Sewer
EPA chief vows aggressive action on sewage crisis along U.S.-Mexico border
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has vowed to intensify the agency’s response to the ongoing sewage contamination stemming from the Tijuana River Valley.
ASCE gives U.S. infrastructure best grade yet—stormwater, wastewater and energy still near failing
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave U.S. infrastructure its highest grade since 1998, but critical systems like stormwater, wastewater, and energy remain near failing, according to the 2025 Report Card.
Supreme Court backs San Francisco in Clean Water Act case, limits EPA authority on sewage discharge
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in favor of San Francisco on March 4, 2025, ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot hold the city accountable for water quality conditions it cannot control.
NEDC sues Cannon Beach, Ore., as aging sewer system presents public health risks
The Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC) has filed a federal Clean Water Act (CWA) lawsuit against the City of Cannon Beach, Oregon, in an effort to protect local residents and visitors from dangerously high levels of bacteria in local creeks and beaches.
Fairfield, Conn., to begin $31 million East Trunk sewer line replacement in May
A long-planned replacement of the East Trunk sewer line is set to begin in May 2025, with construction expected to last about 18 months. The project will replace aging sewer infrastructure to improve wastewater system reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and prevent future disruptions.
48-inch sewer line project begins in Visalia, Calif.
Sewer construction along Shirk Avenue in northwest Visalia is set to begin on March 17 after a weather-related delay. Crews will work through March 21, installing a 400-foot, 48-inch mainline sanitary sewer pipe to expand capacity and support future growth.
Folly Beach, S.C., to vote on $7.4 million stormwater infrastructure project
According to WCSC News, the city of Folly Beach, South Carolina, is considering upgrading a nearly 80-year-old portion of its stormwater infrastructure. City Council will meet soon to vote on whether to award $7.4 million to a construction company for the proposed improvements.
Waynesburg, Pa., sewer funding won’t be affected by federal cuts, project manager says
According to Herald-Standard, funding for sewer rehabilitation projects in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania won’t be affected by potential federal cuts. Project manager Robert Dengler told the Waynesburg Borough Council that two of the three grants have been secured, and he expects a third grant to be finalized this fall.
Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
Sewer system inspections and maintenance are underway in Shrewsbury as part of the town’s effort to reduce groundwater infiltration and improve wastewater infrastructure.
$9 million sewer repair project underway in New Roads, La.
According to WRBZ News, the city of New Roads, Louisiana, is commencing work on a long-overdue sewer repair project. New Roads Public Works Director Cletus Langlois told WRBZ that 13 out of 16 sewer lift stations are in failure, and the city’s sewer systems have fallen into neglect without the proper maintenance being done.
$10 million water main overhaul underway in Washington County, Penn.
Pennsylvania American Water has begun a $10 million project to replace 4.8 miles of aging water mains in Washington and Allegheny counties. The upgrades aim to improve service reliability, reduce disruptions, and enhance water flow for firefighting.
DC Water granted approval for construction of Piney Branch Tunnel Project
DC Water’s Piney Branch Tunnel Project is moving ahead with construction, the next phase of the Authority’s Clean Rivers initiative. The 4.2-million-gallon underground storage facility will capture stormwater and untreated sewage during heavy rains, holding it until the overflow can be released back into the system during low flow periods and treated at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Pennsylvania American Water begins $2 million, 3,200-foot sewer upgrade in Scranton, Dunmore
Pennsylvania American Water has started a $2 million sewer line upgrade in Scranton and Dunmore, replacing more than 3,200 feet of sewer pipe. The project began last month and aims to improve the local wastewater collection system.
Austin Water repairs wastewater main after 115,000-gallon overflow
On March 4, Austin Water crews responded to a broken 16-inch wastewater main behind 5806 Cyrilla Drive in Austin, Texas, leading to a sanitary sewer overflow of approximately 115,000 gallons.
RWRA seeks approval for $18.4 million sewer project in Owensboro, Ky.
According to Messenger-Inquirer, the Regional Water Resource Agency is asking city and county officials to approve a loan to replace a major sewer line in downtown Owensboro, Kentucky. The project would replace the city's current force main with a larger pipe to prevent overflow.
Wastewater pipeline project to begin construction in Auburn, Calif.
According to YubaNet, work is set to begin next week on the North Auburn Wastewater Pipeline Project. The project is Phase I of the larger-scale Highway 49 wastewater capacity improvement project, which includes installation of a new wastewater pipeline (force main). Completion is expected later this year.
Fort Worth begins two-year water, sewer main replacement downtown
Construction is underway in downtown Fort Worth to replace aging water and sewer mains, aiming to improve service reliability. Work began on March 3 and is expected to take two years, with a seven-week pause during the 2026 World Cup.
Omak, Wash., secures funding to upgrade water, sewer infrastructure linked to bridge replacement
As Washington state prepares to replace a key bridge in Omak, the city must address a related infrastructure challenge: relocating or upgrading a water main attached to the aging structure. The Washington State Public Works Board has awarded Omak $210,000 in pre-construction funding to support the effort.
Alaska’s infrastructure grade rises to ‘C’, but water and energy still lag
The ASCE has released its 2025 Report Card for Alaska’s Infrastructure, raising the state’s overall grade to a ‘C’—an improvement from the ‘C-’ it received in 2021. However, key sectors like drinking water, wastewater, and energy continue to struggle, receiving some of the lowest grades.
PURIS acquires Creekside, expanding trenchless pipeline services
PURIS has completed its acquisition of Creekside. Creekside, through its Insight Pipe and IPC Services brands, specializes in trenchless pipeline rehabilitation services for wastewater and stormwater sewer applications through the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.
New Jersey American Water invests $520 million in 2024 infrastructure upgrades
New Jersey American Water invested more than $520 million in water and wastewater system upgrades across its service areas in 2024, the company announced on Feb. 20.
Scores of animals using Florida city’s sewer system, researchers find
A team of University of Florida researchers in Gainesville, Fla. recently discovered an “abundance of animals” using the city’s sewer system. The research team set up 39 cameras in 33 different stormwater sewers in Gainesville in order to record wildlife activity in the underground tunnel system over a period of 60 days.
Texas infrastructure stuck at ‘C’ as energy, water systems struggle
The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has given the state’s infrastructure a cumulative grade of ‘C’ in its 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card—unchanged from 2021.
Sewer upgrade to begin under Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores, Mich.
The project will involve the installation of a new sewer line beneath Jefferson Avenue, aiming to reduce sewer discharges into Lake St. Clair.
Tech Tips: Effective in-house root control for sewer systems
Roots infiltrating sewer systems are a major concern for many municipalities, leading to blockages, overflows, and potential EPA fines. Traditional root-cutting methods, such as spinner nozzles for light to medium roots and root saws for heavier growth, can cause pipeline deterioration over time.
Tyler, Texas, City Council approves $28 million sewer upgrade
The Tyler City Council has approved a $28.2 million contract with Belt Construction of Texas, LLC, to improve sewer line capacity in the downtown area.
Lynchburg, Va., expanding sewer access, upgrading waterlines in Richland Hills and College Hill
Construction is underway on two major utility projects in Lynchburg: the Richland Hills Sewer Extension Project and the Sixth & Madison Utility Improvements Project in College Hill. The upgrades aim to improve water service, sewer access, and stormwater management for residents.
Vortex launches water division to tackle aging infrastructure
Vortex Companies has launched Vortex Water, a new division focused on water infrastructure rehabilitation. The move expands the company's trenchless solutions beyond sewer and industrial systems to address aging water pipelines with advanced materials, liners, and trenchless technologies.
Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
According to Mirror Indy, Citizens Energy Group’s DigIndy tunnel system has entered its final construction phases, and residents of Indianapolis should be prepared for a few road closures this month as construction continues.
Minn. utility, excavation company acquired by Bituminous, expanding underground reach
According to Southwest News Media, G.F. Jedlicki, an underground utility and excavation company based in Chanhassen, Minn., has been acquired by Bituminous Roadways, a local asphalt company.
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Kinder Morgan moves forward with $1.7 billion natural gas pipeline project in Katy, Texas
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project