Baltimore’s ‘Catastrophic Failures’ at Wastewater Treatment Have Triggered a State Takeover, a Federal Lawsuit and Citizen Outrage July 3, 2022 Untreated human sewage spews from the city’s two wastewater treatment facilities into rivers and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, where 2025 pollution targets have been jeopardized. Read more
Where does your water come from? A look at Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe supplies
Where does your water come from? A look at Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe supplies Jun 27, 2022 Up to 70% of water usage for municipal users in Arizona is used outside for plants, grass, and swimming pools, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Read more
Global Water Utilities Forecasted To Spend US$387.5B On Digital Solutions This Decade
Global Water Utilities Forecasted To Spend US$387.5B On Digital Solutions This Decade June 14, 2022 Globally, water and wastewater utility sector expenditure on digital solutions is forecasted to grow 8.8% annually, from US$25.9B in 2021 to US$55.2B in 2030. According to a new report from Bluefield Research, The Digital Water…
Zone 7’s Patterson Pass plant shifts to ozonation water treatment process
Zone 7’s Patterson Pass plant shifts to ozonation water treatment process Jun 14, 2022 Residents in the Tri-Valley region will start to see and taste a difference in their tap water thanks to upgrades made to the Patterson Pass Water Treatment Plant in Livermore. Read more
Heavy Arlington rain leads to 102K gallons of wastewater overflow, city says
Heavy Arlington rain leads to 102K gallons of wastewater overflow, city says June 7, 2022 Heavy rain in Arlington over the weekend led to 102,000 gallons of wastewater overflowing into Rush Creek in South Arlington, according to Arlington Water Utilities. The utility service said the discharge of wastewater did not…
With Federal Water Resources Act Set For Vote, D.C. Legislator Advocates For New Drinking Water Source
With Federal Water Resources Act Set For Vote, D.C. Legislator Advocates For New Drinking Water Source May 25, 2022 One of the largest drinking water systems in the country may soon make a major resiliency upgrade, as Washington, D.C. considers adding a second source waterbody to its roster. Read more
WateReuse Celebrates Recycled Water Funding In STREAM Act
WateReuse Celebrates Recycled Water Funding In STREAM Act May 19, 2022 This Infrastructure Week, the WateReuse Association celebrates the introduction of S.4231, the Support to Rehydrate the Environment, Agriculture and Municipalities (STREAM) Act, which authorizes $300M for water reuse projects through the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reuse Grants…
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists May 23, 2022 While technologists have always understood the damage that ransomware could do to an organization’s infrastructure and data, the May 2021 attack that targeted Colonial Pipeline IT infrastructure changed the game for good. Read more
Consolidated Water Announces Agreement to Construct Wastewater Treatment Plant in Arizona
Consolidated Water Announces Agreement to Construct Wastewater Treatment Plant in Arizona May 17, 2022 Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., a leading developer and operator of advanced water supply and treatment plants, announced today that its subsidiary PERC Water Corporation has entered into an agreement to construct and commission a four million…
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months May 16, 2022 The White House on Monday said it has released $110 billion in funding from the $1 trillion infrastructure package that seeks to fix crumbling roads, expand broadband internet and improve the electrical grid. Read…
BPUB customers to see higher bills as program ends
BPUB customers to see higher bills as program ends May 8, 2022 After getting the go-ahead from the Brownsville City Commission on May 3, the Brownsville Public Utility Board announced on May 4 that it will be updating its electric, water and wastewater rates. Read more
Infrastructure funding to include pipeline repairs in Utah
Infrastructure funding to include pipeline repairs in Utah May 10, 2022 The Department of the Interior announced Monday that it will invest $240.4 million for infrastructure repairs for the 2022 fiscal year, including pipeline repairs in Utah. This investment is a part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and…
Arkansas files lawsuit against EPA
Arkansas files lawsuit against EPA May 2, 2022 Environmental regulators in Arkansas filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asking a federal court to grant relief from what they describe as “unlawful federal overreach.” The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment alleges in its complaint that EPA’s objections…
After State Regulators Take Control Of One Baltimore Wastewater Plant, Problems Uncovered At Another
After State Regulators Take Control Of One Baltimore Wastewater Plant, Problems Uncovered At Another April 20, 2022 Just as authorities made a dramatic move to wrangle one wastewater treatment plant in a major U.S. city, it appears its neighboring facility is now under scrutiny as well. “Environmental groups are calling…
New Report: $9.6B Available For Water Infrastructure Remains Uncommitted
New Report: $9.6B Available For Water Infrastructure Remains Uncommitted April 6, 2022 States collectively have not committed $9.6B in available funding to invest in water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, according to a new report from the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) and the Water Policy Program at Duke University’s Nicholas…
Biden Seeking $407 Million For Everglades Project Central To Drinking Water Supplies
Biden Seeking $407 Million For Everglades Project Central To Drinking Water Supplies April 7, 2022 A record-breaking funding proposal from the Biden Administration is underscoring just how critical local ecosystems are becoming in the fight to ensure clean and plentiful drinking water around the country. Read more
EPA upholds Trump-era decision not to regulate known drinking water contaminant
EPA upholds Trump-era decision not to regulate known drinking water contaminant April 5, 2022 The Environmental Protection Agency says it will uphold a Trump-era environmental policy not to regulate a drinking water contaminant that has been linked to brain damage in infants. The agency says the Trump administration’s decision in…
States must target water infrastructure funds to urban, rural areas with real need: lawmakers
States must target water infrastructure funds to urban, rural areas with real need: lawmakers 03/29/22 States must ensure that federal funds allocated toward improving drinking water end up in communities with concrete needs for such upgrades, providing equal consideration for both urban and rural populations, lawmakers agreed on Tuesday. Read…
The SEC wants companies to disclose how climate change is affecting them
The SEC wants companies to disclose how climate change is affecting them March 21, 2022 Every year, public companies in the U.S. are required to provide investors and regulators with detailed data about their financial performance and the risks they face. Soon, they may also have to disclose information about…
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks March 21, 2022 President Biden warned on Monday that Russia is exploring the possibility of waging potential cyberattacks against the United States in retaliation for economic penalties imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Read more
Pingree Grove gets $3.5 million to build second water treatment plant
Pingree Grove gets $3.5 million to build second water treatment plant 3/15/2022 The village of Pingree Grove will receive $3.5 million in federal funding for construction of a second water treatment facility. Read more
SEC plans to force public companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions
SEC plans to force public companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions March 15, 2022 The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to require all publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and the climate risks their businesses face, part of the Biden administration’s broader push to force the private…
President Biden And USDA Invest More Than $166.5M In Infrastructure To Protect American Communities
President Biden And USDA Invest More Than $166.5M In Infrastructure To Protect American Communities March 3, 2022 President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $166.5M in 108 infrastructure projects as part of implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,…
Florida Infrastructure: Critical strategies the Sunshine State can implement to manage the state’s anticipated growth
Florida Infrastructure: Critical strategies the Sunshine State can implement to manage the state’s anticipated growth 3/1/2022 The pandemic has been accompanied by an influx into Florida of people from California, Illinois, New York and other states. Tops on the list of motivations for the moves: Taxes, quality of life, business-friendly…
2022 Trends: What Water Utilities Are Prioritizing in the Year Ahead
2022 Trends: What Water Utilities Are Prioritizing in the Year Ahead FEBRUARY 21, 2022 While 2020 was challenging due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 presented its own obstacles as the lingering pandemic forced communities and utilities to navigate a new normal. Looking ahead, water utilities are seeking…
Teacher, engineer and auto service manager among potential jurors in Flint water trial
Teacher, engineer and auto service manager among potential jurors in Flint water trial Feb. 15, 2022 Jury selection has begun in a federal court civil trial that pits four Flint children who claim they were damaged by drinking Flint water against two companies that advised the city during its water…
How A New Jersey Water Official Uncovered The Source Of 1,4-Dioxane In A Major National Supply
How A New Jersey Water Official Uncovered The Source Of 1,4-Dioxane In A Major National Supply February 1, 2022 Years ago, a dangerous drinking water contaminant was found in one of the country’s most significant source water supplies. And now it’s come to light that, were it not for a…
Water board slaps Morro Bay with multiple notices of violation
Water board slaps Morro Bay with multiple notices of violation January 31, 2022 The City of Morro Bay has received several notices of violations for failing to abide by pollutant discharge requirements at the city’s water reclamation facility construction site. Read more
Emergence of the New Payments Paradigm – The Case for Utility CX Transformation
Emergence of the New Payments Paradigm – The Case for Utility CX Transformation By Paridhi Gupta, Marketing, Smart Energy Water Utilities across the geographies have started their journey to improved customer self-service capabilities. Now millions of people enjoy the digital convenience of managing their utility account, tracking usage, paying bills,…
Troubled east St. Tammany water system to get $23 million for new water towers, other upgrades
Troubled east St. Tammany water system to get $23 million for new water towers, other upgrades JAN 24, 2022 A St. Tammany Parish-owned water utility that has drawn a torrent of complaints from residents of Cross Gates and other neighborhoods it serves in the Slidell area will get nearly $23…
Billings, Montana’s Only Source-Water Body Hits A Record Low
Billings, Montana’s Only Source-Water Body Hits A Record Low January 12, 2022 The sole source of drinking water for one of Montana’s largest cities has dropped to a record low in another historic sign of ongoing drought that’s impacting much of the American West. Read more
Adding Intelligence to Outage Management with Integrated Cloud-Based Digital Platforms
Adding Intelligence to Outage Management with Integrated Cloud-Based Digital Platforms January 17, 2022 By Paridhi Gupta, Marketing, Smart Energy Water “The grid is not ready for the 21st century.” “Climate change will lead to frequent outages, and utilities are unprepared.” Headlines such as these have become commonplace. Nothing eye-opening about…
New west El Paso wastewater treatment facility now operating at full capacity
New west El Paso wastewater treatment facility now operating at full capacity January 10, 2022 Since August, sewage from two broken pipelines in west El Paso has caused foul odors to permeate around the area, frustrating locals who live there. West side residents have even seen sewage making its way…
Revised EPA Lead and Copper Rule Requires Cities To Complete Lead Service Line Inventories
Revised EPA Lead and Copper Rule Requires Cities To Complete Lead Service Line Inventories December 20, 2021 Now according to the EPA Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) revision (announced December 16, 2021), public water systems have more work to do. LCR requires cities to develop a lead service line inventory…
Canada and British Columbia invest in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure
Canada and British Columbia invest in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure December 21, 2021 Water and wastewater management systems are the backbone of municipalities and First Nations communities. Investments to improve water quality and system efficiency create good local jobs, address the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic and…
First water utility in North America to earn ISO 55001 accreditation
First water utility in North America to earn ISO 55001 accreditation DECEMBER 13, 2021 The Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) has achieved the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 55001 certification for its asset management system. Stantec guided PBCWUD towards becoming the only water utility in North America to receive this…
ABB Technology Helps Fulfill City of Baltimore’s Commitment For Safe, Reliable Wastewater And Water System
ABB Technology Helps Fulfill City of Baltimore’s Commitment For Safe, Reliable Wastewater And Water System December 1, 2021 ABB has secured a contract, valued at more than $10M, from the City of Baltimore, Maryland, to upgrade the automation, electrical and power management of its Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve…
Austin Water Saves Millions through State Funding for Water, Wastewater and Metering Infrastructure Overhaul
Austin Water Saves Millions through State Funding for Water, Wastewater and Metering Infrastructure Overhaul Nov. 30, 2021 Austin’s push to modernize and strengthen its water, wastewater and metering infrastructure received a bump, thanks to newly acquired below market interest rate loans from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Austin Water…
Demand for funding to fix decrepit Louisiana water systems exceeds available cash
Demand for funding to fix decrepit Louisiana water systems exceeds available cash NOVEMBER 23, 2021 With more than 500 applications submitted by Louisiana communities hoping to upgrade their failing water and sewer systems, lawmakers say there’s not enough money in the water sector program budget to fix everything. Read more
Coal-fired power plants to close after new wastewater rule
Coal-fired power plants to close after new wastewater rule 11/23/2021 Climate change isn’t what’s driving some U.S. coal-fired power plants to shut down. It’s the expense of stricter pollution controls on their wastewater. Read more
A low-income Michigan city has a drinking water crisis. Sound familiar?
A low-income Michigan city has a drinking water crisis. Sound familiar? NOV 15, 2021 Abandoned by industry. Impoverished after white flight. Saddled with crumbling infrastructure, struggling schools and little, if any, money to fix the problems. For decades this low-income, majority Black community — less than two hours from Chicago…
Wisconsin may get more than $800M to upgrade water systems under the $1T infrastructure bill
Wisconsin may get more than $800M to upgrade water systems under the $1T infrastructure bill November 9, 2021 Wisconsin’s aging water and wastewater systems may be able to speed up improvements with more than $800 million the state is set to receive through the $1 trillion infrastructure bill recently passed by the…
Jackson, Mississippi Sued Over Lead Contamination Of Drinking Water
Jackson, Mississippi Sued Over Lead Contamination Of Drinking Water October 27, 2021 Attorneys representing hundreds of residents of Jackson, Mississippi have filed a federal lawsuit against the city and state over concerns that officials allowed them to consume lead-tainted drinking water for years without taking appropriate action. Read more
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure November 1, 2021 The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a congressional committee leader agree that officials must take precautionary steps to identify “systemically important critical infrastructure” to reduce risks of pervasive supply chain cyberattacks. Read more
Several local communities to receive millions of dollars to fund water infrastructure improvements
Several local communities to receive millions of dollars to fund water infrastructure improvements October 26, 2021 The State of Ohio will distribute millions of dollars in grants to several local communities as part of an effort to improve the water infrastructure across the entire state. Read more
Federal agencies warn of ransomware targeting water, wastewater treatment plants
Federal agencies warn of ransomware targeting water, wastewater treatment plants Oct 16, 2021 The attacks highlight an ongoing threat to vulnerable and underfunded infrastructure systems in the U.S., which have been targeted with increasing frequency in recent years by criminal and nation-state actors. Read more
25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at risk of failure due to flooding, new report finds
25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at risk of failure due to flooding, new report finds October 11, 2021 As a massive investment to repair roads and adapt to climate change faces an uncertain fate in Congress, a new report finds much of the country’s infrastructure is…
State tells city residents not to drink tap water after three years of dangerous lead contamination
State tells city residents not to drink tap water after three years of dangerous lead contamination Oct. 12, 2021 Health officials in Michigan are advising residents in the city of Benton Harbor to rely on bottled water instead of tap water in response to elevated levels of lead in the…
Xylem, Dragos Partner to Bring Cybersecurity Leadership to Water Utilities
Xylem, Dragos Partner to Bring Cybersecurity Leadership to Water Utilities October 04, 2021 Leading global water technology company, Xylem Inc., and Dragos, Inc., the global leader in cybersecurity for industrial controls systems (ICS)/operational technology (OT) environments, today announced they have partnered to bring best-in-class industrial cybersecurity to critical infrastructure in…
22-Year-Old Drinking Water Operator Recognized For Averting Deadly Disaster
22-Year-Old Drinking Water Operator Recognized For Averting Deadly Disaster September 22, 2021 While drinking water treatment operators regularly oversee critical operations to ensure the safety and availability of our most vital resource, it’s not often that they’re given special recognition for their work. But after going above and beyond to…
