September 1, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Boil Water Advisory Issued for Georgia Community
In Warner Robins, Georgia yesterday, two restaurants, two convenience stores, an elementary school, a small day care center and about 50 residences were without water after an 8-inch water main ruptured.
Headlines
The City of Columbia, South Carolina issued a boil water advisory yesterday after a water main break. The advisory was issued for several apartment complexes which house hundreds of students who attend the University of South Carolina.
About 48,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into a residential lagoon in Redwood City, California last week, nearly 10 times more than city officials initially estimated. The city estimate was revised after crews discovered a pipe had broken underground, sending far more sewage into the water than originally thought.
All three pumps at the a pump station in Cohoes, New York have failed, resulting in 27,100 gallons of raw sewage discharging into the Salt Kill, a tributary of the Hudson River. The cause was a string of rags found in the system.
Stimulus Spotlight
In Massachusetts, permanent financing for a new water plant that will serve Chatham and New Berlin should be secured next month. Plans are to pay for the project through Build America Bonds, a federal stimulus program that will reimburse the commission for 35 percent of its interest expenses. The bonds will be paid off over 30 years.
Sewer Rate News
Colleyville, Texas
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Gulfport, Mississippi
San Marcos, Texas
August 19, 2010
Thursday’s Water News: Massive Water Main Break Disrupts Service to Half of Waco, Texas
A massive break in a 48-inch water main has left Waco, Texas scrambling to save its water supply. Officials are asking residents to stop watering lawns and stop washing cars in order to save precious water. The massive pipe is critical to providing water service to half of the city’s residents.
Headlines
Work will be completed soon on a $6.5 million sewer project in Noblesville, Indiana. Prior to this project, the existing sewer was a combined sanitary and storm sewer that was constructed of brick over 100 years ago. Over the past year, crews installed large-diameter storm sewers and backup sewers.
A large water main break in Center Point, Alabama this morning damaged a busy road, and caused other property damage. Water also was spraying into the air, and damaged the road and blew out a window in a car.
Stimulus Spotlight
In Montana, though the entire project is years away from completion, the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Regional Water System’s first customers can drink the water pouring out of their faucets. Once a treatment plant is built at Lake Elwell and a waterline is installed, the project will deliver clean water to a territory the size of Delaware. Last summer, $20 million in federal stimulus money more than doubled the funding the project has received since it was authorized in 2002.
The drafting of an application seeking federal stimulus funds for Strasburg, Virginia’s planned $25 million upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant has come to a standstill as an environmental review document has become outdated during the process.
Sewer Rate News
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bradenton, Florida
Jackson, Mississippi
The blog is taking its summer vacation. We’ll return with all new material on Monday, August 30.
August 6, 2010
Friday’s Water News: Sewage Spills Into Whitewater River in Richmond, Indiana
Heavy rains in Richmond, Indiana have led to sewage spills along Whitewater River, contaminating the water. The spill occurred because the rainwater and sewage system became overloaded. Officials have warned residents to avoid contact with the water for 72 hours.
Headlines
80,000 gallons of sewage spills in Blaine, Minnesota. Officials say the old The chlorination system was malfunctioning at the local sewage plant and caused the wastewater to leak.
Residents in Baltimore, Maryland are concerned that sewage leaks are killing local fish at Deep Creek Lake. Approximately 1,000 dead fish have been found floating on the lake and residents are blaming recent wastewater spills.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, the residents of Crawford, Nebraska are receiving $4 million dollars in stimulus grants to get a new wastewater treatment plant.
The town of Palisade, Colorado is receiving a total of $7.8 million dollars to build a new sewer plant. The funds are being provided in a $4 million dollar low interest loan and a $3.8 million dollar grant, both provided by the stimulus package.
Sewer Rate News
Toro, California
Northport, Alabama
Northridgeville, Ohio
St. Louis, Missouri
July 27, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Sewage floods into South Philadelphia Homes
A sewer main break in south Philadelphia has caused raw wastewater to flow into resident’s homes and onto the streets. The source of the break is still unknown and officials have warned citizens to not drink any water and to turn off any appliances that use water until further notice.
Headlines
Beaches in Chicago are shut down after contaminated stormwater flowed into Lake Michigan. This wastewater release was forced because the sewage system was overtaxed and would have flooded streets otherwise.
The village of Adirondack, New York has been fined $10,000 dollars after a sewage spill leaks into nearby Lake Colby. The State Department of Environmental Protection issued the fine after they discovered a wastewater pump failure caused the spill.
More than 100 residents in Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania are being evicted from their homes due to sub-standard wastewater infrastructure in the town. The order was issued by an Erie County judge after health officials found puddles of sewage and a shoddy wastewater system in place.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, the city of Batavia, New York is having it’s sewer and water pipes replaced on Bank Street. The project is being funded by a $411,000 dollar grant provided by the stimulus package.
Sewer Rate News
Coachella Valley, California
Indianapolis, Indiana
Jesup, Iowa
Ovilla, Texas
July 26, 2010
Monday’s Water News: Allegheny County Communities Affected by Water Main Break
This morning was a rough one for many families and businesses in who lost water in several Allegheny County (Penn.) communities. Residents say the water main break is the third in as many days for the area. Once water service was restored some residents discovered they had to let their faucets run for a while.
Headlines
The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati has finished a sewer system construction project in Green Township, which installed 3,750 feet of new sewer line and eliminated the need for several pump stations.
A water main break in Culpeper, Virginia sent over 300,000 gallons of water rushing down a main road in the residential district. The pipe that burst was only an 8-inch line, but the enormous pressure exacerbated the spill.
Stimulus Spotlight
The city of Chino Valley in Arizona has approved a new city budget on Friday night. The budget includes projects to restore water and other types of infrastructure and depends on up to $42.4 million in stimulus funds to accomplish these goals.
Over $11 million in federal stimulus funds have been granted to the city of Asbury Park, New Jersey. These funds will go to underground electric, sewer, and cable lines to improve services to the city’s residents.
Sewer Rate News
Decatur, Illinois
Irving, Texas
Louisville, Kentucky
Sarasota, Florida
South Bend, Indiana
July 23, 2010
Friday’s Water News: Old Sewage Pipes in Pittsburgh Hinder Development
In recent years, the gas industry has been booming in Pittsburgh. However, with the increasing development of infrastructure, it is becoming clear that the city’s 100 year old wastewater system cannot handle the new burdens of machinery and an increasing population. Sewage spills are on the rise as well as contamination in Pittsburgh’s water ways, officials say.
Headlines
A clogged pipe in Honolulu, Hawaii led to 3,250 gallons of sewage to spill into nearby Kalihi stream, which flows directly into Keehi Lagoon. The Hawaii Department of Health has been notified of the spill.
The city of Fort Worth, Texas, has been fined $7,550 dollars for accidentally spilling 72,000 gallons of sewage into Little Fossil Creek, killing hundreds of fish. This is the fourth wastewater accident in two years, officials say.
Public Works crews in Indianapolis worked to fix a water main early this morning after a break in the main caused flooding in one neighborhood. The break in the 40-year old main forced water to shoot in the air and flood an apartment complex parking lot.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, the town of Asbury Park, New Jersey is fixing it’s wastewater system. The project is going to cost $15 million dollars, which is being funded by low-interest stimulus loans.
Sewer Rate News
Charles Town, West Virginia
Longview, Texas
New Albany, Indiana
Santa Clarita, California
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 13, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Sewer Pipe Leak Leads to Effluent Discharge into Sonoma Creek
A leaking sewage pipe is dumping untreated effluent into the Sonoma Creek in Sonoma, California. The leak may have been active for 12 hours before it was discovered; if so, the leak was dumping unimpeded at a rate of more than 100 gallons of sewage per minute into the creek.
Headlines
Officials in Nortonville, Kentucky are trying to figure out how to pay back a nearly three million dollar loan. In 2005, the city built a waste water plant using a loan from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. That loan was supposed to be paid back within one year of the plant’s completion, but still $2.8 million is owed.
The second leaking water pipe in a week has been discovered in Rockville, Maryland. It was reported in yesterday’s update that a water main was leaking, but it has finally burst. The 24 inch main is the second to break in a week and will extend the duration of water restrictions for Rockville residents.
A power outage in Shreveport, Louisiana over the weekend led to a hydraulic surge in the sewer line causing serious problems. Sewage is leaking into Lake Champion at a rate of 2,000 gallons a minute. The leak has been going since early Monday morning.
Stimulus Spotlight
A Groundbreaking was held for the Scott County Otter House Water Project in Hiltons, Virginia. The Tri-Cities area was awarded $2.25 million by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to entirely cover the cost of the project.
Sewer Rate News
Anderson, Indiana
Aurora, Oregon
Belmont, California
Birmingham, Alabama
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 9, 2010
Friday’s Water News: 700,000 Gallons of Sewage Floods Armarillo, Texas
After heavy rains hit Armarillo, Texas, the wastewater system was overwhelmed. This led to 700,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill out in several locations across town. Local residents and businesses are both dealing with wastewater overflows in their own homes, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is looking into health and safety concerns regarding the spill.
Headlines
The aging sewage treatment plant in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania is on it’s last legs according to officials. The plant is over thirty years old, and will not last much longer. It is now having trouble cleaning wastewater thoroughly, causing health problems. However, the Saltsburg City Council is having trouble coming up with the money to fix it, as it would cost $1.6 million to refurbish the plant and a whopping $2.7 million to replace it.
Residents of Monterey, California will not be able to swim at the local Monterey Municipal Beach due to a 70,000 gallon sewage spill into the nearby stormwater system. The system drains directly into the beach. Citizens will not be allowed to swim in the water until it can be tested for contamination by officials.
Sewage spills out of a manhole in Chico City, California. The leak is believed to have been caused by a system blockage. Some of the sewage spilled directly into the stormwater system, but not enough to cause contamination, according to officials.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, the town of Plattsmouth, Nebraska is getting a new sewage system. The stimulus package will provide a $1.2 million grant to help fund the $4 million dollar project.
Sewer Rate News
Terre Haute, Indiana
Campbell County, Virginia
New Albany, Indiana
Northport, Alabama
