June 2026 Vol. 81 No. 6
Newsline
Newsline: Latest industry developments
$1.6-billion Florida water project advances with pipeline, plant construction
A major water and wastewater infrastructure program in the Tampa Bay region has reached a new milestone, as construction moves forward on a $1.6-billion initiative designed to support long-term growth, resiliency and water resource management.
Officials recently broke ground on the One Water South Wastewater Conveyance and Treatment Project, a key component of the broader One Water Program. The project includes construction of a new advanced wastewater treatment plant, a high-capacity pump station and more than 20 miles of wastewater and reclaimed water pipelines.
The new treatment facility, located in southeastern Hillsborough County, is being designed to serve the region's growing population through at least 2050. Initial capacity is expected to reach 24 million gallons per day by 2030, with plans for future expansion to 30 mgd.
Pipeline construction is a major component of the project, including approximately 10 miles of wastewater pipeline and 13 miles of reclaimed water pipeline ranging from 42 to 48 inches in diameter. Officials said the reclaimed water system will help reduce demand for potable water supplies while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
The project is being delivered through a progressive design-build partnership led by Garney and Hazen & Sawyer, with support from Ardurra, Stantec and Wade Trim. Phase one is expected to be completed in 2028, with full buildout anticipated by 2030.
72-mile Louisiana pipeline enters service for Port Arthur LNG
Sempra Infrastructure has placed its Port Arthur Pipeline Louisiana Connector into service, adding a new natural gas transportation link designed to supply the Port Arthur LNG export facility and strengthen Gulf Coast energy infrastructure.
The project includes 72 miles of 42-inch pipeline, a compressor station in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, and associated above- and below-ground facilities. The pipeline is designed to transport up to 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
The new pipeline will provide feed gas to the Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project, which remains under construction and is expected to have a nameplate capacity of approximately 13 million metric tons per year when completed.
Justin Bird, CEO of Sempra Infrastructure, said the project was completed ahead of schedule and below budget. The connector also interconnects with Sempra Infrastructure's Gillis Hub Pipeline system in southwest Louisiana and will provide access to the company's LA Storage natural gas storage facility, which is currently under construction.
$500-million regional water project advances in coastal Georgia
Work is underway on a major regional water infrastructure program in coastal Georgia that will expand surface water capacity, reduce reliance on groundwater resources and support long-term growth across multiple counties.
Backed by more than $500 million in state funding, the project will create a regional water system serving Effingham, Bryan, Bulloch and Chatham counties, including the City of Savannah. The initiative is designed to shift a portion of the region's water supply from the Floridan Aquifer to surface water drawn from the Savannah River.
The project will be delivered in two phases. The first phase includes upgrades to the city of Savannah's existing water intake and treatment facilities, along with construction of new transmission pipelines connecting Effingham County's water system to neighboring communities and major industrial developments. Officials expect the pipeline network to be completed by 2028.
Phase two includes construction of a new surface water intake on the Savannah River, a 12-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant expandable to 24 mgd, and additional transmission infrastructure linking the intake, treatment facility and regional distribution network. The full system is expected to be operational by 2030, WTOC 11 reported.
Project leaders say the investment will help meet growing residential and industrial water demand while reducing pressure on the Floridan Aquifer, a critical groundwater source that has faced withdrawal restrictions for nearly two decades. The system is also expected to improve reliability through interconnected water supplies and infrastructure redundancy across the region.
Washington adopts stricter trench excavation safety requirements
Washington state has implemented new trench excavation safety requirements aimed at reducing cave-ins and improving worker protection on construction and utility projects.
Under the updated rules, contractors must complete a written trench excavation work plan before any digging begins. The plan must identify site-specific hazards, outline health and safety procedures, and document the protective systems that will be used to stabilize trench walls, such as sloping, benching, shoring or shielding.
State regulators said the plans must be developed by a designated "competent person" trained to evaluate soil conditions, identify excavation hazards and recognize signs of potential trench failure. The completed plans must remain on site and be available for review during inspections by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
The regulations also reinforce existing field safety requirements. Excavations four-feet deep or greater must provide workers with a safe means of egress, such as ladders or ramps, located so employees do not have to travel more than 25 feet to exit a trench. In addition, excavated material, equipment and other loads must be kept at least 2 feet from trench edges to reduce the risk of collapse.
EIA: Texas to lead U.S. pipeline construction activity through 2027
Developers plan to bring nearly 45 Bcf/d of new natural gas pipeline capacity online across the United States in 2026 and 2027, with Texas accounting for more than two-thirds of the planned additions, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest Natural Gas Pipeline Projects Tracker.
The EIA reports that roughly 70 percent of the planned capacity is already under construction. Much of the new infrastructure is concentrated in Texas and Louisiana, where pipeline developers are building new transmission systems to connect production areas with Gulf Coast markets and export facilities.
Among the largest projects underway are the 138-mile Rio Bravo Pipeline, the 365-mile Blackcomb Pipeline and the Hugh Brinson Pipeline expansion, all designed to add new takeaway and transportation infrastructure originating in Texas. Louisiana projects include the Port Arthur Pipeline Louisiana Connector and the Pelican Pipeline, both expected to enter service over the next two years.
According to the EIA, Texas represents approximately 29.7 Bcf/d of planned capacity additions through 2027, followed by Louisiana with 8.4 Bcf/d. Together, the two states account for more than 85 percent of the new pipeline infrastructure currently planned nationwide.
The projects are part of a broader buildout of interstate pipeline infrastructure occurring across the Gulf Coast, with additional expansion projects also planned in Virginia and other regions.
$7 billion Second Avenue Subway project advances with TBM launch
New York officials have broken ground on a major construction phase of the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project, marking the start of work that will extend subway service into East Harlem and add three new stations to the system.
The milestone marks the beginning of preparations for a tunnel boring machine that will be launched in early 2027 from a site near East 120th Street and Second Avenue. The machine will excavate new tunnels extending north to 125th Street and west toward Malcolm X Boulevard as part of the long-planned expansion.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also awarded a major construction contract for a section of tunnel and the future 106th Street station. Officials said lessons learned during Phase 1 have helped reduce costs by more than $1 billion through measures including early utility relocations, reuse of existing tunnel segments built in the 1970s, streamlined contract structures and improved project coordination.
The $6.97 billion project will extend Q train service approximately 1.5 miles north from 96th Street and add new stations at 106th Street, 116th Street and 125th Street. The expansion is expected to improve transit access for East Harlem residents and provide direct connections to existing subway and commuter rail services.
According to the MTA, Phase 2 is scheduled to enter service in 2032 and will ultimately serve more than 100,000 daily riders in East Harlem. When combined with the existing Second Avenue Subway, the expanded line is expected to accommodate roughly 300,000 riders per day while improving connectivity across Upper Manhattan.
$100-million sewer tunnel project aims to eliminate storm overflows
Construction is underway on Charleston Water System's West Ashley Sewer Tunnel Extension, a more than $100 million wastewater infrastructure project designed to reduce sanitary sewer overflows and improve system reliability during major storm events.
The tunnel extension is expected to become the second-largest capital project in Charleston Water System's history. Utility officials say the project will address long-standing overflow issues that have affected portions of West Ashley during periods of heavy rainfall.
According to Charleston Water System, the tunnel will replace a problematic pump station and consolidate wastewater flows into a single conveyance system. Much of the area's existing sewer infrastructure is relatively shallow, making it more susceptible to infiltration and operational challenges during severe weather.
The project also includes construction of a new screening facility that will remove debris such as wipes and other non-flushable materials before they can contribute to blockages within the system. Utility officials say these materials can exacerbate backups and overflows when stormwater infiltrates aging sewer lines.
Construction began in June 2025 and is expected to continue for approximately two more years. Once operational, Charleston Water System expects the tunnel to significantly reduce – and ultimately eliminate – many of the sanitary sewer overflows that have impacted older West Ashley neighborhoods.
The tunnel extension is part of a broader effort by the utility to modernize wastewater infrastructure and improve environmental performance across its service area. Additional sewer system improvement projects are planned as Charleston Water System continues to address growth, aging assets and stormwater-related challenges.
Utility strike at center of Dallas explosion investigation
Newly released public records provide additional details about the events leading up to a fatal gas explosion that destroyed part of an apartment complex in Dallas, highlighting the role of utility locating and excavation activities in the incident.
According to records filed with Texas811, Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) requested utility markings at The Clyde apartment complex in Oak Cliff on May 21. Utility operators responded to the locate request before drilling work began at the site.
Documents indicate a natural gas line was damaged around 1 p.m. on May 28 during drilling operations. One report identified a drill rig operated by Barba Drilling as the source of the strike. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to reports of a gas leak shortly before the explosion occurred. Fire officials said crews were preparing to evacuate the property when the blast took place. Three people were killed in the explosion, including a woman and her 18-month-old son.
Atmos Energy said it was notified that a third-party construction contractor had damaged a natural gas pipeline prior to the incident. Attorneys representing the apartment complex have also alleged that drilling activities led to the line strike, while investigations by utility and government agencies continue.
Pipeline collapse increases wastewater flows in Tijuana River
The collapse of a major wastewater pipeline in Tijuana has led to increased sewage flows into the Tijuana River, prompting emergency repairs and renewed attention to long-standing cross-border wastewater challenges.
According to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), Tijuana's Parallel Gravity Line collapsed May 29. The 10-mile pipeline is designed to transport wastewater through the city and reduce discharges into the river near the U.S.-Mexico border.
To facilitate repairs, Mexican authorities temporarily shut down several pumping stations connected to the system. As a result, wastewater flows reaching the river have increased significantly in recent days. USIBWC data showed flows rising from approximately 0.1 million gallons per hour on May 29 to 1.6 million gallons per hour on June 2, with a peak of 2.6 million gallons per hour recorded June 1.
The pipeline failure marks the second rupture involving the Parallel Gravity Line this month. The line is currently undergoing rehabilitation as part of a broader binational effort to address the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis and reduce wastewater discharges affecting communities on both sides of the border.
Oklahoma’s largest water project breaks ground on 100-mile pipeline
Construction has begun on a key segment of the Second Atoka Pipeline, a 100-mile water transmission project designed to strengthen Oklahoma City’s long-term water supply and improve system reliability.
STV, which is providing design and construction management services for the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, is overseeing a 15-mile section between the Coalgate and Stonewall pump stations. The project is part of what officials describe as the largest municipal water infrastructure investment in Oklahoma history.
The expansion includes installation of a new 72-inch steel pipeline alongside the existing 60-inch Atoka pipeline, which currently supplies about 70 percent of Oklahoma City’s drinking water. Once complete, the new pipeline will increase capacity and add redundancy to the regional water system.
To reduce impacts on communities and the environment, the project will use trenchless construction methods for more than 3,600 linear feet of tunneling beneath streams, highways and rail corridors. STV is also providing engineering, surveying, utility coordination, environmental compliance and construction management services, including oversight of 16 active tunneling operations.
The pipeline is expected to be completed in 2028 and will initially deliver up to 90 million gallons of water per day. Multiple new pump stations will support the system, which is intended to meet projected demand through 2060.
Utah signs federal permitting deal to speed infrastructure projects
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the state of Utah have signed a new agreement aimed at streamlining permitting for major infrastructure and energy projects through closer coordination between state and federal agencies.
The memorandum of understanding was signed during the Operation Gigawatt Summit in Park City, Utah, by Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. Under the agreement, Utah will participate in the federal FAST-41 permitting process and align state environmental review timelines with federal reviews to reduce delays for infrastructure projects.
The agreement also establishes a framework for identifying priority infrastructure projects within the state and improving transparency surrounding permitting actions.
Domenech said the partnership is intended to improve coordination and create a more predictable permitting environment for infrastructure development.
According to the Permitting Council, the federal government will provide technical support for projects identified through the agreement, including assistance with FAST-41 eligibility, agency coordination and permit review processes.
Utah becomes the fourth state to enter into a permitting agreement with the Permitting Council, following similar agreements with Alaska, Idaho and Tennessee.
Las Vegas advances multibillion-dollar water pipeline expansion
Southern Nevada is moving ahead with a massive regional water infrastructure expansion designed to improve system reliability and reduce the risk of service disruptions across the Las Vegas valley.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s Horizon Lateral Program includes construction of new large-diameter transmission pipelines, pumping stations, reservoirs and pressure-regulating infrastructure intended to strengthen redundancy throughout the region’s water delivery network. Project costs are currently estimated between $2 billion and $2.7 billion.
Officials said the investment is intended to address vulnerabilities within portions of the valley’s aging water system, particularly in fast-growing areas such as Henderson. Roughly 40 percent of Southern Nevada’s drinking water currently moves through the South Valley Lateral system, which serves close to 1 million customers. The new infrastructure is designed to provide backup delivery capacity during outages, maintenance events or emergencies.
The project has been under development for years, but recently advanced following federal approval tied to rights-of-way beneath portions of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. The legislation authorizing the project also expanded protected conservation land while allowing critical water infrastructure construction to proceed.
Planned improvements include a new transmission pipeline and pumping station serving southeastern Henderson, additional pressure-regulating valves, expanded storage capacity and new connections linking eastern and western portions of the regional distribution system. Water officials said the upgrades are intended to improve operational flexibility while supporting future population growth throughout Southern Nevada.
Pelican Pipeline grows LNG reach with new Louisiana lateral
WhiteWater plans to expand its Pelican Pipeline system in Louisiana with a new lateral designed to deliver natural gas to Commonwealth LNG’s proposed export terminal in Cameron Parish.
The project, known as the Pelican Thrasher Lateral, will consist of approximately 65 miles of 42-inch pipeline extending from the Gillis area of Beauregard Parish to the LNG facility. The pipeline is designed to transport up to 2.5 Bcf/d of natural gas.
WhiteWater said the lateral is expected to enter service during the first half of 2029, subject to permitting and construction schedules.
The project represents another step in expanding Gulf Coast gas infrastructure to support growing LNG export demand. Once completed, the lateral will provide feed gas transportation capacity to Commonwealth LNG’s planned liquefaction facility on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.
The Pelican Pipeline system is part of WhiteWater’s broader natural gas transportation network serving major producing regions and Gulf Coast markets.
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