March 17, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: U.S. Mayors Say Billions Needed for Water Infrastructure
A new report released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors finds that water and sewer rates for American households will double to quadruple over the next 20 years. The report forecasts future spending for public water and wastewater systems will range between $2.5 and $4.8 trillion over the next 20 year period 2009 to 2028. Over the last 53 years, local governments have invested $1.6 trillion.
Headlines
The City of Pipestone, Minnesota has spent $7.5 million over the past decade to repair and replace water and wastewater infrastructure, trying to stanch the flow of excess water getting into the wastewater treatment system through inflow and infiltration.
Some Orange, New Jersey residents have been asked to boil their water after one of townships 100-year-old water mains broke today, posing possible health risks.
Stimulus Spotlight
Among the approximately $50 million Oklahoma City received in economic stimulus money, $4 million has been allocated for sewer and water main construction and replacement.
Thanks to the economic stimulus, a project in Hanford, Washington is building a larger “pump and treat system” that will pump water out of the ground, remove hexavalent chromium and then reinject the clean water into the ground.
Sewer Rate News
Burton, Ohio
Crossville, Tennessee
Red Bank, New Jersey
March 16, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Gloucester (Mass.) Struggles with Sewer Overflow Caused by Nor’easter
Struggling with heavy rains, the sewer system in Gloucester, Massachusetts has been releasing untreated wastewater into the city’s harbor. The city’s wastewater treatment plant can process 3.3 million gallons of wastewater a day, but since Sunday it has been dealing with close to 15 million gallons per day.
Headlines
Lansing, Michigan’s first combined sewer overflow project of the new season got underway yesterday as the city looks to upgrade its sewer system.
A water main break in Fort Wayne, Indiana sent water gushing onto the street Tuesday morning, causing part of the road to cave-in and causing damage to an old 72-inch sewer main. The failed 6″ water main was over 100 years old.
Stimulus Spotlight
With a grant from the federal stimulus package the Gordon Sanitary District in Minnesota is conducting a feasibility study to connect 55 buildings to its sewer system.
Bates Township, Michigan is considering its first major water project in over 15 years, replacing and upgrading the oldest lines in its system, and hopes to finance most of it with a $900,000 grant from the economic stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Bellingham, Washington
Norwalk, Connecticut
Owosso, Michigan
March 8, 2010
Monday’s Water News: 100,000 in Baltimore County Without Water After Main Break
A water main break on Saturday morning which cut off service to 100,000 residents in Baltimore County can pick up water today at a local sports complex. The break in the 54-year-old main has closed 11 schools today as approximately 40,000 residents are still without water as of this morning.
Headlines
An electrical malfunction at a Fulton, Missouri lift station resulted in the release of an estimated 1.2 million gallons of untreated sewage on Friday.
The troubled Ogden Interceptor in Wilmington, North Carolina had another sewer spill on Saturday when about 2,625 gallons of sewage spilled into the wetlands of Smith Creek.
Stimulus Spotlight
A $550 million water project for 15 cities and five rural water districts in South Dakota, Iowa and southwestern Minnesota that’s more than 20 years in the making is beginning to take shape. The project is being supplemented by $56.5 million in funding from the economic stimulus.
A generator for a water treatment plant in Berwick, Maine installed last summer, and funded in part from the economic stimulus, allowed the plant to filter water last week despite losing power from the main grid due to gusting winds and heavy rain that tore through the area.
Sewer Rate News
Bath, New York
Montague, California
Pima County, Arizona
Riverbank, California
February 2, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Aging Pipes Lead to Sewer Overflows in San Francisco Area
During the storms that rained on the San Francisco Bay Area a couple of weeks back, a total of 630,000 gallons of raw sewage spewed into the bay at 47 spots. Even worse, 170 million gallons of partially treated sewage was discharged from three East Bay Municipal Utility District “wet weather” overflow plants.
Headlines
Layton Hills Mall in Layton, Utah was closed Monday after a major water line broke Sunday and damaged electrical components, knocking out power to the building.
The city of Utica, New York is eyeing four sewer projects that will cost about $12 million. The proposed projects would be the first step toward a $150 million fix needed to keep overflow sewage and stormwater out of the Mohawk River.
Stimulus Spotlight
After receiving $5 million in federal stimulus money, the Long Branch, New Jersey’s Sewerage Authority is about to embark on a $19 million upgrade of a treatment plant, assorted pumping stations and many sanitary sewer lines.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has announced that all of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for wastewater infrastructure are now under contract. The contracts are spread across 42 parishes, funding 55 projects.
Sewer Rate News
Cyrus, Minnesota
Hudson, New York
North Tonawanda, New York
Vacaville, California
January 5, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Frigid Weather Ruptures Water Mains in Atlanta
Numerous water lines in Atlanta have ruptured due to the below-freezing temperatures. There were 10 breaks overnight and Tuesday morning making it difficult for repair crews to keep up with the pace of the breaks.
Headlines
Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney has announced that $300,000 in new federal funding will help jump-start the design and construction of a water main between the towns of East Lyme and Waterford.
A water line break yesterday in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania that threatened a U.S. Postal Service building and disrupted service to 15 customers.
Stimulus Spotlight
A new water treatment plant that removes arsenic from drinking water is now operating in Tubac, Arizona. Construction of the plant was partially funded by a grant from the economic stimulus package.
Tuppers Plains, Ohio Regional Sewer District has received a grant and loan from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to upgrade its 15 year-old sewer system.
Sewer Rate News
Conneaut, Ohio
Goodview, Minnesota
Fenton, Michigan
Montgomery, Pennsylvania
December 14, 2009
Monday’s Water News: Headaches After 100 Year-Old Pipe Break in San Francisco
A road in San Francisco disintegrated Saturday afternoon after a 100-year-old pipe broke causing four intersections to be closed while repairs were made. The break also caused flooding, a sinkhole 20 feet in diameter. Some businesses were affected by flooding and/or sludge from the break.
Headlines
A water main break in Duluth, Minnesota forced Miller Hill Mall to close on Monday, meaning a lost day of business for the mall during the busy holiday shopping season.
In Columbus, Ohio, a water main break this morning shot water 50 feet in the air, disrupted traffic and left many residents without water.
The only one bid for the latest phase of the Combined Sewer Overflow project in Fall River, Massachusetts has come in nearly $2 million above estimates, forcing the city to think about rebidding the job.
Stimulus Spotlight
Construction of a water tower in Frankfort, Illinois could begin this month, boosted by an interest-free loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 25 Percent of the $2.68 million will not have to be repaid because of a principal forgiveness program from the economic stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Anthem, Arizona
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Egelston Township, Michigan
Watertown, Wisconsin
December 1, 2009
Tuesday’s Water News: Broken Water Main, Sinkhole Slows Drivers
Drivers in Panama City Beach, Florida faced a traffic challenge Monday, after a water main break caused a gaping hole in the road. Although the total repair cost is not currently known a contractor is installing water lines and relocating utilities underground.
Headlines
A water main break combined with freezing temperatures overnight left ice on the road on U.S. 70 near Swannanoa, North Carolina leading to a traffic accident this morning.
A 10-inch water main burst on a residential street in Montgomery County, Maryland on Monday morning, cutting off water to almost a dozen homes and causing the pavement to buckle.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has awarded $900,000 in stimulus funds to the town of Delcambre to go toward wastewater improvement projects.
A sewer project in Waseca, Minnesota is getting a boost from federal stimulus dollars. The city is receiving $6 million from the stimulus for a $16.1 million project to install new sewer pipelines and a new wastewater treatment plant.
Sewer Rate News
Berlin, Maryland
Gainesville, Georgia
Middletown, Connecticut
Sunnyside, Washington
November 23, 2009
Monday’s Water News: Communities Struggle with Sewer Overflows
Yesterday, The New York Times as part of its ongoing series on the worsening pollution in America’s waters, focused on the alarming number of sewer overflows across the country. The article cites data from the EPA that in the last three years alone, more than 9,400 of the nation’s 25,000 sewage systems have reported violating the Clean Water Act by dumping untreated or partly treated human waste, chemicals and other hazardous materials into rivers and lakes and streams.
Headlines
A water main ruptured in St. Paul, Minnesota neighborhood soaking basements and made for a hectic weekend of cleanup. Homeowners will be able to file claims with the city to recover damages to their homes and belongings.
Crews were working Saturday to repair a break in a 14-inch water main that caused a sinkhole and flooding in the Los Angeles community of Stevenson Ranch.
Major upgrades are underway to improve water service for some residents of Springfield, Illinois. The project includes two additional water storage tanks and water main extensions.
Stimulus Spotlight
The city of Clare, Michigan is one of six communities receiving stimulus funds for water and wastewater upgrades. A $3 million loan to the city of Clare is part of $31.5 million made available to six Michigan communities to improve their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Texas Water Development Board has approved a $31.8 million loan to the city of Austin to finance wastewater system improvements. The loan comes from the economic stimulus and portions of the project qualify for the green infrastructure provisions in the stimulus.
Sewer Rate News
Keokuk, Iowa
Limerick, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Southmont, Pennsylvania
November 18, 2009
Wednesday’s Water News: $1.8 Million Project to Begin in Wilmington, N.C.
Work will begin soon in Wilmington, North Carolina on a $1.8 million project downtown which includes the replacement of sewer and water pipes and storm drains, as well as a new road, sidewalks and traffic signals.
Headlines
The city of Aurora, Ohio has moved one step closer to securing $830,000 in state funds for the cleaning and relining of four water mains. The city’s share for the cost of the project is $800,000 and is expected to take about six months to complete
A water main break in Hackensack, New Jersey flooded a local street washing mud onto the road and causing a 20-foot sinkhole. Approximately 200 people and nearby businesses were affected by the break.
Stimulus Spotlight
Groundbreaking for New Hampshire’s largest stimulus-funded water project began yesterday. The town of Seabrook is receiving $5 million from the economic stimulus for construction of a new drinking water treatment plant.
A Stark County drinking water project and four sewer projects in Wayne, Stark and Portage counties are getting federal stimulus funds and state loans from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Sewer Rate News
Baxter, Minnesota
DeKalb, Alabama
Henderson, Nevada
Kingman, Arizona
San Diego, California
November 17, 2009
Tuesday’s Water News: Water Main Break Floods Homes in Oregon Community
A broken water main in a Roseburg, Oregon neighborhood caused flooding and damaged some area homes. The force of the water was so strong, it caused the street to bubble up and crews had to take out that section of road and make repairs.
Headlines
Two major intersections in Warner Robbins, Georgia were closed this evening as crews tried to repair a massive water main break that flooded businesses and stopped traffic throughout the afternoon.
The rash of water main breaks that have flooded streets, homes and business and snarled traffic across Los Angeles over the last few months might have been triggered by minor increases in pressure because of an unusually full reservoir and fluctuations after a trunk line ruptured.
After 10 years of work, a $10 million budget, 26 miles of meandering pipeline, and one year of construction, the 450 people living in the town of Bear River, Wyoming will have clean water coming out of their faucets by Christmas time.
Stimulus Spotlight
In record time, the California Water Resources Control Board has completed awarding its full allotment of $270.5 million in federal stimulus funds for clean water projects that protect public health and the environment, and create jobs for Californians.
Over 96 percent of stimulus funds allocated for water quality projects in Minnesota are invested in projects that have already broken ground. The rate is the best in the nation whereas the national average is 48 percent.
Sewer Rate News
Amesbury, Massachusetts
Fort Scott, Kansas
Kenner, Louisiana
Spotsylvania, Virginia
