Water
Washington state approves $21 million for emergency sewer and stormwater repairs
The Washington State Public Works Board recently approved $21 million for critical infrastructure projects, including emergency sewer and stormwater repairs, in 10 communities.
Baltimore awards $7.6 million contract for lead water line inspections
Baltimore has awarded a $7.6 million contract to Electro Scan Inc. for inspecting water service lines for lead. Electro Scan will use its proprietary technology to identify and inspect water service line materials, including lead pipes.
Bruceville-Eddy city officials approve first-ever sanitary sewer system
The new sewer system will replace outdated on-site wastewater treatment systems and is expected to enhance both infrastructure and environmental sustainability in the community. The project's budget is roughly $20 million.
Milwaukee to build $13 million facility for advanced wastewater tech testing
The $13 million lab will test new wastewater treatment technologies and is expected to significantly impact public health and drinking water quality worldwide.
Editor’s log: The road to rehab intensifies
The 1970s marked a revolution in underground infrastructure with the birth of cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) technology, allowing pipe repairs without excavation. This innovation, alongside other trenchless methods, has transformed the industry and continues to drive efficient solutions for aging infrastructure.
EPA, Chicago form drinking water partnership to identify, replace lead pipes
EPA will support the city of North Chicago with some critical first steps to lead pipe replacement including identifying lead pipes and educating the public about lead pipes.
Pennsylvania American Water receives approved water, wastewater rates to fund $1 billion infrastructure investments
The order reflects the $1 billion in infrastructure investments to be made through mid-2025, as requested by the company, including upgrades to water mains, treatment plants, tanks, valves, booster stations and other infrastructure necessary to maintain and improve water quality, service reliability and fire protection.
Nebraska, EPA to replace lead water service lines at 200 homes in Lincoln
Lincoln chose these initial 200 homes using EPA-recommended criteria, including property records, blood lead levels in children, social vulnerability data, and the risk of lead exposure due to the amount of lead in service lines.
Brooklyn to receive 7 miles of porous pavement in $32.6 million stormwater project
The $32.6 million project aims to prevent 35 million gallons of stormwater from entering the combined sewer system annually, with construction expected to be completed by fall 2025.
Settlement reached in $312 million AFFF contamination case for public water systems
Angeion Group announced a settlement with BASF Corporation in a class action lawsuit involving all active public water systems in the United States with impacted water sources as of May 15, 2024.
Cadiz's ATEC Water Systems secures $1.5 million in new groundwater filtration contracts
The contracts involve groundwater treatment in Wisconsin, Nevada, and Washington state, including projects at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Portland suburbs, and rural Nevada clean energy sites.
New Jersey to replace 5,400 lead services lines in $48 million drinking water infrastructure investment
The $48 million upgrade, funded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will include replacing approximately 5,400 lead service lines within the Township’s water service area of the Passaic Water System over the next three to five years.
North Carolina invests $253 million in water, wastewater infrastructure
North Carolina will allocate over $253 million to enhance drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across the state. The funds will support 70 projects in 30 counties, focusing on emerging contaminants and lead service line replacements.
Golden State Water and Cal Advocates reach $573 million settlement for rate case
American States Water Company's subsidiary, Golden State Water Company, has reached a settlement with the Public Advocates Office (Cal Advocates) concerning its water utility rate case.
Aqua Pennsylvania secures $77.5 million to replace aging water mains across the state
The funding will replace and add 133,400 lineal feet of water mains with more durable, modern materials, reducing the likelihood of main breaks and increasing system reliability in more than a dozen communities served by Aqua Pennsylvania.
Grand Canyon National Park implements mandatory water conservation following waterline break
The water restrictions are due to a failure in the Trans Canyon Waterline after it was shut off for repairs. Crews were attempting to repressurize the line when there was a break, causing an extension of the current water outage.
EPA completes Lahaina drinking water, wastewater project following Maui 2023 wildfires
Starting on January 4, 2024, over the course of seven months, EPA tested drinking water quality in 1308 lateral service lines that connect water mains to properties with burned structures. If contamination was detected, or if a lateral was too damaged to be sampled, the line was isolated from the main distribution line and marked for future replacement.
Lakehaven Water and Sewer District settles penalty for sewage spills
(UI) — The Lakehaven Water and Sewer District has paid $40,000 to resolve violations of its water quality permit as part of a settlement agreement with the Washington Department of Ecology.
Virginia town set to begin $104 million CSO tunnel project
The Blackwater CSO Tunnel will be a nearly mile-long, 12-foot-diameter underground tunnel located 70 to 120 feet beneath Blackwater Creek. It is designed to collect and store up to 4.7 million gallons of combined sewage and stormwater during heavy rains, preventing wastewater from overflowing into local waterways.
La Grange, Ill., secures $2 million for stormwater detention project
The proposed $8.9 million project includes the construction of 10-acre feet of underground stormwater detention. La Grange Village is actively pursuing additional funding sources to complete the financing for this essential infrastructure project.
Miller Lane water main installation project underway in Cheyenne, Wyo.
This project is part of the BOPU’s initiative to enhance water service reliability by renewing aging infrastructure. The work will be carried out by Aztec Construction Company.
EPA invests over $20 million in water workforce development across the nation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing over $20 million to 13 workforce development organizations across the nation under its Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant Program, which supports expanding career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector.
Survey reveals concerns over PFAS contamination in U.S. drinking water
A recent survey conducted by water treatment provider Culligan sheds light on widespread concerns among Americans regarding the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their drinking water.
Arizona authorizes $5 billion for infrastructure with “historic” Colorado River water rights legislation
The settlement authorizes $5 billion to acquire, build, and maintain essential water development and delivery projects, including a $1.75 billion distribution pipeline. In total, the Tribes would be guaranteed access to over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, and specific ground water rights and protections.
Aging water infrastructure causes major water losses in Texas cities
Texas’ largest cities lost around 88 billion gallons of water last year due to old water infrastructure and extreme heat, resulting in significant financial losses and increased pressure on the state's water supply.
Bay Village, Ohio, begins sewer testing to improve system
Duke’s Root Control Inc. has been contracted to carry out the testing in six areas selected based on historical data, recent surveys, and the Ohio EPA's work with the Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant.
South Dakota allocates $65 million for statewide water and waste projects
(UI) — The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced nearly $65 million in grants and loans for water and waste infrastructure projects across the state.
Georgia's water, wastewater infrastructure receives "C minus" grade from American Society of Civil Engineers
While people in Georgia pay less than the national average for drinking water, lower consumer bills make it difficult for water utilities to recover the full cost of service and build for the future with ongoing maintenance and capital needs, as well as respond to new rules and regulations.
Washington state to invest $309 million in clean water projects
(UI) — The funding will support 136 projects, ranging from stream restoration on the Touchet River near Prescott to engineered wetlands for stormwater treatment in Ferndale.
California achieves record groundwater recharge in 2023
Despite improvements, California faces a 40 million acre-feet groundwater storage deficit due to decades of over-pumping. Addressing this requires expanding recharge projects, upgrading infrastructure, and modernizing distribution systems.
- 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
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- 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
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes