Missoula’s Wastewater plant evolves to handle increased capacity Nov. 27, 2023 Hotdogs and burgers may be the meal of choice for University of Montana football fans. But with attendance at more than 25,000 for some home games, the crowds severely tested the city’s wastewater system until recent updates, according to…
It Will Be Years Before Clean Water Is Restored In Lahaina
It Will Be Years Before Clean Water Is Restored In Lahaina 11/7/23 As Maui grapples with the trauma of the August fires and tries to envision the future of Lahaina, the mission to rebuild is complicated by a major obstacle: the contamination of the drinking water system. When fires tore…
Forest Service says Denver Water is taking down too many trees, rushing requests to change plan to raise Gross Dam
Forest Service says Denver Water is taking down too many trees, rushing requests to change plan to raise Gross Dam Oct 20, 2023 Denver Water is cutting down too many trees on federal land at the major expansion of Gross Dam and Reservoir in Boulder County, and must conduct more…
A look inside Cheyenne’s new hydroelectric facility
A look inside Cheyenne’s new hydroelectric facility Oct 10, 2023 On Saturday, the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) opened the doors of its new hydroelectric generation facility to the public. It’s located at the R.L. Sherard Water Treatment Plant where it provides more than enough energy to power the…
MIT scientists used solar power to make drinking water cheaper than tap water
MIT scientists used solar power to make drinking water cheaper than tap water Oct 2 2023 MIT scientists have designed a solar-powered desalination system that turns saltwater into drinkable water at a higher volume – and lower cost. Researchers from MIT and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have published a paper,…
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…
Solar, battery storage on deck for WWTP
Solar, battery storage on deck for WWTP Sep 17, 2023 Solar panels and storage batteries could help Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant shave its peak power use. City commissioners last week approved a $257,892 contract with Jacobs, the company that operates the plant, to design and manage the rooftop…
New EPA Data Shows 27 Million Americans Receive Drinking Water Contaminated With PFAS
New EPA Data Shows 27 Million Americans Receive Drinking Water Contaminated With PFAS August 30, 2023 The U.S. EPA has announced a new official estimate for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in public water systems, releasing data that could shape forthcoming regulation and compensation from manufacturers. “Toxic ‘forever chemicals’…
Presidential council recommends launching a Department of Water to confront cyberthreats, climate change
Presidential council recommends launching a Department of Water to confront cyberthreats, climate change AUGUST 28, 2023 A presidential advisory council is calling for the creation of a Department of Water or an equivalent cabinet-level agency to deal with the looming water crisis and cybersecurity threats that could endanger treatment plants…
EPA Releases Initial Nationwide Monitoring Data On 29 PFAS And Lithium
EPA Releases Initial Nationwide Monitoring Data On 29 PFAS And Lithium August 17, 2023 Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the first set of data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). In the latest action to deliver on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, UCMR 5…
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…
Grants to remove lead from drinking water in Massachusetts
Grants to remove lead from drinking water in Massachusetts Jul 25, 2023 The Biden Administration announced $58 million in grants to help schools and daycare centers remove lead from drinking water. According to a news release from the EPA, the grants are from President Biden’s Investing in America grant and…
California Lawmakers Strike Down Governor’s Hopes For Expedited Water Tunnel Project
California Lawmakers Strike Down Governor’s Hopes For Expedited Water Tunnel Project July 12, 2023 Facing a range of high-profile water problems, legislators in the nation’s thirstiest state are at odds over a massive project that could impact millions of consumers. “California’s most hotly contested water proposal suffered a setback ……
Tap Water Study Detects PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Across The U.S.
Tap Water Study Detects PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Across The U.S. July 5, 2023 At least 45% of the nation’s tap water is estimated to have one or more types of the chemicals known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological…
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-…
EPA seeks to address contamination before it harms Des Moines area drinking water
EPA seeks to address contamination before it harms Des Moines area drinking water June 19, 2023 A contaminated groundwater plume in Des Moines could soon receive federal resources to clean it up. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public meeting Tuesday at Weeks Middle School in Des Moines…
Without access to water lines, Texas colonias residents are pulling water from the desert air
Without access to water lines, Texas colonias residents are pulling water from the desert air JUNE 5, 2023 Hueco Tanks, developed under the name Hueco Mountain Estates, is among the dozens of colonias — unincorporated communities mostly in border counties — in Texas where low-income, Latino residents still are not…
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…
Warm Springs Celebrates Funding For New Water Treatment Plant
Warm Springs Celebrates Funding For New Water Treatment Plant 5/23/23 Warm Springs is getting $28 million in federal funding to build a new water treatment plant. Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley visited the site Monday, along with tribal leaders. “There is a shameful legacy, right here in…
Toxic PFAS can be broken down by bacteria found in wastewater
Toxic PFAS can be broken down by bacteria found in wastewater 15 May 2023 Bacteria that break down some types of “forever chemicals” can be found in sludge from wastewater treatment plants. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in coatings and foams that…
Minnesota Drinking Water’s Nitrate Levels Are Reaching ‘Crisis’ Point
Minnesota Drinking Water’s Nitrate Levels Are Reaching ‘Crisis’ Point May 3, 2023 As concerns mount over the health impacts of one prominent drinking water contaminant in Minnesota, advocates are pressing officials to intervene. “A group of environmental organizations say nitrate pollution in drinking water has reached crisis proportions in southeast…
EPA Takes First-Ever Federal Clean Water Act Enforcement Action To Address PFAS Discharges At Washington Works Facility Near Parkersburg, W. Va.
EPA Takes First-Ever Federal Clean Water Act Enforcement Action To Address PFAS Discharges At Washington Works Facility Near Parkersburg, W. Va. April 26, 2023 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the Chemours Company to take corrective measures to address pollution from per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in stormwater and effluent…
A Duke Energy contractor hit a pipe. 45,000 gallons of wastewater dumped into Boca Ciega Bay.
A Duke Energy contractor hit a pipe. 45,000 gallons of wastewater dumped into Boca Ciega Bay. April 25, 2023 Enough wastewater to fill more than 1,000 bathtubs dumped into Boca Ciega Bay on April 14 after a contractor working for Duke Energy hit a pipe during construction, according to a…
With 9 Million Lead-Based Pipelines In The U.S., EPA Requests $625 Billion
With 9 Million Lead-Based Pipelines In The U.S., EPA Requests $625 Billion April 11, 2023 As the U.S. EPA works to address one of the nation’s most pervasive drinking water contamination issues, it has released a new estimate for the number of lead-based pipelines and provided a price tag for…
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…
Judge approves $600 million settlement over Flint water crisis
Judge approves $600 million settlement over Flint water crisis 03/21/23 Michigan will pay $600 million to settle lawsuits over the contamination of Flint’s water supply, which combined with settlements from the city and a local hospital will comprise the largest legal settlement in the state’s history. Attorney General Dana Nessel…
Biden Administration to Restrict Cancer-Causing ‘Forever Chemicals’
Biden Administration to Restrict Cancer-Causing ‘Forever Chemicals’ March 14, 2023 For the first time, the federal government will require utilities to remove from drinking water two toxic chemicals found in everything from waterproof clothing to dental floss and even toilet paper, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday. Michael S.…
CDC Planning Wastewater Testing For Polio In Select Communities
CDC Planning Wastewater Testing For Polio In Select Communities February 16, 2023 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will strategically expand wastewater testing for poliovirus in select jurisdictions across the country. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH)…
House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects
House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects Feb. 7, 2023 The bank would help finance work such as transportation projects, ports, electric grid security and broadband connectivity, according to the release. The bill also allows for broad discretion by the bank to invest in any infrastructure projects…
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…
