August 17, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Small North Carolina Town to Receive $3.3M for New Sewer System
In North Carolina, the Currituck County Board of Commissioners has approved plans to build a new public sewer system in the small communinity of Moyock after three years of debate and negotiation. The new $3.3 million plant would treat 100,000 gallons per day but could be expanded to 600,000 gallons per day.
Headlines
A water line break drowned a Tulsa, Oklahoma neighborhood in acres of water on Monday afternoon. The water flooded the street, dozens of yards, and swamped several homes. As the water receded, it left a gaping hole and a buckled road in its muddy wake.
Logan, Utah Mayor Randy Watts said the state Department of Environmental Quality has given the city seven years to cut by half the amount of phosphorous its sewage lagoons, located on the west side of town, discharge to Cutler Reservoir.
A $5.2 million upgrade to the village of Winneconne, Wisconsin’s wastewater treatment plant has started and is expected to take 18 months to complete. The project includes work to upgrade and increase the facility’s ability for wastewater treatment that should be good for at least 25 years.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded more than $1.46 million in grants for engineering studies to 50 public water supply systems throughout the state. These awards, which are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will fund engineering reports and facility plans that will include data collection, analysis and water system planning.
Sewer Rate News
East Moline, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
M0yock, North Carolina
Northport, Alabama
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 3, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Federal Officials Want Chicago River Cleaned Up
In Chicago, Illinois, the problem with sewage has gotten bad enough that the Obama administration has asked the Illinois legislature to clean up the river. The administration demands that the water be “safe enough for swimming”. The effort is expected to cost an estimated 242 million dollars according to the EPA, but The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago estimates costs much higher, at 623 million dollars.
Headlines
City officials in Mobile, Alabama reported overflows in sewage from storms that led to 7,200 gallons to overrun the town and cause the Mobile County Health Department to advise citizens to avoid contact with the sewage.
Sarasota, Florida city officials reported that an estimated 220,000 gallons of sewage spilled from a utility line break, causing 10 to 20 thousands gallons to pour into the Sarasota Bay.
Stimulus Spotlight
Federal funds will target sewage contamination of Esopus Creek in The Village of Saugerties, NY. The total cost is at about 1.4 million dollars to fix the sewage system, of which the stimulus will pay 800,000.
Sewer Rate News
Benson, North Carolina
Ionia, Michigan
China Grove, North Carolina
Madill, Oklahoma
March 23, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Work Started on New Mexico Water Project
Survey work in New Mexico has begun on the western portion of the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project, an undertaking that promises 250,000 American Indian residents drinking water by the year 2040. The $870 million project will divert nearly 38,000 acre-feet of water it will consist of 260 miles of pipeline and 24 pumping plants.
Headlines
In Florida, the West Palm Beach City Commission appeared to embrace a water supply and treatment plan officials said will improve the quality and quantity of the city water supply at the lowest long-term cost. The new upgrades would cost $72.7 million with an annual operating cost of $6.2 million. They will be funded through bonds.
About 600 customers in the small Seminole County community of Konawa, Oklahoma have gone without drinking water or with limited water since last Thursday because of a combination of a pump breakdown and water line leaks.
Stimulus Spotlight
West Virginia American Water got the go-ahead Monday for an $11 million project to upgrade or replace water lines from Belle to Montgomery. Members of the Kanawha County Commission gave approval for the water company to secure $11 million in low-interest loans to complete the project. Funding will be through a federal economic stimulus program that pays 45 percent of the interest on the loans.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced economic funding for three projects in western Iowa to improve water quality and public sanitation services.
Sewer Rate News
Dunkirk, New York
Ewing, New Jersey
Red Bank, New Jersey
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
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 20, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Massive Water Main Break In Oklahoma
Water is back on for thousands of homes and businesses in Oklahoma City after a massive water main break. The 72-inch line broke on Tuesday afternoon and forced the cancellation of classes at Oklahoma City Community College on Tuesday night.
Headlines
A 12-inch water main break that flooded three lanes of the Baltimore Beltway’s Outer Loop affected traffic through the evening rush hour yesterday.
Eighteen communities in Kansas will share nearly seven million dollars, in water and sewer grants from the federal government’s Community Development Block Grant program.
Stimulus Spotlight
A $35.8 million loan from the economic stimulus will upgrade a sewage treatment plant in Austin, Texas and will add a methane-powered generator that could power 750 homes as well as double the facility’s capacity for turning Austin’s toilet waste into nutrient-rich soil known as Dillo Dirt.
It will be up to the owners of the 160 dwellings in Louisville, New York whether to accept a Rural Development financing package. If the offer is approved by district residents and finalized by USDA, the town would receive $3.77 million in grant funding and a low-interest loan for $1.28 million. The influx of federal stimulus money made the project much more affordable and attractive for residents.
Sewer Rate News
Aurora, Ohio
Casper, Wyoming
Chesterton, Indiana
Columbus, Ohio
January 6, 2010
Wednesday’s Water News: Water Main Break in Penn. Creates Huge Sinkhole
A water main break in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania caused flooding and a sinkhole that swallowed a dump truck. PennDOT, which owns the dump truck, says after being on its side it has since been pulled from the flooded sinkhole.
Headlines
In Camden, Tennessee the city’s Water Department braved the cold all day and well into the night on Monday as they worked to repair broken water lines.
Heavy rains caused nearly 300,000 gallons of diluted raw sewage to overflow early Saturday morning in Fort Washington, Maryland according to Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission officials.
In the last 48 hours, city of Tulsa, Oklahoma crews have responded to more than 30 water main breaks. About a dozen of them happened Tuesday, mostly due to the cold temperatures that have affected the area.
Stimulus Spotlight
The city of Rutland, Vermont is going to get federal economic stimulus money to help pay for two sewer projects. The stimulus money will help repay two of the five bonds the city is taking out for water and sewer projects.
Sewer Rate News
Aumsville, Oregon
Four Corners, Montana
North Attleboro, Massachusetts
Mentone, Indiana
November 30, 2009
Monday’s Water News: Oklahoma Uses Stimulus for Drinking Water Projects
Federal stimulus money will be used to fund more than 20 drinking water projects in Oklahoma, expanding old water treatment plants and services and bringing some providers into compliance with health and environmental standards.
Headlines
Crews worked throughout the night to fix a water main break that shut down the water to the Boise State University student union building.
A water main ruptured early Saturday near Hancock Park in Los Angeles, flooding a street and forcing customers to lose service.
Stimulus Spotlight
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire and the state Department of Ecology have approved clean water projects in Olympia, Spokane, and Seattle worth a total of $5.6 million in economic stimulus funding.
Thanks to federal stimulus money, the city of Washington, Illinois will save $3.9 million on a $7.6 million loan it received from the Illinois EPA to begin the expansion of a water treatment plant.
Sewer Rate News
Eureka, California
Gig Harbor, Washington
Salinas, California
November 2, 2009
Monday’s Water News: California City Fined $2.3 Million for Sewer Overflow
The City of Pacifica, California faces a $2.3 million fine imposed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board for discharge of partially treated sewage estimated at 6.9 million gallons into the Pacific Ocean during a rainstorm on January 25 and 26, 2008.
Headlines
Last week’s combined sewer overflow from the Essexville (Mich.) Wastewater Treatment Plant totaled 1.4 million gallons. Plant personnel said the area received about 1.4 inches of rain, which overwhelmed its system and caused the overflow of partially treated sewage and stormwater runoff into the Saginaw River.
It’s been nearly two months since a 64-inch water main burst in the Los Angeles suburb of Studio City unleashed tens of thousands of gallons of water through nearly a dozen shops. Still, many of the local businesses that suffered flood damage remain closed, far longer than they had expected.
Stimulus Spotlight
The Stillwater, Oklahoma city council will review accepting stimulus fund award recommendations for more than $9.7 million of improvements to water and sewer systems. Projects include waterline replacement, refurbishment, meter reading system, pump station improvements, generator equipment, ultraviolet disinfection and lightning protection systems and lift station rehabilitation.
Ophir, Colorado is eligible for federal stimulus funds to support planned improvements to the town’s water system. The town may borrow up to $500,000 at a zero percent interest rate for municipal water system repairs.
Sewer Rate News
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Jersey City, New Jersey
