Water Finance

With the change in power in the U.S. Senate following last month?s mid-term elections, some old and possibly new faces will be running things in committees of key concern to the water community. Although changes in the House are less dramatic, the election will bring new faces to positions of particular importance to water.

With the change in power in the U.S. Senate following the Nov. 4 mid-term election, some old and possibly new faces will be running things in committees of key concern to the water community.

Construction firms added jobs in 39 states between September 2013 and September 2014 while construction employment increased in 34 states and the District of Columbia between August and September, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Aegion Corp. recently announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Charles R. ?Chuck? Gordon as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The company has also announced various strategic realignment initiatives aimed at enhancing growth opportunities.

Water utility managers are always looking for proven methods to improve operations, enhance the water system and improve service standards. Precipitation, microbiological activity or corrosion can all form deposits on the pipe walls of the water distribution system over time. These accumulations can cause unwanted tastes, odors or discolorations of the water, reduce chlorine residual and may limit the pipe?s conveyance capacity.

California voters this November will decide whether to approve the sale of $7.5 billion in bonds to fund water projects in the drought-afflicted state, after the Legislature last month passed and Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a spending package now headed to the ballot.

The Water Council and JPMorgan Chase & Co., have entered into a partnership to bring together North America?s investment community and water technology entrepreneurs to match capital with water innovation.The partnership includes a $225,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase as part of the company?s recently launched Small Business Forward initiative ? a national, five-year, $30 million grant program meant to boost small business support networks that help growing enterprises in specific industries.

On Sept. 24, California water officials released plans for spending almost a third of the $687 million emergency drought relief package approved by lawmakers earlier this year. The State Department of Water Resources plans to make final decisions by Oct. 31.

Last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee?s Panel on Public-Private Partnerships (P3 Panel) released its final report and recommendations on how to balance the needs of the public and private sector when undertaking P3s to finance U.S. infrastructure.

Ohio-based Contech Engineered Solutions announced that it has acquired the assets of Filterra Bioretention Systems from Americast, Inc.