05.20.09
Regular Posting Will Resume on May 26
I am currently at the National Utility Contractors Association 2009 Washington Summit and Spring Board Meeting. Regular posting on this blog will resume on Tuesday, May 26.
03.05.09
Back on Tuesday, March 10
Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been out at NUCA’s Utility Construction EXPO ‘09 in Phoenix all week. I will return to providing regular updates on Tuesday, March 10.
01.07.09
Wednesday Headlines: EPA to Discuss Sewage Spill in Greenwich, Connecticut
Environmental officials from the Federal government and state of Connecticut will meet in Hartford Thursday to discuss last month’s sewer main break in Greenwich that sent 28 million gallons of wastewater into the Long Island Sound via the Mianus River.
Headlines
It’s good news, I guess. Hundreds of millions of gallons of potentially contaminated wastewater discharged into the Saginaw River early last week, when treatment plants were overloaded with stormwater and sewage. Tests now indicate the release was benign and the contaminates were below Michigan Department of Public Health maximum limits.
The city of Lula, Georgia reports a limited spill of raw sewage at one it’s pump stations. A review of the station failure shows that the excessive amount of rain received caused an estimated loss of less than 5,000 gallons of raw sewage.
The EPA is ordering the city of Honolulu to upgrade its two largest sewage treatment plants. Mayor Mufi Hannemann has said it could cost the city more than $1.2 billion to upgrade the two plants.
According to an egineering firm, the city of St. Louis, Michigan with a population of 4,494 needs nearly $12 million in wastewater system upgrades.
Sewer Rate News
Aurora, Ohio
Hollister, Missouri
Lake Stanton, Indiana
09.30.08
Tuesday Headlines: New Documentary Tells Story of Water Infrastructure
A new documentary by Penn State Public Broadcasting focused on the need to reinvest in our Nation’s water infrastructure will begin airing this week on many local PBS stations. Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure, is a 90-minute documentary that tells the story of our largely out of sight, out of mind water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
Below is a four-minute trailer of the documentary, click here to check your local listings and see when the documentary will be shown in your area.
Headlines
The effects of time, hydrogen sulfide gas, fats, oils and grease have cost residents in Collierville, Tennessee $248,000 to repair two miles of sewer pipe.
A no-contact advisory was issued yesterday for Wolf Lake in Egelston Township, Michigan, after raw sewage leaked from a nearby transmission line. The break in a 16-inch line resulted in sewage seeping into the wetlands west of the lake.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued a boil advisory for the City of Cresco last week after officials reported a water line rupture. Several area businesses and schools were forced to close for a day and city residents were advised not to drink water straight from the tap.
In New Jersey, Hanover Township officials are threatening to issue a stop work order or file a lawsuit to halt work on the solar panel project at the Morristown wastewater treatment facility unless township inspectors are given access to the project.
Sewer Rate News
Galveston, Texas
Tiffin, Ohio
09.09.08
Tuesday Headlines: Hanna Causes Sewer Overflows in N.C. Community
Tropical Storm Hanna’s heavy rains, measured at 6.08 inches in Dunn, North Carolina, caused wastewater to overflow in three places, spilling the untreated water into waterways. Sewage spills has long been an issue in Dunn with the town ranking in the state’s top 10 for the problem.
Headlines
The decision of the City Council in Holyoke, Massachusetts not to raise sewer rates will likely result in taxpayers footing the bill for any additional related sewer costs. The increase is needed to help pay off $6 million in debt for a sewage treatment plant and $3 million for a combined sewer overflow abatement project.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation after originally saying repairs to a major street in Columbia, South Carolina would be finished by Saturday are still working on the repairs. Authorities blame a collapsed storm drain as the cause of the sinkhole.
The state of Michigan has threatened Harrisburg Township with penalties for not meeting limits on phosphorus and other substances in the discharge. The improvements required by the state will cost millions of dollars and is forcing the township to increase its sewer rates.
A water main break flooded a residential street in Castaic, California this morning, causing the street to buckle and leaving residents in some 60 homes without access to the roadway.
Sewer Rate News
Branson, Missouri
Riviera, Alabama
07.31.08
Thursday Headlines: Sewage Spill Contaminates River in S.C.
In Columbia, South Carolina, a sewage spill is contaminating the rapids on the lower Saluda River, one of the area’s most popular spots to wade and swim. State health officials have warned people to stay out of a five-mile stretch of the river until the pollution is dispersed, as swallowing water or getting it into cuts could lead to illness.
Headlines
A blockage in a private sewer line caused a 162-gallon sewage spill into the San Diego Bay.
The number of water main breaks in the city of Harrisonburg, Virginia nearly doubled over the past fiscal year. In fiscal 2007, Harrisonburg’s water system sustained 29 breaks. For fiscal 2008, which ended June 30, the number jumped to 47.
A water main break has left 1,800 residents in Greenfield, Illinois under a boil order until further notice.
Sewer Rate News
Champaign, Illinois
Clifton, New Jersey
Marthasville, Missouri
Today mark’s the 100th post. Here’s to 100 more.
07.10.08
Thursday Headlines: Sewage Overflow Kills Fish in Tallapoosa River
Sewage overflows from a wastewater treatment facility in Wadley , Alabama is being blamed for the death of fish in the Tallapoosa River (pictured). Sewer overflows have been a continuing problem for Wadley due to effluent discharge when the system is overloaded. The excess discharge ultimately ends up in the Tallapoosa River.
Headlines
King County, Washington is being fined $30,000 for a sewage spill that polluted a restored stretch of Ravenna Creek. The state Department of Ecology issued the penalty for the May spill that unleashed 6.4 million gallons of raw sewage.
More from California, Roseville and Placer County face $126,000 in combined penalties for exceeding effluent limitations in treated sewage from wastewater treatment plants. The violations occurred over a seven-year period form 2000 to 2007.
Sewer Rate News
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
Lapeer, Michigan
Laredo, Texas
Los Altos, California
05.08.08
Thursday Headlines: Ga. Sewer Project Reaches Completion
Sorry for not posting yesterday. Let’s get you up to speed. Also, there is a big USA Today story that came out today that I will talk about tomorrow. Now to the news.
In Brunswick, Georgia, a sewer repair project that has reduced foot traffic for some local businesses since September is finally reaching completion.
Headlines
In North Carolina, a community fights with a sewer district over who will treat its sewage.
The city of Fountain, Minnesota talks sewer needs.
Deteriorating sewer lines in Calistoga, California have caused headaches for landlords, tenants and city officials off and on over the years, and there are signs that the situation may be worsening.
An Indianapolis Star story says, “Deteriorating pipes, overwhelmed by volumes of water they were never designed to carry, release raw sewage into rivers and streams each year. The spills make people sick and kill aquatic animals and plants.”
Sewer Rate News
New York, New York
Richfield, Ohio
Richmond, Virginia
03.31.08
Monday Headlines: Failing Drainpipes Cause Sinkholes in Tuscaloosa
The Tuscaloosa, Alabama Department of Transportation closed a street last week because of two sinkholes caused by failing drainpipes. The two sinkholes have city officials concerned about the area’s aging infrastructure in one of Tuscaloosa’s wealthiest neighborhoods. (picture courtesy of Tuscaloosa News)
Headlines
Mayors and city managers from small cities in northwest Ohio tell Senator Sherrod Brown about the high price of complying with the EPA’s standards for clean water
Blocked sewer lines cause sewage spills into two eastern Iowa creeks
Major waterline repair and replacement projectsin the central business district of Asheville, North Carolina will start this week, which likely will cause traffic delays but no water service interruption
In Decatur, Illinois, the City Manager proposed a 25 percent water rate hike, effective in May to cover rising costs, pay for improvements of aging infrastructure and fund the dredging of Lake Decatur, among other projects
