Pipelines
Traverse Pipeline approved to transport natural gas along 160-mile South Texas–Katy route
WhiteWater and partners MPLX LP, and Enbridge Inc. and Targa Resources Corp. have reached final investment decision to move forward with the construction of the Traverse Pipeline, which will transport up to 1.75 Bcf/d of natural gas along a 160-mile stretch of the Texas Gulf Coast region.
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.
Dresser Utility Solutions acquires pipe-pulling tech firm Kobus
Dresser Utility Solutions has acquired Kobus, a U.S.- and U.K.-based provider of gas and water pipe pulling technology, in a move aimed at expanding Dresser’s infrastructure repair capabilities for utility customers.
Texas’ Midland County voters to weigh $645 million proposal for new water system
Voters in Midland County will soon decide whether to approve a $645 million bond that would fund a major overhaul of the region’s water infrastructure.
Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
The water line installation is part of the South Rivanna River Crossing Pipeline project, which aims to strengthen the region’s drinking water infrastructure.
Private water utility in Superior, Wis., creates snag for lead pipe replacement plans
Former President Biden pledged $1 billion for lead pipe replacement funding across the state of Wisconsin during a visit last year. But, according to Wisconsin Public Radio, the city of Superior's status as a privately-owned water utility has prevented it from accessing federal funds to complete the work.
Willamette River goes sewer overflow-free thanks to Big Pipe system in Portland, Ore.
Portland recently marked a major environmental milestone: one full year without a combined sewer overflow (CSO) into the Willamette River, a testament to the long-term success of the city’s $1.4 billion Big Pipe Project.
Corpus Christi, Texas, approves Mary Rhodes water pipeline upgrades amid Stage 3 drought
The Corpus Christi City Council has approved additional funding for critical infrastructure upgrades to the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, a key water supply system now running at its maximum capacity amid worsening drought conditions.
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.
Mary Rhodes Pipeline expansion part of ongoing efforts to boost Corpus Christi water supply
Key ongoing projects include expansion of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline — recently awarded Asset Management Project of the Year by Underground Infrastructure Magazine — along with two planned seawater desalination plants and plans to drill new water wells along the Nueces River, Caller Times reported.
48-inch sewer line project begins in Visalia, Calif.
Sewer construction along Shirk Avenue in northwest Visalia is set to begin on March 17 after a weather-related delay. Crews will work through March 21, installing a 400-foot, 48-inch mainline sanitary sewer pipe to expand capacity and support future growth.
South Dakota governor signs bill banning eminent domain for carbon pipeline
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed HB 1052 into law, protecting landowners' property rights by prohibiting the use of eminent domain for pipelines transporting carbon oxide.
Cadiz taps Stantec to lead engineering for $800 million Mojave Groundwater Bank
Once completed, the project will provide 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply and 1 million acre-feet of underground storage. A 350-mile pipeline network will connect the system to the Colorado River and California Aqueducts, making it the largest new water infrastructure project in the Southwest.
New Jersey American Water advances lead pipe replacements, exceeds 12,000 replacements
The utility remains on track to meet a 2021 New Jersey law requiring the removal of both utility-owned and customer-owned lead and galvanized steel service lines by 2031.
Estimated cost to replace Canada water pipeline nearly doubled since last year
According to CBC Canada News, consulting firm AECOM presented a report to Yellowknife city council showing the cost for a new water pipeline has risen to $107.7 million, up almost double from the 2024 estimate of $62.7 million.
Western Midstream to build pipeline for Permian produced water transport
Western Midstream Partners announced that it has sanctioned the construction of the Pathfinder pipeline, a 30-inch long-haul pipeline, that will transport produced-water to additional disposal facilities in eastern Loving County within the Delaware Basin.
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.
Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
Ameren Illinois plans to invest nearly $140 million in 2025 to upgrade its natural gas transmission system across four Illinois counties. The upgrades aim to enhance system resilience and meet federal pipeline regulations.
Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
The ICC’s decision marks a major regulatory shift, replacing Peoples Gas’ over-budget modernization program with a strict mandate to remove high-risk cast iron and ductile iron pipes in Chicago by 2035. With potential financial penalties and oversight from a newly appointed Safety Monitor, this ruling directly impacts pipeline safety, utility operations, and future rate considerations.
Washington watch: Last-minute Biden pipeline actions in the balance
The Biden administration’s attempts in its last month to make significant changes to pipeline regulation may be early targets for reversal for the incoming Trump administration. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) was particularly active as the clock ran out, finalizing one pipeline leak detection rule and issuing its intent to define “categorical exclusions” which are proposed pipeline operational changes that would not need environmental review.
WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
The Clack-A-Mole Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was retrieved from the Willamette River in Oregon City, Ore., at the end of January after being submerged for more than seven months. During that time, the 250,000-pound machine drilled a half-milelong, nine-foot-diameter tunnel to construct a new outfall pipeline to transport treated water.
Schneider Electric strengthens OT security with SCADAPack RTU upgrade
Schneider Electric has introduced new cybersecurity features for its SCADAPack 470i and 474i remote terminal units (RTUs), aiming to enhance operational technology (OT) security for critical infrastructure.
Maryland lawmakers push to curb BGE pipeline spending, citing safety and cost concerns
Maryland lawmakers and regulators are raising concerns over Baltimore Gas & Electric’s (BGE) multibillion-dollar pipeline replacement program, citing rising costs for consumers and questions about its effectiveness in improving safety.
Newark resolves water crisis with service line replacement program
(UI) — As evidence mounted in the 1970s and 1980s about the detrimental effects of lead on the nervous system, Congress banned the use of lead in water pipes in 1986. By 1991, federal regulators began requiring water authorities to monitor lead levels in drinking water.
Trump aims to leverage Clean Water Act to speed up pipeline construction
According to E&E News by Politico, The Trump Administration has taken recent action to leverage the Clean Water Act in order to ramp up gas pipeline construction across the U.S.
AI's impact on pipeline construction: Transforming productivity and safety
Artificial Intelligence is all the rage. Nearly all of the discussion is how efficiently it can perform repetitive tasks, forecasting, etc. There are fears, as well, that AI will displace humans and their jobs.
Washington Watch: Trump regulatory changes afoot for pipelines
Trump’s regulatory changes could impact pipeline approvals, with shifts in key environmental laws. Expected revisions to NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and methane regulations could accelerate or delay projects, depending on the new administration’s stance.
Kinder Morgan moves forward with $1.7 billion natural gas pipeline project in Katy, Texas
According to Chron: Houston News, Kinder Morgan will go forward with its $1.7 billion Trident Intrastate Pipeline. The 216-mile natural gas pipeline will be built in Katy, Texas, and bring 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas to the LNG and industrial corridor near Port Arthur, Texas once it's completed.
PHMSA proposes tougher safety rules for carbon dioxide pipelines
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has unveiled a proposal to strengthen safety requirements for carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hazardous liquid pipelines.
$105 million S. Dakota water pipeline project to begin construction spring of 2025
According to The Daily Republic, A water pipeline initiative in Mitchell, S.D. recently awarded construction contracts for the project, with construction set to begin spring of 2025.
- 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
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- 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