The June 2024 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.
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.
Status: Proposed
Organization: California State Legislature
Summary: On June 19, 2024, the Assembly Health Committee passed a bill to study the health impacts of microplastics in California’s drinking water. The bill mandates the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to examine microplastics in both tap and bottled water and establish testing standards. Annual reporting on microplastic levels from bottled water producers is also required. The bill aims to adopt a primary drinking water standard for microplastics and requires annual reporting on microplastics in source water used for bottling.
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Status: Proposed
Organization: California State Legislature
Summary: On June 26, 2024, SB 366 was approved unanimously by the California State Committee. The bill aims to establish statewide water supply targets in California and requires stakeholders to implement comprehensive, long-term water management solutions. SB 366 seeks to secure California’s water future by setting necessary water supply targets, modernizing the state’s water plan for the 21st century, and ensuring accountability among state agencies. It complements Governor Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy by establishing long-term targets. The bill addresses California's challenges of worsening climate conditions, aging infrastructure, a growing population, and outdated policies, emphasizing the need for significant investment and commitment to new water supplies.
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Status: Effective
Organization: California Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
Summary: On June 27, 2024, the California State Water Resources Control Board released its 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, which evaluates the state's water systems and their ability to provide safe drinking water. Established by Senate Bill 200 in 2019, the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program has distributed over $831 million in grants to disadvantaged communities, significantly increasing funding compared to previous years. The assessment identifies communities served by failing public water systems and predicts those at risk, estimating a $6.6 billion need for long-term solutions and a $5.5 billion funding gap. Despite 98% of California's population receiving water from systems meeting standards, many disadvantaged communities of color are still at risk. The report highlights the financial challenges faced by small water systems and outlines funding needs and strategies to ensure safe and affordable drinking water for all. The findings inform the prioritization of state funding through the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.
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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.
In the CIP covering the 2025-2030 fiscal years, City and County of Honolulu detailed plans to spend $7.7 billion on capital projects, an increase of 22% from $6.3 billion in its 2024-2029 CIP. The current CIP has 419 line items, compared to 436 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Honolulu’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
All business areas increased. The most significant increase goes to the Utilities category, which increased by 252% with funding for ongoing projects, including the Aamodt Rural Water - Phase 1 Distribution Lines (Aamodt PBWRS Line). Additionally, the Facility and Public Housing sectors saw substantial increases of 397% and 209%, respectively.
Honolulu's planned spending includes one major line item valued at over $1 billion and four valued at over $100 million, all belonging to the Sanitation category. The largest line item is the upgrade of the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant to include secondary treatment, worth nearly $2 billion. This involves various improvements such as upgrading processes, site enhancements, adding septage receiving capabilities, and enhancing facilities for better wastewater management. Listed below are the other notable line items:
Click Here to See City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2034 fiscal years, Alexandria Renew Enterprises detailed plans to spend $867 million on capital projects, an increase of 3% from $843 million in its 2024-2033 CIP. The current CIP has 49 line items, compared to 55 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Alexandria’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending in the Capital Improvement Program increased by 50% with funding for ongoing projects. Additionally, there is also a project, the new RiverRenew Tunnel Project – Joint, worth $90 million. The Improvement, Renewal & Replacement Program also increased by 40% for ongoing projects.
Alexandria Renew Enterprises has one notable line item valued at over $100 million and four at over $25 million, all belonging to the Capital Improvement Program category. The largest line item is the Solids Process Upgrades, worth $198 million. The project involves short term improvements and will identify medium- and long-term recommendations to improve solids handling and meet future process needs. Listed below are the other notable line items:
Click Here to See El Paso Water, Texas, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2030 fiscal years, Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation detailed plans to spend $456 million on capital projects, an increase of 10% from $414 million in its 2024-2029 CIP. The current CIP has 56 line items, compared to 59 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending increased by 10%, incorporating funding for ongoing projects such as the WW - Sahuarita Wastewater Reclamation 8MGD Facility. Additionally, there are new projects underway, including the top priorities: WW - Bldg 4 Primary Clarifiers and WW - TRWRF Digester Facility.
Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation has one line item valued at over $100 million and three at over $20 million. The largest line item is the WW - Sahuarita Wastewater Reclamation 8MGD Facility. Other line items include:
Click Here to See Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation, Arizona, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, Rancho California Water District detailed plans to spend $303 million on capital projects, a decrease of 10% from $339 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 125 line items, compared to 153 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Rancho California Water District’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
All business area Planned spending in the Rancho Division decreased by 27% due to fifteen completed projects in the recent period.
Rancho California Water District has only one line item valued at over $50 million and three at over $10 million, all belonging to the Resource Division. The largest line item is the Vail Dam Remediation - New Construction, worth $95 million. This project involves the construction of the structural remediation of Vail Dam, which has been determined necessary to satisfy seismic and hydrologic mitigation measures. Other line items include:
Click Here to See Rancho California Water District, California, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, Catawba County detailed plans to spend $185 million on capital projects, an increase of 73% from $107 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 54 line items, compared to 167 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Catawba’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending in the Solid Waste category increased significantly by 424%, primarily due to the addition of General Operating Expenses, totaling $18 million. The Water and Sewer category also experienced a $45 million increase, attributed to funding for the Hickory-Catawba WWTP Future Expansion. However, the Schools category saw a decrease of 31% due to the completion of 49 projects scheduled for FY 2024.
Catawba County has four notable line items valued at over $10 million. The largest line item is the Newton-Conover City Schools: N-CHS Phase II and Drainage Pipe Repair, under the Schools category. Another $18 million is also planned for the Hickory City Schools - Hickory High School Renovations, and an additional $13 million is allocated for the Catawba County Schools - Maiden Elementary School. Lastly, $12 million is planned for the Hickory‐Catawba WWTP Future Expansion project, under the Water and Sewer category.
Click Here to See Catawba County, North Carolina, CIP
The following M&A transactions in the Water and Wastewater Industry stood out in the month of June:
Here are some recent articles our team has been reading:
To stay abreast of industry marketing trends, we regularly review blogs of the nation's top consulting and construction firms. These are some notable customer-focused blogs in June.
Summary: On June 4, 2024, AECOM published a blog announcing its partnership with Aquatech to deploy DE-FLUORO technology for PFAS destruction. This collaboration aims to address the urgent global need for effective PFAS remediation solutions. DE-FLUORO technology is designed to safely and efficiently break down PFAS compounds in water and soil, offering a sustainable approach to managing these persistent contaminants. The partnership intends to leverage AECOM's extensive environmental remediation expertise and Aquatech's innovative water purification technologies to scale up deployment across various contaminated sites. This initiative comes at a crucial time as regulatory pressures and environmental concerns surrounding PFAS continue to grow.
Summary: On June 4, 2024, Black & Veatch published a blog to launch its 2024 Strategic Directions: Water Report, emphasizing critical challenges and opportunities in the global water industry. Released annually, this report assesses emerging trends and technologies shaping water management strategies worldwide. It provides insights into the industry's evolving landscape, highlighting the impact of climate change, regulatory shifts, and technological advancements on water infrastructure. The report also addresses the growing importance of resilience and sustainability in water projects, underscoring the need for innovative solutions to address aging infrastructure and water quality issues.
Summary: On June 7, 2024, Black & Veatch discussed the importance of modular solutions and predictive modeling in managing drinking water contamination. It emphasizes the role of these technologies in enhancing the resilience of water systems against various contaminants, highlighting their effectiveness in early detection and mitigation efforts. By implementing modular solutions, utilities can adapt more quickly to changing conditions and address contamination issues proactively. The article suggests that predictive modeling allows for better understanding and forecasting of potential threats, enabling utilities to prioritize resources and preventive measures efficiently. It also stresses the significance of collaboration among stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement of these technologies.
Summary: In June 11, 2024, WALSH Construction discussed the progress on the expansion of the Arcadia Lake Water Treatment Plant. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the project aims to increase the plant's capacity to meet growing water demand in Edmond, Oklahoma. Archer Western emphasizes the use of advanced technology and sustainable practices to enhance operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. The expansion includes the construction of new treatment facilities and upgrades to existing infrastructure, which will enable the plant to process more water while maintaining high standards of water quality. This project is crucial for ensuring reliable water supply to the community and supporting future growth in the region, aligning with efforts to enhance infrastructure resilience and service delivery.
In this over-digitized age, 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 power generation and supply industry so you won’t miss upcoming meetings and deadlines. Also, FirmoGraphs has recently implemented a free-of-charge service for tracking notable infrastructure events.
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Name Organization |
Name Meeting |
Date Start |
Date End |
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Water Environment Federation |
2024-07-15 |
2024-07-17 |
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National Association of Clean Water Agencies |
2024-07-23 |
2024-07-26 |
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Water Finance & Management |
2024-08-06 |
2024-08-07 |
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Water Environment Federation |
2024-08-12 |
2024-08-13 |
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Design-Build Institute of America |
2024-08-21 |
2024-08-22 |
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American Water Works Association, Kansas Section |
2024-08-27 |
2024-08-27 |