Legal
U.S. Supreme Court rejects proposed Rio Grande water rights settlement
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a proposed settlement among Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado regarding the division of Rio Grande River water. In a 5-4 decision, the court found the settlement insufficient because it overlooked federal government interests.
Michigan, Enbridge to battle over Line 5 oil pipeline in state court
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that Enbridge waited too long to attempt to move Attorney General Dana Nessel's 2019 lawsuit to federal court. The decision reverses a prior ruling that had favored Enbridge.
Water utility trade groups to take legal action over EPA’s PFAS rule
American Water Works Association (AWWA) CEO David LaFrance and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) CEO Tom Dobbins released a statement regarding legal action related to EPA’s final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Oregon utility regulator rejects PacifiCorp’s bid to limit wildfire liability in lawsuits
Oregon utility regulators have rejected a request from PacifiCorp that sought to limit its liability in wildfire lawsuits. Under the proposal, PacifiCorp would only have been responsible for paying out actual economic damages in lawsuit awards.
Federal government sues San Francisco over unauthorized stormwater, sewer system discharges
According to the federal complaint, San Francisco’s sewer system discharges of billions of gallons of combined sewage each year onto the beaches of San Francisco and into San Francisco Bay and its tributaries.
New National Security Memorandum aims to safeguard water infrastructure
(UI) — Recent cyber-attacks on water systems have underscored the urgent need for coordinated action to protect public health and the environment.
Tyler City Council updated on sewer system rehabilitations under Consent Decree
The City Council of Tyler, Texas, recently received a comprehensive update from Pipeline Analysis LLC regarding the ongoing and future rehabilitation plans for the city's sewer system as mandated by the Consent Decree.
Interior Department launches collaborative initiative to boost tribal water, sanitation infrastructure
The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and Indian Health Service unveiled a collaborative initiative aimed at bolstering safe drinking water and community sanitation infrastructure projects across Indian Country.
East Bay cities, municipal utility for violating 2014 Clean Water Act settlement with sewer overflows
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board announced that the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and six East Bay cities will be assessed $372,876 in penalties for violating settlement terms designed to prevent untreated sewage from entering San Francisco Bay.
Charleston Water System settles huge lawsuit over sewer system damage caused by non-flushable wipes
CWS brought suit in January 2021 against major U.S. companies seeking injunctive relief to remedy costly and ongoing damage to sewer systems and treatment facilities due in significant part to the inability of allegedly “flushable” wipes to break down, often clogging wastewater infrastructure and causing sewer overflows that damage the environment.
U.S. DOJ urges appeals court to reconsider forcing Enbridge to drain parts of Line 5 oil pipeline
In a public court filing, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asserted to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that draining parts of the Line 5 oil pipeline could violate a 1977 treaty that keeps oil flowing between the U.S. and Canada.
House passes Rep. Duarte's legislation to streamline water permitting processes in the Valley
The legislation addresses existing ambiguities in NPDES permits, which have been susceptible to legal challenges, potentially stalling vital energy and infrastructure projects.
Charleston Water System faces lawsuit over “significant” sanitary sewer overflows
Since 2015, Charleston Water has had at least 176 illegal sewer overflows, many of which spilled raw sewage into Charleston’s waterways including the Ashley and Cooper Rivers and James Island Creek.
Lowell, Mass., to invest $195 million in sewer upgrades in settlement over water pollution
Lowell, Mass., has settled with the EPA and Massachusetts, agreeing to invest $195 million in sewer upgrades to reduce sewage discharges into the Merrimack River.
Court approves “historic” $1.18 billion settlement with Dupont over PFAS water contamination
The settlements encompass public water systems that have identified PFAS detections in their drinking water sources, along with systems mandated to undergo PFAS contamination testing.
13 states call on EPA to strengthen lead pipe removal proposal
Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended that all lead water pipes in the nation be replaced in a decade to mitigate health risks associated with lead exposure. Now, 13 lawyers from various states have called on the EPA to strengthen that proposal.
Swinerton Builders penalized for Clean Water Act stormwater violations
A complaint filed with the settlement alleges that during its construction of solar farms near American Falls, Idaho, Lafayette, Alabama, and Perry and White Counties, Illinois, Swinerton failed to use proper stormwater controls, did not conduct regular site inspections by qualified personnel and did not accurately report and address stormwater issues.
EPA, Navajo Tribal Utility agree to $100M wastewater treatment, sewer piping plan
NTUA violated its Clean Water Act permits by regularly discharging wastewater that had not been treated to the required permit standards, and by failing to properly operate and maintain the facilities’ sewer systems to prevent sewage spills.
Missouri couple facing charges after audit uncovers theft from Bootheel sewer district
A husband and wife duo are each facing two dozen counts of felony stealing after a state audit found they tapped a small-town sewer district for more than $160,000 in personal proceeds.
Judge dismisses criminal charges against Former Michigan governor in Flint water scandal
Flint’s water became tainted with lead after city managers appointed by Snyder began using the Flint River in 2014 to save money while a new pipeline to Lake Huron was built.
Salem and Manville voters approve selling water, sewer systems to New Jersey American Water
(UI) — Voters in Salem City and the Borough of Manville have decisively approved ballot referendums to transfer water and sewer operations ownership to New Jersey American Water.
World’s largest poultry producer ask judge to dismiss Oklahoma watershed pollution ruling
Frizzell ruled in January that the companies were responsible for pollution of the Illinois River Watershed by disposing of chicken litter, or manure, that leached into the river.
California steps in to regulate over-drafted groundwater resources
The state’s water resources board set an April hearing to determine whether the Tulare Lake Subbasin in the heart of California’s farm country should be placed on probation.
Wisconsin lawmakers to vote on spending bill to address PFAS water contamination
The measure would create a grant program to help municipalities and landowners test for PFAS in their water treatment plants and wells.
EPA orders three Ohio water systems to comply with America's Water Infrastructure Act
The EPA took action to ensure the Village of McDonald, the Leading Creek Conservancy District in Rutland and the Buckeye Water District in Wellsville certify their risk and resilience assessments and emergency response plans.
Arizona governor terminates Saudi-owned farm lease over “unchecked” groundwater pumping
An investigation by the governor’s office found that the foreign-owned farm had violated some of its lease terms. Hobbs called it unacceptable that the farm “continued to pump unchecked amounts of groundwater out of our state while in clear default on their lease.”
Tennessee sewer authority reaches settlement with DOJ, EPA for Clean Water Act violations
Under the consent decree, WWTA will undertake a thorough assessment of, and implement extensive improvements to, its sanitary sewer system.
Local California farmers battle with big businesses over groundwater water rights in court
For years, California didn’t regulate groundwater, allowing farmers and residents alike to drill wells and take what they needed. That changed in 2014 amid a historic drought, and as ever-deeper wells caused land in some places to sink.
US Navy reprimands officers for 2021 contamination of Pearl Harbor drinking water
A Navy investigation last year concluded a series of errors caused the fuel to leak into a well that supplied water to housing and offices in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Federal court grants preliminary approval of $12.5 billion PFAS water contamination case
A federal district court in South Carolina granted preliminary approval of a $12.5 billion class action settlement on behalf of public water systems nationwide over claims that major chemical manufacturer, 3M, contaminated water sources across the country with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”
- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
- $227 million Garnet Valley water project advances, set to create 73,000 jobs in Nevada
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish
- Gehl and Mustang offer world’s largest skid loader
- Growing Pains and Gains
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish