Stormwater
Oil pipeline struck during fiber optic construction spills into L.A. storm drains
A fiber optic construction crew ruptured a 16-inch crude oil pipeline in East Los Angeles, sending oil into storm drains and portions of the LA River while triggering a large-scale environmental response.
New Orleans weighs stormwater fee to fund aging drainage infrastructure
New Orleans is considering a parcel-based stormwater fee to help fund aging drainage and water infrastructure as officials confront rising climate risks and long-term system maintenance needs.
Wastewater spill tied to RDU construction reaches North Carolina creek
Raleigh Water crews are continuing cleanup efforts after wastewater tied to airport construction activities was mistakenly discharged into a storm drain flowing to Turkey Creek.
North Chicago begins stormwater project targeting chronic flooding
North Chicago has started construction on a major stormwater detention basin and drainage improvement project designed to reduce chronic flooding and upgrade aging infrastructure.
Canada ramps up water infrastructure upgrades as system losses grow
Canada is increasing investment in water and wastewater infrastructure as aging systems, climate pressures and growing water losses strain utilities nationwide.
Delays threaten $245 million tied to Houston flood mitigation projects
More than $245 million tied to Harris County flood mitigation and stormwater projects could be at risk as infrastructure work falls behind schedule ahead of federal funding deadlines.
San Antonio sewer main collapse triggers spill after heavy rain
A 24-inch sewer main collapse in San Antonio caused a spill after heavy rain, with crews installing a bypass and working to complete repairs.
Jacobs launches AI tool to help cities predict flooding, manage drainage systems
Jacobs has introduced an AI-based platform designed to help utilities and cities forecast flooding, manage stormwater systems and improve emergency response.
Pipe failure spills nearly 70,000 gallons of wastewater into Lake Wylie, N.C.
A pipe failure at a Charlotte lift station sent nearly 70,000 gallons of wastewater into a Lake Wylie, N.C., cove, highlighting ongoing sewer infrastructure risks.
FEMA funds Beaumont drainage project in $117 million flood package
FEMA has approved more than $117 million for flood mitigation projects in Texas and Louisiana, including a drainage and detention basin project in Beaumont.
Austin completes storm drain upgrade, greenbelt improvements along Williamson Creek
Austin officials have completed drainage upgrades and greenbelt improvements along Williamson Creek, including 1,600 feet of new storm drain designed to reduce flooding in southeast Austin.
Storm sewer breach blamed for Omaha sinkhole that swallowed vehicles
A viral sinkhole that swallowed two vehicles in Omaha has sparked a dispute between city officials and the Metropolitan Utilities District over whether a storm sewer failure or water main issue caused the collapse.
$17 million Turkey Gully drainage project targets flooding in Houston’s Greater Heights
Houston’s $16.9 million Turkey Gully Paving and Drainage Project in Shady Acres is nearing construction, with flood control improvements expected to reduce risk for hundreds of properties.
San Diego officials highlight $5-billion stormwater infrastructure gap after heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall in San Diego is spotlighting a growing stormwater infrastructure funding gap exceeding $5 billion, as city officials weigh long-term investment needs for aging underground drainage and flood control systems.
Phase 2 work begins on Brookglen stormwater basin in La Porte, Texas
Phase 2 construction of the Brookglen Stormwater Detention Basin is set to begin in La Porte, Texas, as part of Harris County’s flood risk reduction program.
Donna Channel drainage project begins to address chronic flooding in Taylor, Texas
Taylor, Texas, has launched a $5.7 million drainage improvement project near the Donna Channel to reduce flooding for about 50 homes, with construction expected to finish in 2027.
NYC plans $68 million Prospect Park Bluebelt to curb flash flooding
New York City plans a $68 million stormwater project in Prospect Park to reduce flash flooding using Brooklyn’s first Bluebelt, with construction expected to begin in 2029.
New 4,000-foot tunnel to boost Detroit sewer capacity, prevent flooding
The Great Lakes Water Authority has begun construction on an $87 million stormwater diversion tunnel in southwest Detroit, designed to reduce sewage backups, basement flooding, and improve water quality along the Rouge River. The 4,000-foot tunnel will redirect excess wet-weather flows to an existing retention and treatment basin, boosting system resilience ahead of expected completion in 2028.
$86 million Miami Beach project to rebuild drainage, sewer north of 14th Street
Miami Beach is moving forward with an $86 million design-build project to replace drainage, water and sewer infrastructure in the West Avenue neighborhood, including a new 120,000-gpm pump station and major underground utility upgrades north of 14th Street.
Wichita, Kan., advances $36 million Bleckley Drive drainage overhaul to curb chronic flooding
Wichita is advancing a $36 million, multi-phase drainage and utility project on Bleckley Drive, replacing aging stormwater infrastructure with new underground sewers and rebuilt roadways to reduce chronic flooding through 2028.
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.
Potomac River Tunnel project enters construction phase beneath Washington, D.C.
DC Water has begun tunneling for the 5.5-mile Potomac River Tunnel Project, part of the Clean Rivers Program to reduce sewer overflows and improve water quality in Washington, D.C. The tunnel will cut overflow volume by 93 percent once complete.
NYC launches long-awaited sewer, drainage project for flood-prone neighborhood
New York City will finally bring modern sewer and stormwater systems to The Hole, a flood-prone area on the Brooklyn-Queens border. The project includes new sanitary and storm sewers, bluebelts, and elevated streets to reduce flooding and protect water quality.
Rep. Deluzio proposes $350 million in federal funding for stormwater, sewer flood mitigation
U.S. Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) has introduced the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Grant Reauthorization Act, a bill that would renew roughly $350 million in federal funding to help municipalities nationwide combat flooding, upgrade stormwater systems, and modernize combined and sanitary sewer infrastructure.
St. Louis program prevents 100 million gallons of stormwater from reaching the Mississippi
St. Louis is investing $120 million in green infrastructure projects that use rain gardens, bioretention basins, and urban farms to capture and filter stormwater. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s initiative is expected to prevent more than 100 million gallons of runoff from reaching the Mississippi River, reducing combined sewer overflows and improving water quality.
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.
$2 billion, 20-story-deep DigIndy tunnels complete in Indianapolis
Indianapolis has completed the $2 billion DigIndy Tunnel System — a 28-mile network running 20 stories underground — to capture stormwater and sewage overflows, improving water quality and protecting the White River.
Chattanooga advances $153 million project to prevent sewer overflows
Construction is progressing on Chattanooga's Environmental and Economic Infrastructure Improvements (e2i2) project, a major component of the Tennessee city’s Clear Chattanooga initiative to reduce sewer overflows and improve water quality.
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.
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.
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- OSHA investigates fatal trench collapse at Conroe construction site
- Final Lake Erie sewer tunnel project set to begin after decades-long $3 billion effort
- Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
- Fiber drilling strike triggers major sewer failure, lawsuits in Florida
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
- Race Communications breaks ground on Bakersfield fiber network
- Final Lake Erie sewer tunnel project set to begin after decades-long $3 billion effort
- Inside Infrastructure: Utility locators warn of systemic failures in damage prevention process