Environment
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 In some areas, outdated systems waste billions of gallons of water annually, while families struggle to afford costly repairs and upgrades.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.
EPA classifies PFOA and PFOS as hazardous, water infrastructure faces Superfund cleanup
Designation as a hazardous substance under the Superfund law doesn’t ban the chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS. But it requires that releases of the chemicals into soil or water be reported if they meet or exceed certain levels.
Federal appeals court upholds judge’s dismissal of Dakota Access Pipeline protesters’ lawsuit
A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal judge’s 2021 decision dismissing a lawsuit filed by protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline, who alleged law enforcement officers used excessive force during a clash in 2016.
$48 million federal grant allocations to protect groundwater while supporting underground CO2 sequestration
The EPA has, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, developed stringent federal requirements for injecting CO2 that protect public health by ensuring injection wells do not contaminate underground sources of drinking water.
Feds OK gas pipeline expansion in Pacific Northwest over environmentalist protests
The 1,377-mile (2,216-km) pipeline will run from the Canadian border through a corner of Idaho and into Washington state and Oregon, connecting with a pipeline going into California.
US military to begin draining leaky fuel tank facility that poisoned Pearl Harbor drinking water
The military next week plans to begin draining fuel from World War II-era underground fuel tanks in Hawaii, nearly two years after the massive facility sickened 6,000 people when it leaked jet fuel into a Pearl Harbor drinking water well.
Federal, local officials secure $450 million dredging deal to clean up Milwaukee waterways
Federal, state and local officials have agreed to spend about $450 million to dredge contaminated sediment from Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan harbor and area rivers.
Environmental groups ask for EPA intervention in leaking Alabama water system
The petition asks for the EPA to assist in funding upgrades to the drinking water system, participate in receivership proceedings and develop and enforce a long-term consent decree to address infrastructure.
EPA releases initial data in nation’s most comprehensive PFAS monitoring effort
The data collected under UCMR 5 will ensure science-based decision-making and help EPA better understand national-level exposure to these 29 PFAS and lithium.
- 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.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- 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