A new Fitch Ratings report expects California water and public power utilities to maintain strong operational and financial performance over the next year, despite the effects of the statewide drought.

A broad array of water sector groups from across the country will join forces this spring in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural Water Week 2014, scheduled for April 7-11, 2014.

The International Private Water Association (IPWA) will hold a Financial Tools Taskforce meeting via conference call on Thursday, March 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (EST). The focus of the meeting will be a presentation by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The South Florida Water Management District recently awarded CH2M HILL a contract to provide professional engineering services as part of an $880 million plan to restore the Everglades. Under this contract, CH2M HILL will work in tandem with SFWMD to help enhance the natural region of tropical wetlands in Florida.

For nearly three years, numerous U.S. water companies, organizations and advocates have lobbied Congress to reintroduce a significant piece of legislation to assist in the financing of water and sewer projects in the United States.

Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA) and GHD announced March 12 that the two firms will merge ? an agreement that is expected to be finalized by July 2014.Employee shareholders in CRA will become shareholders of GHD. The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and is expected to close in July.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would see its budget for State Revolving Funds decrease and spending on categorical grants to states and tribes increase under President Obama’s 2015 budget plan.

The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition (SWIC) had a busy and productive year in 2013. SWIC members joined industry groups to help save tax-exempt municipal bonds and lay the groundwork for the introduction of the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act.

The Boards of Directors of the WateReuse Association and the WateReuse Research Foundation are pleased to announce that Melissa L. Meeker has been named executive director effective March 25, 2014.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection?s (DEP) Catskill-Delaware Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Facility, the largest ultraviolet water treatment facility in the world, has been selected by Engineering News-Record (ENR) as a 2013 ?Best of the Best Projects.?