Sewer
$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.
Nev. community approves $16 million contract for sewer extension project
According to The Record-Courier, Pine View Estates in Carson Valley, Nevada, has approved a $15.99 million bid from contractor Aspen Developers to extend sewer to the community. The homeowners’ association board met at the end of January to make a final decision on awarding the bid.
Lexington, Ky., begins 8,000-foot sewer line project along New Circle Road
Construction is set to begin the week of Feb. 10 on an 8,000-foot sanitary sewer project along Lexington’s New Circle Road corridor. The nearly two-year project will replace aging sewer infrastructure that is more than 55 years old.
Water, sewer rates to increase in Republic, Mo. to cover infrastructure upgrades
According to KY3 News, water and sewer rates are expected to increase for Republic, Mo., residents. The water rate increases will benefit the city’s water infrastructure, while the sewer rate increases will help pay off part of the $50 million state loan used for upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
Colorado Springs begins $11 million storm drainage project in Park Vista South
Construction is underway on storm drainage improvements in the Park Vista South neighborhood of Colorado Springs, a project aimed at addressing flooding and public safety concerns along the Templeton Gap Floodway.
Portland, Ore., achieves one year without sewage overflow into local river
According to OPB News, Portland, Ore., celebrated a notable achievement this week when it reached one full year with no sewage overflows into the Willamette River. In 2011, the city completed a $1.4 billion, two-decade sewer overhaul project, which has significantly reduced the number of overflow incidents.
$9 million in sanitary sewer projects to kick off in Canton, Ohio this year
According to The Canton Repository, the city of Canton, Ohio has plans in motion to commence more than $9 million worth of sanitary sewer construction and repair projects in 2025. The announcement follows an administrative order from the U.S. EPA.
Editor’s Log: The burning bus of blame
In this month’s Editor’s Log, Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter delves into the challenges facing America’s underground infrastructure, from aging sewer and water systems to mismanagement and political inaction. As cities grapple with critical upgrades, the fallout from neglect—such as water crises and fire disasters—continues to mount.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funds $26 million sewer project in Lee County, Va.
Virginia's Lee County will receive $26.25 million in federal funding to upgrade its wastewater infrastructure, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced.
Hawaii American Water contains 370,000-gallon wastewater overflow
The overflows, caused by extreme precipitation, led to the discharge of approximately 370,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into Kuapa Pond and a nearby tributary.
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- OSHA fines Calif. company for violations that led to fatal trench collapse
- Greenpeace must pay $667 million to Energy Transfer over pipeline protests, jury finds
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
- NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
- Maryland lawmakers push to curb BGE pipeline spending, citing safety and cost concerns
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints