Water and Sewer Rate Increases Look to be the Utility Commissions Solution to Money Issues May 22, 2024 The Monticello City Council met Tuesday night and heard a report from Robert Miller with the KY Rural Water Association regarding the recent rate analysis of the Monticello Utility Commission. Miller stated…
Lawmakers across the U.S., including in Md., seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more
Lawmakers across the U.S., including in Md., seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more March 5, 2024 After a string of scandals and amid rising bills, lawmakers in statehouses across the country, including in Maryland, have been pushing legislation to curb utilities spending ratepayer money on lobbying,…
Digitalization is the Future of Water
Digitalization is the Future of Water Jan. 23, 2024 Digital technologies are impacting nearly every sector in the water industry, including drinking water. Water utilities of all sizes — private and public — are shifting the way they operate and manage resources. Utilities are embracing digitalization to address problems ranging…
EPA Awards Nearly $8M For Research Grants To Advance Groundwater Availability And Quality
EPA Awards Nearly $8M For Research Grants To Advance Groundwater Availability And Quality September 21, 2023 Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $7,837,196 in funding to four institutions to research the use and risks of enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) to improve groundwater availability and quality. EAR is the…
Google Is Consuming More Water Than Ever, And The Growth Of AI Will Make It Worse
Google Is Consuming More Water Than Ever, And The Growth Of AI Will Make It Worse August 9, 2023 One of the world’s largest companies is also one of its most increasingly thirsty, and even as water becomes scarcer around the world, its consumption only seems poised to grow. “Google…
Don’t call it ‘toilet to tap’ — California plans to turn sewage into drinking water
Don’t call it ‘toilet to tap’ — California plans to turn sewage into drinking water AUGUST 1, 2023 Californians could drink highly purified sewage water that is piped directly into drinking water supplies for the first time under proposed rules unveiled by state water officials. The drought-prone state has turned…
As PFAS Limits Loom, Financial Questions Remain Over How Water Utilities Will Comply
As PFAS Limits Loom, Financial Questions Remain Over How Water Utilities Will Comply June 21, 2023 Despite an influx in attention and financial support, national utilities have a long road ahead in combating a preeminent drinking water contaminant. “Utilities facing financial hurdles from coming federal water limits for PFAS (per-…
Indiana American Water requesting a 31% hike in water rates
Indiana American Water requesting a 31% hike in water rates May 30, 2023 Indiana American Water Co. is asking the state for a rate increase that would boost its revenues in three steps by 31% starting in January next year. The water utility, which serves Muncie, provides water and wastewater…
Former Official Claims Oldsmar Drinking Water Hack Was Really Operator Error
Former Official Claims Oldsmar Drinking Water Hack Was Really Operator Error March 29, 2023 According to a local official with direct knowledge, an alarming drinking water contamination event thought to be the result of cyberattack was actually just an operations flub. “In 2021, news broke of a cyberattack at the…
Skyrocketing bills the latest concern in Jackson water crisis
Skyrocketing bills the latest concern in Jackson water crisis March 7, 2023 The city of Jackson, Mississippi, has grappled with crisis after crisis in recent years with the reliability of the city’s water infrastructure, and residents say they are experiencing the brunt of the burden — this time with their…
Washington State Issues Enforcement Order Against U.S. Army Over Yakima Training Center Contamination
Washington State Issues Enforcement Order Against U.S. Army Over Yakima Training Center Contamination February 1, 2023 The U.S. Army’s Yakima Training Center contains dozens of sites contaminated by chemical spills and toxic waste, including some that have threatened drinking water supplies in nearby wells. In order to ensure the Army…
California is lone holdout in Colorado River cuts proposal
California is lone holdout in Colorado River cuts proposal January 31, 2023 Six Western states that rely on water from the Colorado River have agreed on a model to dramatically cut water use in the basin, months after the federal government called for action and an initial deadline passed. California…
Chemical Navigation: St Petersburg University Scientists Develop A Water Remediation Method Using Nanoparticles
Chemical Navigation: St Petersburg University Scientists Develop A Water Remediation Method Using Nanoparticles January 18, 2023 Chemists from St Petersburg University have developed a method for purifying water from organic compounds using tin oxide nanoparticle based photocatalysts. Water pollution is one of the acute environmental issues of our time. Due…
Arizona town’s residents resort to drastic measures after water supply is cut off
Arizona town’s residents resort to drastic measures after water supply is cut off January 17, 2023 Residents of one Arizona town are findings way to get creative when it comes to saving water after their supply was cut off. On New Year’s Day, the city of Scottsdale stopped providing water…
EPA Announces $500M Loan To Modernize Wastewater And Drinking Water Infrastructure In New Jersey
EPA Announces $500M Loan To Modernize Wastewater And Drinking Water Infrastructure In New Jersey January 5, 2023 Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $500M loan to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to modernize wastewater and drinking water systems serving over 10 million people throughout New Jersey. This…
Hetch Hetchy pipeline scheduled for maintenance in San Mateo County
Hetch Hetchy pipeline scheduled for maintenance in San Mateo County January 3, 2023 Beginning early January, the Hetch Hetchy watershed will close its pipelines for maintenance, leaving the county to consume what water is currently stored in the Crystal Springs and San Andreas reservoirs. “Residents may notice a change in…
EPA Announces $263 Million WIFIA Loan to Boise, Idaho to Modernize Wastewater Infrastructure and help recharge the Boise River water supply
EPA Announces $263 Million WIFIA Loan to Boise, Idaho to Modernize Wastewater Infrastructure and help recharge the Boise River water supply December 19, 2022 Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $263 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Boise, Idaho, to…
North Miami to receive $2.3M for septic to sewer conversions
North Miami to receive $2.3M for septic to sewer conversions Dec. 13, 2022 The City of North Miami announced that it is receiving a $2.3 million state grant from the state for its septic to sewer conversion project. The state’s multi-million-dollar allocation will come from the Biscayne Bay Grant Program…
Thornton has plenty of water – it’s just in the wrong place. And that’s a very Colorado story.
Thornton has plenty of water – it’s just in the wrong place. And that’s a very Colorado story. Dec 4, 2022 Thornton needs water. Developers are scrapping homebuilding projects out of fears that the city can’t guarantee them a water tap in the next few years. Thornton has water. It’s…
California Cities Brace for Water Cuts and a Fourth Year of Drought
California Cities Brace for Water Cuts and a Fourth Year of Drought 11/28/22 Federal water authorities warned California cities and industrial water users to prepare for water cuts in 2023 as the state enters what is likely to be a fourth consecutive year of drought. The potential cuts will affect…
Hundreds of Arizona Households Set to Be Without Water by End of Year
Hundreds of Arizona Households Set to Be Without Water by End of Year 11/22/22 More than 500 households in the rural Arizona desert are set to be without running water starting January, 1 2023, as first reported by NBC News. The homes, located in Rio Verde Foothills—an affluent, unincorporated community…
As California’s wells dry up, residents rely on bottled water to survive
As California’s wells dry up, residents rely on bottled water to survive November 14, 2022 Wells are running dry in California at a record pace. Amid a hotter, drier climate and the third consecutive year of severe drought, the state has already tallied a record 1,351 dry wells this year…
As Drought Worsens, Colorado Turns To Major Direct Potable Reuse Expansion
As Drought Worsens, Colorado Turns To Major Direct Potable Reuse Expansion November 1, 2022 The national battle against source water scarcity has pushed water systems around the country to innovate and invest at rapid rates. California is volunteering to make record cuts to its Colorado River consumption, Texas is pursuing…
EPA determines water in Jackson, Mississippi, is safe to drink two months after treatment plant failure
EPA determines water in Jackson, Mississippi, is safe to drink two months after treatment plant failure October 31, 2022 The Environmental Protection Agency has determined water from both treatment plants in Jackson, Mississippi, is safe to drink, an agency spokesperson said in a statement. The announcement comes just over two…
Jackson Wastewater Hauler Pleads Guilty To Clean Water Act Violation
Jackson Wastewater Hauler Pleads Guilty To Clean Water Act Violation October 18, 2022 An employee of Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services, Inc., a wastewater hauling business based in Jackson, Mississippi, pled guilty today for his part in illegally discharging industrial waste into the Jackson sewer system, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca…
Scientists Say PFAS Contamination Should Be Presumed At Over 57,000 U.S. Sites
Scientists Say PFAS Contamination Should Be Presumed At Over 57,000 U.S. Sites October 12, 2022 Tens of thousands of locations across the United States may be contaminated by PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), according to a study published today in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. According to the research team,…
Despite Drought, U.S. EPA May Block Trailblazing Texas Desalination Plant
Despite Drought, U.S. EPA May Block Trailblazing Texas Desalination Plant October 6, 2022 As water scarcity and consumer demand grow across much of the country, one of the driest states is pursuing an ambitious drinking water project, while still unsure if it will receive the federal green light. “Texas regulators…
Unsafe Lead Contamination Found In Chicago Drinking Water
Unsafe Lead Contamination Found In Chicago Drinking Water September 28, 2022 Recent tests for thousands of consumers in Chicago found that 5% of them were being served with drinking water that contained exceedingly high levels of lead contamination. “One in 20 tap water tests performed for thousands of Chicago residents…
Las Vegas Bets On A Range Of Conservation Measures In Face Of Megadrought
Las Vegas Bets On A Range Of Conservation Measures In Face Of Megadrought September 21, 2022 Banking on its continued position as an oasis among the desert, Las Vegas is placing its bets on ambitious water conservation measures as regional drought conditions and consumption demand grow. According to recent coverage…
Investing In New Water Filtration Membranes Is Worth It
Investing In New Water Filtration Membranes Is Worth It September 12, 2022 High-performing water filtration systems — necessary for reducing water scarcity — can also reduce cost and energy consumption, a new Northwestern University-led analysis finds. In the new study, researchers performed a high-level analysis of membrane filtration systems to…
EPA watchdog to probe Jackson water crisis
EPA watchdog to probe Jackson water crisis 09/13/22 The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General on Tuesday announced a probe into the recent water emergency in Jackson, Miss., that left tens of thousands of residents in the state capital without access to safe drinking water. Read more
Toxic arsenic levels make tap water unsafe for thousands in New York City
Toxic arsenic levels make tap water unsafe for thousands in New York City 6 Sep 2022 Dangerous levels of arsenic were found in a New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA) complex, leaving thousands of affected residents without safe tap water. The crisis plays out as people in the predominantly…
Mississippi’s largest city in water crisis as treatment plant fails
Mississippi’s largest city in water crisis as treatment plant fails August 30, 2022 The governor of Mississippi urged residents of Jackson, the state’s capital and largest city, not to drink the water there — if they still had access to it — warning that running water would soon be unavailable…
WateReuse Congratulates Recipients Of Historic Investment In Water Recycling
WateReuse Congratulates Recipients Of Historic Investment In Water Recycling August 19, 2022 The WateReuse Association celebrates the allocation of $310 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the planning, design, and construction of water reuse projects across the country. This funding is the first of…
White House To Circumvent Congress, Impose Stricter Cybersecurity Requirements On Water Systems
White House To Circumvent Congress, Impose Stricter Cybersecurity Requirements On Water Systems August 10, 2022 As cyber-attacks have become more advanced, it’s been made clear that drinking water and wastewater systems across the U.S. are increasingly under threat. In recent months, hackers have attempted to access treatment facilities to poison…
Major upgrades on tap for New Hampshire wastewater facility
Major upgrades on tap for New Hampshire wastewater facility Aug. 8, 2022 After years of attempts to mitigate pollution in the Sugar River, major upgrades are coming to the wastewater facility in Newport, New Hampshire. The Granite State’s congressional delegation says more than $6 million will be used to overhaul…
New Biden administration initiative looks to fix water infrastructure problems in poor, rural areas
New Biden administration initiative looks to fix water infrastructure problems in poor, rural areas August 2, 2022 The Biden administration on Tuesday launched an initiative that it hopes will help resolve wastewater issues in 11 poor, rural communities where inadequate disposal is a health risk to residents. Read more
Smart Meters To Be Installed For Toledo’s Water Customers
Smart Meters To Be Installed For Toledo’s Water Customers July 14, 2022 City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities water customers should soon have fewer headaches over their water bills. The department will replace 116,000 analog water meters with smart meters across residences and businesses beginning in July. Read more
World’s First Project To Pipe Desalinated Water Into Natural Lake Set To Start Operations
World’s First Project To Pipe Desalinated Water Into Natural Lake Set To Start Operations July 13, 2022 As source water grows scarcer in stressed regions around the world, a new project in the Middle East is trailblazing what could become a central technology for drinking water systems in the Western…
New EPA guidelines on PFAS “forever chemicals” put Frisco far over drinking water limits
New EPA guidelines on PFAS “forever chemicals” put Frisco far over drinking water limits Jul 12, 2022 Drinking water in Frisco is tainted with dangerous levels of the PFAS “forever chemicals” from suspected firefighting foam runoff into nearby creeks, according to new EPA guidance that radically lowered safety levels and…
Baltimore’s ‘Catastrophic Failures’ at Wastewater Treatment Have Triggered a State Takeover, a Federal Lawsuit and Citizen Outrage
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…
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
