Many cities are searching for ways to develop and manage local resources. The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), through its sustainable integrated water challenge, is seeking to help cities and towns change the way that they manage their water by gearing them towards the integration …
MN Petitions “WOTUS” – Infrastructure Management Plan Implications
At the end of May 2015, the much-anticipated final rule on "Definition of Waters in the U.S." ("WOTUS") as an amendment to the Clean Water Act, was published by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While everyone greatly appreciates the effort made with this document, many U.S. county …
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Utility Infrastructure Management – Why Colorado Springs Utilities Doesn’t Always Appreciate Rain
What seems a good thing - water levels at the highest capacity they've been in years - is actually not so great for Colorado Springs Utilities. The one drawback of so much rain is that customers use less water, which means the utility loses revenue. Fifty percent of the money made by the water …
Asset Management – Williston ND Wastewater System Outgrowth
Williston, North Dakota has a growing population affecting its sewage lagoon system capacity to handle the excess wastewater. There are major concerns that this issue will have a negative effect on the backwaters of the Missouri River and the headwaters of Lake Sakakawea. Most of the …
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Infrastructure Asset Management – Edmond, Oklahoma Deals with Flooding
On Thursday, the 2nd of July, Edmond, Oklahoma experienced torrential rain which caused a large amount of flood damage in certain areas of the city. Cars were stranded and buildings receiving flooring and furniture damage. City officials admit that Edmond needs to improve its stormwater …
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Why Water Utilities Need to Factor Climate Change in their Asset Management Plan
Consultancy agency Black & Veatch have compiled a new analysis showing that water utilities in the U.S. have various priorities, mostly consisting of how to deal with aging infrastructure to how to finance necessary projects. Notably, less than 10% of utilities surveyed placed climate change …
Cincinnati’s Aging Water Mains – How Infrastructure Management Planning Could Help
The Greater Cincinnati Water Works has a growing concern for aging water infrastructure in their large system which stretches from Northern Kentucky to Mason. In some of the latest water main breaks, wooden pipes dating to the 1800s have been dug up, causing a renewed sense of urgency to replace …
Michigan’s 30-Year Water Management Strategy Includes Infrastructure Management Planning
In Lansing, Michigan, a much-awaited planning document designed to direct Michigan's water usage and management policies for the next 30 years has been released in draft form. It is a 160-page report that outlines dozens of recommendations for protecting and improving the water management of the …
Implication of Detroit’s Bioswale on its Infrastructure Asset Management Planning
Detroit, Michigan has had a history of sewage overflow problems. Last August it was hit by a mega-rainstorm that caused extreme flooding and released approximately ten billion gallons of raw sewage into the region's waterways. This and other factors have led to some experimentation in the …
Funding Water Infrastructure Repair through Asset Management Planning
Using land sales to fund water infrastructure repair is not a new idea. Officials from Paris to New York City have used this strategy - mostly in the 19th century when cities were growing most quickly. It will be interesting to see whether or not funding through land sales will make a comeback …
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EPA Study Declares Fracking in U.S. Not Harmful to Drinking Water
A new EPA draft assessment finally gives an evaluation that will make oil and gas companies leap with enthusiastic applause: hydraulic fracturing or "fracking", when done properly, has no negative impact on drinking water sources. This much anticipated, Congress-initiated study, released this …
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Carlsbad Wants to Prove Desalination is Worthwhile in California
The largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere is under construction in Carlsbad, California. Not everybody is happy about it, but Poseidon Water, the company building the plant and for desalination across the globe, the opening of the plant later this year is an opportunity to try and …
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