July 2025 Vol. 80 No. 7
Newsline
Newsline: Key pipeline rulings, major water funding, lead pipe struggles and more
Judge approves construction for portion of $485 million pipeline in Colo.
A state judge in Larimer County, Colorado, has ruled in favor of the City of Thornton and the Larimer County Commissioner's court in response to a lawsuit filed by the Save the Poudre nonprofit, which sought to halt the construction of the pipeline, citing environmental concerns.
According to The Colorado Sun, members of the nonprofit have advocated for several years for the pipeline's water source to be redirected through the Cache la Poudre River to enhance river flow.
Save the Poudre leader Gary Wockner stated that the group is considering an appeal. Wockner has previously challenged permits for multiple water diversion projects in Colorado.
City of Thornton officials expressed relief of the recent ruling and confirmed that it will proceed with the construction of its $485 million pipeline project in the Larimer County area, The Colorado Sun reported. The project will transport water rights acquired by Thornton on the Cache la Poudre River to treatment facilities in Adams County.
Roughly one-third, or around 21 miles, of the overall pipeline are now complete, said sources. Thornton stated that the water project is expected to begin supplying water to residents by 2028.
Williams’ Northeast gas pipeline revived as New York reopens review process
A previously rejected natural gas pipeline project is once again under review in New York, marking a significant shift in the state’s energy debate.
According to WXXI News, the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline – which would run from Pennsylvania through New Jersey and into New York – has re-entered the permitting process after regulators deemed the application complete this week. The move opens a new public comment period.
The pipeline, developed by Oklahoma-based Williams, was abandoned in 2024 after years of legal opposition and a permit denial from New York. But it has been revived in the wake of executive orders from President Donald Trump encouraging fossil fuel development and following reported conversations between Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul.
The project has received support from National Grid, which says the pipeline is necessary to meet rising demand in parts of New York City and Long Island. Meanwhile, pipeline opponents say any new fossil fuel infrastructure undercuts the state’s legally binding climate goals.
Texas approves $20 billion for water infrastructure; final decision up to voters
A sweeping legislative package aimed at revitalizing Texas' aging water infrastructure and preparing for future shortages was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 18.
The move includes Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7 – two key measures that together could channel more than $20 billion into water system upgrades across the state.
The newly signed law allocates $2.5 billion in immediate funding to the Texas Water Fund, which will be used to repair leaky pipes, modernize aging treatment facilities, and explore new water sources. A long-term funding proposal under HJR 7 would contribute $1 billion annually for the next two decades, pending voter approval on the November ballot.
Governor Abbott called the initiative a “generational investment,” citing firsthand experience with the dangers of water shortages. “With this law, we will secure Texas’ water future for generations to come,” he said during the bill signing ceremony in Lubbock.
Questions remain about how the funds will be distributed, and how quickly cities like Houston and Harris County may begin to benefit from the investment.
Ala. man survives being pulled 500 feet through flooded drainage pipe
A man in Alabama survived a harrowing ordeal last week after he was sucked into a flooded drainage pipe and swept hundreds of feet through an underground pipe system during severe weather. According to NBC affiliate WVTM 13, local resident Drew Owen was attempting to grab his children's soccer balls from rising waters when he was pulled under.
In an interview with WVTM 13, Owen recounted how he was rapidly sucked under and into the rushing water, leaving him disoriented and without any time to gasp for air. Owen estimated he was underwater for 30 to 45 seconds as the flood waters carried him through the underground pipe system more than 500 feet – passing under a major highway and set of railroad tracks before he surfaced.
Owen amazingly survived with only minor injuries. He and wife Kasey expressed relief, knowing the outcome could have been much worse. Now, they’re pushing for safety improvements to prevent others from facing a similar fate.
Flint, Mich., struggles to finish lead pipe replacement nearly a decade after crisis
According to the Associated Press, nearly 10 years after its water crisis began, Flint has still not removed every lead service line. Although the city recently told a federal judge it had met the terms of a 2017 settlement, hundreds of lines at vacant or opt-out properties remain unverified, leaving the state to oversee a final push this fall.
Key points the AP highlighted:
- Patchy records: Crews often relied on hand-written cards from the early 1900s, forcing repeat digs and extending timelines.
- Inefficient scheduling: Because workers targeted only addresses with suspected lead, they couldn’t move block-by-block, frustrating residents unsure whether their pipes were safe.
- Communication gaps: Homeowners like Betty Bell continued buying bottled water for years, unaware their line had tested clear in 2017.
- Slow yard restoration: Some lawns sat unrepaired for months, eroding public trust.
State officials now require door-to-door outreach and stronger data tracking before declaring the project complete. The AP also noted that Newark, N.J., avoided similar delays by making access mandatory, paying contractors only after full site restoration, and working systematically by neighborhood – an approach experts urge other cities to follow as a federal mandate to replace roughly nine million remaining U.S. lead lines looms.
Century-old pipe exploded underground, flooding Uptown New Orleans
A 30-inch cast-iron water main installed in 1908 ruptured beneath Upperline Street on June 26, sending thousands of gallons into Uptown neighborhoods and prompting a boil-water advisory for most of Uptown and Central City, according to WWL-TV.
Sewerage & Water Board General Superintendent Steve Nelson said a four-foot section of the line “just broke off,” creating 10–12 inches of standing water on nearby blocks before crews could isolate the break.
Repair teams reached the site within an hour and worked around the clock through Sunday to replace the damaged section. Because the line feeds much of Uptown from the Carrollton Water Plant, the rupture caused a sharp drop in pressure, forcing restaurants along Freret Street either to close or rely on boiled and bottled water, WWL-TV reported.
Washington County, Utah proposes $1.3 billion water reuse project
Utah’s Washington County Water Conservation District has proposed a $1.3 billion water reuse project to aid the state’s rapid growth, Fox 13 News reported.
Last week, members of the district requested approval for $195 million in initial funding from the Utah Water Resources Board. The project is planned to be carried out in phases, with completion projected by 2042.
Fox 13 News said in its report that the ultimate project goal is to have as much as 25% of Washington County’s water supply reused.
The proposed water reuse project will involve constructing more than 60 miles of pipeline, three new storage reservoirs, and deploying new wastewater treatment technology.
By 2030, the water district plans to complete phase one of the project (about $413 million in cost) and target agriculture, the state's top water user.
The project's second phase will involve reusing water for drinking water sources; phase two is expected to be completed by 2042. Water reuse is relied upon heavily in many communities across the country, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In the St. George area, some parks, golf courses and even newer developments are recycling their water, Fox 13 stated.
The Washington County Water Conservancy District is getting federal grants, loans and other funding sources to make the $1.3 billion project a reality. In last week's meeting, the district acknowledged the possibility of a rate increase to help cover costs (though Washington County does have an aggressive tiered rate system for water users that other communities are starting to copy to force more conservation).
Huntsville, Ala., approves sewer rate hike to fund $150 million system upgrade
The City of Huntsville, Ala., has approved its first sewer rate increase in 20 years to support a $150 million investment in aging sewer infrastructure and improvements at five wastewater treatment facilities.
The City Council passed the rate adjustment in a 4-1 vote at its June 26 regular meeting.
The ordinance raises monthly sewer bills for the average residential customer from $24.15 to $29.15, still significantly below the state average of $52.14 per month. Beginning in 2026, sewer rates will increase by $1 per month annually until 2034. By then, the average residential bill would reach $39.15, which remains well under the current statewide average.
The increase will help fund infrastructure upgrades through a 10-year capital plan. City officials emphasized the need for reinvestment, as much of the existing sewer system dates back to the 1950s.
“Like all utilities, a wastewater system’s infrastructure continues to age,” city officials stated. “Reinvestment into the system is necessary to ensure reliability that meets regulatory requirements.”
344-mile gas pipeline planned across North Dakota to expand capacity
Intensity Infrastructure Partners and Rainbow Energy Center have announced a joint venture to build a new natural gas pipeline spanning from the Bakken region in western North Dakota to the eastern part of the state, a move aimed at boosting in-state resource use.
The planned pipeline will increase takeaway capacity for associated natural gas in the Williston Basin, enabling greater in-state processing and delivery while supporting oil production growth and boosting state tax revenues.
“This project represents a long-term investment in North Dakota’s energy future,” said Stacy Tschider, CEO of Rainbow Energy Center. “A pipeline of this size directly supports the state’s goals to grow all energy production responsibly while capturing greater economic value for our citizens.”
The 344-mile project will be constructed in two phases:
Phase I: 136 miles of 36-inch pipe from near Watford City to Washburn, ND, with a capacity of 1.1 million Dth/d.
Phase II: 208 miles of 30-inch pipe from Washburn to Casselton, ND, with capacity of 430,000 Dth/d and multiple delivery points.
The target in-service date is July 2029, with potential acceleration based on market interest and permitting.
Utility worker shot while installing fiber-optic cable in Texas neighborhood
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Montgomery County deputies say a Magnolia homeowner opened fire on a utility crew member who was laying fiber-optic cable in the neighborhood on June 24.
Investigators allege that a dispute broke out around 1:20 p.m. between Keith Matthews, 53, and 19-year-old Briley Delacruz Rodas. The argument “escalated,” and Matthews “shot the utility worker multiple times,” the sheriff’s office said. Rodas was taken to a hospital in critical, but stable condition.
Neighbors told Houston TV station KPRC that fiber work had been under way for several weeks.
Matthews was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; bond has been set at $200,000.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that Magnolia, where the shooting occurred, is about 40 miles northwest of Houston.
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