Water

“Smart Water” Technology Sparks Spending Change For Municipal Water

Solutions to the continuing conflicts between aging infrastructure and pressure on utilities to ensure a safe, resilient water supply, are increasingly focused on software, data and analytics. In US Smart Water: Defining the Opportunity, Competitive Landscape, and Market Outlook, Bluefield Research ..

Municipal Grouting Video Series Helps Solve I&I Problems

Avanti International has produced a new learning resource for solving Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) issues in sanitary and storm water systems. Fundamentals of Municipal Grouting is a 16-module video series designed as an interactive learning experience for those who need-to-know and want-to-solve t..

New York Gov. Orders Probe into Niagara Falls "Black Water"

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday cast doubt on a city agency’s claims surrounding a foul-smelling discharge that turned the water near the base of Niagara Falls black at the height of a busy tourist weekend. A day after directing state regulators to investigate, Cuomo, a Demo..

HydraTech Enhances Internal Joint Seal

The HydraTite internal joint seal, manufactured by HydraTech Engineered Products LLC, has a long and proven history for repairing leaking joints in man-entry sized piping. When joints in box culverts, tunnels, conduits or other structures with non-circular or -elliptical profiles need repair, howeve..

Matthews Assumes Trenchless Technology Center Leadership Role

In March, Dr. John Matthews assumed the position of director of the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University. TTC is a leading research facility for the development of technologies influencing the various trenchless construction and rehabilitation methods. It is recognized as..

CUIRE 15th Annual Engineering & Inspector Schools

The Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) at the University of Texas-Arlington held its 15th annual trenchless technology inspector training and certification schools Jan. 29-30, in conjunction with the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exh..

PVCPA Study Examines Environmental Impacts, Safety, Costs Of Water Pipes

The Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association (PVCPA), which represents U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of PVC pipe, announced the completion of the first comprehensive environmental and performance review of water and sewer pipes in North America. The study used life-cycle assessment methodology to evaluate th..

Ubiquiti Networks Launches Plug and Play Fiber Optic Technology

Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. has launched the UFiber GPON Platform, consisting of the company’s UFiber OLT and the UFiber Nano G Optical Network Unit solutions. The UFiber Platform is designed to enable internet service providers  to quickly build high-speed fiber internet networks for many users and ove..

Minnesota Officials, 3M Struggle Over Clean Water Agreement

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials say manufacturing company 3M Co. has violated a decade-old legal agreement that outlines how the business pays for clean drinking water in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune reports that about 200 residents in the city’s southeastern suburb..

Utility Panel: Poland Spring Plan Won't Harm Water System

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Poland Spring is clearing regulatory hurdles for its plan to pump up to 172 million gallons of water a year from a public water district well. The Maine Public Utilities Commission said Tuesday a permit application filed by parent company Nestle Waters to withdraw municipal wa..

Construction Industry Applauds PAB Legislation

Legislation that would open the door to private investment in water and wastewater infrastructure investment was introduced recently by U.S. Reps. John “Jimmy” Duncan (R-TN) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act, which would remove water and wastewater infrast..

EPA Finalizes WIFIA Fee Rules, Congress Provides Additional Funding

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another major step toward issuing its first credit subsidies for water infrastructure projects. It published a final rule in June, specifying fees it would charge counties and cities expected to vie for money in the first round of funding under the Wate..

TWDB Approves $44 Million For Water, Wastewater Systems

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state’s water resources, approved more than $44 million of financial assistance for..

Household Water, Sewer Bills Outpace Inflation 3X

Residential water and wastewater bills have steadily increased by 5.7 percent annually over the past five years, outpacing average annual income growth (5 percent) and inflation (1.9 percent), and magnifying the financial challenges facing municipal water utilities. According to Bluefield Research’s..

Maine Utility Regulators to Weigh in on Water Transportation Proposal

LINCOLN, Maine (AP) — Utility regulators are weighing in on Poland Spring’s plan to transport up to 172 million gallons of water a year from a public water district well that once served a Maine paper mill. The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday is set to discuss a permit application file..

Factory in New York Village with Tainted Water Gets Superfund Tag

HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A factory site contaminated with chemicals that also tainted drinking water in an upstate New York village near the Vermont border has been designated a federal Superfund site. The listing announced Monday by the Environmental Protection Agency allows federal resources to..

Crews Replace Aging Water Lines in Nearly 1,800 Flint Homes

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Nearly 1,800 additional homes in Flint have had service lines replaced in the latest phase of an effort to help fix the city’s lead-tainted water crisis. Mayor Karen Weaver’s office says about 2,700 homes have had aging water lines replaced since March 2016 under the FAST Start ..

Minnesota Working to Clean up the State's Water

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s governor is pushing for more improvements to water quality in the state. Minnesota Public Radio reports that 40 percent of the state’s lakes and streams are polluted and many are unsafe for recreational activities. Current cleanup efforts predict water quality ..

Agencies Start Process to Rescind Water Rule

(AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers have started a process aimed at ending a federal regulation — opposed by some small business groups — that sought to expand government jurisdiction over bodies of water. The agencies published a notice in the Federal Registe..

Las Vegas Water Pipeline Fight to Go Before Federal Judge

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A decades-long fight over a plan to pump water from arid and sparsely populated valleys along Nevada’s eastern edge and pipe it to thirsty Las Vegas is about to get its first hearing before a federal judge. Environmental groups and American Indian tribes are expected to tell U.S. D..

Corps of Engineers Plans Water Project

The Nashville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has released a presolicitation notice announcing it plans to issue an Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation for a firm fixed-price construction contract for a certified small business contractor to complete work at Melton Hill Lock, which ..

Layne Christensen Completes Water Pipeline Construction

Layne Christensen Company has completed construction of its high-capacity water pipeline and infrastructure system serving energy producers in the prolific Delaware Basin in West Texas. The company’s new water infrastructure system is anchored by nearly 1,000 acres of water-producing land near Peco..

Court Says Flint Residents Can Sue Michigan Over Bad Water

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A federal appeals court says Flint residents who used lead-contaminated water can pursue constitutional claims against Michigan and city officials. In a 3-0 decision, the court overturned decisions by a federal judge who said the claims weren’t allowed under water law. The court..

Water Troubles in New Mexico Town May Not Be Over After E. Coli Find

ARTESIA, N.M. (AP) — Water problems may continue in a southeastern New Mexico community despite the lifting of a boil-water alert in the wake of the discovery of E. coli. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports (https://goo.gl/LtfksC) state experts say the chlorine flushing used to disinfect Artes..

Triumph Construction Wins New York Sewer, Water Contract

Triumph Construction Corp., one of the largest privately-held utility contractors in the New York metropolitan area, has been awarded the winning contract by New York City’s Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) for a $37 million-plus infrastructure replacement project on Flatbush Avenue in..

Clearfield Quadruples Manufacturing Capacity in Mexico

Clearfield, Inc. has quadrupled its manufacturing capacity at its Tijuana, Mexico facility. The expansion will enable the company to lower its cost of product manufacturing while ensuring it continues to provide customers short lead times and on-time deliveries. “Our Mexican manufacturing facilitie..

Charlotte Disputes Report that Drinking Water Could be Unsafe

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A report on the health of the nation’s drinking water says a North Carolina’s city water contains chemicals that could make consumers sick, a claim the city disputes. The Charlotte Observer reports the Environmental Working Group released a report Wednesday that says trihalom..

Flint's Water Quality Improving

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Michigan will close five of the nine locations where Flint residents have been getting free bottled water, filters, replacement cartridges and testing kits because the city’s water quality is improving. Mayor Karen Weaver said Wednesday that officials will keep the last four wat..

1940s-era Texas City Reservoir Undergoing $12 Million Renovation

TEXAS CITY, Texas (AP) — For the first time since it was built in 1948, the Texas City Reservoir that provides a backup water supply for Galveston County is getting a major renovation. The Galveston County Daily News reports the Gulf Coast Water Authority’s reservoir off Attwater Avenue was built w..

Water Gushes Through South LA After Pipe Bursts

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Several inches of water gushed through streets after a pipe burst in South Los Angeles. Traffic was diverted and pavement buckled but no major damage was reported from the main break around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. The flow continued for several hours until Department of Water and Powe..