September 29, 2010
Tuesday’s Water News: Terre Haute (Ind.) Close to Plan to Reduce Sewer Overflows
City officials in Terre Haute, Indiana and engineers are in the final stages of hammering out a plan to drastically reduce raw sewage discharges into the Wabash River. The city’s proposed long-term control plans range in cost from about $56 million (which likely would not meet EPA requirements) to approximately $170 million, according to engineering estimates. This expense will come on top of at least $100 million the city already is planning to spend to expand and upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to meet federal clean-water mandates.
Headlines
More than 420,000 gallons of water gushed from a broken pipe Monday in Provo, Utah flooding several homes and causing significant damage to an intersection.
City officials in Portland, Oregon are warning residents to avoid recreational activities in the Willamette River because of a recent sewer overflow. Residents are advised to avoid activities that could cause river water to be swallowed.
Stimulus Spotlight
In Georgia, DeKalb County commissioners have approved plans to use $36 million in low-interest federal stimulus bonds. Most of the money, $28.4 million, will be used for water and sewer improvements. The low-interest federal bonds are expected to save the county $1 million over 20 years.
In Connecticut, Norwich Public Utilities has received approval from the City Council for $5.9 million to cover three water system improvements that jumped to the top of the list of capital projects when federal stimulus grants and low-interest loans became available.
Sewer Rate News
Charleston, South Carolina
Edmond, Oklahoma
Laurel, Mississippi
Redlands, California
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