Water
Biden-Harris administration invests $84 million in 36 drought resiliency projects
(UI) — The selected projects will help bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through investments in innovative drought resilience efforts, such as groundwater storage, rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, water reuse, ion exchange treatment, and other methods to stretch existing water supplies.
New Jersey water commission receives go-ahead to upgrade cast iron water pipes
(UI) — Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) has received approval for four engineering contracts to begin the initial studies necessary to make improvements to its aging cast iron water pipes, PVWC Executive Director Jim Mueller announced.
EPA awards New Jersey $500 million to modernize wastewater, drinking water infrastructure
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday a $500 million loan to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to modernize wastewater and drinking water systems serving over 10 million people throughout New Jersey.
Energy sector to generate income from wastewater via extraction technology
(UI) — Direct lithium extraction could help exploration and production businesses generate income from wastewater, Rigzone reported. A recent study showed that wastewater in the Delaware Basin could create 225,000 tons of lithium carbonate a year and bring in an extra $19 billion in revenue.
Massachusetts funds stormwater projects to help local coalitions meet permit requirements
(UI) — Gov. Charlie Baker has awarded $273,5165 in grants to four multi-community stormwater coalitions across Massachusetts to help the groups meet existing and upcoming stormwater management requirements.
EPA takes action to address pollution violations at Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into an order on consent with the city and county of Honolulu to ensure pollutant discharge requirements are met at the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The treatment plant is authorized to discharge wastewater via a Clean Water Act permit issued by the Hawaii Department of Health.
Even Mississippi lawmaker feels strain of Jackson water woes
In Mississippi's capital city, where intermittent periods without running water have become a fact of life for residents, a new disruption to the long-troubled water system persists just days before lawmakers are set to arrive for the state's 2023 legislative session.
Deep freeze breaks pipes, creates water crisis across South
Days of freezing temperatures in Deep South areas that usually freeze for only hours are threatening dozens of water systems as burst pipes leak millions of gallons of water.
$600 million designated for struggling water system in Mississippi
The federal government will put $600 million toward repairing the troubled water system in Mississippi's capital city — a project that the mayor has said could cost billions of dollars.
Boil water order issued in Mississippi capital amid freeze
City officials in Jackson, Mississippi, on Christmas Day announced that residents must now boil their drinking water due to water lines bursting in the frigid temperatures.
Biden's signature advances major projects in water bill
The biggest project by far this year is a $34 billion Texas coastal barrier featuring massive floodgates and other structures to protect the Houston region with its concentration of oil refineries and chemical plants, at risk during major hurricanes.
California town grapples with toll of earthquake on water system
Just days before Christmas in Rio Dell, the former lumber town grappled with the aftermath of early Tuesday's magnitude 6.4 earthquake that injured at least 17 people, shook homes off foundations, damaged water systems and left tens of thousands without electricity, some for more than a day.
North Carolina to invest $19 million for water infrastructure upgrades in Yadkin, Surry counties
(UC) — Governor Roy Cooper announced on Dec. 20 North Carolina’s Yadkin and Surry counties would receive $4 million for floodplain resiliency improvements, $8.1 million for water treatment plant filter and clear well replacements and $6.9 million for meters and water line replacements.
Tennessee secures $186 million loan to modernize wastewater infrastructure in Chattanooga
(UC) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $186 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan granted to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to support its Wastewater Compliance and Sustainability Project.
Indiana officials approve increase to stormwater user fee in Elkhart County
(UC) — During a meeting of the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners held on Monday, plans to raise the stormwater user fee in the county overcame another obstacle. The county partnership's stormwater user fee hasn't gone up since it was established in 2006, making it one of the lowest in the area.
Engineering firm reaches settlement in Flint water case
An engineering firm accused of having some responsibility for Flint's lead-contaminated water in 2014-15 has settled a lawsuit with four families, months after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict in August.
MassDEP, Fall River reach agreement to remove all lead service lines from water system
(UC) — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has agreed to suspend a $25,300 penalty against the city of Fall River under the agreement that the city will remove all lead service lines throughout the city following a lead action level exceedance during water quality testing conducted in 2021.
Water lobbyists urge Biden administration to loosen ‘Buy America’ law requirements
(UC) — Water advocacy groups are seeking an exception from the "Buy America" criteria for project developers, arguing that the rules hinder the sector from creating projects meant to combat climate change, provide safe drinking water, handle sewage, and safeguard the public.
Brown and Caldwell to design the replacement of critical Southern California water pipeline
(UC) — The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has selected environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell to design a sectional replacement of the Rialto Feeder, a critical Southern California water supply pipeline.
Army Corps awards 5-year, $25 million contract for water, wastewater projects to Stantec JV
(UC) — Under this contract, the Stantec-Freese and Nichols joint venture (JV) team will provide the Mobile District and WWTCX with a full range of support services on water, wastewater, and civil works projects, including treatment processes and technologies, energy reduction and optimization, models of water and wastewater networks, pump stations, and other related systems.
Governor Hochul awards $55.4 million for water infrastructure projects across New York
(UI) — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $55.4 million in funding for 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.
'Unacceptable': EPA head says of West Virginia water issues
Barton and other residents of southern West Virginia's McDowell County shared their stories of the challenges of living without access to safe drinking water and wastewater with the head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday.
Virginia’s wastewater infrastructure receives “poor” rating by engineering group
(UI) — The Virginia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released the 2022 Report Card for Virginia's Infrastructure on Tuesday, where 11 categories of infrastructure received an overall grade of a “C”. Specifically, the state’s water infrastructure received a grade of “D+”. According to the report, a C is considered “mediocre” while a D is “poor.”
XRI begins construction of water pipeline system in Permian Basin
(UI) — The 230-mile Evolution Pipeline system will be capable of recycling and managing more than 500,000 barrels of produced water per day from producers in Midland, Glasscock, Reagan, and Upton counties. It is expected to be fully operational in 2023.
EPA awards New Jersey $169 million in funding for water infrastructure improvements
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded New Jersey nearly $169 million in funding for water infrastructure improvements that will help communities access clean, safe and reliable drinking water, increase resilience, collect and treat wastewater to protect public health, clean up pollution, and safeguard vital waterways.
Utah needs $2 billion investment to upgrade, maintain water infrastructure
(UC) — In a 114-page report finalized by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and numerous state agencies, data showed that Utah must make a nearly $2 billion short-term investment to upgrade and maintain its water infrastructure in order to accommodate the state's ongoing population expansion.
Judge OKs federal intervention in struggling water system
The U.S. Justice Department has won a federal judge's approval to carry out a rare intervention to improve the precarious water system in Mississippi's capital city, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday, months after the system's partial failure.
Gas driller pleads no contest to polluting town’s water
Pennsylvania’s most active gas driller pleaded no contest Tuesday to criminal charges, capping a landmark environmental case against a company that prosecutors say polluted a rural community’s drinking water 14 years ago and then tried to evade responsibility.
Justice Department intervenes for struggling water system in Jackson, Mississippi
The Justice Department made a rare intervention Tuesday to try to bring improvements in the beleaguered water system in Mississippi's capital city, which nearly collapsed in late summer and continues to struggle.
EPA reports significant drop in Clean Water Act violations
(UC) — The number of Clean Water Act breaches recorded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reduced by more than half in the years after an interstate compliance agreement, according to the EPA, which revealed the figures on Tuesday.
- 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