The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to begin preliminary research on the EPA?s efforts to correct noncompliance at small drinking water systems.

According to officials at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the drought the state has suffered in 2014 will go into the record books as one of California?s driest ever.

As we enter the final months of a turbulent election year, when already low-expectations sink even lower, it is important to remember the progress made during the second session of the 113th Congress.

Since the introduction of plastic pipe in the 1950s and the discovery of how efficient and effective installation by trenchless methods can be, the popularity of both has continued to grow.

Tucson Water has been the City of Tucson?s municipal water utility for more than 100 years. As a public water provider, Tucson Water serves approximately 710,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers within a 350-sq-mile service area.

In July, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), along with U.S. Reps. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) introduced ?W21: Water in the 21st Century,? legislation that would help communities nationwide better prepare for the future by providing new incentives and investments to help residents, businesses and local water agencies to conserve, recycle and manage limited water supplies.

In late July, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2015 Chairman?s recommendation and explanatory statement for the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

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.

Thomas W. Smith III, M.ASCE, CAE, was selected as the next executive director of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), effective Jan. 1, 2015. The decision was made at an Aug. 24 meeting of the ASCE Board of Direction in Denver.