Water

Boil water order issued in Mississippi capital amid freeze

City officials in Jackson, Mississippi, on Christmas Day announced that residents must now boil their drinking water due to water lines bursting in the frigid temperatures.

Biden's signature advances major projects in water bill

The biggest project by far this year is a $34 billion Texas coastal barrier featuring massive floodgates and other structures to protect the Houston region with its concentration of oil refineries and chemical plants, at risk during major hurricanes.

California town grapples with toll of earthquake on water system

Just days before Christmas in Rio Dell, the former lumber town grappled with the aftermath of early Tuesday's magnitude 6.4 earthquake that injured at least 17 people, shook homes off foundations, damaged water systems and left tens of thousands without electricity, some for more than a day.

North Carolina to invest $19 million for water infrastructure upgrades in Yadkin, Surry counties

(UC) — Governor Roy Cooper announced on Dec. 20 North Carolina’s Yadkin and Surry counties would receive $4 million for floodplain resiliency improvements, $8.1 million for water treatment plant filter and clear well replacements and $6.9 million for meters and water line replacements.

Tennessee secures $186 million loan to modernize wastewater infrastructure in Chattanooga

(UC) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $186 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan granted to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to support its Wastewater Compliance and Sustainability Project.

Indiana officials approve increase to stormwater user fee in Elkhart County

(UC) — During a meeting of the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners held on Monday, plans to raise the stormwater user fee in the county overcame another obstacle. The county partnership's stormwater user fee hasn't gone up since it was established in 2006, making it one of the lowest in the area.

Engineering firm reaches settlement in Flint water case

An engineering firm accused of having some responsibility for Flint's lead-contaminated water in 2014-15 has settled a lawsuit with four families, months after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict in August.

MassDEP, Fall River reach agreement to remove all lead service lines from water system

(UC) — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has agreed to suspend a $25,300 penalty against the city of Fall River under the agreement that the city will remove all lead service lines throughout the city following a lead action level exceedance during water quality testing conducted in 2021.

Water lobbyists urge Biden administration to loosen ‘Buy America’ law requirements

(UC) — Water advocacy groups are seeking an exception from the "Buy America" criteria for project developers, arguing that the rules hinder the sector from creating projects meant to combat climate change, provide safe drinking water, handle sewage, and safeguard the public.

Brown and Caldwell to design the replacement of critical Southern California water pipeline

(UC) — The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has selected environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell to design a sectional replacement of the Rialto Feeder, a critical Southern California water supply pipeline.

Army Corps awards 5-year, $25 million contract for water, wastewater projects to Stantec JV

(UC) — Under this contract, the Stantec-Freese and Nichols joint venture (JV) team will provide the Mobile District and WWTCX with a full range of support services on water, wastewater, and civil works projects, including treatment processes and technologies, energy reduction and optimization, models of water and wastewater networks, pump stations, and other related systems.

Governor Hochul awards $55.4 million for water infrastructure projects across New York

(UI) — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $55.4 million in funding for water infrastructure improvement projects, the latest action to upgrade New York's water and sewer systems, reduce water pollution, and safeguard vital drinking water supplies.

'Unacceptable': EPA head says of West Virginia water issues

Barton and other residents of southern West Virginia's McDowell County shared their stories of the challenges of living without access to safe drinking water and wastewater with the head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday.

Virginia’s wastewater infrastructure receives “poor” rating by engineering group

(UI) — The Virginia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released the 2022 Report Card for Virginia's Infrastructure on Tuesday, where 11 categories of infrastructure received an overall grade of a “C”. Specifically, the state’s water infrastructure received a grade of “D+”. According to the report, a C is considered “mediocre” while a D is “poor.”

XRI begins construction of water pipeline system in Permian Basin

(UI) — The 230-mile Evolution Pipeline system will be capable of recycling and managing more than 500,000 barrels of produced water per day from producers in Midland, Glasscock, Reagan, and Upton counties. It is expected to be fully operational in 2023.

EPA awards New Jersey $169 million in funding for water infrastructure improvements

(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded New Jersey nearly $169 million in funding for water infrastructure improvements that will help communities access clean, safe and reliable drinking water, increase resilience, collect and treat wastewater to protect public health, clean up pollution, and safeguard vital waterways.

Utah needs $2 billion investment to upgrade, maintain water infrastructure

(UC) — In a 114-page report finalized by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and numerous state agencies, data showed that Utah must make a nearly $2 billion short-term investment to upgrade and maintain its water infrastructure in order to accommodate the state's ongoing population expansion.

Judge OKs federal intervention in struggling water system

The U.S. Justice Department has won a federal judge's approval to carry out a rare intervention to improve the precarious water system in Mississippi's capital city, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday, months after the system's partial failure.

Gas driller pleads no contest to polluting town’s water

Pennsylvania’s most active gas driller pleaded no contest Tuesday to criminal charges, capping a landmark environmental case against a company that prosecutors say polluted a rural community’s drinking water 14 years ago and then tried to evade responsibility.

Justice Department intervenes for struggling water system in Jackson, Mississippi

The Justice Department made a rare intervention Tuesday to try to bring improvements in the beleaguered water system in Mississippi's capital city, which nearly collapsed in late summer and continues to struggle.

EPA reports significant drop in Clean Water Act violations

(UC) — The number of Clean Water Act breaches recorded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reduced by more than half in the years after an interstate compliance agreement, according to the EPA, which revealed the figures on Tuesday.

Avanti adds grouts to growing NSF certified product line

(UC) – Avanti International’s AV-150 Acrylate Gel and AV-278 Low Vis Hydro are now certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) as tested and certified as complying with NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 - Drinking Water System Components.

Idaho Water Board approves $14.1 million loan for aquifer recharge project

(WO) – The Idaho Water Resource Board has approved a $14.1 million loan to the Raft River Recharge Group on Nov. 25 to help finance the construction of a pump station on the Snake River, a 13-mile pipeline and recharge basins to add water to a declining aquifer in an existing critical ground water management area.

Water boil order issued for more than 2 million in Houston

More than 2 million people in the Houston area were under a boil order notice Monday after a power outage caused low pressure at a water purification plant, officials said.

Southland wins $59 million contract to construct water pipeline in New Mexico

(UC) — Southland Holdings LLC has been awarded a $59 million contract to construct a water pipeline project for the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority. The scope of work includes constructing approximately 15 miles of water pipeline in Clovis, New Mexico.

Global Water Resources to provide water services to new manufacturing facility in Arizona

(UC) — Global Water Resources Inc. has received a certificate of convenience and a permit from the Arizona Corporation Commission to provide water, wastewater and recycled water services to Procter & Gamble Co.’s new manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona.

CHA expands wastewater services with acquisition of specialized water firm Eckler Engineering

(UC) — CHA Consulting Inc. (CHA), an innovative engineering design, consulting and construction management firm, has continued its expansion in Florida with the acquisition of Eckler Engineering Inc., a specialized civil engineering firm focused on water and wastewater services.

Northwest Pipe Company to manufacture engineered steel pressure Texas pipeline project

(UC) — Northwest Pipe Co. has been selected by S.J. Louis Construction and Alliance Regional Water Authority to produce engineered steel pressure pipe for Alliance Regional Water Authority Phase 1B-Segment D. Phase 1B is the second and largest phase of construction for this major water infrastructure project that will deliver approximately 5,500 acre-feet of water per year across Central Texas.

Public utility to pipe water to residents of 'Gasland' town

A new water line will deliver something that residents of a rural Pennsylvania community have gone without for the last 14 years — a clean, reliable supply of drinking water — after a public utility on Tuesday released the first details of a plan to mitigate the damage that a gas driller is charged with causing.

House Democrats request review of local water utilities

Amid an investigation into the water crisis in Mississippi's capital city, two congressional Democrats are requesting a review of the federal government's efforts to maintain local water utilities.