July 28, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Pair of Water Main Breaks for Richmond, California
A pair of water main breaks this morning in Richmond, California flooded streets at both a residential neighborhood and business district. The flooding was caused by pressure buildup that causes weak points in the pipe system to break.
Headlines
A sewage spill in the northern district of Savannah, Georgia resulted from a grease blockage in the sanitary sewer collection system. Over 20,000 gallons flowed into the Ogeechee River, making the spill large enough to be classified as a large spill according to the EPA.
In Berea, Virginia, a sinkhole opened dangerously close to Route 17. The sinkhole measured over 10 feet in all directions; it resulted from a drainage pipe failure.
A broken water main buckled the pavement and released over 100,000 gallons of water on Tuesday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri. Initially, officials feared a 36-inch steel pipe had ruptured, but they have verified that it was actually just an 8 inch main. Repairs will last until Friday.
In Lothian, Maryland, 5,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Patuxent River. Officials advise residents to refrain from swimming in the area until at next Tuesday.
Stimulus Spotlight
Manistique, Michigan is taking on a massive $8 million water and wastewater infrastructure project which will cover more than 40 blocks. The project is being funded through the economic stimulus via a combination of grants and low-interest loans through USDA.
Sewer Rate News
Kalkaska, Michigan
Peabody, Kansas
Prescott, Arizona
San Mateo, California
July 21, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Officials in Shreveport Struggle to Clean up Champion Lake
After a 9 million gallons of sewage spilled into Champion Lake due to a burst wastewater line, officials in Shreveport, Louisiana, went straight to work two weeks ago to clean up the mess. However, cleanup is taking longer than expected and officials are struggling to get the lake’s bacteria levels back to a safe point.
Headlines
Heavy rains caused sewage overflows in La Joya, Texas. The mayor warned citizens that the wastewater system could not hold against the heavy rains to come, but many did not listen. Thousands of dollars in damage was done to homes and property after sewage seeped into houses following the rain.
The wastewater treatment plant in Centerville, Iowa had to be shut down after heavy rains pounded the town. Officials are worried that some of the water went untreated, and that there could be contaminated drinking water going into people’s homes.
In Los Angeles, at least part of a busy hospital in east Hollywood was temporarily without water today due to a water main break. Traffic was also affected by the break and affected the afternoon commute.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, the town of Joliet, Illinois will be building a new sewage line to ease pressure on their wastewater treatment plant. The plan costs an estimated $15 million dollars and is being paid for by low-interest loans provided by the stimulus package.
Sewer Rate News
Kiowa, Kansas
Newbern, Tennessee
Traver, California
San Ramon, California
Stayton, Oregon
July 14, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: 42,000 Gallons of Sewage Spills in Oakland, West Virginia
A pump station failure in Oakland, West Virginia caused 42,000 gallons of sewage leaks near local Deep Creek Lake. The cause of the failure is unknown and officials have blocked off any area that could have possibly been contaminated until further notice. Deep Creek Lake is currently being tested for contamination as well.
Headlines
Heavy rains cause a raw sewage overflow into Lake Erie near Cleveland, Ohio. Officials have warned that citizens should not swim at nearby Edgewater Beach until further notice. The overflow occurred because Cleveland’s wastewater system was overtaxed during the rains.
A Children’s Center in Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma is facing costs estimated at $100,000 dollars after heavy rains in the city caused sewage overflows. The wastewater system could not handle the rain, and sewage spewed into the center, causing damage.
A sewer main break in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida has caused officials to warn residents to avoid using the water in the area, even for drinking, until the problem is fixed.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the economic stimulus package, the island of Kauai in Hawaii is doubling the capacity of its wastewater plant. The $7.4 million dollar project will help the island deal with its wastewater problems.
Sewer Rate News
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Lawrence, Kansas
St. Mary’s Georgia
Warrenton, Oregon
June 16, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Chronic Sewage Overflows in Dogtown (Mo.)
Wastewater flooded basements in Dogtown, Missouri for the fourth time in two months and the affected residents are fed up. Every time a storm occurs, they complain, the sewage system can’t handle the additional wastewater. City officials are working on the issue, but have limited resources at hand to deal with the problem.
Headlines
Street flooding was unavoidable and pumping sewage into creeks and rivers was needed when heavy rains hit Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon. Officials states that any sewage in the water was diluted.
Residents are furious in Bucyrus, Ohio over chronic sewage overflows in their town. Recent rains led to almost four feet of wastewater pouring into residents’ basements. One resident is so angry he is filing a claim to the EPA for assistance with the damages to his home.
In Atlanta, raw sewage has spilled into Rock Creek and some residents have even had it spill into their backyards. Because the sewer line borders the city of Atlanta and Dekalb County, there is a dispute over which government entity is responsible for fixing the problem.
Stimulus Spotlight
A city school in Hobson City, Alabama will receive $42,000 in economic stimulus money to update its aging water infrastructure as part of a project to establish a Head Start program in the small community.
Ivins , Utah will receive a $5 million low-interest loan funded via the economic stimulus to improve its stormwater system.
Sewer Rate News
Bossier City, Louisiana
Orangetown, Virginia
Richmond, California
Wichita, Kansas
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
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
April 6, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Water Main Break in Orlando, Fla. Causes Giant Hole
A water main brake in Orlando, Florida on Orange Avenue has caused flooding in the street. The road has now opened up leaving a giant hole where you can see the original Orlando brick road.
Headlines
The Augusta, Kansas Public Building Commission considered a change order for the water service line to the new city hall under construction in Central Park. After discussion, the Council opted for a larger public service line to serve city hall and future development. The cost was reported to be $10,150 and will be paid from the city’s water fund.
The state of Michigan is ordering the City of Three Rivers to clean up its public water supply. The order requires Three Rivers to continuously disinfect its public water supply with existing equipment while permanent water treatment is designed, permitted and installed.
In Maryland the Howard County Council unanimously approved the extension of public water and sewer utilities to the northeast corner of historic Doughoregan Manor to preserve the rest of the estate.
Sewer Stimulus
Using millions of state and federal dollars, Gloucester, Massachusetts is overhauling its faulty water and sewer infrastructure. The city has been approved for $14.6 million in special low-interest loans, which are partially subsidized by the state’s revolving fund. Additionally, Gloucester will receive $2 million in loan forgiveness from the federal government’s stimulus package.
Yuma Elementary School in Tennessee stands to benefit greatly from a stimulus-funded sewer project the Scott County Public Service Authority hopes to begin. Construction on the $3.1 million sewer project’s first phase, which would bring service to Yuma Elementary and 100 nearby homes and businesses, will most likely begin this summer.
Sewer Rate News
Frankford, Delaware
Lee County, Florida
Olive Branch, Mississippi
North Canton, Ohio
March 4, 2010
Thursday’s Water News: Lansing, Michigan to Begin 2010 CSO Projects
Two large areas of Lansing, Michigan’s streets are getting ready for construction as the city’s Combined Sewer Overflow Control Construction project gets underway for 2010. The city needs to install storm sewers, sanitary sewers and water mains to keep raw sewage from flowing into local rivers.
Headlines
After a water main break this morning, the fourth water main break in three years for a section of Overland Park, Kansas, some residents along say they are fed up.
Monday started out in an unexpectedly soggy way for some residents in Fort Worth, Texas after a 54-year-old water main broke flooding eight homes.
Stimulus Spotlight
The USDA has awarded a roughly $9 million grant and a roughly $12 million loan from the economic stimulus funds to the Netarts Oceanside Sanitary District in Oregon for a new sewage treatment plant.
The Village of Ellsworth, Wisconsin is looking at alternatives and plans to help improve the village wastewater treatment plant, contingent on receiving grant and stimulus money.
Sewer Rate News
Burlington, Massachusetts
Davenport, Iowa
Glendale, Arizona
Half Moon Bay, California
February 15, 2010
Monday’s Water News: Ambulance Falls into Sinkhole from Water Main Break
An ambulance in Indianapolis dropped nose first into a sinkhole this morning caused by a water main break. The street was covered in about two feet of water and the ambulance had to be towed from the sinkhole.
Headlines
Officials in Wilmington, Delaware urged thousands of city water customers to boil their water Saturday because of possible water-quality problems created by a water main break.
A mile-long sewer line in Taylors, South Carolina that was installed along State Route 290 15 years ago could be replaced and upgraded this year as the area anticipates future growth and development on the corridor, which lies on the outskirts of its fire and sewer district.
Stimulus Spotlight
Austin, Texas this week will begin a $31.8 million stimulus-funded treatment plant project that will create 150 jobs, increase energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.
The town of Louisville, New York will receive $6.79 million, or 65 percent of the project cost, in stimulus funds for a new water project.
Sewer Rate News
Auburn, Michigan
Hudson, Ohio
New Albany, Indiana
Rush Township, Pennsylvania
January 27, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: 3 Separate Water Main Breaks Today in L.A.
Three water main breaks today in Los Angeles have kept the city’s Public Works department busy. Since September 1, the city has recorded more than 35 major ruptures in its water system where streets were flooded and the pavement buckled.
Headlines
Public works crews were busy for hours in Stowe, Pennsylvania after a water main ruptured. The 24-inch main likely ruptured because of excess pressure in the system, and approximately 55 customers were without water until the main could be repaired and the water was found safe for consumption.
A water main break in Nederland, Colorado closed the towns’s middle school and high school after both buildings were without water service.
Stimulus Spotlight
Federal economic stimulus funding for two local wastewater projects were formally approved Monday, when the state released $185 million for projects across Massachusetts. North Attleboro is getting $441,000 to detect and fix leaks in its sewer system and Dighton-Rehoboth Regional schools will receive $650,000 for a new sewage treatment facility.
The town of Batavia, New York has received $850,000 in money from the economic stimulus to upgrade more than 10,000 feet of lines in its sewer district. Work should begin in the spring and will take about a year to complete.
Sewer Rate News
Edwardsville, Kansas
Great Falls, Montana
Olney, Illinois
