Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that $2 million in conservation funds will be sent to Ohio to help implement conservation techniques that will help improve water quality.

Itron, Inc. recently announced that the water department of the City of Bismarck, N.D. has selected Itron to help modernize its water distribution system and will manage the system using the Itron network deployed by Montana-Dakota Utilities Company (MDU).

Last week, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved financial assistance for water and wastewater improvement projects. The assistance approved by TWDB will allow these communities to finance water system improvements and water treatment plant expansions.

Private water markets in the United States are poised for significant growth, according to a new report from Bluefield Research. Privately-owned water supply networks serve 15 percent of the U.S. population.

In June, SWIC members joined PAB bill sponsors Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) to discuss their water and wastewater finance legislation, the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act of 2014, H.R. 4237 and S.2345.

Recently, Trimble announced that the Orange County Sanitation District has implemented its Trimble Connect software in combination with Trimble Juno T41 rugged Android mobile devices for automating utility manhole maintenance, mapping and inspection.

Construction?s positive employment continued in July as the industry?s jobless rate declined to 7.5 percent from June?s 8.2 percent and the industry gained 22,000 jobs, the Labor Dept. has reported.

Last week, 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.

Last week, U.S. Senators and Representatives from California and Oregon introduced ?W21: Water in the 21st Century,? legislation that would help communities nationwide better prepare for future water management needs.

Some states are not maximizing the use of Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, resulting in ?missed opportunities? to improve water system infrastructure, according to the U.S. EPA.