August 18, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Water Main Break Causes Traffic Headaches in Greenville, S.C.
A water main break in Greenville, South Carolina that caused headaches for commuters has been fixed. Right before morning rush hour today, the water main broke below I-385 causing delays for the morning commute. For much of the day, Wednesday, the giant crater caused problems, not only to commuters, but also to residence’s and businesses.
Headlines
In Amarillo, Texas about 80,000 gallons of wastewater leaked from a broken sewage pipeline. The wastewater leak was discovered by city personnel. The pipeline broke because the pump controls at the main pump station in Southeast Park failed and caused a pressure surge in the pipeline.
Rockton, Illinois leaders are speaking out against the Illinois EPA fining the Village for leaking raw sewage into the Rock River.
Residents in Niles, Ohio want to know what the city is doing to stem flooding in the Washington Avenue area during heavy rains.
Stimulus Spotlight
Growth in the Hernando, Florida, which now has a population estimated at 15,000 and growing, is projected to continue, and city officials took steps Tuesday to seek authorization for a $2.3 million-dollar low-interest loan to construct a new water tower adjacent to Interstate 55. The city expects to receive approximately $400,000 in federal stimulus funds, which will cut the actual debt to about $1.7 million.
Sewer Rate News
Ashtabula, Ohio
Milton, Massachusetts
Prescott, Arizona
Winsted, Connecticut
July 15, 2010
Thursday’s Water News: Service Finally Restored to Parts of Fairfield County (Conn.)
Water service has been restored for customers in several towns in Fairfield County after a major water main break Monday in Westport. The 2-foot line broke Monday morning, leaving more than 1,000 without water. The situation became so dire, that town officials in Ridgefield declared a water emergency and said residents should use water only to drink or cook with. The 2-foot line broke Monday morning, leaving more than 1,000 without water.
Headlines
A water main break on the West Side of Evansville, Indiana has prompted local officials to issue a precautionary boil advisory for a neighborhood there.
A one-mile stretch of road was closed in Edgefield County, South Carolina after a water main break damaged the road.
New York City has begun to look at the way Philadelphia is addressing its sewer overflow problems in order to get a better handle on its own sewer overflow challenges.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Town of Hotchkiss, Colorado received a $775,000 loan with 100 percent principal forgiveness–thanks to the economic stimulus–to complete a water main project to benefit the local high school.
Sewer Rate News
Honolulu, Hawaii
Marco Island, Florida
Santa Rosa, Florida
July 12, 2010
Monday’s Water News: U.S., Mexico Argue Over Sewage Spill Cleanup
Agencies continue to shirk responsibility for a sewage spill near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, California. Over 2.1 million gallons of Mexican sewage leaked into the Tijuana River Valley following a breakdown at several U.S. waste treatment facilities. Agencies have responded by dodging responsibility because of jurisdictional questions.
Headlines
A pair of water main breaks in Fairfield County, Connecticut has disrupted service to about 1,000 customers in the towns of Westport, Fairfield, Weston and Wilton.
Officials in Rockville, Maryland have finally lifted a water restrictions for residents. After a 24-inch water main ruptured last week, the city asked residents to limit their water use, but on Friday another leak was discovered that continued the restriction through the weekend.
Stimulus Spotlight
Fort Smith, Arkansas has received $77 million in economic stimulus funding for new construction projects. Of this sum, $7.5 million has been allocated for laying 12.5 miles of new water piping that will improve service to over 29,000 residents.
In California, the Napa Sanitation district has received $7.3 million in economic stimulus funds to undertake water recycling projects throughout Napa Valley. The construction work must commence before September 30 or the funds will no longer be available.
Sewer Rate News
Evansville, Indiana
Prairieville, Louisiana
Seattle, Washington
Whittier, California
July 7, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Water Restrictions for DC Suburbs Lifted
Water restrictions have been lifted in the Washington, DC suburbs of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Approximately 1.8 million residents of the two Maryland counties were restricted to minimal water use after an 8-foot wide water main nearly broke last week.
Headlines
Water damage caused a sinkhole in the St. Louis suburb of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri that swallowed an SUV. The woman driving the SUV was able to climb out and was not hurt.
A 16-inch water main broke in Atlanta, Georgia early Tuesday morning. Work crews were forced to close a major road, creating more traffic delays. Construction will not be completed until Thursday according to officials.
A water pump failure has left some residents in Shelton, Connecticut without water service. Increased water demand from the high temperatures overwhelmed the water pump and caused the failure.
Stimulus Spotlight
Stimulus funds have been disbursed to Bismark, North Dakota for water project aid. McKenzie county received $2.2 million to broaden water distribution to residential areas. Also, the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation received $1.62 million for water projects.
Sewer Rate News
Bossier City, Louisana
Jefferson City, Missouri
Livermore Falls, Maine
Palm Springs, California
Port Orchard, Washington
June 18, 2010
Friday’s Water News: 162,000 Gallons of Sewage Spills in Missouri
After a power outage, the wastewater plant near Ozark, Missouri spilled 162,000 gallons of sewage into nearby Finley River. State officials have ordered the river water to be tested for contamination.
Headlines
Residents are advised to boil their water for a minute before drinking it in Bellingham, Washington after a recent sewage spill. An estimated 60,000 to 160,000 gallons of sewage poured into local Lake Whatcom after a blockage between pipes caused them to burst.
Two sewers in Durham, North Carolina spilled wastewater after a blockage. The first spilled 4,300 gallons into nearby Ellerbe Creek and the second spilled 2,500 gallons into nearby Little Lick Creek. City officials are still investigating the incident.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, a 133,000 dollar federal grant is available for building a new pump out station for sewage expulsion in Danbury, Connecticut.
Sewer Rate News
Santa Barbara, California
Seattle, Washington
Issaquah, Washington
Plymouth, Indiana
June 11, 2010
Friday’s Water News: Tens of Millions of Gallons of Sewage Leaks in Kansas City
A clean-up has finally begun in Kansas City, Missouri. It is estimated that three years of sewage spills have accumulated to a staggering amount. Tens of millions of gallons of sewage has been spilling, and neither city nor state officials have attempted to clean up until now.
Headlines
In Lafayette, Indiana, it has taken two years to complete the first phase of a massive underground tunnel, meant to help eliminate combined sewage overflow into the Wabash River. The project is part of a 20-year plan to improve its sewer system.
Five thousand gallons of sewage leaked into the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina. A line blockage is believed to have caused the spill. State officials are attempting to stop the leak and clean up the mess.
Residents in Barrington, Illinois are demanding the village do something to address flooding that occurs doing periods of heavy rain. The village recently repaired pipes and relined a sewer in an area affected by flooding, but despite the improvements, flooding has continued.
Stimulus Spotlight
A bond has been issued in Pittsford, Vermont to build a badly needed wastewater treatment plant. The city floated $2 million dollars in low-interest federal bonds and expects a stimulus package grant to cover the rest of the cost at about $1.8 million dollars.
Alcoa, Tennessee will receive a $1 million grant from the economic stimulus for the construction of two new water storage reservoirs. The overall cost of the project is estimated to be $5.8 million.
Sewer Rate News
Fruitland, Idaho
Greensboro, North Carolina
Groton, Connecticut
Hannibal, Missouri
Lynn, Massachusetts
June 3, 2010
Thursday’s Water News: Congress Moves Ahead on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Legislation
There were a couple of legislative items from last week of importance to the water and wastewater infrastructure.
First, the House has passed H.R. 4213, a legislative package of tax extensions which contains a provision that would exempt bonds that finance water and sewer furnishing facilities from state private-activity bond volume caps. The next step for the legislation is the Senate which may take up the legislation went it returns on June 7.
Second, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act (H.R. 5320) which would reauthorize and increase funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The next step for the bill is House consideration of the legislation.
Headlines
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has responded to a federal request to clean up the Chicago River by telling federal officials to “Go swim in the Potomac.” Daley said the federal government could help clean up the river by helping pay for the completion of the Deep Tunnel project designed to hold water during heavy rains so waste doesn’t pour into the body of water.
A pre-dawn break of a 79 year-old water main in Northeast Washington, D.C. on Wednesday created a hellish traffic mess throughout the day on a street that has heavy traffic even on the best of days.
A water main break yesterday in Tuscon, Arizona disrupted service to 500 area customers.
Stimulus Spotlight
With help from the stimulus package, residents in Elk Point, South Dakota have seen the construction of a new water main and sanitary sewer in their town. With some of the system being 100 years old, residents are grateful that this is being done.
Sewer Rate News
Huron, Ohio
Wichita, Kansas
Manchester, Connecticut
Charleston, West Virginia
May 11, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Kansas City Set to Start First Phase of $2.5B Sewer Project
Kansas City will soon start the first phase of a massive 25-year sewer project to cut the overflow of raw sewage from nearly 6.5 billion gallons a year to less than a half billion. The total cost of the 25-year plan is estimated to be $2.5 billion. It is the biggest public works project in the city’s history.
Headlines
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is urging a City Council Committee to approve the sale of the city’s sewer and water utilities to Citizens Energy. The transfer is expected to net the city about $425 million in cash, savings and borrowing power.
Voters in Mattapoiset, Massachusetts have approved a $6.8 million sewer extension to parts of the area currently using septic systems.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Montana communities of Sweet Grass and Valier will soon start construction to upgrade their water systems, having received $3 million in loans and grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
A $20 million waste water expansion project is underway in Warrick County, Indiana. $15 million is coming from the state while the rest is funded through economic stimulus. The entire project should be completed by April 2011.
Sewer Rate News
Geneva, Illinois
Granby, Connecticut
Tarboro, North Carolina
Waynesboro, Virginia
May 6, 2010
Thursday’s Water News: Massachsetts Looks at 8 Projects for Pipe Flaws
Eight projects are under scrutiny by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority for using couplings made by the same company that manufactured the massive pipe clamp that failed last Saturday, triggering a drinking water crisis for 2 million Greater Boston residents.
Headlines
The Township Council in Robbinsville, New Jersey has agreed to spend $2.5 million to build sewer lines along Route 130 as part of an effort to jump-start long-stalled development projects planned for empty parcels along both sides of the highway.
An advisory for high levels of bacteria has been issued for the beach at Port Charlotte Beach Park in Florida and swimming is not recommended at the site. A sewer line broke Tuesday night and spilled more than 10,000 gallons of raw sewage into a waterway by the beach.
Fort Wayne, Indiana is considering spending $3 million to improve a sewage pond’s ability to keep that sewage from trickling back into area rivers.
The Onondaga County Health Department has issued a Boil Water Advisory for the area affected by an early morning main break in the Town of Manlius, New York.
Stimulus Spotlight
In Ohio, the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments has announced the Northwest Ohio region will receive $21 million in federal stimulus funds for 26 separate sewer projects. With local matching funds, the total cost of the projects is estimated at $39.4 million.
Sewer Rate News
Ansonia, Connecticut
Baltimore, Maryland
Lexington, North Carolina
Ramona, California
April 27, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Topeka Water Main Break Causes Headaches for Motorists
A major water main break over the weekend in Topeka, Kansas has narrowed a portion of a street to two lanes of traffic, and city officials say it may take at least two weeks before the roadway is back to normal. Though the 12-inch water main has been repaired, it will take about two weeks before pavement can be placed over it.
Headlines
A grant and loan from the USDA will allow Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, Connecticut to connect to the town’s sewer line. The school is currently using a septic system.
A follow-up to a story from yesterday, the Jefferson County Commission has agreed to file a lawsuit against an engineering firm over its design of a 60 million gallon wastewater treatment plant which can only treat about half of that amount.
Residents in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania may be stuck paying $16 million to separate its stormwater and sanitary sewers after failing to secure of federal grant to help fund the project.
Stimulus Spotlight
Plymouth, California has received a $2.8 million grant from the economic stimulus for a series of wastewater infrastructure projects. The projects include sewer main replacement, lining and repairs to the existing sewer system and storm drainage improvements.
In South Dakota, two Brookings-area communities will be included for water-project funding under the economic stimulus program. Kingbrook Rural Water System will receive a total of $7.89 million and the City of Estelline will receive a $1.9 million.
Sewer Rate News
Fairfax County, Virginia
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Marion, Ohio
New Albany, Indiana
