Water
Illinois' Dixmoor receives $14 million to rehabilitate water infrastructure, remove lead pipes
(UI) — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced that $14 million in funding has been awarded to Dixmoor to rehabilitate its water distribution system, restore reliable potable water and replace lead service lines.
6 days after fuel spill reported, most in Tennessee city still can’t drink the tap water
Many of the 40,000 people who live and work in the Memphis suburb of Germantown remained under an order Wednesday to avoid using water for everything except flushing toilets. They can't drink or boil tap water, or use it for showering or bathing.
New Jersey American Water identifies over 24,000 lead water service lines in need of replacement
New Jersey American Water is well on its way to meeting New Jersey’s 10-year lead service line replacement target — with more than 4,000 lead and galvanized steel water service lines replaced to date.
Biden administration grants $58 million to remove lead from drinking water in Boston schools
The grants will help local communities test for lead in drinking water, identify potential sources of the contamination, and take steps to address the problem, said Radhika Fox, the Environmental Protection Agency’s assistant administrator for water.
Mesa, Ariz., commences $180 million pipeline project to bolster water supply amid drought
(UI) — The goal of the project is to construct a pipe that will join a recycling water delivery system that currently serves the Gila River Indian Community. All of this is a result of a 15-year-old exchange arrangement between Mesa and Gila River.
Residents of Tennessee city ordered to avoid using tap water after fuel spill
Residents of a Tennessee city must keep avoiding using their tap water after diesel fuel being used to power a generator at a treatment plant leaked into a reservoir, officials said Friday.
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority wins grant to replace 1,200 lead service lines
(UI) — State Senator Wayne Fontana announced that approximately 1,200 lead service lines in Allegheny County would be replaced with the nearly $15 million in funding from PENNVEST, ensuring clean and reliable drinking water for future generations.
Kauai water utility plans “complete overhaul” to upgrade aging infrastructure
Staff issues and lack of funds have left the agency without plans to upgrade the failing water system. However, Joseph Tait, the Kauai Water Department manager, has plans to scrap an outdated water plan and start fresh.
Miami Beach under boil water alert after main break
A water main break in Miami Beach caused pressure to drop and forced officials to issue a precautionary boil water alert Friday for a large swath of the tourism hotspot in Florida.
USGS study estimates 45% of tap water has PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ present
(UI) — According to a new conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, at least 45% of the nation’s tap water is estimated to have one or more types of the chemicals known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS.
Wisconsin residents file $42.4 million lawsuit over PFAS-polluted groundwater
The claims allege that the city learned PFAS levels in island groundwater exceeded federal recommendations as early as 2014 but didn’t inform residents.
Lawmakers seek extended deadline, funding for crucial water pipeline project in New Mexico
(UI) — The Indian Affairs Committee met on July 12 to discuss a bill that could affect water access for thousands of households in rural New Mexico. A $67 million contract was already issued to build water pipelines, but now lawmakers want more time and funds to complete and maintain the infrastructure.
Federal judge halts WOTUS litigation until Biden issues new ruling
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas temporarily stopped litigation over the Biden administration’s water regulation. Considering a recent Supreme Court decision, the judge opted to wait until the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers can revise the rule.
Legislation, lack of funding leave lead pipes underground in Chicago
Since Chicago was never forced to remove its lead pipe, it left most of it in the ground, relying on water treatment instead to lower the lead levels. State and local officials say they had limited funds that needed to be used elsewhere. They also say local rules made removal work more difficult and more expensive.
Tijuana, reliant on the Colorado River, faces a water crisis
Among the last cities downstream to receive water from the shrinking Colorado River, Tijuana is staring down a water crisis driven also by aging, inefficient infrastructure and successive governments that have done little to prepare the city for diminishing water in the region.
Granite selected for $48 million flood control project in Texas
(UI) — Granite has been awarded an approximately $48 million contract to strengthen Wharton, Texas' flood defenses and minimize the impact of future flood events. The project will focus on storm sewer relief systems and stormwater management in the city.
EPA grants over $5.6 million to conduct lead service line inventory for disadvantaged Alaskan communities
The grant comes through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and will be used to conduct lead service line inventory of 269 public water systems designated as Tribal or Small Disadvantaged systems.
Flint contractor agrees to settlement of lead contamination lawsuits
Flint families sued LAN and another contractor, Veolia North America, accusing them of not doing enough to get Flint to treat highly corrosive water or to urge a return to a regional water supplier.
Rehab Technology: Emergency repair of unexpected leak
(UI) — Created in 1951, by the Texas Legislature, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) consists of 10 original member cities, including Farmersville, Forney, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie. By 1956, this new agency was providing water to the region.
Ground/Water Treatment & Technology expands water management solutions with Ember Infrastructure investment
GWTT has 25+ years of experience partnering with clients to solve complex water challenges, including the cleanup of Superfund and former manufactured gas plant sites, civil and infrastructure dewatering, and treating for emerging contaminants of concern that include PFAS compounds.
New York governor approves $66 million for water infrastructure projects
(UI) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved $66 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects.
EPA invests $278 million to improve water infrastructure for Tribes, Alaska Native Villages
(UI) — The Biden-Harris administration has announced over $278 million in funding to improve access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.
Elizabethton, Tenn., increases charges for water, sewer services
Elizabethton's city council approved the budget 6-1, with water and sewer service charges increasing by $1.50.
Belgian chemical company to spend $393 million cleaning PFAS contamination in New Jersey drinking water
The company has been investigating and remediating PFAS at its West Deptford site since 2013, including working with the town to install a drinking water treatment system on a municipal well, constructing and operating an offsite groundwater pump-and-treat system, and enhancing on-site groundwater treatment systems.
BAMI-I to present first-ever Global Buried Asset Management Congress for underground infrastructure industry
This congress aims to advance the science and practice of asset management in the underground infrastructure industry, with a main focus on the water and wastewater sector and other utilities that have buried assets.
Florence, S.C., to fund $537 million sewer, water upgrade with bonds and 5% rate hike
(UI) — Michael Hemingway, the city's utility director, warned the Florence City Council members that Florence must start making plans for a thorough overhaul of the water and sewer system in all locations and facets. The project would need to be funded through the issuing of bonds totaling around $446 million over the next four years, as well as the imposition of higher fees.
Supreme Court ruling complicates Navajo Nation’s fight for more water
Already facing some of the most severe water scarcity in the drought-stricken Southwest, the tribe now has to deal with a Supreme Court ruling this week that will make securing water even harder for the 170,000 enrolled tribal members who live on its reservation.
Michels Trenchless, GeoTree Solutions partner to rehabilitate California tunnels
The organization partnered with Stantec for engineering services, with GeoTree Solutions joining the group to provide rehabilitation materials for two out of three tunnels included in the project scope – GeoTree’s GeoSpray 61 geopolymer mortar was used to rehabilitate portions of two 72-inch horseshoe-shaped tunnels – known as the Lilac Tunnel and the Red Mountain Tunnel.
Sewer main failure causes water contamination in Georgia’s One-Mile Branch Creek
(UI) — The Utilities Department was able to detect a failure in an eight-inch sanitary sewage main after a thorough investigation and video inspections.
New York’s West Seneca set to upgrade 92,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer mains
(UI) — The Buffalo News reports that the state of New York-mandated sewage restoration project in West Seneca is about to start one of its most extensive phases. The town of West Seneca has already spent almost $17 million upgrading decaying sewage lines.
- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- $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
- Construction underway for $1.4 billion, 60-mile water pipeline in Chicago
- 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