Water Finance

In a response to the chemical spill in West Virginia last month that left more than 300,000 people without drinking water, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) reached agreement on legislative language that will help protect Americans from chemical spills that threaten drinking water.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.) have announced the establishment of the Committee?s next special panel, which will focus on the use of and opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s).

In the midst of California?s worst drought in more than a century, Ben Grumbles, president of the U.S. Water Alliance, announced the recipients of the 2014 U.S. Water Prize last month while speaking to the California Irrigation Institute conference attendees in Sacramento.

Michael Deane, executive director of the National Association of Water Companies, presents an exclusive perspective for waterfm.com on investor-owned utilities.

Last month, Texas voters approved a plan that will authorize $2 billion in state funding to finance 50 years of water infrastructure projects. The money will come via a transfer from the state?s Rainy Day Fund, which is flush as a result of oil and gas revenue.

The City of Shreveport, La., has agreed to make significant upgrades to reduce overflows from its sanitary sewer system and pay a $650,000 civil penalty to resolve Clean Water Act (CWA) violations stemming from illegal discharges of raw sewage, the Department of Justice and the U.S. EPA announced last month. The state of Louisiana, a co-plaintiff in this case, will receive half of the civil penalty.

On Nov. 27, Steve Edwards became the new chairman, president and CEO of Black & Veatch succeeding Len Rodman. The formal transition occurs as Rodman retires from Black & Veatch after 42 years with the company and 15 years as CEO.

Recently, Sen. Tom Udall (N.Mex.) and Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.) introduced the Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2013, which will provide essential tools for communities looking at investing in advanced stormwater strategies to manage polluted runoff and protect clean water.

Sensus, a provider of clean technology solutions, has appointed Randy Bays to the position of president. Bays will lead overall operations of the company.

A record number of 22,589 registrants and 971 companies using 297,400 total sq ft of exhibit space has designated WEFTEC 2013 as the largest in WEF’s 86-year history.