The October 2024 Water and Wastewater Market Recap covers interesting and useful water industry news for this month. It contains updates on industry drivers, notable projects, as well as some interesting reads.
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: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Summary: On October 8, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration finalized a rule mandating the replacement of lead pipes in drinking water systems across the United States. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure safe drinking water for all communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by lead contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency will oversee the implementation, requiring states and water suppliers to develop plans for pipe replacement. This rule aims to protect public health, as lead exposure can have serious health effects, especially for children. The initiative reflects the administration's commitment to environmental justice and safe infrastructure. By addressing the issue of lead pipes, the government seeks to improve water quality and foster community trust in public water systems.
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Status: Proposed
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Summary: On October 23, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration announced allocating $3.6 billion to improve water infrastructure across the United States. This funding addresses urgent water quality issues, including replacing lead pipes and enhancing wastewater treatment facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency will administer the investment and is part of a broader strategy to ensure safe drinking water for all communities, particularly underserved areas. The initiative aims to protect public health and promote environmental justice by upgrading water systems. The funding is also expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in local communities. This significant investment reflects the administration’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure and combating climate-related challenges.
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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 2025-2029 fiscal years, the city of Missoula detailed plans to spend $460 million on capital projects, an increase of 30% from $354 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 206 line items, compared to 179 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Missoula’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending in the Utilities category increased by 141%, with funding for 30 additional projects and programs in the recent period, including the 2025 Water Distribution CIP, amounting to $51 million, and Sewer Main Rehabilitation, worth $17 million.
Click Here to See City of Missoula, Montana, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2034 fiscal years, the city of Peoria detailed plans to spend $1.4 billion on capital projects, an increase of 26% from $1.1 billion in its 2024-2033 CIP. The current CIP has 246 line items, compared to 235 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Peoria’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending in the Wastewater category increased by 82%, with funding for the Advanced Water Purification Treatment worth $164 million. There is also a 13% increase in the Streets category for the construction of several major projects, such as the 67th Avenue Widening project.
Peoria has two line items valued at over $50 million and four at over $25 million. The most significant line item is the Jomax WRF 4.5 MGD Expansion, valued at $80 million, under the Wastewater category. Other notable line items are:
Click Here to See City of Peoria, Arizona, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2027 fiscal years, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, California, detailed plans to spend $85 million on capital projects, an increase of 24% from $69 million in its 2024-2026 CIP. The current CIP has 12 line items, compared to 18 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending in the recent CIP increased by 24%, which is related to the $16 million grant for the Pure Water Monterey (PWM) Expansion project.
The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District has one notable line item valued at $42 million: the Pure Water Monterey Water Purchase. This initiative focuses on creating a reliable, drought-resistant water supply by treating and reusing wastewater.
Click Here to See Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, California, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2030 fiscal years, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, District of Columbia, detailed plans to spend $4.8 billion on capital projects, an increase of 6% from $4.5 billion in its 2024-2029 CIP. The current CIP has 72 line items, compared to 75 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Almost all business areas increased. The most significant increase was in the Information category, with funding for the Water and Sewer Reconstruction Program. On the other hand, the Bi-County Water Projects decreased by 13% or $156 million due to the ongoing Large Diameter Water Pipe and Large Valve Rehabilitation Program.
Washington Suburban Sanitary has four notable line items valued at over $100 million and four at over $50 million. The most significant line item is the Blue Plains WWTP: Liquid Train Projects, Part 2, valued at $234 million, under the Bi-County Sewer Projects category. Other notable line items include:
Click Here to See Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, District of Columbia, CIP
In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, the city of Clovis, California, detailed plans to spend $758 million on capital projects, an increase of 4% from $727 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 271 line items, compared to 278 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Clovis’ planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Planned spending under the Water Capital Projects - Developer has increased by 8%, or $22 million, with funding for ongoing projects. The Water Capital Projects - Enterprise Fund has also increased by 108% for the same reason.
Out of 278 line items, the city of Clovis has four notable line items valued at over $25 million, all belonging to the Developer category. The largest line item is the Southeast-SWTP Expansion, valued at $66 million. The project involves expanding the capacity of the plant from 22.5 MGD to 45 MGD. Additionally, it needs to be established in the Urban Water Management Plan. Other notable line items include:
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 September.
Summary: On October 2, 2024, Mott MacDonald published a blog announcing that it has been selected by Wessex Water as a partner for its AMP8 (Asset Management Plan 8) framework, which will run from 2025 to 2030. The framework will focus on enhancing Wessex Water's infrastructure and services, covering areas such as water supply, wastewater treatment, and network improvements. Mott MacDonald will provide consultancy services, leveraging its expertise in engineering, environmental management, and digital solutions to support Wessex Water’s sustainability and resilience goals. The partnership aims to help Wessex Water address challenges like climate change, population growth, and regulatory pressures. Mott MacDonald will also assist Wessex Water with its innovation efforts by integrating new technologies and processes to improve operational efficiency.
Summary: On October 9, 2024, AECOM published a blog announcing that it had been chosen by Southern Water to support the delivery of major capital projects as part of its AMP8 (Asset Management Plan 8) framework, which spans from 2025 to 2030. AECOM will provide design and engineering services to enhance Southern Water’s infrastructure, focusing on areas such as water treatment, wastewater management, and environmental sustainability. This partnership aims to address key challenges, including the need for climate resilience, improved operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. AECOM’s role will involve delivering innovative solutions to help Southern Water meet its sustainability goals and improve service delivery for its customers.
Summary: In October 2024, the Walsh Group announced the start of construction on the West Parish Water Treatment Plant in Andover, Massachusetts. This project, valued at $100 million, will modernize and expand the facility to improve water treatment capacity and quality for the local community. The new plant will include advanced filtration systems, new pumps, and upgraded infrastructure to meet growing demand and enhance operational efficiency. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure the city’s water supply remains safe and sustainable for future generations. The project is expected to be completed in 2026 and will help address issues related to aging infrastructure.
Summary: On October 22, 2024, Jacobs announced it had been selected by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to design and build the Critical Structure Project in New Mexico. Located at the San Juan-Chama Diversion Project, the initiative aims to improve water delivery infrastructure and ensure a more reliable water supply for the region. Jacobs will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services to upgrade key system components, including a new water control facility and advanced monitoring technologies. The project supports the Bureau of Reclamation’s efforts to address water security and sustainability challenges in the Southwest U.S. Jacobs’ expertise in water systems will help meet growing demands and improve aging infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed by 2027, strengthening the long-term resilience of New Mexico’s water infrastructure.