Dear Readers,
Here's our Water/Wastewater Market Monthly Roundup for the month of August, 2020. To improve our work, we'll look forward to your valuable feedback in the form of comments. Enjoy!
Industry Drivers
Driver: Michigan Adopts PFAS Drinking Water Mcls
Status: Effective
Organization: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Summary:
On July 22, 2020, the State of Michigan adopted requirements regulating PFAS in drinking water. Last year, Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) recommended establishing draft maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for PFAS compounds in drinking water. The establishment of enforceable MCL for PFAS compounds must be in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The PFAS drinking water MCLs replace the current groundwater cleanup standard of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. The MCLs for seven PFAS compounds include: PFOA: 8 ng/L (ppt), PFOS: 16 ng/L (ppt), PFNA: 6 ng/L (ppt), PFHxS: 51 ng/L (ppt), PFBS: 420 ng/L (ppt), GenX: 370 ng/L (ppt), PFHxA: 400,000 ng/L (ppt). The new MCLs went into effect on August 3, 2020.
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Driver: New York's Governor Cuomo Announces First in the Nation Drinking Water Standard for Emerging Contaminant 1,4-Dioxane
Status: Effective
Organization: State of New York
Summary: On July 30, 2020, Governor Cuomo stated that the State of New York adopted a standard for 1,4-Dioxane at a Maximum Contaminant Level of 1 part per billion. He also announced maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for the new contaminants PFOA and PFOS in New York's drinking water. These contaminants are among the lowest in the United States for PFOA and PFOS, with ten parts per billion. The new regulations demand public water systems to test and observe these chemicals regularly. All three contaminants were discovered in drinking water systems. However, they are still unregulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As part of the 2017-2018 executive budget, the Drinking Water Quality Council was founded to give recommendations to the New York State Department of Health to discuss drinking water contaminants arising from industrial pollution in communities across the state. These announcements follow a period of public comment and approval by the Public Health and Health Planning Council.Click here for additional information
Driver: EPA Awards Nearly $5 Million for New Research on Managing PFAS in Agricultural and Rural Communities
Status: Effective
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Summary: On August 20, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that they granted $4.8 million in research fundings to three institutions to understand further the impacts PFAS have on water quality in rural communities and agricultural operations in the United States. The institutions that received the fundings are Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. Indiana University ($1.5 million) will develop a scalable platform for predicting PFAS appearance in private wells to better understand the exposure risks of PFAS to rural communities. Purdue University ($1.6 million) will research the concentration of PFAS in private drinking wells and water resource recovery facilities and the relative contribution of PFAS from land-application wastewater and biosolids to rural water supplies. Finally, the University of Georgia ($1.6 million) will develop better, cost-effective treatment systems with technology to remove PFAS from water, wastewater, and biosolids to ensure safe drinking and agricultural applications in rural areas.
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Driver:The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure: How a Failure to Act Would Affect the U.S. Economy Recovery
Status: Effective
Organization: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) & the Value of Water Campaign
Summary: On August 27, 2020, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Value of Water Campaign released a report, founding that as infrastructure deteriorates and service disruptions increase, annual costs to American households will be seven times higher in 20 years than they are now — from $2 billion in 2019 to $14 billion by 2039.
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Alert: EPA Announces Additional $235 Million Water Infrastructure Loan for Miami-Dade County
Status: Effective
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Data source: https://tinyurl.com/y45vlbnh
Summary: On August 6, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared a third Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan of $235 million to Miami-Dade County to help finance improvements and expand wastewater treatment facilities. In two years, EPA gave a total of $660 million to help finance projects costing over $1.3 billion, while saving ratepayers $200 million and creating over 500 jobs. Under this WIFIA loan, funding provided will finance upgrades at the Miami-Dade Water, and Sewer Department (WASD)’s three wastewater treatment plants. WASD’s South District Wastewater Treatment Plant (SDWWTP) Expansion will increase the permitted treatment at one facility from 112.5 million to 131 million gallons per day. The project requires $480 million, and the EPA’s WIFIA loan will support up to $235 million of it. Additionally, the department will construct new injection wells at the North and Central District Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) to help fulfill Ocean Outfall Legislation requirements.
Alert: Future $8 million Building Project at Hardin County Water District
Status: Proposed
Organization: Hardin County Water District No.2
Data source: https://tinyurl.com/y58tfvae
Summary: On August 11, 2020, Hardin County Water District No. 2 filed an application with a Kentucky Public Service Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a customer service and operation facility, consisting of four buildings, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The Project involves the construction of:
- an around 16,000 square foot, single-story Customer Service Center;
- a 3,000 square foot Field Operations Building;
- an about 18,750 square foot Shop Building;
- and a roughly 12,000 square foot Equipment Building.
The Project's estimated cost is $8 million. Funding of the Project will go through the issuance of short-term debt, not surpassing 23 months. The short-term debt will be partly paid by the proceeds from the sale of two parcels of land. First, the proceeds of $3.1 million from the sale of 7.153 acres of land upon which Hardin District No. 2's current Customer Service Center and other facilities are located. Second, from the proceeds from the sale of another 10-acre tract of land located at 315 Ring Road, which is listed with the realty company for $1.8 million. The balance of the short-term debt, which is evaluated to be around $3.1 million once the sale proceeds from both tracts of land are applied to the debt, will be refinanced through the issuance of long-term bonds. Hardin District No. 2 will apply to the Commission for authorization to issue such bonds.
Alert: Major Achievement of $3 Billion Pure Water San Diego Program
Type: Water Supply Project
Status:Effective
Organization: City of San Diego
Scale: 30 million gallons per day (MGD)
Data source: https://tinyurl.com/yxd3e3no
Summary: On August 11, 2020, the City of San Diego announced that it's $3 billion worth program "Pure Water San Diego Program" accomplished a significant milestone by getting a permit by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The City is on its way to provide one-third of its population water supply locally by the end of 2035. The Program is a phased, multi-year project that uses technology to make a safe, reliable, and cost-effective water supply. The Program will help the City transform a current water system into a water cycle that maximizes the use and reuse of its water supply and reduces ocean discharges. Phase 1 of the Program involves facilities and pipelines that clean recycled water to deliver 30 million gallons per day (MGD) of purified water, lessening the City's dependency on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River. The purified water will combine with the City's imported and local water sources and be re-treated at the Miramar Water Treatment Plant prior to distribution. Phase 1 projects involve the Morena Pump Station and Pipelines, North City Water Reclamation Plant Expansion, North City Pure Water Facility, and North City Pure Water Pump Station and Pipeline.
Alert: EPA Reaches $56.6 million Settlement for Groundwater Cleanup at Los Angeles Area Superfund Sites
Type: Settlement
Status: Effective
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Data source: https://tinyurl.com/y39r4f7f
Summary: On August 14, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a few other agencies reached a $56.6 million settlement to clean up contaminated groundwater at the Dual Site Groundwater Operable Unit of the Montrose Chemical Corp. and Del Amo superfund sites. Groundwater at the Dual Site is contaminated with hazardous substances, including chlorobenzene, benzene, and trichloroethylene (TCE). The settlement with Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, Bayer CropScience Inc., TFCF America Inc., Stauffer Management Company LLC, and JCI Jones Chemicals Inc. also includes the payment to the EPA of $4 million in past costs, another amount of expenses acquired by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and payment of the EPA’s and DTSC’s future oversight costs. Cleanup activities will include pumping the groundwater in the chlorobenzene plume and treating it to federal and California state cleanup standards identified in the 1999 remedy. Containment will happen after pumping operations start, and cleanup of groundwater beyond the containment zone is anticipated to take around 50 years to complete.
Alert: EPA Awards $30.5 Million for Infrastructure to Protect Surface Waters and Drinking Water in Arizona
Type: Water surface and drinking water preservation
Status: Effective
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Data source: https://tinyurl.com/y2s8phu2
Summary: On August 20, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $30.5 million to support water infrastructure via State Revolving Funds (SRF). This award is a part of $2.7 billion nationwide support EPA is giving to help states, tribes, and territories with infrastructure projects that help preserve surface water and provide safe drinking water. The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) will receive and administer the SRF appropriations. WIFA helps Arizona’s wastewater and water systems maintain or come into agreement with federal and state clean water and drinking water requirements. In 2020, EPA awarded $1.6 billion nationwide in new federal grant funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), including $10.7 million to help Arizona. Also, EPA awarded $1.07 billion across the country in new federal grant funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), including $19.8 million to Arizona.
Alert: Ulliman Schutte, Brown and Caldwell Design-Build Team to Rehabilitate Section of Potomac Interceptor
Type: Design Project
Status: Effective
Organization: Ulliman Schutte and Brown and Caldwell
Data source: https://tinyurl.com/y38mmmjg
Summary: On August 20, 2020, The design-build team of Ulliman Schutte and Brown and Caldwell was awarded a contract by DC Water to provide design, engineering, and construction services to rehabilitate a deteriorating segment of the Potomac Interceptor (PI). The Interceptor is a component of DC Water's sewer network, carrying a daily wastewater flow of around 69 million gallons per day (MGD). DC Water performs sewer rehabilitation projects as part of a Capital Improvement Program to improve the 60-year-old system and give the District's sewer continued long-lasting resiliency. The project will be based on using the progressive design-build collaborative delivery approach, which will allow the constructor to be engaged during the design phase of the project. The design-build team will design the repair and restoration of 600 linear feet of 54 to 78-inch diameter pipe as deep as 65-feet below grade. Using corrosion-resistant lining while incorporating energy-dissipating measures will help calm turbulence and manage corrosive sewer gas. A fundamental aspect of the project involves designing a temporary pump and flow control system or permanent diversion structures to bypass the PI's segments during construction and maintain continuous service. Also, the team will develop a stakeholder outreach program to engage the community to help shape its path forward, proactively, in collaboration with the DC Water. The design phase completion is anticipated in 2021.
Notable M&A
As per FirmoGraphs’ records, we had the following notable M&A transactions in the US Water & Wastewater Industry, in the month of August 2020.
- August 03, 2020, Iowa American Water acquired the water system of the Royal Pines Village Mobile Home Park in Clinton.
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- August 11, 2020, Illinois American Water acquired the Alton Regional Wastewater System.
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Meeting Planner
There is no replacement for face-to-face meetings with your prospects and customers! We track meetings of interest to our customers serving the US water and wastewater industry, so you won’t miss upcoming meetings and deadlines.
Meetings in September and October, 2020
Due to the impact of the COVID-19, the following organizations have updated their meetings approach:
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(Canceled) Annual KWEA / KsAWWA Water & Wastewater Conference, Aug. 31 to Sep. 2, 2020 ,Wichita, Kansas, http://ow.ly/KiL250BbLjL
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(Canceled) Chesapeake Tri-Association Conference, Sep. 1 to Sep. 4, 2020 ,Ocean City, Maryland, http://ow.ly/1Mjf50BbLlS
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(Virtual Conference) WaterPro Conference, Sep. 14 to Sep. 17, 2020 ,Phoenix, Arizona, http://ow.ly/ad7M50BbLnp
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(Virtual Conference) WI AWWA Annual Meeting & Expo, Sep. 16 to Sep. 18, 2020 ,Madison, Wisconsin, http://ow.ly/3ac150BbLoR
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(Virtual Conference) MI-ACE Annual Conference & Exhibits, Sep. 16 to Sep. 17, 2020 ,Port Huron, Michigan, http://ow.ly/Wmiq50BbLr3
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(Virtual Conference) MN AWWA Annual Conference, Sep. 17 to Oct. 15, 2020 ,Duluth, Minnesota, http://ow.ly/EANq50BbLsK
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(Virtual Conference) NEWWA Annual Conference, Sep. 21 to Sep. 23, 2020 ,Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, http://ow.ly/aUfa50BbLur
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(Canceled) Western Canada Water Annual Conference & Exhibition, Sep. 22 to Sep. 25, 2020 ,Regina, Saskatchewan, http://ow.ly/XySh50BbLw4
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(Virtual Conference) OAWWA Conference, Sep. 22 to Sep. 25, 2020 ,Cincinnati, Ohio, http://ow.ly/9CEx50BbLyK
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(Canceled) WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, Sep. 30 to Oct. 1, 2020 ,Las Vegas, Nevada, http://ow.ly/y60H50BbLB0
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(Virtual Conference) WEF Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, Oct. 5 to Oct. 9, 2020 ,New Orleans, Louisiana, http://ow.ly/8P4W50BbLJ8
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(Virtual Conference) AWWA-IA Annual Conference, Oct. 13 to Oct. 15, 2020 ,Cedar Rapids, Iowa, http://ow.ly/8TBF50BbLL0
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(Canceled) Southwest Section AWWA Annual Conference, Oct. 18 to Oct. 20, 2020 ,Tulsa, Oklahoma, http://ow.ly/KqN350BbLMI
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(Canceled) ACWWA's Annual Conference, Oct. 18 to Oct. 21, 2020 ,Fredericton, New Brunswick, http://ow.ly/y2Ho50BbLR5
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Intermountain Section Annual Conference, Oct. 21 to Oct. 23, 2020 ,St. George, Utah, http://ow.ly/VhKX50BbLTX
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(Virtual Conference) ASDWA Annual Conference, Oct. 26 to Oct. 29, 2020 ,Scottsdale, Arizona, http://ow.ly/Zrub50BbLVY
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(Virtual Conference) CA-NV AWWA Annual Fall Conference, Oct. 26 to Oct. 29, 2020 ,Las Vegas, Nevada, http://ow.ly/Ye9I50BbLYb
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(Virtual Conference) RMS AWWA The Rocky Mountain Water Conference, Oct. 27 to Oct. 30, 2020 ,Loveland, Colorado, http://ow.ly/4f4n50BbLZP
Early Bird Registration Deadlines
- Event: IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies - 2021
- URL: http://ow.ly/OCaE50BbM2v
- Dates: Feb. 21 to Feb. 26, 2021
- Venue: Reno, Nevada
- Date Early Registration: Sep. 30, 2020
- Event: Annual Water Resources Conference - 2020 (Virtual Conference)
- URL: http://ow.ly/gyzp50BbM4f
- Dates: Nov. 9 to Nov. 12, 2020
- Date Early Registration: Oct. 31, 2020
Early Bird Registration Deadlines
- Event: Launching Technical Challenge Seeking Innovative Ways to Destroy PFAS in Firefighting Foam
- URL: http://ow.ly/W4wz50BbM6K
- Dates: Aug. 25 to Nov. 23, 2020
- Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Date Early Registration: Nov. 23, 2020
- Winners Announced: Early 2021
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Disclaimer
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