05.29.09
Thursday and Friday’s Water News: Pittsburgh Water Main Break Leads to Traffic Delays
Pardon my lack of posting yesterday as I was under the weather, to make it up to you here is a supersized update.
Drivers on Pittsburgh’s South Side were met with traffic delays on Thursday morning, after thousands of gallons of water went gushing from a broken 16-inch main into the streets leaving about 15 homes without water service.
Headlines
A break in a 24-inch water main closed a portion of a major road in West Springfield, Massachusetts, flooding it with about 2 million gallons of water and causing traffic problems.
The northbound lanes of a busy road in Utica, Michigan are closed because of a large water main break and the repairs are expected to take all day.
After more than four years of preparation, officials have broken ground on a state-of-the-art water filtration plant in East Chicago, Indiana. The $55 million facility will provide the purest drinking water currently available and replace the existing 45-year-old facility.
Stimulus Spotlight
The town of Wynot in the northeast corner of Nebraska is getting nearly $1.2 million in federal stimulus money for improvements to its water and wastewater systems.
Farmington, New Mexico has been awarded $2.1 million in federal and state funds to improve more than two miles of water piping–half paid through the federal stimulus bill and half through a state low-interest loan program.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that 10 New York water and wastewater projects will receive $14.8 million through the federal stimulus package.
Money from the economic stimulus package will pay for the construction of nine miles of water pipelines in downtown Tampa and Davis Islands. The funding will come from a $23 million low-interest loan and a $2.5 million grant and is expected to create about 125 jobs beginning this October.
Sewer Rate News
Goshen, New York
Middlebury, Vermont
Portland, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon
05.04.09
Monday Headlines: Water Main Break Floods Sacramento Elementary School
A water main break at an elementary school in Sacramento, California flooded the campus, parking lot, and streets Monday morning. Staff members were bringing in sandbags to protect the other classrooms in the flooded areas.
Headlines
The recent heavy rains in Owosso, Michigan have caused sewage overflows of apprximately 500,000 gallons as a result of excessive storm water runoff.
About 120,000 gallons of sewage spilled this morning in Austin, Texas after a break in a 12-inch wastewater line.
A combined sewer overflow that started April 25 in Grand Rapids, Michigan continues to affect the Grand River in Ottawa County, and the heavy rains have washed a considerable amount of sediment and contamination into the river.
Stimulus Spotlight
Two communities in Pinal County, Arizona will receive about $6.3 million in stimulus funds to complete water-related projects. Most of the funds will be distributed by the state Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, which provides low-interest loans and grants. Projects in Pinal County will create or sustain 39 jobs, according to project estimates.
Sewer Rate News
Grand Island, Nebraska
Washington County, Maryland
Wheeling, West Virginia
02.10.09
Tuesday Headlines: Senate Passes Stimulus
Today the Senate approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by a vote of 61-37, with three Republicans joining 58 Democrats and Independents. The Senate reduced the House allocation for loans and grants for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure from $8.4 billion to $6.4 billion. Both chambers are expected to vote on final passage of the bill by President’s Day.
Headlines
Congressman Lee Terry (R-Neb.) is pushing for money from the economic stimulus package for Omaha’s sewer overhaul. Omaha is looking at a 15-year project to separate a most of its sewer system at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.
Approximately $17.3 million in funding requests by the City of Zanesville, Ohio have been submitted for inclusion in the federal stimulus package. Highlighting the list is a plan for the construction of a new 10 million gallon per day water treatment plant to take the place of the old water works.
A recent sewage spill in Coos Bay could have a lasting impact on the state of Oregon requiring public notice when a sewage spill occurs. On January 27, the Oregon Department of Agriculture shut down commercial shellfish harvesting, but no one alerted the public who were clamming and crabbing in the bay.
The City Council of Kerrville, Texas held a special session Tuesday afternoon to discuss several items, including a water and wastewater master plan and funding options and a wastewater treatment plant relocation.
Sewer Rate News
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Lorain, Ohio
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
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
09.19.08
Friday Headlines: Chicago to Release Report on Massive Sewer Overflow
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago (MWRD) is on the verge of releasing a report on the billions of gallons of stormwater overflow that were released into Lake Michigan as part of its efforts to fight flooding during last weekend’s torrential rains. MWRD estimates that approximately 90 billion gallons of water were released into Lake Michigan because of last weekend’s storms.
Headlines
In Michigan, the Saginaw Wastewater Treatment Plant also reports that a a record 178.7 million gallons of sewage flowed to the Saginaw River following last weekend’s storms. The plant experienced two overflow events during the weekend, when the area was deluged by the remnants of Hurricane Ike.
York Central School in York, New York is closed today because of a water main break, which has compromised the water pressure in the school.
A water main break in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia tied up traffic for several hours Thursday as city utility workers repaired the pipe. Utilities Director Timothy Mitchell said the break occurred in a 12-inch water main releasing between 1 million and 2 million gallons of water.
In Pennsylvania, the Elizabeth Township Sanitary Authority will pay a $20,000 civil fine for allowing tens of millions of gallons of untreated sewage to flow into the Youghiogheny River, and will eventually shut down its malfunctioning treatment plant and pump its sewage to a planned new treatment facility in McKeesport.
Sewer Rate News
Grant, Nebraska
Pinellas Park, Florida
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
07.18.08
Friday Headlines: Pipe Break, Sinkhole Snarls Traffic in Pasadena, Calif.
In California, all three lanes of the northbound Pasadena Freeway are open again after a huge sinkhole was repaired. According to Caltrans, the sinkhole was caused by the corrosion of a 30-foot storm sewer pipe which undermined the stability of the ground beneath the roadway. (photo courtesy of the Associated Press)
Headlines
Three major water mains broke in Fort Scott, Kansas during a 13-hour period this week. Decay of aging pipes is believed to be a primary cause for the breaking water mains.
In Pennsylvania, the Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners have approved a $10.5 million plan to relieve backed-up sewers in the central Lehigh Valley.
A boil water alert remains in effect for some West Melbourne, Florida residents because of a water main break that occurred on Wednesday.
Flooding from broken water main in Kalamazoo, Michigan may keep a busy street closed until tomorrow. A break in an eight-inch water main underneath the road caused the surrounding area to rise a foot.
Sewer Rate News
McCook, Nebraska
Randolph, Massachusetts
Shiloh, Ohio
Teutopolis, Illinois
