Sewer
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.
Portage, Ind., completes $3.5 million sewer rehabilitation with USACE partnership
Federal and local officials celebrated completion of a $3.47 million sewer rehabilitation project in Portage, Indiana, designed to reduce overflows and protect nearby wetlands and residential areas.
New Orleans utility launches AI tool to track neighborhood flooding
New Orleans flooding tool, SWBNO FloodTracker, ISeeChange AI partnership, New Orleans stormwater management, catch basin reporting New Orleans, localized flooding New Orleans, SWBNO drainage maintenance, stormwater infrastructure tracking.
Fla. city debuts Vactor truck to enhance underground infrastructure maintenance
According to 352today, the City of Ocala, Florida's Water Resources Department tested out its new Vactor truck last week, describing it as a major upgrade in maintaining the city’s underground infrastructure. The department stated the high-powered truck will help clear sewer lines, storm drains and more.
U.S., Mexico sign deal to end decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis
The U.S. and Mexico signed an agreement to accelerate sewage infrastructure projects and permanently resolve the decades-long Tijuana River pollution crisis affecting Southern California.
Westport, N.Y., completes $3.1 million wastewater upgrade to protect Lake Champlain
Westport, N.Y., has finished a $3.1 million wastewater overhaul to protect Lake Champlain, cutting infiltration and improving reliability for the rural community.
Aqua Pennsylvania finalizes $38 million wastewater system acquisition in Beaver Falls, Pa.
Aqua Pennsylvania has completed its $37.75 million purchase of Beaver Falls’ wastewater system, serving 3,200 customers and planning $10 million in infrastructure upgrades.
NYC subway flooding ignites concerns over stormwater infrastructure
Officials in New York are re-examining the city's infrastructure and stormwater systems following flash flooding last week that inundated parts of the city's underground subway system.
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.
Loveland, Colo., issues bonds for $122.5 million utility infrastructure overhaul
Loveland, Colo., is investing $122.5 million in utility upgrades, including new water mains, wastewater treatment expansion, and underground electric grid improvements.
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.
- Three Houston workers killed by hydrogen sulfide leak during sewer repair
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
- Funding approved for $1.3 billion, 60-mile water reuse system in southern Utah
- Is the Boring Company tunneling blind in Nashville? Experts warn rock tests fall short