11.10.09
Tuesday Headlines: Delaware Wastewater Project Nears Completion
A long-awaited and controversial wastewater system project in Rehoboth, Delaware should be completed later this month, but will cost $28,000 more than the original estimate of $950,000 because of the rainy summer.
Headlines
The city of Dearborn, Michigan may seek to extend the deadline for completing its federally mandated Combined Sewer Overflow project beyond 2012.
A water main break on a major thoroughfare in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Monday evening, closing a section of one of the city’s busiest streets.
Stimulus Spotlight
The city council in Carlsbad, New Mexico is expected to approve a resolution today that authorizes the city to accept a $1.3 million state grant and receive a loan of $592,000 to replace water lines. The grant portion of the funding is from the economic stimulus.
As part of the economic stimulus, the state of Massachusetts has awarded $750,266 in grants to 11 communities for projects to conduct watershed nonpoint source pollution assessment and planning work to address water quality impairments.
Sewer Rate News
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jacksonville, Illinois
Log Lane Village, Colorado
Missoula, Montana
11.09.09
Monday’s Water News: Milwaukee Removes Toxic Chemicals from Sewer
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, work has begun on a 120-year-old brick sewer to begin removing a thick, jelly-like layer of soil and debris contaminated with toxic chemicals. EPA has agreed to a partial clean up of the old brick line so work can proceed on a wet-weather relief sewer to be built beneath the aged wastewater conduit.
Headlines
A massive water main break in Rochester, Ohio turned several city blocks into a lake early Saturday morning. At least two drivers who tried to make it through the water were temporarily stranded inside their vehicles.
The city of Lidgerwood, North Dakota has received a $200,000 grant to be used for the city’s water reservoir construction project from the state’s Department of Commerce.
Stimulus Spotlight
West Monroe, Louisiana will receive $4.5 million from the economic stimulus to build and complete a water treatment facility. The treatment facility will be operational in 2011 will convert 7 million gallons of wastewater per day into quality drinking water
Work has started on replacing the wastewater pump station in Enon, Ohio that is being partially funded by $90,000 from the economic stimulus. The project is expected to improve sanitary conditions in the western part of Clark County.
Sewer Rate News
Jersey City, New Jersey
McKinley, Texas
Missoula, Montana
11.06.09
Friday’s Water News: Increased Funding Coming for Water and Sewer Systems
Last Week, President Obama signed the FY 2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill which substantially increases federal funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. Included in the legislation is $2.1 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, $1.38 billion for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $157 in direct grants to communities for water infrastructure projects.
Headlines
A water main break has forced officials to temporarily shut down a New Jersey Turnpike rest area in the northern New Jersey borough of Ridgefield.
Glen Cove, New York Mayor Ralph Suozzi has announced announced that Congressman Peter King and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have secured $500,000 to improve the city’s water system infrastructure.
A water main break in Honolulu caused an all-day disruption to traffic and water service in Waikíkí yesterday, and officials said repairs were expected to continue into today.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will present checks to four northeastern municipalities to support wastewater improvements and “green infrastructure” projects.
Sewer Rate News
Byram, Mississippi
Jefferson Parrish, Louisiana
11.05.09
Thursday’s Headlines: California Passes Legislation Overhauling Water System
California lawmakers passed legislation overhauling the state’s water system on Wednesday. It is the most comprehensive legislation to emerge from the state legislature since the 1960s, when the state’s system served a much smaller population of users. The bills include an $11.1 billion bond issue, which voters will be asked to approve next November. The rest of the roughly $40 billion in projects will be paid for by localities, largely through new user fees.
Headlines
Residents in a Boston neighborhood say the city failed them after a water main break two weeks ago devastated their homes. City officials, meanwhile, say they have done their best for residents in an extremely difficult situation.
A large water main break closed part of a busy road in Greece, New York and hindered traffic during today’s morning commute.
Stimulus Spotlight
In Madison Junction, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park is using some federal stimulus money to replace a 50-year old, failing, wastewater treatment plant at Madison Junction. the estimated cost of the project is $4.5 million.
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire and the state Department of Ecology today announced five new clean-water construction projects that are ready to receive a total of $11.4 million in economic stimulus funding
Sewer Rate News
Lake Oswego, New York
Monterey, California
Port Hueneme, California
11.04.09
Wednesday’s Water News: JP Morgan Reaches $700M Settlement in Sewer Bond Case
J.P. Morgan Chase has agreed to a settlement worth more than $700 million over federal regulators’ charges that it made unlawful payments to friends of public officials to win municipal bond business in Jefferson County, Alabama. The move lowers the county’s bond debt to about $3.2 billion from $3.9 billion, but officials had no immediate comment on whether that was enough to help the county avoid filing what would be the largest municipal bankruptcy ever.
Headlines
A water main break in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on Wednesday morning caused water to shoot into the air about 30 feet.
A sewage treatment plant in the small northern Minnesota town of Williams is failing and threatens to dump thousands of gallons of raw sewage into Lake of the Woods. The treatment plant is only nine years old. Replacing it will cost $1.6 million and town officials say they can’t afford to fix the problem.
The former superintendent of Madison, Indiana’s sewage treatment plant could face up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine after he was accused of negligently polluting the Ohio River.
Stimulus Spotlight
The town of Schererville, Indiana has started projects that will upgrade its water treatment plant to help reduce sewer overflows and begin the second phase of a sewer interceptor project. The projects cost an estimated $13.5 million but will be supplemented with $2.5 million grant from the economic stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Gadsden, Alabama
Oceanside, California
Seneca, Illinois
Wolverine Lake, Michigan
11.03.09
Tuesday’s Water News: $35 Million Project Starts in Chicago Suburb
The Chicago suburb of Itasca, Illinois is constructing a $35 million wastewater treatment plant to prepare for business and population growth. The plant will take about two years to build and will increase wastewater treatment capacity from 2.65 million to 4 million gallons per day.
Headlines
It was a rude awakening for several residents in Apple Valley, California after a broken water main flooded their yards and caused a sinkhole in one homeowner’s driveway.
A six-inch water main ruptured in a Los Angeles neighborhood this morning, just one day after another broken main created a 20-foot geyser in another L.A. area.
Stimulus Spotlight
Federal stimulus dollars are going to work in eastern Jefferson County (Ky.)to upgrade local water service. A 5.5 mile water main made up of 36 -inch steel pipes will transport water along Interstate 64 from to the Shelby County line.
Officials in Zanesville, Ohio broke ground today on a new water treatment plant with a cost of $16.1 million. The project is being paid for in part by stimulus money — $4.5 million from a grant and $4.5 million from a zero interest loan.
Sewer Rate News
Midland, Michigan
Pleasantville, New Jersey
Rochester, Minnesota
Spokane, Washington
11.02.09
Monday’s Water News: California City Fined $2.3 Million for Sewer Overflow
The City of Pacifica, California faces a $2.3 million fine imposed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board for discharge of partially treated sewage estimated at 6.9 million gallons into the Pacific Ocean during a rainstorm on January 25 and 26, 2008.
Headlines
Last week’s combined sewer overflow from the Essexville (Mich.) Wastewater Treatment Plant totaled 1.4 million gallons. Plant personnel said the area received about 1.4 inches of rain, which overwhelmed its system and caused the overflow of partially treated sewage and stormwater runoff into the Saginaw River.
It’s been nearly two months since a 64-inch water main burst in the Los Angeles suburb of Studio City unleashed tens of thousands of gallons of water through nearly a dozen shops. Still, many of the local businesses that suffered flood damage remain closed, far longer than they had expected.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Stillwater, Oklahoma city council will review accepting stimulus fund award recommendations for more than $9.7 million of improvements to water and sewer systems. Projects include waterline replacement, refurbishment, meter reading system, pump station improvements, generator equipment, ultraviolet disinfection and lightning protection systems and lift station rehabilitation.
Ophir, Colorado is eligible for federal stimulus funds to support planned improvements to the town’s water system. The town may borrow up to $500,000 at a zero percent interest rate for municipal water system repairs.
Sewer Rate News
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Jersey City, New Jersey
10.30.09
Friday’s Water News: EPA Wants Cleaner Mississippi River Around St. Louis
EPA has ordered new clean water standards for the Mississippi River around St. Louis. The agency wants the water to be clean enough to swim in. The 28-and-a-half miles of river near St. Louis is being polluted with billions of gallons of raw sewage and waste each year.
Headlines
A major water main break this morning gushed water on the Las Vegas Strip and squeezed traffic before crews were able to begin making repairs.
In Michigan, combined sewer overflows have been reported from wastewater treatment plants in Bay City, Essexville and Saginaw following heavy rain today.
Baltimore County (Md.) residents were advised to avoid Powder Mill Branch after an overflow of 20,000 gallons from a sanitary sewer was discovered.
Stimulus Spotlight
State and local leaders were in Lula, Georgia today to break ground as they marked the beginning of construction for the city’s new wastewater treatment plant. The $10 million project is partially funded through the economic stimulus.
Big Lake, Minnesota will receive a $15.5 million grant for improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. Part of the grant is being funded through the economic stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Bonne Terre, Missouri
Plainville, Connecticut
Sayre, Pennsylvania
10.29.09
Thursday’s Water News: Water Main Break Causes Traffic Delays in Norfolk
In Norfolk, Virginia, the state Department of Transportation is keeping an off-ramp from I-564 East and an I-64 West Interchange closed through Thursday’s rush hour to repair a water main break.
Headlines
A water main break in Grand Junction, Colorado is flooding yards and an apartment complex today. The break occurred this morning, shooting water 100 feet in the air and creating a four-foot hole in the street
The city of Plattsmouth, Nebraska has received word that they may be the beneficiary of a legislative earmark dedicating $1.2 million for the city’s Combined Sewer Overflow project.
Water problems caused by a water main break Tuesday night in Chicopee, Massachusetts has highlighted the city’s water infrastructure problems. A break in a 24-inch cement water transmission line prompted low water pressure throughout the city.
Stimulus Spotlight
DeLand, Florida will receive a $3 million loan, with funds coming out of the federal stimulus bill, that will help pay for construction of a new water treatment plant northeast of the city.
Sewer Rate News
Akron, Ohio
Charleston, South Carolina
West Linn, Wisconsin
10.28.09
Wednesday’s Water News: Indiana Project Will Reduce Sewer Overflows
The Anderson, Indiana Board of Public Works has awarded a $8,249,000 contract to make facility improvements to the Water Pollution Control department for Phase I of its long-term control plan. The plan is in place to fulfill a federal consent decree that requires updates to the facility and a reduction in the annual number of combined sewer overflow events.
Headlines
A water main break in Sun City, Arizona flooded neighborhoods in the southern portion of the city.
Most of the student housing at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah were without water after a water main break.
Stimulus Spotlight
The town of Georgetown, Indiana will receive a $3.5 million grant through federal stimulus funds to build a wastewater treatment facility. The town does not have a sewage plant and was facing higher rates to remain on the city of New Albany’s system for another five years.
The city of Angels Camp, California will be making $3.1 million worth of upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant thanks to incoming funding from the economic stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Riverbank, California
Rochester, Minnesota
Urbana, Ohio
