Environment
New tool allows tribal, local governments to model lead line replacement costs for free
Developed under the leadership of Anthony Ross, former EPA Flint Emergency Coordinator, the Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator (LSLRCC) empowers users to accurately plan and budget for replacing an estimated 9.2 million lead service lines nationwide.
Veolia lands SFPUC contract to transform wastewater into decarbonized energy
Veolia, through its Water Technologies & Solutions business unit, has earned a $34 million contract to supply biogas upgrading technology for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Southeast Treatment Plant.
Zeldin’s EPA moves to shield utilities, shift PFAS costs to polluters
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced new steps to tackle PFAS contamination, including testing, discharge limits, and a liability framework to hold polluters accountable.
Work paused on NYC’s massive tunnel repair as drought triggers contract overhaul
The $2 billion effort to fix a leak in New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct, which supplies water to millions, is now expected to finish after 2027 due to drought-related delays and contract revisions.
Ardmore-ADEM sewer overhaul project wins EPA’s PISCES award
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently honored the Town of Ardmore for its partnership with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and Tennessee officials that led to the financing of the planned overhaul of Ardmore’s long overburdened sewer system.
Army Corps eyes fall 2025 for Line 5 Tunnel permit decision
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it expects to make a permit decision on the Line 5 Tunnel Project in fall 2025, with a draft environmental review set for release May 30 and public comments accepted through June.
Clock ticking on Canandaigua, N.Y., plan to remove toxic chemicals from water
Senator Schumer is urging the EPA to end delays and approve $1.75 million in funding for Canandaigua, N.Y.'s drinking water upgrade. The project, vital for 40,000 residents in Ontario and Wayne counties, targets harmful DBP chemicals linked to cancer and organ damage.
U.S. Army Corps moves to expedite Line 5 tunnel under Trump’s emergency order
The proposed tunnel for an oil and gas pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac has faced continued opposition from environmental groups. President Trump issued an order declaring an “energy emergency” in the early days of his second administration, calling on projects such as Line 5 to move forward at rapid pace.
Mexico sewer rehab project is diverting untreated wastewater into Tijuana River
A sewer rehabilitation project in Mexico is resulting in untreated sewage being diverted into the Tijuana River at a rate of about five million gallons per day since April 8, according to The Coronado Times. Mexico is working to activate a lift station, to help remove wastewater, and U.S. agencies are assisting to expedite the work.
Bellevue, Wash., sewer upgrade is first project of its kind to earn Salmon-Safe certification
King County’s major sewer upgrade in Bellevue, Wash., is the first infrastructure project of its kind to earn Salmon-Safe certification. The current sewer line in the Coal Creek Natural Area, installed in the 1960s, is nearing its capacity to serve surrounding communities. The new pipeline will largely bypass the natural area while much of the existing pipeline will be safely decommissioned and left in place to minimize disruption.
Nicholas Construction to upgrade California’s Mojave River Pipeline with new screen system
Nicholas Construction Inc. has been awarded a nearly $6.3 million contract to build the Mojave River Pipeline Traveling Screen Project, aimed at improving water delivery efficiency and enhancing regional groundwater recharge.
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.
Greenpeace must pay $667 million to Energy Transfer over pipeline protests, jury finds
A jury announced on Wednesday that Greenpeace is required to pay nearly $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer, a Texas-based pipeline company, due to the environmental group's involvement in protests against construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016-2017.
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.
NEDC sues Cannon Beach, Ore., as aging sewer system presents public health risks
The Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC) has filed a federal Clean Water Act (CWA) lawsuit against the City of Cannon Beach, Oregon, in an effort to protect local residents and visitors from dangerously high levels of bacteria in local creeks and beaches.
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
$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.
Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order has revived discussions about the 1,200-mile Keystone XL pipeline, a long-debated oil project that has faced political and environmental scrutiny.
Portland's $2 billion Bull Run Filtration Project halts construction after permit denial
According to The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Portland city officials have paused construction on its $2 billion Bull Run project after failing to secure a crucial land-use permit required for construction to move forward. The project, first approved in 2017, includes plans for a new filtration plant and associated water pipelines to comply with EPA regulations.
Trump order halts EPA’s proposed limits on PFAS discharges
The Office of Management and Budget withdrew the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) and Standards for PFAS Manufacturers on Jan. 21.
Extensive sewer, water and power infrastructure damage from LA fires
The wildfires that have devasted the LA area and destroyed at least 12,000 structures have also caused significant damage to the area’s sewer, water and power infrastructure, according to The Construction Dive.
EPA and Washington fine Seattle, King County for sewer overflow violations
The Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly issued penalties to Seattle and King County for violations related to combined sewer overflows.
Perca’s DrilO2 system employs earthworms for wastewater treatment
Perca, Inc., an environmental technology firm, has developed an innovative system for water regeneration that uses earthworms and microbial communities to clean wastewater naturally.
Enbridge agrees to reapply for key permit, stalling Line 5 tunnel project
The Army Corps of Engineers has extended its environmental review, pushing the project’s potential start date to 2026. Enbridge must now apply for a new water resources permit incorporating updated wetland data before moving forward.
California to improve water infrastructure drought resiliency with $7.3 million in federal funding
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding over $7.3 million in grants in California to support four drinking water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities that will be facing drought, wildfires and other impacts of climate change.
Biden administration streamlines environmental review process to fix aging natural gas pipes
The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that current and future recipients of its Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants (NGDISM) will be able to take advantage of a new, streamlined federal environmental review process for communities to fix older, leak prone natural gas pipes.
Illinois governor signs bill implementing two-year pause on CO2 pipeline construction
Governor JB Pritzker has signed the SAFE CCS Act, establishing new safety standards for carbon capture in Illinois and implementing a two-year pause on CO2 pipeline construction.
Colorado’s Larimer County commissioners greenlight Thornton water pipeline project
On May 8, Larimer County commissioners unanimously granted approval for Thornton City's 10-mile pipeline project, marking a breakthrough after years of contentious debate and legal battles.
Court affirms FERC approvals for gas pipeline expansion in Louisiana and Mississippi
A U.S. appeals court has upheld federal endorsements for a natural gas pipeline expansion initiative in Louisiana and Mississippi, dismissing claims from environmental advocates regarding inadequate scrutiny of its environmental impact.
Houston urged to allocate $20 million for vital sewer line repairs in marginalized communities
Groups such as the Northeast Action Collective, West Street Recovery, and Bayou City Waterkeeper have highlighted the significant health hazards posed by leaks in private sewer lines, particularly affecting residents in Northeast Houston.
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- Ditch Witch West sells first Bulldog trencher to speed up undergrounding work along West Coast
- Centuri awarded nearly $400 million for U.S. gas infrastructure work
- Growing Pains and Gains
- Maryland lawmakers push to curb BGE pipeline spending, citing safety and cost concerns
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.