Utility Infrastructure
Primoris Services to Acquire Willbros Group
prim.com; willbros.com Primoris Services Corporation, one of the largest publicly traded specialty construction and infrastructure companies in the US., has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Willbros Group Inc. In an all-cash transaction, Primoris will pay $0.60 per share for t..
East Chicago Lead Water Line Project Lacks Participation
EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) — A utilities director in northwest Indiana says lagging participation in a lead water service line replacement project could affect the area’s ability to justify future projects. The East Chicago Water Board approved a $3.1 million plan last year to replace lead and galvani..
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania to Begin Pipeline Upgrade Project
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania will commence work this month on a gas pipeline replacement project in Fayette County that will ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, and efficient natural gas to residents of the borough of Brownsville. The project, which includes replacing more than 1,600 feet of und..
Washington Water Service’s Schlender Receives Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence Award
Washington Water Service’s (Washington Water) Water Quality Manager Carol Schlender has received the Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence award from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). The Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence award is given to an individual water system..
Del Puerto Water District Wins ACWA's 2018 Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has awarded the 2018 Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence to the Del Puerto Water District for its North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program. The program is an innovative solution to water supply and reliability issues in the San Joa..
Carmichael Water District General Manager Receives ACWA Leadership Award
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has recognized Carmichael Water District General Manager Steve Nugent with its 2018 Excellence in Water Leadership Award – Building a World of Difference for his leadership and commitment to collaborative regional integrated water management throug..
California Water District Approves up To $650M for Tunnels
(AP) — A Northern California water agency voted Tuesday to support Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to build two massive tunnels to remake the state’s water system. The Santa Clara Valley Water District board voted 4-3 Tuesday to support the $17 billion project and to commit up to $650 million to help pay f..
West Virginia City OK's Higher Sewer Rates
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An increase in sewer rates has been approved by a West Virginia city council. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports sewer rates are expected to rise 16 percent in Dunbar after the City Council approved raising them during a meeting Monday. Mayor Bill Cunningham say..
NRTC Names Bartolomei President, Utility Solutions
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) has named Greg Bartolomei President, Utility Solutions, effective May 14. Bartolomei will lead NRTC’s portfolio of smart grid solutions, which includes metering and metering networks, analytics, demand management, smart energy (including sola..
Juneau Utility Officials Recommend Sewer, Water Rate Increases
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Juneau utility officials are recommending additional water and sewer rate increases as the next incremental rate rise takes effect this summer. KTOO Public Media reports Juneau’s Utility Advisory Board recommended raising sewer rates by an additional 2.5 percent annually for t..
Pennsylvania American Water to Acquire Sadsbury Township’s Wastewater System
Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water has signed an agreement to acquire the wastewater assets of Sadsbury Township in Chester County. The total value of the transaction is approximately $9.25 million. The Sadsbury wastewater system serves approximately 1,000 customers. “Our c..
Arizona Utility Tries to End Multi-State Colorado River Feud
DENVER (AP) — Arizona’s largest water provider tried Tuesday to defuse a multi-state dispute over the Colorado River, saying it regretted the belligerent-sounding words it used to describe its management strategy for the critical, over-used waterway. The Central Arizona Project, which provides wate..
ACWA Spring Conference to Highlight Improving California’s Water Supply
Leaders, experts and elected officials from throughout California’s water community will gather in Sacramento May 8-11 for the Association of California Water Agencies’ (ACWA) 2018 Spring Conference & Exhibition. Themed “CA Water: Building for the Future,” the first of two biannual ACWA conferences..
KentuckyWired Partners with Utility to Expedite Broadband Project
The Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) and Owensboro Municipal Utilities (OMU) have reached an agreement to lease a portion of OMU’s broadband network to KentuckyWired, a broadband project that includes the construction of more than 3,000 miles of fiber optic cable across all 120 Kentu..
West Virginia American Water Seeks Rate Increase to Cover Infrastructure Upgrades
West Virginia American Water filed an application with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) to adjust its rates for water and wastewater service. The company is seeking a base water rate increase to produce additional revenues of $32.69 million per year, and an increase in wastewater..
Crews Finish Sealing Damaged Great Lakes Electric Cables
MACKINAW CITY, Mich. (AP) — Officials say crews have finished capping and sealing two electric cables that were severed by a suspected boat anchor strike in the waterway that connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. A team of investigators led by the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday the cables owned by A..
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Celebrates 100 Years of Service
In celebration of its 100th year of service, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is hosting a regional symposium, A Century of Innovation, tomorrow, May 1, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. The symposium brings together wa..
Aqua America Announces Leadership Changes
Aqua America announced EVP and CFO David P. Smeltzer will retire from his position in October after a 32-year career with the company. As part of the company’s succession plan, Daniel Schuller, who is currently serving as EVP, strategy and corporate development, will succeed Smeltzer as CFO and has ..
Water Utility Exec: Uncertain Mix of Chemicals from Consumer Taps
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A public water utility studied what it was serving to its 200,000 North Carolina customers and found it contained multiple unregulated industrial chemicals with uncertain health effects, including some substances that university researchers didn’t know existed, legislators lea..
Utility Says Retired Underwater Electric Cables May be Damaged
MACKINAW CITY, Mich. (AP) — A suspected anchor strike that severed two electric cables in the waterway linking Lakes Huron and Michigan may have damaged additional cables in the area that were taken out of service long ago but never removed from the water, officials said Thursday. A remotely operat..
Global Water Resources to Acquire Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company
Global Water Resources, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company, a non-potable irrigation water utility in Mesa, Ariz. Through the acquisition, Global Water Resources will add 960 residential irrigation customers and approximately seven square m..
Xylem to Host Water Infrastructure Workshop
On May 17, Xylem is bringing together water industry leaders and utility operators to discuss Modernizing Water Infrastructure. During the workshop, experts on water, sustainable water management and infrastructure will share insights, best practices, and innovative approaches on optimizing water di..
Colorado Utility Provider Exits Transmission Partnership
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado utility has announced it is leaving an informal transmission partnership between electricity service providers. Xcel Energy’s Executive Vice President David Eves said in a statement issued Friday that the being a part of the Mountain West Transmission Group was no longer in..
Utility Worker Fatally Shot at Job Site in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating the shooting death of a utility worker at a job site. Police say 23-year-old Johnathon Porter, of Appleton City, was shot Monday morning. He was working at the construction site for InfraSource, a contractor for Spire Energy. T..
American Water Makes Leadership Changes
American Water has named Deborah Degillio senior vice president of its Eastern Division and president of New Jersey American Water, effective May 1, 2018. Degillio replaces Robert MacLean, who was named president of American Water Enterprises, encompassing the company’s market-based businesses. “I ..
Study: Houston Utility Districts Resilient During Hurricane Harvey
The Association of Water Board Directors – Texas, a statewide educational and advocacy group for utility districts, has released the results of an extensive study of the effects of Hurricane Harvey on more than 960 Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) in the Houston area. According to the..
Washington Regulators Host Hearing on Avista, Hydro One Merger
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Customers of Avista Corp. told the state Utilities and Transportation Commission they’re happy with their local electric and natural gas utility and see little benefit from its sale to a Canadian corporation. About 80 people attended a public hearing in Spokane Monday on..
Indiana Utility Reaches Deal for 15 Percent Gas Rate Increase
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — The natural gas utility company for most of northern Indiana could increase its rates by about 15 percent under a deal it has reached with the state consumer advocate’s office. The proposed increase for Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. would be smalle..
Water Limited During Southern California Pipeline Repairs
CLAREMONT, Calif. (AP) — Residents of several Southern California communities are being asked to limit water use this week while a major pipeline is closed for repairs. Starting Monday, the state Department of Water Resources will be fixing a portion of the Rialto Pipeline, which serves cities in p..
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