozen or pre-packaged food since they can be made quickly. Also, use oil so less food will get stuck in your pots or pans. Don’t forget to clean every utensil and cooking area after cooking.

Being close to nature is one of the best parts of camping. However, it’s important not to let your guard down when outside. In addition to the protective measures mentioned, you can also bring a walking stick as a way to protect yourself.

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