Telecommunications
Utility Eyes Burning Thinning Debris to Protect Water Supply
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona water and power utility is conducting an experiment to add forest-thinning debris to coal burned by an electricity-generating plant. It aims to make thinning more economical to help avoid devastating wildfires producing runoff that would contaminate reservoirs. A tes..
Brooklyn-to-Staten Island Drinking Water Tunnel is Activated
NEW YORK (AP) — A $250 million drinking water tunnel from Brooklyn to Staten Island that had been delayed by Superstorm Sandy has been activated. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Saturday that the tunnel is a critical backup that can deliver up to 150 million gallons of safe drinking water per day t..
Agency to Help Oklahoma Cities Map Water Infrastructure Digitally
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Bert Curtis said the city of Davis‘ water infrastructure is mapped in his head, after working in the public utilities department for more than three decades. Now that map is on the web, and the division director’s employees can find water meters and fire hydrants using an iPad. ..
Water Research Foundation Releases Results from Ongoing Study on Direct Potable Reuse
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has released interim results from the project “Blending Requirements for Water from Direct Potable Reuse Treatment Facilities.” The objective of this project is to provide guidance for the appropriate use of blending as part of a direct potable reuse (DPR) project..
New Chief Technology Officer Joins the Water Council
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and The Water Council have named Dr. David Garman as the new Chief Technology Officer for The Water Council. Dr. Garman will specifically lead The Water Council’s new initiative called the ICE (Innovation Commercialization Exchange) Institute while continu..
Promising Earthquake Resistant Steel Pipe For Water, Oil, Gas
Devastation caused by major earthquakes is well-known – dramatic video clips vividly document the destruction of collapsed buildings, caved-in highways, fallen bridges and debris scattered across the landscape. However, not all damage is visible. Violent shifts underground can rupture water, sewer..
Hydromax USA and Detection Services Propose Exclusive Licensing Agreement
Hydromax USA announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Detection Services, Australia, to enter into an exclusive licensing agreement to deliver pipeline inspection services to the water and sewer sectors in the United States, Canada and other selected markets. Under the proposed ag..
North America and Europe Expected to Account for over 90 Percent of Investment in Water Management Solutions Through 2025
A recent report from Navigant Research examines the landscape for water management technologies and services in intelligent buildings, including global market forecasts for revenue, through 2025. Investment in water management delivers economic and sustainability benefits, but the pace and scale of..
Electro Scan Announces Integration With Innovyze® InfoMaster for Sewer
Electro Scan Inc. has completed data integration between its flagship sewer condition assessment solution and the Innovyze® InfoMaster for Sewer product. Electro Scan’s breakthrough technology evaluates 360-degrees of a pipe wall to accurately locate and measure defects in gallons per minute (GPM) ..
UCTA Gulf Coast Debuts “Innovative Technology Transfer”
As a change-up to its usual lunch-and-speaker format, the Underground Technology Association (UCTA) Gulf Coast chapter hosted an Innovative Technology Transfer event on Aug. 3. Eleven vendors exhibited and presented the latest construction, restoration and rehabilitation products and services. Disp..
Life Cycle Cost Assessment Tool Developed For Utility Decision Makers
University of Michigan researchers have developed a life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) tool for use by utility decision makers to evaluate both economic and environmental impacts on water pipelines throughout their service lives. The tool allows for different pipe sizes, flows and locations, providin..
Xylem's UV Disinfection Technology Approved in California
Xylem’s Wedeco LBX 850e and LBX 1500e ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems have received acceptance from the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water*. These closed-vessel UV systems are now validated and approved for unrestricted reuse applications to meet the st..
WaterTAP Announces Better Best Practices Initiative
The Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP) has launched its Better Best Practices Initiative. Better Best Practices is a series of collaborative projects that seek to continuously improve water management and leadership in Ontario by addressing challenges that can represent barriers to th..
p-CAT Quickly Tests Thousands Of Feet Of Pipe To Identify Hot Spots
Hydromax USA and Detection Services have come together to deliver p-CAT, a low-cost, non-invasive, non-destructive, reliable and safe solution for pipe condition assessment, while the system is in operation. Often described as a pipe screening tool, p-CAT can quickly test thousands of feet of pipe ..
New Water Research Foundation Reports Showcase Utility Innovations in Water Conservation and Energy Recovery
The Water Research Foundation (WRF), a leading sponsor of research supporting the water community, has published two projects on innovative methods to pursue water conservation and energy recovery. The water conservation technology project (#4227) explored the use of “smart” irrigation controllers t..
Melfred Borzall adds new transmitter housing for mini drill rigs
New to Borzall’s housing line-up is a 2.5″ diameter housing that is compatible with Borzall’s new line of 3.5″ blades, as well as small OEM blades. Made for mini drills with up to 10,000 lb. thrust, this housing is smaller, shorter, and lighter to make those service bores quick and easy. Manufactur..
DCA/AGA Workshop Dives Into New Issues, Workforce Development
The Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) and American Gas Association (AGA) recently held the Third Annual DCA/AGA workshop in Chicago. The workshop has grown in interest, attendance and in the range of issues addressed by a host of panels and speakers. These sessions discussed ways to improve..
Mitsubishi Electric and Sembcorp Industries to Testbed Ozone Backwashing Energy-Saving Membrane Bioreactor
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will collaborate with Sembcorp Industries Ltd in late-stage testing of its Ozone Backwashing Energy-Saving Membrane Bioreactor (Eco-MBR), a new technology for low-energy wastewater treatment and water recycling. According to Mitsubishi Electric, initial tests have sh..
PG&E Tests Safety Drones For Infrastructure Inspections
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced its current testing of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, to enhance the safety and reliability of its electric and gas services. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized PG&E’s use of drones to assist with electric and gas infra..
Interceptor Condition Assessment Program Spurs Environmental, Economic Benefits
The Fort Worth (Texas) Water Department earned a 2016 Texas Environmental Excellence Award – the highest environmental honor in the state – in the category of Innovative Operations/Management for its Interceptor Condition Assessment Program (ICAP), This new technology allows for more effective inspe..
American Water Receives 22 National Awards for Excellence in Water Quality
American Water Works Company, Inc. has been awarded 22 Partnership for Safe Water awards. The awards, which recognize water treatment facilities that have achieved higher than required water quality standards, will be presented during the 2016 American Water Works Association Annual Conference in Ch..
EIV Capital and Partners Commit $100 Million to H2O Midstream
H2O Midstream, LLC has secured an initial funding commitment of $100 million, with investments from EIV Capital and co-investments from several of EIV’s institutional partners, as the company pursues oil and gas opportunities related to water infrastructure throughout North America. “We see a treme..
Case Releases Preventative Maintenance Tool Systemgard Fluid Analysis Kit
Case Construction Equipment has released the 4-in-1 Systemgard Fluid Analysis Kit – a preventative maintenance tool providing a picture of fluid and internal system conditions without the need for users to dissemble the machine. The kit monitors system cleanliness and filtration efficiency, which a..
MyMaintenance Joins Growing List of John Deere Mobile Applications for Construction Professionals
The new John Deere MyMaintenance mobile application takes preventative maintenance and repairs to the next level for construction maintenance managers. The app enables users to view and document maintenance intervals by calendar date or by machine engine hours right on the jobsite or in the workshop..
McElroy, Innovator Of Pipe Fusion Equipment, Announces Launch Of Website Redesign
McElroy, a manufacturer and innovator of pipe fusion equipment, announces the launch of its newly redesigned website – mcelroy.com. The new fusion website boasts an inviting, informative and mobile-friendly interface with an easy-to-use design, while providing even more machine and fused piping sys..
New Heath ODORATOR 2 Records Odor Levels In Utility Gas Stream
The Heath ODORATOR 2 offers the latest state of-the-art technology in a handheld, portable, electronic, GNSS based audit system. This instrument is used to evaluate and record the odor levels within a utility’s gas stream with respect to actual test locations. Natural gas (methane) and propane are t..
Google Fiber Lights Up Music City
Nashville officially joined four other metropolitan areas as a fiber city when Google Fiber went live, April 27. As planned, Google Fiber was installed only in apartment and condominium buildings. Residents of these communities were able to pick up a self-installation kit at the Fiber Space, a store..
BJM Pumps Newest Submersible Pumps Designed for Superior Solids Handling
BJM Pumps newest submersible pumps – the XP-SKX Series – designed and engineered for superior corrosion resistance, solids handling and reliability. The series is FM approved in the U.S. and Canada, and the lineup is now offered with an explosion-proof monitor for installation in Class I, Division 1..
Fluor Foundation Grants $1 Million To University of Houston College of Technology
Fluor Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Fluor Corporation, presented $1 million to the University of Houston (UH) College of Technology for the establishment of the Fluor-UH Industrial Construction Management Education Partnership, focusing on research and professional development. An..
Google Fiber Plans Expansion In Several Cities With Pending Deals In Many More
by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief Google Fiber is a remarkable story and the tale keeps growing. At the recent Power & Communication Contractors Association annual convention, one of the speakers included a senior representative in charge of the Southeast U.S. construction. When I asked what the..
- Texas A&M weighs underground transit plan with Elon Musk's Boring Co. to reduce campus traffic
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Wyo-Ben’s Max Gel, Max Bore HDD system boost drilling efficiency, performance
- Federal court halts permits for 32-mile Tennessee gas pipeline project
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- 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
- Leaking wastewater systems named top source of San Diego River contamination, study finds
- New Portable Welding System From Miller
- Excavator Causes Puerto Rico Power Outage