Last Thursday, a federal judge in North Dakota blocked a new Obama administration rule that would give the federal government jurisdiction over some smaller waterways just hours before it was set to go into effect.

Last week, the Value of Water Coalition announced the Imagine A Day Without Water campaign with the launch of its site, www.ImagineADayWithoutWater.org. This national education campaign will raise awareness of and build public support for investment in water.

3M and TaKaDu recently signed an agreement designed to help water utilities improve efficiency by offering a solution to detect problems, convert data into insights and decide where to rehabilitate their infrastructure.

David Mutombo, MBA, PMP, P.Eng., has joined Hatch Mott MacDonald?s Water and Wastewater Practices for Canada. He is based in HMM?s office in Burlington, Ontario.

Earlier this month, the American Water Works Association expressed strong support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s decision to commit an additional $5 million to reduce nutrient pollution in the western Lake Erie Basin.

Government regulations and standards have tightened over the years, driving public and private sectors in the direction of a lead-free environment. Municipalities, utilities and property managers alike have had to adapt to the changes and find solutions that can accommodate their needs and their budgets to provide a safe water source for communities consuming the water.

The House of Representatives passed Republican-led legislation in July aimed at bringing more water to the most drought-plagued areas of California. Citing environmental concerns and other problems, the White House has threatened to veto the bill.

In June, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $30.17 billion Interior and Environment spending bill that cuts U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding by 9 percent and blocks key Obama administration climate rules.

In July, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved approximately $3.9 billion in financial assistance from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT).

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).