Water
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.
Texas lawmakers propose billions for water infrastructure overhaul
A key proposal, Senate Bill 7, would fund new water sources such as desalination and aquifer storage rather than relying on groundwater transfers from rural areas to cities.
Report outlines strategies to strengthen water infrastructure in underserved communities
Many low-income and rural communities face deteriorating water infrastructure, leading to leaks, contamination, and unreliable access to clean water. In some areas, outdated systems waste billions of gallons of water annually, while families struggle to afford costly repairs and upgrades.
$340 million in funding approved for N.Y. water infrastructure projects
The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has approved $340 million in funding for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul announced. The Board's approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects.
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.
Atlanta mayor unveils 20-year water overhaul plan after series of major main breaks
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has unveiled a sweeping, multibillion-dollar initiative to overhaul the city’s deteriorating water system over the next two decades.
Mary Rhodes Pipeline expansion part of ongoing efforts to boost Corpus Christi water supply
Key ongoing projects include expansion of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline — recently awarded Asset Management Project of the Year by Underground Infrastructure Magazine — along with two planned seawater desalination plants and plans to drill new water wells along the Nueces River, Caller Times reported.
$4 million water line expansion project approved In Alexander County, N.C.
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners approved a $4 million construction bid for the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) water line expansion project in Alexander County, North Carolina. Approximately 42,500 linear feet of water lines will be installed in the 12 selected areas of the county.
$100 million agreement ends lawsuit, pushing $2 billion Colorado reservoir project forward
A long-disputed reservoir project in Northern Colorado is moving forward after a legal settlement between Northern Water and the environmental group Save the Poudre.
New Jersey American Water to replace 3,200 feet of transmission main in Somerville
New Jersey American Water is set to install 3,200 feet of new 30-inch water transmission main and replace 2,200 feet of aging 10- and 12-inch pipe in Somerville. Construction begins this week and is expected to wrap up by the end of July.
$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.
Katy, Texas passes moratorium on fiber-optics projects after damage to water lines
According to The Houston Chronicle, city council in Katy, Texas has unanimously voted to pass a moratorium on fiber-optics projects after construction damage has repeatedly broken water lines. Fiber optics companies will now be required to sign a contract and coordinate with the city before digging.
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.
Jacobs awarded $13.4 million cybersecurity contract with U.S. wastewater utility
Jacobs has won an operational technology (OT) cybersecurity contract with Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD). The contract encompasses cybersecurity for industrial control systems and physical infrastructure, supporting wastewater treatment services for nearly 2 million people in southeast Virginia.
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.
Aqua granted over $1.7 million in funding for infrastructure projects across North Carolina
Aqua North Carolina announced it has received several grant awards from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Division of Water Infrastructure. The funding will be allocated for ongoing lead service line replacements, PFAS removal and water system improvements across the state.
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.
Carthage, Tenn., gets $2.7 million loan for water system upgrades
The Town of Carthage has secured a $2.7 million loan to improve its water infrastructure, Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers announced.
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.
Cadiz taps Stantec to lead engineering for $800 million Mojave Groundwater Bank
Once completed, the project will provide 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply and 1 million acre-feet of underground storage. A 350-mile pipeline network will connect the system to the Colorado River and California Aqueducts, making it the largest new water infrastructure project in the Southwest.
Estimated cost to replace Canada water pipeline nearly doubled since last year
According to CBC Canada News, consulting firm AECOM presented a report to Yellowknife city council showing the cost for a new water pipeline has risen to $107.7 million, up almost double from the 2024 estimate of $62.7 million.
Western Midstream to build pipeline for Permian produced water transport
Western Midstream Partners announced that it has sanctioned the construction of the Pathfinder pipeline, a 30-inch long-haul pipeline, that will transport produced-water to additional disposal facilities in eastern Loving County within the Delaware Basin.
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.
Fla. Senator’s bill aims to mitigate flooding by requiring storm drain inspections
According to ABC Action News, Florida state senator Danny Burgess has proposed a bill that would require stormwater drain inspections ahead of storm season in an effort to mitigate flooding.
$265 million in funding approved for North Carolina water infrastructure projects
Communities across North Carolina will receive more than $265 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, Governor Josh Stein has announced. The loans and grants will help to pay for 99 projects in 45 different counties.
$4.5 million water main replacement project to begin in Yorkville, Ill.
According to Shaw Local News, the city of Yorkville, Ill. is gearing up to around 9,000 ft. of water main lines, including one section nearly a century old. The current cost for the 2025 Water Main Replacement construction project is estimated at around $4.5 million, the majority of which will likely be covered by an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency loan.
Work progresses on $66 million upgrade to San Diego’s first aqueduct
The San Diego County Water Authority has reached the halfway point on a $66 million project to extend the life of the historic First Aqueduct and maintain reliable water delivery across the region.
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.
Brewer Water Department tackles lead service line inventory with vac excavation
The Brewer Water Department in Maine has adopted an innovative approach to meet the demands of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). These revisions, finalized in December 2020, require water systems to prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials later in 2025.
- 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