Telecom/Electric
Houston To Build Massive Northeast Transmission Waterline
The city of Houston is building the 16.5-mile Northeast Transmission Waterline as part of its Surface Water Transmission Program (SWTP) to meet the region’s projected 2040 water demand. Ultimately, the waterline will provide up to 96 million gallons per day (MGD) to the city and 269 MGD to local wat..
Company Increases Use of Drones to Inspect Electric Transmission Lines
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Westar Energy is increasing the use of drones for such things as inspecting equipment, navigating remote areas and managing some emergencies, as the utility tries to improve safety and efficiency while also saving money, company officials said. Westar and Kansas State University..
University of Michigan, Google Create Flint Water Crisis App
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The University of Michigan and Google have teamed up to create an app and website aimed at helping Flint residents and officials deal with the lead-contaminated water crisis. Mywater-Flint was developed by computer science researchers at the university’s Flint and Ann Arbor camp..
Michels Upgrades Sewer and Catch Basin Cleaning Service
Michels Pipe Services has added a cost-effective, environmentally sound approach to sewer and catch basin cleaning in the Midwest. The service augments Michels’ comprehensive water and sewer maintenance and rehabilitation services throughout the nation. Michels recently purchased eight Camel 1200 w..
Altice USA Unveils Full-Scale Fiber-to-the-Home Network Investment Plan
Altice USA, a subsidiary of Altice N.V., a leading global telecommunications, media and entertainment company, plans to invest further in the U.S. by building a next-generation fiber-to-the-home network capable of delivering broadband speeds of up to 10 Gbps across its footprint. Altice USA will ext..
Colorado Celebrates “Water Research Foundation Day”
Colorado Governor John W. Hickenlooper proclaimed December 5, 2016 “Water Research Foundation Day,” in honor of The Water Research Foundation, a leading sponsor of innovative research supporting the water community. Originally based in New York, WRF has been a member of the Colorado business commun..
The Great Lakes Water Utility Energy Challenge Launches
The Great Lakes Protection Fund and American Water Works Association have launched The Water Utility Energy and Efficiency Challenge, an innovative program which engages water operators in a competition to reduce the emissions sourced in their energy generation. The competition is aimed at connectin..
Fiber Optic Network Provider Sold for $1.4 Billion
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — The Vancouver-based fiber optic network provider Electric Lightwave has sold to a Colorado company for $1.42 billion. The Columbian reports (http://bit.ly/2gILXzg ) that telecom infrastructure company Zayo Group announced the purchase on Wednesday and the deal is expected to..
Major Underground Utility Infrastructure Conference Brings Education, Equipment To Fort Worth, TX
The 2017 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) is taking its benchmark education program to the Fort Worth Convention Center, Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Presented by Underground Construction magazine, UCT is the largest event in the United States focusing on undergroun..
Commission: Michigan Should Spend $4 Billion More Annually on Infrastructure
(AP) – A report ordered by Gov. Rick Snyder says Michigan must spend $4 billion more annually to upgrade infrastructure that includes roads, water systems and the power grid. The study released Monday says the state and local governments spend less than the U.S. average and in surrounding states. ..
FTTH Booming In Rural Texas Panhandle Fiber Installation All Going Underground
The steady growth of fiber optic cable deployment in the United States steadily continues with more and more households and businesses being directly connected to fiber. While newspaper headlines often announce big carrier plans to bring fiber to an increasing number of cities, fiber to the home (..
Vermeer RTX750 Ride-On Tractor
The Vermeer RTX750 Ride-On Tractor is powered by a 7-horsepower, Deutz TD2.9L4 diesel engine, has a max torque of 192 ft-lb and operator ear rating of 91 d(B)a. When equipped with rubber tires, the RTX750 is 72 inches wide, with a max transport speed (forward/reverse) of 5 mph. If difficult ground c..
Toro Pro Sneak 365
The Toro Pro Sneak 365 offers powerful plowing in a compact, maneuverable package — perfect for installing drip irrigation lines, electrical cable or other utilities in tight spaces. The narrow tire configuration, which spans 36” in width, allows for passage through gates or other obstacles, and the..
Maine Regulators Expand Investigation of FairPoint Communications
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — State utility regulators are expanding an investigation of FairPoint Communications for failing to meet minimum service standards for landline customers. The Maine Public Utilities Commission has been considering a $500,000 fine against FairPoint for failing to meet standards ..
Water Research Foundation Appoints John Albert as Chief Research Officer
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has appointed John Albert as Chief Research Officer. Albert will contribute to the strategic direction of WRF as part of the Senior Management Team and as director of Research Services and Subscribers Services. “We are excited that John has accepted the role of C..
Carylon Purchases Pipeline Asset Management And Investigative Technologies
Carylon Corporation, a North American comprehensive environmental maintenance service provider, has purchased several state-of-the-art pipeline asset management and investigative technologies from JD7 that allow Carylon to inspect and conduct condition assessments in live pressure water mains across..
SoCalGas Deploys Sensors to Detect Methane and Enhance Public Safety
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has completed demonstration testing of new gas detection sensors employing its Advanced Meter communication system as part of its overall pipeline safety efforts. The sensors can detect natural gas leaks quickly near natural gas pipelines and serves as an e..
MaxLiner Trenchless CIPP Solutions
The MaxLiner System is small enough to fit into your existing service vehicles and needs just two or three workers to get the job done. The highly portable system allows you to install more than one job per day, and its lightweight design allows you to quickly and easily use it for not only traditio..
John Deere Integrates SmartGrade Technology Into 750K, 850K Dozers
John Deere is building on its lineup of SmartGrade crawler dozers with the integration of the machine control offering on the 750K and 850K models. “The launch of our 700K SmartGrade dozer was a huge hit earlier this year, and many of our customers asked for the grade control technology to be integ..
UT Austin Engineering Becomes New Home for EPA Water Infrastructure Center
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3.9 million to researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin to establish the new Center for Infrastructure Modeling and Management, which will develop and improve open source water infrastructure mo..
Vactor HXX ParaDIGm® Vacuum Excavator Wins Award at 15th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards
The Vactor HXX ParaDIGm®, a compact vacuum excavator, has been named a winner at the 15th annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The Chicago Innovation Awards recognize the most innovative new products or services brought to market or public service in the Chicago area each year. The award was presented..
Utility Eyes Burning Thinning Debris to Protect Water Supply
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona water and power utility is conducting an experiment to add forest-thinning debris to coal burned by an electricity-generating plant. It aims to make thinning more economical to help avoid devastating wildfires producing runoff that would contaminate reservoirs. A tes..
Brooklyn-to-Staten Island Drinking Water Tunnel is Activated
NEW YORK (AP) — A $250 million drinking water tunnel from Brooklyn to Staten Island that had been delayed by Superstorm Sandy has been activated. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Saturday that the tunnel is a critical backup that can deliver up to 150 million gallons of safe drinking water per day t..
Agency to Help Oklahoma Cities Map Water Infrastructure Digitally
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Bert Curtis said the city of Davis‘ water infrastructure is mapped in his head, after working in the public utilities department for more than three decades. Now that map is on the web, and the division director’s employees can find water meters and fire hydrants using an iPad. ..
Water Research Foundation Releases Results from Ongoing Study on Direct Potable Reuse
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has released interim results from the project “Blending Requirements for Water from Direct Potable Reuse Treatment Facilities.” The objective of this project is to provide guidance for the appropriate use of blending as part of a direct potable reuse (DPR) project..
New Chief Technology Officer Joins the Water Council
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and The Water Council have named Dr. David Garman as the new Chief Technology Officer for The Water Council. Dr. Garman will specifically lead The Water Council’s new initiative called the ICE (Innovation Commercialization Exchange) Institute while continu..
Promising Earthquake Resistant Steel Pipe For Water, Oil, Gas
Devastation caused by major earthquakes is well-known – dramatic video clips vividly document the destruction of collapsed buildings, caved-in highways, fallen bridges and debris scattered across the landscape. However, not all damage is visible. Violent shifts underground can rupture water, sewer..
Hydromax USA and Detection Services Propose Exclusive Licensing Agreement
Hydromax USA announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Detection Services, Australia, to enter into an exclusive licensing agreement to deliver pipeline inspection services to the water and sewer sectors in the United States, Canada and other selected markets. Under the proposed ag..
North America and Europe Expected to Account for over 90 Percent of Investment in Water Management Solutions Through 2025
A recent report from Navigant Research examines the landscape for water management technologies and services in intelligent buildings, including global market forecasts for revenue, through 2025. Investment in water management delivers economic and sustainability benefits, but the pace and scale of..
Electro Scan Announces Integration With Innovyze® InfoMaster for Sewer
Electro Scan Inc. has completed data integration between its flagship sewer condition assessment solution and the Innovyze® InfoMaster for Sewer product. Electro Scan’s breakthrough technology evaluates 360-degrees of a pipe wall to accurately locate and measure defects in gallons per minute (GPM) ..
- 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
- 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
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds