Water Finance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has gone forward with a new federal rule to protect small streams, tributaries and wetlands, despite a court ruling that blocked the measure in 13 central and western states.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced last month the investment of $98.3 million for 12 wastewater and non-point source projects across 12 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).

In July, GAME Trenchless Consultants announced the signing of three major contracts and is currently negotiating an additional three that the company says will keep it busy long into 2016.

As managers and decision makers, water utility leaders must be armed with the skills to make sure their systems are running smoothly. It?s not always easy as many challenges exist. Aging infrastructure feels like a never ending battle for many cities, and drought is seemingly affecting many areas of the country.

American Water Works Association CEO David LaFrance has announced that water policy leader G. Tracy Mehan, III has been named AWWA?s new Executive Director of Government Affairs. Mehan will begin his duties in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 3.

In May, the Value of Water Coalition released the results of a poll that asked Americans about the importance of water in their lives. The results of the survey paint a stark picture about the role water plays in everyday life and the urgent action needed to ensure a safe, reliable water supply for all communities.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced last month that the Integrated Pipeline Project (IPP), a nearly $2.3 billion project, has been approved to apply for $440 million by the state as part of water plan approved by voters in 2013.

Dr. Tom Iseley, director of the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University, has been elected to Distinguished Membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the highest award it bestows on its members.

The White House has requested $2.3 billion for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds as part of the FY2016 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Virginia Tech Sustainable Water Infrastructure Management (SWIM) Center will be offering a workshop on Advancing Asset Management in Your Utility Workshop, to be held on March 10-11, 2015 at the Virginia Tech Arlington Research Center in Arlington, Va.