Sewer
DEP launches SPEED program to fast-track stormwater construction permits
Pennsylvania DEP’s new SPEED program lets builders pay for an expedited third-party review of Chapter 102 stormwater permits, part of a broader push to modernize the state’s environmental permitting process.
Ala. man survives being pulled into flooded drainage pipe, carried 500 feet underground
A man in Alabama survived a harrowing ordeal last week after he was sucked into a flooded drainage pipe and swept hundreds of feet through an underground pipe system during severe weather. According to NBC affiliate WVTM 13, the city of Trussville's public works department is currently reviewing options to improve stormwater safety and reduce future flooding risks.
Union workers' strike in Philadelphia will affect water, wastewater systems
Thousands of union workers went on strike this week following a stall in contract negotiations with the city of Philadelphia. Many employees who have walked off the job are responsible for repairing and maintaining the city's water, wastewater and stormwater systems, CBS Philadelphia reported.
Iowa city completes $100 million in sewer upgrades decades ahead of schedule
The city of Waterloo, Iowa has met the requirements of a federal consent decree issued in 2016 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Iowa. Originally expected to take up to 30 years, the city has met all obligations in just 10 years by investing more than $100 million in upgrades to its wastewater treatment system and sewer infrastructure.
Huntsville, Ala., approves sewer rate hike to fund $150 million system upgrade
The City of Huntsville has approved its first sewer rate increase in 20 years to support a $150 million investment in aging sewer infrastructure and improvements at five wastewater treatment facilities.
Boulder, Colo., completes $46 million phase of main sewer upgrade
City engineers say the new pipeline increases flood resilience and lowers the risk of overflows during extreme weather. The original line, installed in 1968, has endured multiple floods, including the 2013 Front Range disaster.
Sewer line replacement at Denton, Texas, police HQ prompts temporary jail relocation
Denton, Texas, has temporarily closed its city jail as crews replace a sewer line at police headquarters. Inmates are being rerouted to Denton County and Flower Mound jails until mid-July.
New York approves nearly $200 million for local water, wastewater, stormwater projects
The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has cleared nearly $200 million in low-cost financing and grants for municipal water infrastructure, giving dozens of communities new resources to modernize wastewater plants, replace aging drinking-water mains and control storm-runoff.
$170 million sewer project in Eastham, Mass. approved after vote
Voters in the city of Eastham, Massachusetts voters have approved Phase 1 of a $170 million Targeted Watershed Management Plan following a meeting earlier this week, the Cape Cod Times reported. The plan encompasses the establishment of a wastewater treatment facility, as well as design, engineering and associated equipment.
Drilling, excavation to begin for four-mile, $133 million sewer tunnel in Charleston, S.C.
The Charleston Water System is initiating the final phase of a significant underground tunnel project aimed at connecting sewage pipes in rural areas of the county to the Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, Live 5 News reported. With a total budget of $133 million, this project represents the most expensive infrastructure undertaking in the history of the Charleston Water System.
Tucson, Ariz., issues floodplain notice for Esquer Park stormwater upgrade
Tucson has issued a final floodplain notice for a planned stormwater basin reconstruction at Esquer Park, part of a federally funded effort to improve drainage in a FEMA flood zone and federally designated floodplain.
Cost estimate for Illinois sewer project jumps to $309 million
The estimated expenses for a required combined sewer overflow project in Peoria, Illinois, have risen significantly. The city is required to complete projects aimed at reducing discharges from the combined sewer overflow by 2039, following a violation of the Clean Water Act in 2006.
N.C. court rules unmanaged stormwater runoff can constitute trespass
A North Carolina appeals court has confirmed that stormwater runoff crossing property lines without permission may be considered trespass, setting precedent for liability in cases where infrastructure agreements lapse. The decision underscores the importance of proactive stormwater management and clear easement terms in development and construction projects.
Collapse threat prompts DC Water to reinforce 140-year-old tunnel with shotcrete, geopolymer
DC Water has completed emergency repairs on a 140-year-old sewer tunnel beneath 22nd Street NW after a large soil void threatened collapse. Crews reinforced the structure using shotcrete and geopolymer lining to stabilize over 1,200 feet of aging pipe.
South Carolina city prepares for largest sewer project in 40 years
Easley Combined Utilities is planning a multi-phase sewer project with construction set to begin in late summer 2026, Greenville News reported. An operations engineer with the utility company remarked that this is the most significant sewer project the city of Easley has embarked on since the 1980s.
Lakeland, Fla., begins gravity sewer upgrade with 42-inch line, 43 manholes, 47 laterals
Lakeland has launched a major sewer infrastructure upgrade, replacing over 12,000 feet of aging pipeline and realigning sewer lines to improve system capacity and safety. Ariana Street will close temporarily in late June during construction.
Preparing brick masonry manholes for bonded rehabilitation systems
Brick masonry manholes made from clay or shale brick and laid with portland-cement mortar are still used in North America. Although typically historical, they are often found in manhole rehabilitation projects.
Trump decision may cut 90% of federal funding for W. Va. water and sewer projects
A recent proposal from the Trump administration could cut federal funding for clean and drinking water programs in West Virginia by 89%, the Mountain State Spotlight reported. For fiscal year 2025, the EPA has earmarked an initial $35.6 million for West Virginia through the two programs. But under the proposed cut, the state’s annual funds for the programs could fall to under $4 million.
Elkhart, Ind., breaks ground on $37 million project to curb sewer overflows, add 10-mile pipe
Elkhart has launched a $37 million infrastructure project to tackle sewer overflows, featuring a 1.7-million-gallon CSO tank, a new lift station, and a 10-mile sewer pipe aimed at protecting waterways during heavy rain events.
Amarillo to begin $16 million fix on collapsed 4,000-foot sewer line near school
Amarillo is moving forward with repairs to a collapsed 4,000-foot sewer line near Hillside Elementary, a long-abandoned pipe that first failed in 2014. The $16 million project follows a legal settlement and aims to restore safe, functional sewer infrastructure.
University of Kentucky wins award for 25-million-gallon stormwater harvesting system
The University of Kentucky’s Utilities and Energy Management team earned a Grand Award for its stormwater harvesting system, which captures and reuses up to 25 million gallons annually to help power the Central Utility Plant.
TxDOT breaks ground on massive drainage tunnel to reduce flooding in Austin
The Texas Department of Transportation has launched construction on a 6.5-mile drainage tunnel and pump station system in Austin to prevent flooding along I-35. The multi-phase project is a key part of the I-35 Capital Express Central initiative.
Huntsville, Ala., plans sewer rate hike to cover $150 million in upgrades
According to Fox54 News, the City of Huntsville, Ala., is proposing a sewer rate increase to help pay for $150 million in upgrades to its aging wastewater system. The rate increase would be the first in two decades.
$77 million Western Trunk sewer line project begins in Lakeland, Fla.
The city of Lakeland, Florida, Water Utilities Department kicked off construction earlier this month for its largest infrastructure project to date, according to LkldNow. Construction crews have begun work to upgrade the Western Trunk Gravity Sewer line, which handles approximately 3.5 million gallons of wastewater per day.
Gasoline found in Mendenhall sewer system disrupts treatment in Juneau, Alaska
A gasoline spill discovered in the Mendenhall sewer system disrupted wastewater treatment operations in Juneau, Alaska, prompting an ongoing investigation and a public call for information; officials warn of environmental and infrastructure risks.
Salem, Mass., begins sewer and water infrastructure upgrades across downtown
Salem, Mass., is carrying out sewer and water system upgrades downtown through June, funded in part by a Catalyst Fund grant, with lane closures and temporary water shutdowns expected.
Fort Wayne, Ind., tunnel project uses Vortex inserts to protect sewer system
Fort Wayne City Utilities is constructing a five-mile-long tunnel deep beneath the city to reduce combined sewer overflows into local rivers. Part of its Tunnel Works program, the project includes nine drop shafts, five of which feature IPEX’s Vortex Flow Inserts designed to minimize odors, prevent corrosion and improve wastewater quality before treatment.
Editor’s Log: Easy come, easy go
In this month’s Editor’s Log, Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter reflects on the fleeting nature of federal infrastructure funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, warning that recent budget proposals could undermine years of progress unless states and cities step up to meet the challenge.
Staten Island completes $84 million storm sewer upgrade in Sandy-hit New Dorp Beach
NYC completes $84 million underground storm sewer project in Staten Island’s New Dorp Beach, adding over 1.6 miles of drainage upgrades in Superstorm Sandy-affected area.
Des Moines, Iowa, eliminates final combined sewer overflow into Des Moines River
Des Moines and the WRA have eliminated the final combined sewer overflow into the Des Moines River, completing a major wastewater upgrade under a state mandate.
- 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