The August 2022 Water and Wastewater Market Recap covers interesting and useful water industry news for this month. It contains updates on industry drivers, notable projects, and recent mergers and acquisitions, as well as some interesting reads, and upcoming upcoming meetings and conferences.
Industry Drivers
Our data team tracks major developments in the water industry, which we call drivers. Here are some of the most important drivers from last month.
EPA Issues Guidance to Help Communities Locate Lead Pipes that can Contaminate Drinking Water
Status: Effective
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Summary: On August 4, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance to help communities and water utilities determine lead pipes connecting drinking water services to homes and other buildings. This action is a milestone in implementing the Lead and Pipe Action Plan. Along with $15 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL, IIJA), this guidance will allow water utilities to comply with the requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, become effective in December 2021, and make fast progress on removing harmful lead from America’s drinking water. EPA’s new Guidance for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory will:
- Provide best practices for inventory development and risk communications;
- Contain case studies on developing, reviewing, and communicating about inventories;
- Include a template for water systems, states, and Tribes to use or adapt to create their inventory;
- Highlight the importance of prioritizing inventory development in disadvantaged communities and where children live and play;
- Under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, water systems must prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials by October 16, 2024.
Click here for more information
EPA Proposes Designating Certain PFAS Chemicals as Hazardous Substances Under Superfund to Protect People’s Health
Status: Proposed
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Summary: On August 26, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to designate two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.” The proposal will address the health risks of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural isomers. If the ruling is finalized, the designation would require facilities to report releases of PFOA and PFOS to EPA within a 24-hour period. In addition, the proposal is a move to help EPA, states, tribal governments, and local communities to understand the locations of PFOA and PFOS releases, thus providing more resources to avoid or mitigate the potential impact posed by these hazardous chemicals.
Click here for more information
EPA Releases Guidance to Support Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments in Water Infrastructure for U.S. Territories and D.C.
Status: Effective
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Summary: On August 26, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to implement the budget appropriated for water infrastructure projects under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) investments for the District of Columbia (D.C.) and the U.S. Territories. Under BIL, $63 million are allocated to D.C. and $110 million to the Territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The EPA is helping to provide guidelines to address urgent water challenges, particularly in underserved communities, such as improving compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act and protecting the environment.
Click here for more information
Notable Capital Improvement Programs
Here are some recent, notable Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs). FirmoGraphs has deconstructed the CIPs into data elements, along with available project descriptions. Please feel free to request a meeting and review the data live in our business intelligence application.
Planned Capital Spending of the City of Burbank Water and Power Increased by 6.4%
In the CIP covering the 2023-2027 fiscal years, California's Burbank Water and Power Utility, detailed plans to spend $249 million on capital projects, an increase of 6.4% from $233.9 million in its 2022-2026 CIP. The current CIP has 180 discrete projects, compared to 46 projects in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down the City of Burbank Water and Power’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Expenditure in the Water Business Area Increases
The Water business area planned spending increased by 86.1%, to $49.3 million. The increase goes to new and existing projects. The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), worth $8 million, is one of the 68 new projects added. The current projects such as Potable Large and Small Water Mains increased by nearly $6 million each.
Electricity-Related Projects Receive More Than $20 Million Investment
Despite the decrease in the Electricity business area, two of the most notable projects valued at more than $25 million belong in this category. The Build Service to Large Projects Over 1 MVA is the largest single project, worth $31.5 million. In addition, $25 million is planned for Distribution Replacement Projects, the 4 kilovolts (kV) to 12 kV Conversions.
Contact FirmoGraphs to See Burbank Water and Power Utility, CA, CIP
Northern Kentucky Water District Increases Planned Capital Spending by 7.4%
In the CIP covering the 2022-2026 fiscal years, the Northern Kentucky Water District detailed plans to spend $177.3 million on capital projects, an increase of 7.4% from $165.1 million in its 2021-2025 CIP. The current CIP has 65 discrete projects, compared to 61 projects in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down the Northern Kentucky Water District’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Water Quality Projects Increases; Distribution/Central Facility Projects Decreases
The Water Quality Projects category increased by 26% to 151.7 million. The increase goes to 10 new projects, including the 2026 Water Main Replacement Program, worth $9.3 million, and Expansion of MPTP to 20 million gallons per day (MGD), worth $7.4 million. Planned spending in the Distribution/Central Facility Projects/Meters category decreased by 42.7% due to completed projects.
Water Projects to Receive More Than $10 Million
There are two projects valued at more than $10 million, belonging to the Water Quality Projects category. The 20 inches MPTP Discharge Water Main Replacement is the largest single project, worth $16 million. Another $11 million is planned for the Automated Water System.
Click Here to See Northern Kentucky Water District, KY, CIP
Notable Projects
We track notable projects from the proposal stage to becoming effective. Here are some of the recent notable projects we have been tracking.
$16 Billion Delta Conveyance Project
Type: Drinking Water Conveyance
Status: Proposed
Organization: California Department of Water Resources
Region: California
Summary: California Department of Water Resources submitted filings on January 15, 2020, to the California Environmental Quality Act for the proposed Delta Conveyance Project in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, with a total site area of 400 acres. The State Water Project (SWP) Delta water conveyance facilities, including Clifton Court Forebay and the Banks Pumping Plant in the south Delta, enable the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to divert water and lift it into the California Aqueduct. The construction is anticipated to begin in 2024 and will be completed in 2034. According to CalMatters, the Delta Conveyance Project will cost $16 billion.
Contact FirmoGraphs to See the Document
$3.9 Billion Sites Reservoir Project
Type: Drinking Water Conveyance
Status: Proposed
Organization: California Department of Water Resources
Region: California
Summary: State of California Department of Water Resources plans to construct a Sites Reservoir in California. It will be located on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, around 10 miles west of Maxwell, California, in Glenn and Colusa Counties. The Sites Reservoir will create an additional 1.5 million acre-feet off-stream storage for dry periods, increasing the capacity of the Sacramento Valley and making reliable supplies for environmental uses. The construction will commence in 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2030, costing $3.9 billion.
Contact FirmoGraphs to See the Document
$700 Million Purified Water Project
Type: Drinking Water Treatment
Status: Proposed
Organization: TBA
Region: Santa Clara County, California
Summary: According to the files, the project aims to reliably produce, convey, and recharge up to 11,200 acre-feets per year (AFY) of purified water that is suitable for indirect potable reuse in full compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Advanced purification is a state-of-the-art, three-step process that purifies treated wastewater using microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet disinfection. There are two types of potable reuse, indirect and direct. With indirect potable reuse, the groundwater aquifer, a source of drinking water, is recharged with advanced purified water. Direct potable reuse blends advanced purified water with raw water supplies at a drinking water treatment plant prior to treatment and distribution. Estimated value of the project is $700 million, with a projected letting date at the end of March 2023.
Contact FirmoGraphs to See the Document
$445 Million Klamath River Dam Removal and Restoration
Type: Dams, Levees, Stormwater and Flood Control
Status: Proposed
Organization: Klamath River Renewal Corporation
Region: Oregon
Summary: Klamath River Renewal Corporation, a non-profit corporation, oversees the removal and restoration of four hydroelectric dams on approximately 8,000 acres along the Klamath River. It will begin in the high desert of southern Oregon 250 miles to the northern California coast. The Project will start in 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2024 with a total cost of $445 million.
Contact FirmoGraphs to See the Document
$250 Million Secondary Treatment and Dewatering Project
Type: Drinking Water Treatment
Status: Proposed
Organization: City of Sunnyvale, California
Region: California
Summary: The City of Sunnyvale, California, will build the Secondary Treatment and Dewatering Project. It involves conventional activated sludge facilities as the primary method to provide secondary treatment. In addition, the new facilities will need a thickening and dewatering facility to handle the additional biosolids generated. Lastly, solids-handling equipment will be housed in a new building, and an odor control system will treat the ventilated air. The construction has already started, costing $250 million.
Contact FirmoGraphs to See the Document
Notable M&A
The following M&A transactions in the Power Generation and Supply Industry stand out in the month of August:
- On August 04, 2022, Missouri American Water acquired the water and wastewater systems of the City of Eureka.
- On August 12, 2022, Essential Utilities’ subsidiary acquired the municipal wastewater assets of East Whiteland Township, Chester County for approximately $55 million.
What We Are Reading
Here are some recent articles our team has been reading:
- $31B Texas ‘Ike Dike’ moves ahead with Senate approval
- North Carolina receives $789.4 million in funding for drinking water, wastewater projects
- Houston officials consider $30 billion tunnel project to curb impact of future floods
- North Carolina receives $789.4 million in funding for drinking water, wastewater projects
- Connecticut receives $580 million in funding for sewer system improvements
- AECOM to provide filtration engineering for Vernon water treatment plant
- Reclamation announces over $310M for drought resilience projects
- EPA Holds Webinar on PFAS Strategic Roadmap: Research Tools and Resources
- PFAS Council releases report on statewide progress toward clean water
- Jacobs to complete design of eastern N.M. rural water supply system
- More than 8 million Illinoisans get drinking water from a utility where forever chemicals have been detected, Tribune investigation finds
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 industry so you won’t miss upcoming meetings and deadlines.
Meetings in September and October 2022
- AWWA Water Infrastructure Conference & Exposition - Sept. 11 - Sept. 14, 2022
- ACWA Annual WateReuse California Conference - Sept. 11 - Sept. 13, 2022
- VA-AWWA WaterJAM - Our Water, Our Future - Sept. 12 - Sept. 15, 2022
- PNCWA Annual Conference - Sept. 12 - Sept. 14, 2022
- AWE One Water Summit - Sept. 13 - Sept. 15, 2022
- MI-AWWA Annual Conference and Exhibits - Sept. 13 - Sept. 16, 2022
- WCA-AWWA WCW22 Annual Conference & Exhibition - Sept. 13 - Sept. 16, 2022
- NE-AWWA Annual Conference - Sept. 18 - Sept. 21, 2022
- RM-AWWA Rocky Mountain Water Conference - Sept. 18 - Sept. 21, 2022
- WCA-AWWA Canadian Residuals and Biosolids Conference - Sept. 18 - Sept. 21, 2022
- NRWA WaterPro Conference - Sept. 26 - Sept. 29, 2022
- AWWA WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition - Oct. 4 - Oct. 6, 2022
- IMS-AWWA Annual Conference - Oct. 5 - Oct. 7, 2022
- RM-AWWA Western Colorado Water & Wastewater Conference - Oct. 5 - Oct. 6, 2022
- WEFTEC Conference and Exhibition - Oct. 8 - Oct. 12, 2022
- AWWA Opshow - Practical Ideas For Water & Wastewater Operations - Oct. 19 - Oct. 20, 2022
- CA - NV AWWA Annual Fall Conference - Oct. 23 - Oct. 26, 2022
- AWE World Water-Tech North America - Oct. 26 - Oct. 27, 2022
- AMWA Executive Management Conference - Oct. 30 - Nov. 2, 2022
Early Bird Registrations
- Event: AMWA Executive Management Conference
Dates: Oct. 30 - Nov. 2, 2022
Deadline for Early Registration: Sept. 16, 2022
- Event: AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference
Dates: Nov. 13 - Nov. 17, 2022
Deadline for Early Registration: Oct. 14, 2022
Call for Papers
- Event: WateReuse Association Annual Symposium
Dates: Mar. 5 - Mar. 8, 2023
Deadline for Call for Papers: Sept. 30, 2022
- Event: NE-AWWA Spring Joint Regional Conference & Exhibition
Dates: Mar. 5 - Mar. 8, 2023
Deadline for Call for Papers: Oct. 15, 2022
- Event: AWRA Summer Conference
Dates: July 17 - July 19, 2023
Deadline for Call for Papers: Oct. 17, 2022
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