Newsline
Columbia Gas Parent Settles Massachusetts Gas Explosion Lawsuits for $143 Million
Utility operator NiSource Inc. said it agreed pay $143 million to resolve class action lawsuits brought by residents and businesses that suffered losses caused by a series of gas explosions in three Massachusetts communities last year.
U.S. Water, Wastewater Costs on Rise
U.S. municipal water and wastewater utility bills grew at an inflation-adjusted 3.6% during the past year to an household average $104 per month, according to a new index that has raised concerns about both affordability and regional volatility.
TC Energy Funding ‘Pipeline Academy’ at Louisiana Technical College
A Louisiana technical college has received a $1 million donation from TC Energy to enable students to gain hands-on pipeline experience at its new “pipeline academy.”
The Toro Company to Reorganize Underground Construction Business
The Toro Company announced it is realigning the organizational structure for its underground construction businesses after the recent acquisition of Charles Machine Works.
Michigan Offers Grants for Rural Industry, Infrastructure
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants supporting land-based industries and infrastructure that benefit rural communities.
Gas Explosion Hits Office, Shopping Complex
A powerful natural gas explosion badly damaged a Maryland office complex and shopping center Sunday morning, ripping away part of the facade and exposing twisted metal, authorities said.
Saudi Arabia Spending Nearly $830 Million in Water Upgrades Ahead of Heavy Tourist Season
In anticipation of a large tourist season this year, Saudi Arabia is spending $825 million to upgrade its water infrastructure in the city of Mecca along with other holy sites.
CUIRE Laboratory Receives a 330-kip Actuator
In February, CUIRE purchased a 330-kip actuator from MTS Company for its soil box testing of underground pipes. This actuator will be used for the NCHRP SAPL Project to develop structural design methodology for Spray Applied Pipe Liners (SAPLs) in gravity stormwater conveyance conduits through actual size soil box testing.
Vermeer Commemorates Year-One Tornado Recovery Efforts, Growth Plans
On July 16, Vermeer Corporation held groundbreaking for a monument commemorating the buildings destroyed by a tornado last July, while celebrating the strength of the Vermeer team, along with the growth and progress currently underway on the company’s expansive campus, commonly called the Vermeer Mile.
New Publication Promotes SUE Understanding, Up-to-Date Practices
Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is ideally knowing as much as possible about a subsurface project prior to starting the design process. SUE incorporates existing and emerging technology to identify, characterize, and map underground utility facilities.
EPA Finalizes Affordable Clean Energy Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, replacing the prior administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) with a new rule that empowers states to reduce emissions, while providing affordable and reliable energy for all Americans.
Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations in Downtown Kalamazoo
Authorities evacuated buildings along a two-block stretch of downtown Kalamazoo after construction workers damaged a natural gas line.
The Toro Company to Reorganize Underground Construction Business
The Toro Company announced it is realigning the organizational structure for its underground construction businesses after its recent acquisition of Charles Machine Works.
Mississippi River Flooding Could Cost Over $2 Billion
Repairs and cleanup following the prolonged flooding along the Mississippi River will cost more than $2 billion, an advocacy group for river communities said Tuesday.
Brandt Named Exclusive American Augers Dealer for Canada.
American Augers has announced that it has named the Brandt Group of Companies the exclusive dealer for American Augers and Trencor products across Canada.
ClockSpring|NRI Adds Milliken Infrastructure Solutions to its Portfolio
ClockSpring|NRI has acquired Milliken Infrastructure Solutions, LLC, previously a subsidiary of Milliken & Company.
Louisville, KY Set to Build $200 Million Sewer Tunnel
In order to protect itself from waterway overflow, the City of Louisville is preparing to build a 20-foot wide underground sewer tunnel, to the tune of $200 million.
Arkansas Suggests Answers for Bethel Heights Wastewater Woes
Arkansas regulators have suggested two possible solutions to the wastewater woes Bethel Heights has struggled since 2007 to resolve: connect to another wastewater treatment system, or build a new facility.
Body Found in Water Treatment Plant
It was a grisly start to the week for workers at a water treatment plant in Muncie, Indiana as a body was found inside the facility on Monday.
John Deere
John Deere is rolling out its new construction simulators. The modular update outfits the new John Deere simulators to one of six machine types: backhoe, crawler dozer, excavator, wheel loader, joystick-controlled motor grader and fingertip-control motor grader.
Vacall
Gradall Industries Inc. released a new video providing an in-depth look at its Vacall family of products. The 12-minute video features an up-close tour of Gradall’s New Philadelphia, Ohio, manufacturing facilities and the state-of-the-art manufacturing processes that produce Vacall sewer cleaning, hydro excavation, industrial vacuum and sweeper models.
Berntsen International
Berntsen International Inc. received a U.S. patent for its Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID technology, the centerpiece of the company’s connected infrastructure locating and asset management solutions.
Avanti International Celebrates 40-Year Anniversary
Avanti International reached a milestone, celebrating 40 years as an industry leader.
Hoffman Southwest Acquires Tri-State Utilities
Hoffman Southwest (HSW), a portfolio company of ORIX Capital Partners, acquired Chesapeake, VA-based Tri-State Utilities Company.
Perma-Liner Celebrates Opening of 5th Distribution Warehouse
Perma-Liner Industries LLC, a leading manufacturer and supplier of trenchless pipeline rehabilitation equipment and materials in North America, opened its newest distribution warehouse. The Bow, N.H., facility offers full stocking of cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) materials and equipment, and direct 24-hour assistance for all certified Perma-Liner installers.
Waterline Renewal Technologies Acquired by Private Equity Firm
Waterline Renewal Technologies Inc. (WRT), a leading, Rosemont, Ill., provider of engineered products used in the trenchless rehabilitation of wastewater infrastructure for municipal, commercial, industrial and residential applications, was acquired by private equity investment firm Behrman Capital.
Customer Satisfaction Declines Across Energy Utilities Sector
Following a slight bump in 2018, residential customer satisfaction in the energy utilities sector has taken an about-face one year later.
PPI Offers Free Course on Selecting, Specifying HDPE for Power, Communications
The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) launched a new Continuing Education Unit (CEU)-style course about design, installation and specification of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit and duct. Selecting & Specifying HDPE Conduit for Power and Communications Applications can be downloaded free from the PPI website.
EPA Announces New WIFIA Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making funding available to provide an estimated $6 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans in 2019. “Through WIFIA, we are addressing several of President Trump’s top priorities, simultaneously: modernizing our nati..
EPA Announces $2.6 Billion in Availability for Water Improvement Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of $2.6 billion in new funds to assist states, tribes and territories with improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across the country.
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Federal court halts permits for 32-mile Tennessee gas pipeline project
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- CGA’s 2023 DIRT report shows fewer utility damages, urges action on locating delays
- New York secures $665 million for water infrastructure improvements
- New Portable Welding System From Miller
- Excavator Causes Puerto Rico Power Outage
- Hope Gas expands West Virginia reach with Consumers Gas Utility purchase
- Wisconsin proposes new PFAS drinking water standards to align with federal rules
- Dog River pipeline replacement in Oregon improves water supply with new HDPE pipe