12.03.08
Wednesday Headlines: Two Million Gallon Sewage Spill in Delaware
A two million gallon sewage spill in Delaware has closed the Mispillion River from Milford to the Delaware Bay. A major sewer line along state Route 1 north of Milford broke, causing the discharge. The State Water Resources Director county sewage system managers had no choice but to divert sewage into the river. Two food processing plants halted production to help curb the discharge.
Headlines
As part of a pilot program aimed at reducing sewer blockages and overflows and accidental spills, the Raleigh suburb of Cary, North Carolina is encouraging residents to save their cooking oils, fats and grease in sealable containers. According to the town, such refuse contributed to 16 sewer overflows in 2006 and six overflows in 2007.
A water main break this morning flooded an intersection in southeast Rochester, New York. City crews are working in the area today, and dug a large hole to work on the water main.
Two northbound lanes of 50th Street in Tampa, Florida are closed while the city’s Water Department repairs a broken 24-inch water main. Restoration of the road surface is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
A local fitness facility in Norton Shores, Michigan may reopen today after being closed due to a water main break.
Sewer Rate News
Carlsbad, California
Frisco, Texas
Marietta, Ohio
Muncie, Indiana
12.01.08
Monday Headlines: City of San Francisco Begins Payouts for Sewage Damage
Nearly five years after San Francisco experienced a storm that overwhelmed its aging sewer system, the city is beginning to pay out millions of dollars in settlements to businesses and homeowners. Businesses affected by the overflow will receive $612,000 from the city of San Francisco. The businesses were inundated by raw sewage in 2004, when stormwater caused it to overflow.
The story from the The San Francisco Examiner goes into further detail.
More than 1,000 miles of brick sewers, many built more than a century ago, carry flushed waste from bathrooms and sinks beneath the surface to treatment plants. The sewers also fill with stormwater during rainstorms, which can overwhelm the system and cause it to overflow.
A San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled earlier this year that The City is liable for property damage caused by the toxic sewage that brimmed out of the combined system in 2004.
11.11.08
Tuesday Headlines: Fort Wayne Looks for Ways to Pay for Sewer Improvements
A $240 million plan to keep raw sewage out of Fort Wayne, Indiana’s rivers would triple local sewer rates unless a new source of funding is created, and has led to a discussion of a half-cent increase in the local sales tax to pay for almost the entire project.
Headlines
As winter approaches, Mid-Michigan’s infrastructure is crumbling but financial help will be tough to come by. “There’s no question that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in communities across the state,” said Michigan DEQ spokesman Robert McCann.
In Pennsylvania, Meyersdale borough officials are beginning to dig into a pile of state-ordered sewer projects that cost about $1.4 million. “This is something just about every community is going through,” borough President Bud Edmunds said. “We are not unique.”
It looks like it will cost the City of Middletown, New York more to borrow money to repair its massive Sterling Street sewer problems. The city had hoped to secure an interest free loan but does not have sufficient points to qualify and may have to borrow money at a 4-4.5 percent interest rate to finance construction of the project.
Sewer Rate News
DuBois, Pennsylvania
Ottumwa, Iowa
Shelton, Washington
Wrightstown, Wisconsin
10.31.08
Friday Headlines: Investigative Report Looks at Indianapolis Sewer System
Indianapolis TV station WTHR has done an investigation into the amount of untreated sewage entering Marion County’s waterways. As you might imagine the report raises questions and concerns regarding how to get the problem under control. And if you were wondering whether federal funding is needed for cities like Indianapolis here is this quote from the story.
To pay for the deep tunnels and other improvements that will help reduce Indianapolis’ combined sewer overflows, the cost is an estimated $3.5 billion.
For Marion County residents, it means the average $15 sewer portion of a current water bill is expected to jump to $100 each month.
And here’s an eye opening statistic.
All together, about 40 billion gallons of combined sewer overflow are dumped into Indiana waterways each year.
10.17.08
Friday Headlines: Sinkhole Swallows RV After Sewer Collapses
A large chunk of a street in Cleveland, Ohio collapsed, creating a sinkhole that swallowed the back end of a camper. A spokesperson from the Department of Water said a sewer collapsed, creating a hole that is 15 feet by 15 feet and seven feet deep. (picture courtesy of WEWS-TV)
Headlines
After years of waiting, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has told the city of Wabash, Indiana what it needs to do with regards to its stormwater and sanitary sewers. Mayor Bob Vanlandingham was quick to point out that the work would involve millions of dollars and would almost certainly result in higher sewer bills in the near future to build up funds for the work to be done over the next 20 years.
In Oakland, California, an advisory issued Wednesday after sewage spilled into a harbor was lifted Thursday night when the water was deemed safe.
A water main break has closed a section of state Route 256 in Baltimore, Ohio.
Iowa City, Iowa likely will complete an emergency project to replace sewer lines damaged during the 2008 flood. If the lines are not replaced, they could release sewage directly into the Iowa River. Engineers estimate the project will cost more than $1 million but the city expects FEMA to reimburse 90% of the cost.
Sewer Rate News
Baytown, Texas
Jeffersonville, Kentucky
Russellville, Arkansas
York, Nebraska
09.16.08
Tuesday Headlines: Sinkhole Causes Traffic Delays on I-71 Outside Cincinnati
In suburban Cincinnati, a water main break on I-71 in Sycamore Township early this morning slowed traffic and is expected to cause problems throughout the day. Work crews say a water main at least 15 inches in diameter ruptured under I-71 creating a large sinkhole in one of the northbound lanes and buckling pavement in the high-speed southbound lane. (picture courtesy of WCPO-TV)
Headlines
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Johnson Utilities have agreed on how to disinfect the standing water in Queen Creek Wash after an overflow in May oozed sewage out of manholes.
A major sewer overflow in Peoria, Illinois over the weekend has highlighted that by December the city is supposed to have a proposed solution for reducing or eliminating the number of overflows into the Illinois River.
A water main break has temporarily left the Illinois communities of Glasgow and Alsey without running water. Officials hope to have the water main repaired and running water available again within a couple of days.
Sewer Rate News
Coal City, Illinois
Newburgh, Indiana
09.12.08
Friday Headlines: Despite Volunteer Efforts White River Still Polluted
Despite volunteer efforts this weekend to cleanup the White River, Indiana State environmental officials say water tests continue to indicate that raw sewage washes into the river during heavy rains, a problem Indianapolis is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to address.
Headlines
In New York , the Pleasantville Cottage School has been charged with two misdemeanors for allowing raw sewage to flow from its property into a village park and lake, An investigation revealed sewage was coming from a clogged line on the campus, flowing through the woods and across a paved path used by children and others to get to a nearby park.
A new report from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control faults Alpine Utilities for failing to maintain equipment, causing it to break down and allowing partly treated sewage to spill into the lower Saluda River in July.
Police have closed a section of State Route 5 in Wallingford, Connecticut because of a large water main break.
Workers with the South Carolina Department of Transportation have completed repairs to Huger Street in Downtown Columbia, after a sinkhole from a collapsed storm drain appeared in the northbound lanes a few weeks ago. The repair will be made in time for this Saturday’s game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Georgia Bulldogs.
Sewer Rate News
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Laurie, Missouri
09.10.08
Wednesday Headlines: Ellwood City, Penn. Deals with Huge Sinkhole
Engineers will meet with Ellwood City, Pennsylvania officials this week to determine how to deal with an enormous sinkhole. The sinkhole, approximately 10 feet wide by 70 feet long, occurred less than two weeks ago along a stormwater drainage line.
Water leaked out of the 100-foot-long pipe, which carries water out of the borough’s storm system down to Connoquenessing Creek, and eroded the ground, creating the sinkhole.
Headlines
In Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Township board of commissioners and the Elizabeth Township Sanitary Authority have approved their end of a consent agreement with the Allegheny County Health Department to remedy sewage overflow problems at a sewage treatment plant.
A second grease buildup for Greenville, North Carolina in as many days sent more sewage into the Tar River on Monday night. “Grease is the major cause of problems we find in sewer lines,” said Troy Perkins, the city’s water/sewer systems superintendent. “The best way to prevent sewer spills is to never pour grease down the drain.”
All classes at Tarrant County College’s Northeast Campus in Hurst, Texas have been cancelled for today after a major water main break near campus.
The break of a 20-inch water main in Arlington, Virginia affected service to 100 homes, disrupted traffic and rerouted a local bus.
Some south Snohomish County, Washington residents were advised to boil their tap water after a water main broke early Tuesday. When water outages occur, certain bacteria may contaminate water systems, posing a health risk to young children and people with weakened immune systems, hence the need to boil water.
Sewer Rate News
Beaumont, Texas
Bedford, Indiana
Milford, Massachusetts
Tuscola, Illinois
09.05.08
Friday Headlines: State Bailout is Latest Plan in a County’s Sewer Debt Crisis
A bailout plan by Alabama Governor Bob Riley to help Jefferson County avoid bankruptcy would limit annual rate hikes for customers to 2.85 percent. Since 1996, county sewer customers have seen their bills increase 329 percent. The plan calls for paying the banks everything they are owed but at lower interest rates. If the banks don’t agree to the proposal, the county will likely file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
Jefferson County has $3.2 billion in sewer debt it can’t fully pay. If the county opts for bankruptcy, it would be the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, easily surpassing the previous high of $1.6 billion set by Orange County, California in 1994.
Headlines
Leaders in Brownsburg, Indiana still lack answers for sewer problems that have plagued about 400 homeowners north of the town for more than five years. The town received a $3 million construction bid in June to extend sewers into the neighborhoods and is now working on a rate study to give those homeowners options on how to pay for the project.
The Common Council of Appleton, Wisconsin on Wednesday voted 14-2 to accept a consultant’s study recommending $11 million in improvements at the city’s water treatment plant. The study also includes a memo from the state Department of Natural Resources suggesting an additional $3 million in improvements to meet current and future environmental regulations.
Yesterday Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) co-hosted with Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson (R) a transportation and infrastructure discussion with about 40 local leaders in Boise. “What is underground is in worse shape than the bridges,” said Blumenauer. “72,000 miles of the nation’s water and sewer pipes are over 80 years of age, dating back to (President Calvin) Coolidge.”
Sewer Rate News
McCook, Nebraska
Netarts, Oregon
08.21.08
Thursday Headlines: Fort Wayne to Address Sewer Overflows
Fort Wayne, Indiana will make two more fixes at sites where sewage flows into the rivers during periods of heavy rains as it continues to resolve past violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The cost of the two projects is estimated to be $97,000.
Headlines
In Silverdale, Washington a big sewage spill has the Kitsap County Health District warning people not to go near the northern half of Dyes Inlet through Saturday. On Monday, a sewer main ruptured under a road spilling 20,000 gallons of raw sewage into Strawberry Creek. It then flowed directly into Dyes Inlet.
A recent water main break in Owosso, Michigan has put the spotlight on the age of its water infrastructure and the cost to replace it. Owosso Utilities Director estimates the cost of replacing the problematic mains in the city to be $350,000 per year. To date, out of an approximate 90 miles of pipe running under the city only 2 percent has been replaced.
Residents and businesses in Strasburg, Pennsylvania must boil their water until further notice, thanks to a water main break Wednesday night. The break occurred in a section of the system installed in 1957. Borough officials were concerned that the break had occurred in an older section that dates back 110 years.
Water customers in Holden, Massachusetts should brace themselves for another rate increase - the third in three years - to pay for repairs and maintenance projects that have been put off for years.
Sewer Rate News
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
