June 23, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Storms Lead to Water Main Breaks, Flooding on Indian Reservation
After nearly five inches of rainfall in the past few days, an Indian reservation in Great Falls, Montana is faced with severe flooding. Ten different water mains ruptured and broke from the massive quantity of rainwater, leaving widespread flooding and water damage and no drinking water for the tribe’s natives.
Headlines
Kentucky state Rep. Larry Clark is among a bipartisan group of state lawmakers pushing for a Louisville-area pilot program on regionalization of wastewater treatment
Officials in Carroll County, Maryland are asking citizens to watch what they flush after an accumulation of plastics, towels, rubber gloves, and grease backed up sewer lines and resulted in 70,000 gallons of spilled raw sewage. The sewage managed to flow into two separate streams during the overflow.
Sewer Rate News
Astoria, Oregon
Charleston, West Virginia
Fernley, Nevada
Issaquah, Washington
June 8, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Small Towns Vexed By Sewage Issues
Small towns are having serious issues when it comes to sewage, particularly in Mabton, Washington. Officials claim that many systems are 5, 10, or even 15 years out of date, leading to accidents. Sewer rate hikes are on the horizon for many of these towns, but that alone will not cover the cost. Many towns are applying for grants to ease the problem as well.
Headlines
An unknown amount of sewage spilled into the Cedar River in Seattle, Washington after two clogs in two days. After officials unclogged the pipe, buildup caused it to be clogged again the very next day. It is still unknown what the cause of the clogs were.
The citizens of Cheektowaga, New York are fed up with the crumbling wastewater infrastructure in their town. After heavy rains over the weekend, many of the citizen’s basements were flooded with sewage.
Stimulus Spotlight
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been put to good use in West Virginia, according to officials. $139 million, including 61 million from the ARRA, has been spent on 39 projects throughout the state to improve or build wastewater facilities.
Thanks to the economic stimulus Las Vegas is seeing construction on two large water infrastructure projects. Those projects are a $447 million dollar water intake system and a $257 million dollar wastewater treatment plant.
Sewer Rate News
Bay City, Michigan
Pilot Mountain, North Carlonia
Sioux City, Iowa
St. Albans, Vermont
June 7, 2010
Monday’s Water News: Massive Water Main Break, Sinkhole in Gainesville
In Florida, a busted Gainesville Regional Utilities pipe three blocks from the University of Florida campus sent torrents of water rushing down a street, dropped water pressure to neighborhoods and restaurants, and caused a sizeable section of road to cave in Saturday night.
Headlines
Officials in Jackson, Mississippi may not see a requested $10 million in federal funding to help with the city’s crumbling water infrastructure until next year or 2012.
Agents from state and federal agencies have raided the Michigan City (Ind.) Sanitary District looking for evidence of environmental crimes. The investigation involves several years of unreported sewer overflows and the firing of the whistleblower who tipped off the government.
Stimulus Spotlight
In California, the Moulton Niguel Water District is receiving help from the economic stimulus to bring recycled water to local parks and golf courses. The city’s water pipeline system is also being extended as part of the project. The project will be financed through 30-year Build America stimulus bonds. which were included as part of the economic stimulus.
The National Park Service has provided $5.35 million in federal stimulus funding for a new wastewater treatment plant at Denali National Park and Preserve in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Sewer Rate News
China Grove, North Carolina
Las Galinas, California
Lee County, Florida
Springfield, Massachusetts
June 4, 2010
Friday’s Water News: Raleigh Gets its Second Sewage Spill in a Week
A sewer main collapse in Raleigh, North Carolina has caused a sewage spill which has led to an estimated 28,800 gallons of spillage into Walnut Creek. This event comes on the heels of another overflow earlier in the week due to rags and paper towels clogging the old system.
Headlines
There are serious problems with the sewage system in Hayti Heights, Missouri. Attorney General Chris Koster is worried that the system is not functioning properly, and filed an injunction to appoint a temporary, limited receivership to preserve and protect the water and sewer utilities and make sure they are operating as intended.
A collapsed sewer main in Seattle, Washington caused the formation of a 16-foot sinkhole yesterday. A pump was powered up to divert the sewage around the broken line through a six-inch hose.
The morning commute was worse than usual for some motorists in St. Louis after a water main break downtown forced the closure of a street. It is believed that the broken main was approximately 100 years old.
Stimulus Spotlight
Thanks to the stimulus package, Fairbanks, Alaska has received a 5.35 million dollar grant towards a new wastewater treatment plant, which will process an estimated 100,000 gallons of water a day
Sewer Rate News
Carson City, Nevada
Middletown, Maryland
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Sutherlin,Oregon
May 7, 2010
Friday’s Water News: D.C. Planning Massive Tunnels to Reduce Combined Sewer Overflows
The District of Columbia is planning to build the first of three massive underground tunnels in 2011 to reduce combined sewer overflows during wet weather events. The first tunnel will run along the Anacostia River, which suffers the greatest amount of overflows. Each of the tunnels will be approximately 24 feet in diameter, but the Anacostia tunnel-at 13 miles in length-will be the longest.
Headlines
Officials in Bossier Parish, Louisiana plan to spend about $50 million over the next few years building the its first sewer plant. Most of Bossier Parish, like other parishes in northwest Louisiana, has no public sewer system.
Despite $160 million in economic stimulus funding for state water projects, some in California have criticized the program for not doing enough to help communities with the most contaminated drinking water because their projects were not shovel-ready.
Stimulus Spotlight
In New York, a $10.35 million project to bring municipal water to about 600 properties in the towns of Louisville and Norfolk could break ground this summer. Funding for the project will include a $6.79 million grant from the economic stimulus and a $3.5 million loan from USDA.
A $550,000 grant from the economic stimulus has helped connect a mobile home community in Mecca, California to the Coachella Valley Water District’s Water system.
Sewer Rate News
Carson City, Nevada
Durham, North Carolina
Peoria, Arizona
Portland, Oregon
April 30, 2010
Friday’s Water News: Cedar Falls (Iowa) Needs Sewer System Fix
Cedar Falls, Iowa needs to fix its sewer system or face the possibility of state and federal regulators halting future development in the city. Cedar Falls has a long-standing problem with too much storm water getting into its sewer system, causing overflows of wastewater at a lift station and sometimes overloading the main wastewater treatment plant, leading to dumping raw sewage into the river.
Headlines
120 thousand gallons of waters filled a street in Bonita Springs, Florida after a massive water main break. Collier County Utilities says an aeration valve broke because due to age.
Elevated levels of uranium in domestic wells have forced residents of the Yerington Paiute Tribe Campbell Ranch Reservation in Nevada to drink bottled water since 2004. But the tribe has received a grant from USDA to build a water treatment facility and the extension of water lines on the reservation.
Stimulus Spotlight
Construction has begun to install a sewer system at Hide-A-Way Lake in Picayune, Mississippi. The total project will cost $5.9 million. The Utility Authority will be taking out a loan of about $800, 000 for the SRF and the remaining balance is being funded with economic stimulus funding.
Ophir, Colorado will be able to borrow up to $500,000 at a zero percent interest rate in economic stimulus funding to improve its water system.
Sewer Rate News
Blooming, Grove, New York
Glendale, Arizona
Herkimer, New York
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
March 19, 2010
Friday’s Water News: Water Main Break in Cincinnati Causes Floods
A water main breakage on Clifton Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio flooded the surrounding area Thursday night at approximately 11 p.m. The water has flooded the area around Good Samaritan Hospital, but the hospital is still accessible from Ludlow Avenue. A was car parked when the water main broke and the owner has been unable to move the vehicle. The car has been filled with water but police said moving it would be too dangerous.
Headlines
A broken sewer main resulted in the release of untreated wastewater into Ramsey Branch in Jackson, Missouri according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The City of Bedford, Virginia has agreed to spend $100,000 on sewer line upgrades in response to a number of sewage spills during heavy rainstorms. The agreement says the city will replace a number of sewer lines and examine other pipes to see where the water comes from.
A main water line in Rayburn Township, Pennsylvania erupted yesterday causing businesses and nearly 200 residents to be without water yesterday afternoon. The ground was saturated and it shifted. A rock punctured a hole about the size of a fist in the bottom of a 12-inch cast iron pipe.
Stimulus Spotlight
Illinois will get more than $15 million in stimulus grants and loans for water system improvement projects. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the idea is to create jobs and protect public health by improving water quality and public sanitation services.
Construction spending in Nevada will drop more than 10 percent in 2010 compared with 2009, but increases in federal stimulus dollars will cushion the decline. $224 million will be spent on water infrastructure, up from $167 million in 2009.
Sewer Rate News
February 5, 2010
Friday’s Water News: U.S. and Canada End Dispute Over “Buy American”
A yearlong dispute between the U.S. and Canada over “Buy American” rules in the economic stimulus package has been settled. The deal will allow use of Canadian products in many local U.S. projects funded by the stimulus program. Municipalities receiving stimulus funding for water and sewer projects have complained that a shortage of products, including water filters made by General Electric, were causing construction delays.
Headlines
Officials in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin say it might be days before residents can safely drink water after a water main break Friday morning caused a pressure drop that’s still affecting the city.
The City Council in Johnston, Iowa has approved a detailed stormwater management plan that recommends nine priority projects — at a cost of more than $8.4 million — in an effort to improve water quality and quantity by reducing runoff and increasing infiltration.
Stimulus Spotlight
The town of Greenville, Wisconsin will receive $1.2 million in federal stimulus grant money to support its new water tower construction project and related water main work. The grant will pay for half of the cost of the project.
Federal stimulus funding for Ardmore, Oklahoma will help renovate part of a sewer line that is more than 50 years old. The city will receive $1 million for the project but have to cover any additional costs of the project which are expected to be $250,000.
Sewer Rate News
Carson City, Nevada
Montgomery County, Maryland
Orem, Utah
Rockport, Massachusetts
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 15, 2009
Tuesday’s Water News: Water Main Break Closes Schools, Businesses
The city of Kalama, Washington, ran out of water on Monday after a water main ruptured, draining the municipal reservoir. That left most residents without water for several hours and shut down schools and some businesses.
Headlines
A break in a 12-inch water pipe in a Port Townsend, Washington neighborhood led to the temporary closure of restaurants in the area using city water.
Officials in Lyon County, Nevada issued a boil order for a some residents in the small community of Stagecoach after a water main in the area broke Monday afternoon.
Board of Water Supply crews this morning are repairing a broken 6-inch water main in Wahiawa, Hawaii, near Honolulu. About 20 homes were without water after the break.
Stimulus Spotlight
Several Western Slope communities in Colorado are going to have to spend millions of dollars more for various water and wastewater expansion projects because of Davis-Bacon provisions in ARRA. The Mayor of Fruita estimates his city’s $30.9 million wastewater treatment project, which it has been planning for years and was about to start, will cost another $1.3 million because of the provision.
Sewer Rate News
Caseville, Michigan
Egelston Township, Michigan
South Williamsport, Pennsylvania
