Sewer Construction
Century-old sewer tunnel restored as Ohio city completes two-year rehab project
Lakewood, Ohio has completed a massive rehabilitation of its 19,000-foot interceptor tunnel—one of the city’s largest sewer projects to date. The $28 million upgrade relines early-20th-century clay pipe, reduces stormwater inflow and sets the stage for a new CSO storage tank coming in 2026.
Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
A trench collapse at a sewer construction site in Yarmouth, Massachusetts left one worker dead and two injured, prompting a major rescue response and renewed scrutiny of excavation safety practices. Local, state, and federal agencies are now investigating the cause of the failure.
Legal challenges fail to stop Montana’s Lakeside sewer expansion project
Montana courts have cleared the way for the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District to move forward with its wastewater expansion after denying two lawsuits seeking to block the project in Flathead County.
Granite to build $350 million I-290 drainage, sewer upgrade in Chicago
Illinois is moving forward with a $350 million I-290 drainage and sewer improvement project—the state’s first CM/GC contract—adding more than three miles of large-diameter trunk sewers to reduce flooding along the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago.
California city to replace 5.5 miles of downtown water, sewer mains in Phase II
Oceanside will begin Phase II of its downtown utility overhaul in early 2026, replacing more than 5.5 miles of water and sewer mains and adding nearly 1 mile of recycled-water pipe in a $30 million project over two years.
Jackson, Miss., awards Jacobs nine-year contract to operate, upgrade wastewater system
Jacobs was awarded a nine-year contract to operate and upgrade Jackson, Mississippi’s wastewater system as part of the city’s ongoing effort to modernize aging underground infrastructure.
$552 million San Mateo wastewater upgrade expands underground treatment capacity
San Mateo completed a $552 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade featuring new underground treatment systems, expanded storm-flow capacity, and nutrient-reduction technology to protect San Francisco Bay.
Lafayette, La., breaks ground on $17.6 million wastewater lift station
Lafayette has begun construction on the $17.6 million South Gravity Lift Station, a wastewater project that will expand capacity for 2,000 new units and support redevelopment across the city. The project, partially funded by an EPA grant, is scheduled for completion in 2026.
Largest-ever PENNVEST funding round to improve drinking water across Pennsylvania
Governor Josh Shapiro announced a $547 million investment — the largest in PENNVEST history — to upgrade Pennsylvania’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems across 23 counties, replacing lead lines and improving treatment capacity statewide.
$283 million Black Creek sewer upgrade to create 65,000 jobs in Toronto
Canada is investing $283 million to expand Toronto’s Black Creek sewer system, adding 11 miles of new underground infrastructure to reduce flooding and create 65,000 jobs across the city.
Tampa breaks ground on major drainage improvement for El Prado neighborhood
In Tampa, construction begins this month on a $6.9 million stormwater project along South Manhattan Avenue to reduce neighborhood flooding and improve drainage, with completion expected in 2026.
ITOCHU, Çalık Enerji to build first sewer system in Erbil, Iraq
The JICA-funded project aims to improve water quality and sanitation for 135,000 residents, marking a milestone in the region’s underground infrastructure development.
D.C. tackles urgent repairs on 72-inch sewer line carrying 100 million gallons a day
DC Water has begun critical repairs on a 72-inch sewer line under Rock Creek, closing part of the Rock Creek Trail Oct. 3–5. The project aims to prevent sewage discharges and protect local waterways.
Asheville, N.C., sewer project begins blasting for French Broad River pipeline crossing
Blasting has begun on the French Broad River sewer pipeline project in Asheville, N.C., part of MSD’s Carrier Bridge Pump Station replacement. The $88 million effort includes multiple river crossings and a new pump station set for completion by 2029.
Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) says federal trade tariffs and ongoing market uncertainty have added more than $33 million to the cost of a critical sewer infrastructure project at the Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Honolulu wastewater bonds earn AA+ rating, opening door for sewer infrastructure upgrades
Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services will issue $223 million in green wastewater bonds after earning an AA+ rating from S&P and a positive outlook from Fitch, securing funds for critical sewer infrastructure upgrades on Oʻahu.
St. Louis, Mo., hides four miles of River Des Peres in tunnels beneath Forest Park
Hidden beneath Forest Park, St. Louis's River Des Peres flows through four miles of century-old tunnels. MSD plans a deeper, expanded system to handle growing wastewater and stormwater needs.
Sewer line expansion delivers critical infrastructure for Tyler, Texas’ 282-acre site
Tyler, Texas, approved a $992,000 sewer project to make a 282-acre business park development-ready. City leaders say the project will attract new industries and jobs.
Hawaii County begins $31 million Pāhala wastewater pipeline to retire cesspools by 2027
Hawaii County has launched construction on a $30.9 million wastewater system in Pāhala to eliminate large-capacity cesspools under a federal mandate. Work includes sewer line installation, property hookups, and road restoration.
California advances major sewer project to protect Yucca Valley’s groundwater
Yucca Valley, Calif., will move forward with a major groundwater protection project after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved a permit allowing septic tanks to be replaced with a new sewer system.
Wilsonville, Ore., proposes sewer, stormwater rate increases to fund $240 million upgrades
Wilsonville is reviewing sewer and stormwater rates to fund $240 million in long-term infrastructure projects, with public hearings planned ahead of a fall adoption vote.
Crews complete undersea wastewater pipeline to boost New Zealand infrastructure
Tunnel boring wraps up on $22 million Clarks Beach wastewater outfall in New Zealand, marking a major step in expanding the region’s underground water infrastructure.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
$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.
- TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
- $2.3 billion approved to construct 236-mile Texas-to-Gulf gas pipeline
- Major water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- Utah city launches historic $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
- Tulsa residents warned after sewer lines damaged by boring work
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized