12.02.08
Tuesday Headlines: Water Main Break Causes Power Outage in Flint, Michigan
More than 1,500 customers in Genesee County, Michigan were still without power Monday afternoon after water main break in downtown Flint. The water main break also shut down a road and closed some businesses. Cold weather is being blamed for the break.
Headlines
In Kentucky, Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan took control of the city’s sewer system yesterday, dismissing the private contractor that had been running it since 1994. Approximately 10 more workers will be added to improve cleaning and maintenance of sewer lines and boost the system’s performance.
The Valdosta, Georgia area suffered two wastewater spills over the weekend resulting from heavy rainfall. Approximately 6.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater was released in the first incident, and a discharge of approximately 135,000 gallons of raw sewage was released in the second incident.
Because of a sewage spill, people are being encouraged to temporarily stay away from a ravine in Thousand Oaks, California. A root blockage in a sewer line led to the release of about 2,100 gallons of sewage from a manhole cover.
Tucson Water workers expect to fix a University of Arizona area water main break some time Tuesday. The break in in the 8-inch water main has disrupted traffic but should be repaired today.
Sewer Rate News
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
Northport, Alabama
Westminster, Maryland
11.10.08
Monday Headlines: Atlanta Completes Deep Sewer Tunnel Construction
In Atlanta, Georgia, after three years of digging and pouring concrete, construction crews have completed a deep sewer tunnel that can carry and store up to 177 million gallons of rain and sewage. The $190 million tunnel has been the most controversial piece of the city’s $4 billion overhaul of its water and sewer system. about 10 percent of Atlanta remains hooked to combined sewers.
Headlines
A water main break flooded an east side neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio this morning. Streets in the area were flooded with several inches of water and seventy-five homes were without water service.
Residents in Placerville, California were told Friday they could resume using their tap water without boiling after a possible contamination threat caused by a water main break. About 4,500 customers were affected by the break.
Michigan regulators have taken action to prevent major problems with a wastewater treatment plant in the city of Harbor Beach. The city has signed a consent order with the state Department of Environmental Quality, agreeing to pay a $28,700 fine, reimburse the DEQ for enforcement costs and upgrade the plant’s Industrial Pretreatment Program.
The EPA is requiring the city of Burley, Idaho to improve its wastewater treatment plant, including the reduction of effluent phosphorous and ammonia. The city estimates improvements will cost at least $2 million over the next five years.
Sewer Rate News
Bloomington, Illinois
Columbus, Ohio
Laurel, Mississippi
Modesto, California
11.04.08
Tuesday Headlines: Voters to Decide Ballot Initiatives on Water Infrasture
It’s Election Day and there are issues on the ballot in a two states that will determine how much is invested in water infrastructure.
In Pennsylvania, voters will decide if the state should borrow $400 million to pay for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades. If passed the money would go to PENNVEST to distribute to communities for water infrastructure upgrades.
In Arkansas, voters will decide on Question Number 1, which if passed would allow the state’s Natural Resources Commission to buy up to $300 million in bonds to help local governments finance water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Headlines
Hundreds of people in Centerville, Georgia had trouble getting ready for work and school this morning after a water main break.
A segment of Hennepin County Road 101 in Wayzata, Minnesota was closed yesterday so that work crews could repair a broken water main.
Borough council members in Ursina, Pennsylvania were visited by state officials Monday who urged progress on a $3 million sewer project. The council has decided to move forward with a grant application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development which could pay as much as 75 percent of the bill for a system that includes a 36,000 gallon per day treatment plant.
The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services will be working on 12 major sewer projects in November that may impact roadways and traffic on Island of Oahu.
Sewer Rate News
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Highland, California
10.24.08
Friday Headlines: Water Main Break Traps Residents in Apartment Complex
Part of 33rd Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma will be closed for about a week after a water main break flooded a portion of the city Thursday morning. The water trapped people who live at a local apartment complex. City Public Works officials said recent rains caused the ground to shift, which broke the water line.
Headlines
A water main break may leave several hundred homes and businesses in part of Scranton, Pennsylvania without water service. People may have low water pressure, cloudy water or no water service at all.
In Atlantic, Iowa, the city council is considering an expansion of its wastewater treatment facility at a cost of $16 million. Should the city decide to proceed with the option to build a new $16 million facility, rates would increase to $42.55 for the first 3,000 gallons and $2.25 for each 1,000 gallons after that. An average bill would cost just under $50 a month.
With Election Day less than two weeks away, the media is focusing more on a ballot question in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Should the state borrow $400 million to pay for water and sewer improvements? Half the $400 million would go toward grants, and the rest would be issued as low-interest loans.
The village of Middleport has received a $140,169 low-interest loan from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to help plan long-term control of combined sewer overflows. Such overflows are a major cause of water pollution and can have adverse effect on human health.
Sewer Rate News
Blacklake, Georgia
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Richmond, Missouri
10.21.08
Tuesday Headlines: Climate Change May Cause Heavier Rainfalls, More Overflows
A Washington Post story tackles the issue of climate change and how it may lead to significant increases in waterborne diseases around the world. The story suggests the nation’s water infrastructure may not be up to the challenge as heavier rainfalls may trigger sewage overflows, contaminating drinking water and endangering beachgoers.
The story also includes a national map (found here) illustrating the pervasiveness of waterborn diseases.
Headlines
In Brooklyn, New York, the stench of raw sewage in the Gowanus Canal may get worse before it gets any better. To repair the flushing tunnel the city must turn it off for two years as part of a $300-million cleanup. To compensate for the soon-to-be deactivated flushing tunnel, the city will attempt to reduce the amount of untreated waste that lingers in the canal when heavy rains overflow the aging sewers.
Ensuring the water keeps coming in and the sewage keeps flowing out is going to cost residents in the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda $3 million over the next few years. Councilman Joe Emminger acknowledged the high cost, but said investing early will benefit the town, especially since there appears to be little to no relief coming from state or federal levels.
Sewer Rate News
Grand Haven, Michigan
Oldham County, Kentucky
Rolla, Missouri
Rome, Georgia
10.03.08
Friday Headlines: Water Main Break Closes Major Street in Sioux City
A section of a busy street Sioux City, Iowa could be closed until the middle of next week after a water main break Thursday afternoon. It didn’t take long to fix the break, and restore service, but city workers say it could be until next Wednesday before they can fill the hole and repair the street.
Headlines
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will provide a $1.9 million low-interest loan to city of Willoughby for sewer improvements in exchange for the city’s agreement to purchase wetlands in Summit County. Willoughby will benefit from the loan with better sewers and Summit will get protection for wetlands along the Tuscarawas River.
The Department of Energy is preparing to build Hanford, Washington’s largest water treatment system to clean up one of Hanford’s most problematic underground plumes of contaminated water. DOE is planning to build Hanford’s largest pump and treat station at a cost of $174 million to attack the contaminants and clean the water.
A water main broke on West Michigan Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan Friday morning closed part of the road and may affect Battle Creek Central High School’s Homecoming Parade, which is scheduled for today.
In Massachusetts, both branches of the state legislature approved the Nantucket Sewer Act this week, which if signed by Governor Deval Patrick will give the town a broader ability to manage and expand the municipal sewer system.
Sewer Rate News
Grant, Nebraska
Rome, Georgia
09.17.08
Wednesday Headlines: Water Main Break Floods a Children’s Hospital
The Considine Professional Building at Akron Children’s Hospital has regained electricity and phones after being flooded Tuesday due to a water main break. Damage to information systems and elevators in the Considine building are still being assessed but patient appointments for today in the Considine building have been cancelled.
Headlines
Heavy rains over the weekend in Richland, Michigan caused about 81,000 gallons of water to overflow into the 5-acre, privately owned wetlands. A contributing factor to the overflow, was the water coming into the system through pick holes in manhole covers.
The city of Pontiac, Illinois will submit a long-term control plan to the Illinois EPA to reduce the number of combined sewer overflows, with sewer-rehabilitation work planned for 2010-11, then a two-year monitoring period to see if more measures are needed. Needed improvements to reduce overflow events is estimated to cost $2.86 million.
Imagine waiting a year to fix a sinkhole from water main break. That is exactly what has happened for a community in Ottumwa, Iowa whose long wait will soon be over.
Two New York bond insurers sued Jefferson County, Alabama yesterday, asking that a federal judge appoint a receiver to manage the sewer system, raise rates and take other steps to increase revenues to pay the county’s $3.2 billion sewer debt.
Sewer Rate News
Reminderville, Ohio
Rome, Georgia
08.26.08
Tuesday Headlines: Water Main Failure Has 282 Apartments Without Water
282 apartments in DeKalb County, Georgia are still without water after a water main break disrupted service to residents on Saturday night, the latest in a series of water-related problems in the county. Residents can’t shower or draw drinking water from their taps after the failure of a 48-inch water main that served the complex.
Headlines
In Alabama, sewage spills blamed on rains in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay were reported Monday in both Baldwin and Mobile counties.
A sewer line blockage in the Lula, Georgia Sunday afternoon caused more than 3,200 gallons of raw sewage to spill into a tributary of Hagen Creek, which feeds into the Chattahoochee River.
Some homes in Cameron Park, California were flooded early Tuesday when an underground water main broke. Water could be seen gushing up from the road before the Irrigation District could shut off the main.
Slowed by the summer rain, commuters in Juanita, Washington also had to contend with a water main break that shut down part of major road.
Sewer Rate News
Branson, Missouri
Brockton, Massachusetts
Ottumwa, Iowa
Tarpon Springs, Florida
08.06.08
Wednesday Headlines: Lanes Closed on Dan Ryan Exp. Following Sewer Backup
In Chicago, a backed up sewer caused flooding and the closure of lanes on the Dan Ryan Expressway, prompting some motorists to seek refuge by standing on top of their vehicles. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning and caused state police to close all southbound lanes, and one northbound lane of the Ryan. (picture courtesy of WLS-TV)
Headlines
The city of Peoria, Illinois will host open houses today and Thursday to explain options to reduce sewer overflow. Depending on which plan is followed, it could cost the city as much as $262 million.
Here is a follow-up to a story from last week. In Columbia, South Carolina, tests were made public yesterday that showed contamination from last week’s sewage spill into the lower Saluda River initially was up to 230 times the limit considered safe.
A water main break this morning in Hoboken, New Jersey caused a street to collapse leaving a twelve-foot wide crater in the middle of a road. Click on the link to see pictures of the damage.
Sewer Rate News
Alpha, Illinois
Fayetteville, Georgia
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Sequim, Washington
08.04.08
Monday Headlines: Beach Closure on Siesta Key
On Saturday, red warning flags and signs were posted that said Gulf water off Siesta Public Beach in Sarasota, Florida was unsafe for swimming due to high levels of bacteria, more than double the acceptable level for safe swimming. The spike in bacteria levels is being attributed to recent rains that brought polluted storm water to the coast.
Headlines
Much of the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin had no water overnight because of a water main break.
Forsyth, Georgia officials have the water system up and running again following a water main break, but residents are encouraged to continue boiling water before consuming it.
In Texas, the Austin Water Utility has completed repairs to a 20 inch water main that broke Friday evening. Approximately 12 feet of pipe was removed and replaced. To compound the issue there were several additional utilities that crews had to work around to make the repairs, such as gas lines.
The Philadelphia Eagles had their 2 and 1/2 hour practice cancelled Saturday morning after a water main break near the practice fields.
Sewer Rate News
Medford, Massachusetts
Mineral, Virginia
