Water
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Latest industry developments
$7 billion federal loan program brightens future for aging US dams
Eight years after Congress created the program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking a first step toward offering more than $7 billion of federally backed loans to repair aging dams owned by states, local governments and private entities across the U.S.
Vermont governor approves $104 million budget for water infrastructure projects
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has signed an $8.1 billion state budget into law that delegates $104 million to water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects.
Ethiopia open to new negotiations over controversial Blue Nile dam in Africa
A senior Ethiopian official says his country is interested in resuming talks for the multibillion-dollar project that is expected to bring electricity to millions of off-grid Ethiopians, but Sudan and Egypt fear it will reduce the amount of water they receive from the Nile River.
House passes $25.3 billion bill to fund water protection, restoration projects
The U.S. House of Representatives have approved an infrastructure bill that will provide $25.3 billion to 22 Army Corps of Engineers to fund storm and flood protection, ecological restoration, harbor dredging and other projects around the country.
Plan to remove and restore Snake River dams deemed too costly
U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, unveiled a plan last year to breach the four giant hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River in Washington state at a cost of $1.4 billion to preserve endangered salmon runs, but finding other ways to provide electricity could cost up to $27.2 billion.
North Dakota landfill OK'd for radioactive oilfield waste
North Dakota regulators approved a permit for a landfill near Williston that aims to become the state's first to accept radioactive oilfield waste.
Public water utilities say Senate bill will force up rates
Legislation criticized by opponents as a vehicle for-profit water companies to take over municipal water authorities in Pennsylvania by imposing expensive regulations on them passed the Republican-controlled state Senate on Tuesday.
Pipeline rupture in Tempe, Ariz. reveals larger water infrastructure issue
Thousands of homes in Tempe, Arizona, could be facing critically-deteriorated sewage pipes underneath them, which was exposed by a recent pipe rupture that spilled around 8 million gallons of water and closed a major Phoenix-area highway, 12 News reported.
FERC advances water storage energy project in Idaho
U.S. officials have initiated a licensing process for an energy project in southwestern Idaho involving water, wind and solar that could power nearly 300,000 homes.
New Jersey receives record 679 requests for water infrastructure improvement projects
The state of New Jersey has received a total of 679 requests totaling nearly $7 billion for necessary water quality improvements and other public-health protection projects, according to its Water Infrastructure Improvement Plan that was released last week.
Local governments turn away $73 million of federal pandemic aid
From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds to help shore up their finances, cover pandemic-related costs and invest in community projects. For many cities and towns, those funds have been invested in sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure projects.
Lack of water in Puerto Rico town sparks federal lawsuit
Puerto Rico’s water and sewer company was hit by a federal lawsuit on Thursday demanding that it provide services to thousands of residents who lack potable water on a daily basis.
As natural gas expands in Gulf, residents fear rising damage
Developers plan to build a series of liquefied natural gas export facilities across Southwest Louisiana, despite the state seeing a string of devastating hurricanes tear through the region in recent years.
EPA moves to give states, tribes more power to protect water
The Biden administration proposed undoing a Trump-era rule that limited the power of states and Native American tribes to block energy projects like natural gas pipelines based on their potential to pollute rivers and streams.
Harris calls water security and infrastructure a foreign policy priority
Vice President Kamala Harris said the U.S. is safer if people in other countries have sufficient water to drink, grow food and safely dispose of sewage, emphasizing that water access is a foreign policy priority.
Feds to invest $210 million for Navajo Nation water infrastructure in Utah
Utah, the U.S. Department of Interior and the Navajo Nation have agreed on the Navajo-Utah Water Rights Settlement, which means the tribe will get about 81,500 acre-feet of water annually from the San Juan River.
Des Moines, Iowa utility tries cooperation to reduce farm runoff
A Des Moines utility has for years engaged in a bitter struggle to clean up drinking water that comes from rivers teeming with agricultural pollutants, filing lawsuits, proposing legislation and even public shaming to try to force farmers to reduce runoff from their fields.
How San Diego secured its water supply, at a cost
As a worsening drought forces millions of Californians to face mandatory water restrictions, one corner of Southern California has largely shielded itself from supply-related woes: San Diego County.
Utah getting $70 million of federal funding for water infrastructure repairs
Many dams, aqueducts, water treatment plants and canals in Utah are getting so old that their ability to supply available water is compromised.
Surge Energy, Gravity partner to install produced water recycling facility in Howard County, Texas
Surge Energy US Holdings Co. has entered into an agreement with Gravity Water Midstream LLC to install a produced water recycling facility in Howard County, Texas. This practice both conserves fresh water and reduces operating expenses.
Developer progressing plans for $2.3 billion water pipeline to Colorado
A development group based in Colorado has secured an infrastructure partnership for a 338-mile pipeline it wants to build, BizWest reported.
Illinois American Water investing over $1 million to upgrade Lincoln water mains
Illinois American Water is investing over $1 million to replace approximately 4,800 feet of water main in the Lincoln water system.
Williamson County, Texas, designates $72.5 million for water infrastructure improvements
Williamson County, Texas, officials will use most of its federal Coronavirus relief money to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in various cities.
Ecoremedy receives EPA approval for wastewater treatment technology
Ecoremedy receives an EPA ruling on its gasification technology, and now moves forward with installing the system at a Washington wastewater plant.
EPA, NJ announce $588M in water infrastructure spending
More than half a billion dollars in federal and state funds will go to nearly 30 water systems in New Jersey, serving about 6 million residents, or about two-thirds of the state’s population, officials said Friday.
Congress considering investigation of DC’s water supply
A Washington, D.C. based congresswoman introduced provisions to the Water Resources Development Act that would study whether D.C. needs to increase its water supply.
EPA to award $21.7 million in grants to support clean, safe water for rural communities
The EPA announced its selection of technical assistance providers to receive $21.7 million in grant funding to support drinking water and wastewater systems that serve small and rural communities.
Colorado, Nebraska jostle over water rights amid drought
Nebraska's plan underscores an increasing appetite throughout the West to preemptively secure water as winter snows and year-round rainfall diminish, forcing states to reallocate increasingly scarce flows in basins such as the South Platte and the Colorado River.
Missouri American Water highlights $400 million of planned infrastructure upgrades
In celebration of National Infrastructure Week, Missouri American Water is highlighting its planned investment of approximately $400 million in water and wastewater system upgrades across the state this year.
- 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
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- 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