November 23, 2009
Monday’s Water News: Communities Struggle with Sewer Overflows
Yesterday, The New York Times as part of its ongoing series on the worsening pollution in America’s waters, focused on the alarming number of sewer overflows across the country. The article cites data from the EPA that in the last three years alone, more than 9,400 of the nation’s 25,000 sewage systems have reported violating the Clean Water Act by dumping untreated or partly treated human waste, chemicals and other hazardous materials into rivers and lakes and streams.
Headlines
A water main ruptured in St. Paul, Minnesota neighborhood soaking basements and made for a hectic weekend of cleanup. Homeowners will be able to file claims with the city to recover damages to their homes and belongings.
Crews were working Saturday to repair a break in a 14-inch water main that caused a sinkhole and flooding in the Los Angeles community of Stevenson Ranch.
Major upgrades are underway to improve water service for some residents of Springfield, Illinois. The project includes two additional water storage tanks and water main extensions.
Stimulus Spotlight
The city of Clare, Michigan is one of six communities receiving stimulus funds for water and wastewater upgrades. A $3 million loan to the city of Clare is part of $31.5 million made available to six Michigan communities to improve their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Texas Water Development Board has approved a $31.8 million loan to the city of Austin to finance wastewater system improvements. The loan comes from the economic stimulus and portions of the project qualify for the green infrastructure provisions in the stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Keokuk, Iowa
Limerick, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Southmont, Pennsylvania
