Damage Prevention & Safety
Firefighting foam contaminates public water system for about 9,000 in Maine
Firefighting foam used in battling a fatal fire in an apartment building entered the public water system, prompting the water district to order thousands of residents not to drink the water.
Consultants: Design issues, operations lapses led to big Keystone pipeline oil spill
Pipeline design issues, lapses by its operators and problems caused during its construction led to a massive oil spill on the Keystone pipeline system in northeastern Kansas, according to a report for U.S. government regulators.
Authorities assess damage after sidewalk sinkhole on New Mexico bridge; 2 pedestrians rescued
Authorities on Sunday were assessing the damage after a sidewalk sinkhole developed on a New Mexico bridge, resulting in the rescue of two pedestrians. Los Lunas police said the city’s Main Street bridge over the Rio Grande remained closed due to the sinkhole under a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge.
California officials begin construction to restore water infrastructure damaged by fire
(UI) — As a first step in repairing its Peavine Raw Water Pipeline, which was destroyed by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire almost three years ago, the district has hired a contractor to start evaluating, cataloging, and eventually removing problematic trees.
Researchers develop safety monitoring system for construction sites
(UI) — University of Houston computer scientists have developed a new system to keep construction workers safe at job sites. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 4,764 workers died on the job in 2020. Employees in construction and extraction occupations accounted for 20% of those deaths.
Teledyne FLIR debuts new optical gas imaging cameras for leak detection and repair professionals
The G-Series is designed to empower everyday users in the oil and gas and utility industries to spend more time prioritizing leak repairs, and less time documenting them while gaining better insight into the severity of the emission.
Common Ground Alliance: 55% of underground utility damage caused by professional contractors
The most common root cause of these damages was “no notification made to the 811 center,” meaning the damage could have been avoided if excavators contacted 811 to have utility lines marked prior to breaking ground.
Broken water pipe in Jackson, Miss., leaks 5 million gallons per day
(UI) — The leak at the old Colonial Country Club in Jackson, Miss., wasted an estimated 5 million gallons of drinking water daily in a community that had none to spare, forcing citizens to boil their tap water and businesses to close because their faucets were dry.
ULC Technologies launches robotic system for underground utility damage prevention
The semi-autonomous robotic platform utilizes a sensor suite comprised of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic sensors to detect and mark out below ground infrastructure.
Army Corps further delays decision on Great Lakes oil tunnel
The Army Corps' Detroit district office said it revised the schedule after receiving more than 17,000 public comments during an initial “scoping” period. The agency in December ordered Enbridge to redo measurement of wetlands that could be damaged from roads and structures for tunnel construction.
Officials: No sign of contamination in Philadelphia water
Philadelphia water officials say they have seen no sign of contamination following a chemical spill into the Delaware River in a neighboring county upriver and are confident water in the city system will be unaffected at least well into Tuesday afternoon.
First Look: Discover Advanced Mobile Leak Detection detects pipeline gas leak immediately
(UI) — The key to discovering and repairing natural gas leaks before they become catastrophic is more vigilance, and that’s what Heath Consultants is striving to achieve with its new Discover Advanced Mobile Leak Detection (AMLD) system.
EPA to limit toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed the first federal limits on harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water, a long-awaited protection the agency said will save thousands of lives and prevent serious illnesses, including cancer.
Mississippi lawmakers stop effort to take over Jackson water
Mississippi lawmakers are giving up on an effort to create a state-dominated board to oversee the troubled water system in the state’s capital city.
Much of Florida Keys loses water pressure after main break
Much of the Florida Keys lost water pressure after a water main broke, blocking traffic along the main roadway on the chain of islands and forcing businesses to close early. It was the third time a water main broke in the past week in the Florida Keys.
Construction entities call for punishment for pipeline attacks, improved mapping in pipeline safety
(UI) — The Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) and the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) have published a letter urging Congress to take action to address the enduring problem of physical attacks on critical energy infrastructure.
1 person trapped when utility poles topple outside Boston
Seven utility poles along a suburban Boston street toppled into the road on Wednesday morning, trapping one driver, police said. Police received more than two dozen 911 calls when the poles came down along Montvale Avenue in Stoneham just north of Boston at about 9:30 a.m., police said in a statement.
Communities await first US limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose restrictions on harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water after finding they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable. But experts say removing them will cost billions, a burden that will fall hardest on small communities with few resources.
Mayor: Water pressure should return to NJ city after break
Officials say water pressure should gradually return to a small New Jersey city across the Hudson River from Manhattan stricken by a water main break that left most residents with no water service or low water pressure.
Judge sets Aug. 1 as deadline for Flint’s lead pipe project
A judge has ordered Flint, Michigan, to replace any remaining lead or steel water lines by Aug. 1, the latest intervention after a series of missed deadlines. More than 10,000 pipes have been replaced, though at least 1,000 addresses still haven’t been inspected, according to the NRDC.
Common Ground Alliance issues “50 in 5” challenge to cut damages to buried utilities in half by 2028
(UI) – Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the national nonprofit trade association, has issued its “50 in 5” industry challenge to stakeholders with a goal of reducing damages to critical underground utilities by 50% in five years.
McElroy receives 'Sharp' award for commitment to workplace safety
(UI) — McElroy, the world's leading designer and manufacturer of thermoplastic fusion equipment, has been recognized for its commitment to workplace safety and its participation in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
PG&E curtails plan to bury over 3,500 miles of power lines in effort to reduce wildfires
(UI) — In order to reduce the risk of wildfires in the western United States, California-based electric utility and natural gas supplier PG&E Inc. has scaled back its plans to lay over 3,600 miles of power lines underground through 2026. Beginning in June, PG&E will be tried for manslaughter in connection with fire fatalities allegedly resulting from its overhead power lines, which were blamed for the deadliest wildfire in California history in 2018.
Cherne introduces the world’s largest test ball
(UI) — Cherne Industries, part of the Oatey Co. family of companies, has introduced its 72–120-inch Test-Ball Plug, which blocks flow in the biggest pipes in sanitary and storm sewer systems, up to 120 inches.
USIC names Richard Batelaan as new chief operating officer
(UI) — USIC, the leader in underground infrastructure damage prevention, has announced the appointment of Richard Batelaan as chief operating officer. Batelaan will report directly to president and CEO Mike Ryan and will lead the company’s operations, which span 48 states with a field workforce including over 10,000 locate technicians.
Plastics Pipe Institute publishes technical document on HDPE pipe use in seismic sensitive areas
(UI) — The Municipal Advisory Board (MAB) of the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. has published a new technical document that provides data for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water lines in earthquake-sensitive areas, the organization announced on Feb. 9.
EPA launches initiative to accelerate lead pipe replacement in Wisconsin
The new program will provide targeted technical assistance services to help underserved communities in Wisconsin access funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and replace lead pipes that pose risks to the health of children and families.
Flint, Mich., and plaintiffs agree on new date to replace lead water lines
(UI) — After again missing the court-approved date for the replacement of lead water lines last autumn, the city of Flint, Michigan, and a group of plaintiffs who sued the city agreed to set a new timetable.
Hitachi parts warehouse damaged by tornado, 100 employees evacuated
(UI) — A world-class, 336,017-square-foot parts distribution center operated by Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas Inc. was severely damaged on Jan. 12 when a tornado swept through Jackson, Georgia, the company announced on Jan. 25.
Georgia plant spills 100 million gallons of partly treated water
A wastewater plant in middle Georgia’s largest city spilled partially treated water into the Ocmulgee River after a series of equipment failures in December. WMAZ-TV reports that the Macon Water Authority’s treatment plant released more than 100 million gallons (378 million liters) of partially treated water into the river.
- Recycled water pipeline completed in Encinitas, Calif.
- Broken water pipe in Jackson, Miss., leaks 5 million gallons per day
- Texas water infrastructure failing under growing population
- Ice pigging offers low-risk, high-performance option for water system cleaning
- 60-Year wait ends as Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project begins construction