Water
Jacksonville, Florida partners with artificial intelligence company to improve stormwater fee assessment
Jacksonville, Florida, will use various state-of-the-art technologies to create a high-resolution map of over 350,000 parcels in Duvale County. These technologies include artificial intelligence, ariel imagery, and geographic information systems. The goal of the project is to streamline private property assessments to determine landowner responsibilities according to the IAC program.
Philadelphia awarded $340 million for water infrastructure, lead pipe replacement projects
(UI) — Portions of Philadelphia’s drinking water systems are approaching the end of their useful life and need significant upgrades to continue to deliver clean and safe water to the residents of Philadelphia. The initial loan of $19.8 million will modernize critical drinking water infrastructure by replacing approximately 160 lead service lines and 15 miles of watermains throughout the city.
Oregon halts construction on water pipeline project after 12 years and $38 million
(UI) — The Portland Water Bureau abruptly stopped work on the intended building of a new water pipeline beneath the Willamette River today after more than 12 years of planning and preparation and the investment of $38 million.
Interior: $580 million headed to 15 tribes to fulfill water rights
Fifteen Native American tribes will get a total of $580 million in federal money to pay for pipelines, pumping stations, and canals to help deliver water to the tribe's reservations.
Texas lawmakers to push water infrastructure upgrades to forefront of legislative agenda
(UI) — For the upcoming fiscal year, Texas is anticipated to have a record surplus. Now, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is hoping to direct some of that money toward much-needed renovations to the state's water infrastructure.
Pumping Mississippi River water west: solution or dream?
While the much-needed water has improved conditions in the parched West, experts warn against claiming victory. About 60% of the region remains in some form of drought, continuing a decades-long spiral into water scarcity.
West Virginia lab owner admits to falsifying test results for city’s public water
The co-owner of a West Virginia water laboratory on Monday pleaded guilty in federal court to submitting false results for a city’s public drinking water samples that were never tested, prosecutors said.
H2O Innovation awarded $5.5 million of new water, wastewater treatment projects
(UI) — H2O Innovation’s business line Water Technologies & Services has recently been awarded five new water and wastewater treatment projects, including four industrial projects. These new contracts have a total value of $5.5 million.
Arizona judge won’t compel Scottsdale to share water
An Arizona judge says she won’t compel Scottsdale to resume an arrangement that allowed residents of a neighboring community to get their water from a city standpipe, saying the flap isn’t the court’s concern.
Pennsylvania passes ‘forever chemicals’ drinking water limit
Pennsylvania has enacted a statewide drinking water limit on two forms of highly toxic chemicals, nicknamed “forever chemicals.” The rule applies to all 3,117 water systems, the Department of Environmental Protection said.
Wyoming’s water infrastructure rated “mediocre” by engineering group
(UI) — The Wyoming section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released the first Report Card for Wyoming’s Infrastructure on Tuesday, with the state’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure receiving a grade of “C” and “D+”. According to the report, a C is considered “mediocre” while a D is “poor.”
DOJ appointee releases new plan for 'tenuous' Jackson water
The interim manager appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the troubled water system in Mississippi's capital city released a new financial plan Friday to change the way Jackson bills for water and spend hundreds of millions of federal relief funds paying down the system's debt.
Flint, Mich., and plaintiffs agree on new date to replace lead water lines
(UI) — After again missing the court-approved date for the replacement of lead water lines last autumn, the city of Flint, Michigan, and a group of plaintiffs who sued the city agreed to set a new timetable.
Federal money driving Jackson water bill, DOJ appointee says
A bill before the Mississippi Legislature that would transfer the capital city’s troubled water system to a new regional entity could be motivated by a desire by state officials to access a large pot of federal dollars earmarked for the city, Jackson’s federally appointed water operator said Wednesday.
Water system in Mississippi’s Capital could get new owners
Jackson’s troubled water system could get a new set of owners under legislation advanced Tuesday by Republican lawmakers in Mississippi. The bill would transfer ownership to a new public entity overseen by a nine-member board, the majority of which would be appointed by state leaders.
Nevada water authority approves $70 million for water projects, pipeline system
(UI) — More than $70 million in water projects were approved by the Southern Nevada Water Authority on Jan. 19, with roughly half going toward pipelines that North Las Vegas city officials hope will boost economic growth at Apex Industrial Park.
South Dakota lawmakers consider $220 million for housing, water
South Dakota lawmakers are considering a pair of infrastructure funding bills that would allocate over $220 million to housing and water supply projects.
Residents in Scottsdale, Ariz., file lawsuit against city for disrupting water supply
(UI) — After being cut off from its municipal water supply due to severe drought conditions and falling Colorado River water levels, a suburb of Arizona has filed a lawsuit against Scottsdale. Residents of the unincorporated hamlet of Rio Verde Foothills filed a lawsuit against Scottsdale earlier this month in Maricopa County Superior Court, requesting an order to compel the city to resume water services.
California storms feed systems set up to capture rainwater
As Californians tally the damage from recent storms, some are taking stock of the rainwater captured by cisterns, catches, wells and underground basins. Hidden under a newly paved parking lot next to a county courthouse, the wastewater treatment plant filters and purifies sewage and runoff simultaneously to produce water that exceeds state and federal drinking water regulations.
Digging Deep for Resilience
(UI) — Resilience is an essential concept for water infrastructure as well, defined by the American Society of Civil Engineers as “a system’s ability to withstand and adapt to the impacts of natural and/or manmade disasters.” As climate instability increases the likelihood of heavy downpours, sewer systems without ample capacity are increasingly vulnerable to overflow.
Governor Hochul invests additional $143 million into New York water infrastructure projects
(UI) — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $143 million in financial assistance for seven water infrastructure improvement projects, the latest action to upgrade New York's water and sewer systems, reduce water pollution, and safeguard vital drinking water supplies.
Missouri utility unveils $425 million water infrastructure plan
(UI) — Investor-owned water company Missouri American Water said on Jan. 12 that this year will see more than $425 million in enhancements to the state's water and wastewater systems.
Pennsylvania to invest $236 million for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater projects
(UI) — Gov. Tom Wolf has announced the investment of $236 million for 25 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects across 17 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.
US Water Alliance, Stantec release report offering innovative model for water pricing equity
(UI) — The report released by the U.S. Water Alliance and Stantec presents an innovative model for pricing and billing water that is an opportunity to achieve greater equity by reducing water bills for most low-income households while preserving revenue and improving financial resilience for water utilities.
DeSantis pledges $3.5 billion to Florida water projects, conservation efforts
A week into his second term, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Tuesday reaffirming and building on a commitment to clean water he had signed exactly four years earlier.
Louisiana lawmakers award $357 million in sewer, water projects
(UI) — Louisiana lawmakers have approved $356.7 million for 87 sewer and water upgrades around the state during their Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget meeting held in December.
Idaho awarded $263 million for wastewater upgrades, to help recharge Boise River water supply
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $263 million loan to Boise, Idaho, to improve the city’s wastewater treatment processes to protect the Boise River’s water quality and ultimately recharge the drought-burdened Boise River with high-quality effluent.
Biden signs water bills benefiting 3 tribes in Arizona
A Native American tribe that has one of the largest and most secure rights to Colorado River water now has approval to lease some of it in Arizona, a state that’s been hardest hit by cuts to its water supply and is on a perpetual search for more.
Prime Resins’ acrylamide grout approved for potable water contact
(UI) — Prime Resins’ PR10L ACLM, a super-thin liquid that follows infiltration to seal leaks when gelled, has received NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 certification for contact with potable water, the company announced on Friday.
Badger Meter enhances smart water capabilities with acquisition of Syrinix
(UI) — Badger Meter Inc. has announced the acquisition of Syrinix Ltd., a privately held provider of intelligent water monitoring solutions, for £15 million ($18 million), funded with available cash.
- 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