Water & Wastewater Market Recap, September 2023

The September 2023 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 Final Rule to Strengthen Water Protections, Support Clear and Timely Reviews of Infrastructure and Development Projects

Status: Proposed

Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Summary: On September 14, 2023, EPA issued a final rule aimed at reinstating the authority granted by Congress to states, territories, and Tribes under the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification. This regulatory action facilitates efficient and targeted water quality reviews for critical infrastructure and development projects. The rule provides states, territories, and authorized Tribes with the capacity to preserve water quality, shielding it from the adverse impacts of federally permitted projects. It introduces a default 6-month timeframe and a maximum 1-year period for certification review, promoting timely decision-making in the approval process. Additionally, the rule emphasizes that only adverse water quality impacts should be considered during the certification process. This emphasis is intended to streamline approvals, encouraging collaboration among federal, state, and tribal entities to protect water resources effectively.

Click Here for More Information

EPA Finalizes Rule to Require Reporting of PFAS Data to Better Protect Communities from Forever Chemicals

Status: Proposed

Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Summary: On September 28, 2023, EPA finalized a rule to gather comprehensive data on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The rule, mandated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), directs manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS and PFAS-containing articles since 2011 to report information related to chemical identity, uses, volumes, environmental effects, and disposal to the EPA. This initiative aims to enhance research, monitoring, and regulation of PFAS, assisting in crafting policies and laws to safeguard the public from these harmful substances. The finalized rule expands the definition of PFAS to cover 41 additional PFAS identified as concerning, encompassing 1,462 PFAS made or used in the U.S. since 2011. The EPA is set to receive this critical data within 18 months of the rule's effective date, offering a comprehensive dataset for understanding and protecting people from PFAS exposure.

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.

City of Norfolk, Virginia, Planned Capital Expenditure Increased By 50%

In the CIP covering the 2024-2028 fiscal years, City of Norfolk, Virginia detailed plans to spend nearly $1.6 billion on capital projects, an increase of 50% from $1 billion in its 2023-2027 CIP. The current CIP has 116 line items, compared to 105 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Norfolk’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Most Significant Increase in Storm Water Category

Almost all the business areas increased. The most significant goes to the Storm Water category, which increased largely by 462%, with funding towards an existing project, the construction of a Downtown Flood Wall, which went up by nearly $360 million. The Water category also increased by 44% because of the three projects added, amounting to $52 million, including Develop Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), worth $27 million. 

Over $400 Million for the Construction of a Flood Wall

The City of Norfolk has two line items valued at over $100 million and three over $10 million. The largest  single item is the construction of a Downtown Flood Wall under the Storm water category, worth $429 million. This project provides match funds to support phase I of the City’s coastal storm risk management including improvements to the Downtown floodwall, pumps, and levees that will protect the City’s commercial core. 

Click Here to See City of Norfolk, Virginia, CIP

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, California, Planned Capital Expenditures Increased by 44%

In the CIP covering the 2024-2028 fiscal years, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, California detailed plans to spend nearly $3.6 billion on capital projects, an increase of 44% from $2.5 billion in its 2023-2027 CIP. The current CIP has 429 line items, compared to 373 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Brevard’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Increase in Various Areas Programmed For New Projects

The Joint Outfall System category comprises the most significant funding in the CIP, and it increased by 37%. The increase goes mainly to 24 new projects, including Pure Water Southern California, worth $824 million. The Administration also increased by 619% due to 15 new projects, including the Seismic Resilience Project, amounting to $70 million, and Sewer System Hydraulic Model Development, worth $32 million. Another area that increased is the District's Joint Refuse Capital due to the addition of the JWPCP RNG Phase III and IV with Pipeline Injection Capital, totaling $65 million.

Over $600 Million for Joint Outfall System Projects

The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, California, has one notable line item valued at more than $400 million and three-valued at over $50 million, all belonging to the Joint Outfall System category. The largest line item is the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) Effluent Outfall Tunnel, worth $486 million. Other notable line items include:

• JWPCP Sidestream Treatment - worth $70 million
• Compton Field Office Renovations - worth $69 million
• San Jose Creek East WRP Expansion of Disinfection Facilities - worth 50 million.

Contact FirmoGraphs to Learn More

City of Statesboro, Georgia, Planned Capital Program Went Up by 118%

In the CIP covering the 2024-2029 fiscal year, City of Statesboro, Georgia detailed plans to spend nearly $250 million on capital projects, an increase of 118% from nearly $115 million in its 2023-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 165 line items, compared to 163 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Statesboro’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Planned Spending Increases Due to New and Ongoing Projects

Planned spending in the Wastewater Treatment Plant increased by 1,303% due to the construction of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant, worth $80 million. There is also a new project in the Water Sewer Department, the Highway 67 Water Main Extension, and the Installation of the Sewer Main at Highway 301 & 1-16 Industrial Complex. The Natural Gas Department also increased by 141% with funding towards ongoing projects, including the Gas Pressure/Volume Improvement Project, which went up by $12 million.

Over $50 Million for New Wastewater Treatment Plant

The City of Statesboro has one notable line item valued at over $50 million and two valued at over $15 million. The largest project is the New Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), worth $80 million, under the Wastewater Treatment Plant business area. The project involves upgrading and constructing a new WWTP to 4 million gallons per day (MGD). The Stormwater Utility Fund also gets a notable project, the Little Lotts Creek Flood Control Project (Creek on Blue Mile), valued at almost $30 million, that will start construction in Fiscal Year 2025. The last one belongs to the  Water Sewer Department, the Highway 67 Sewer Main Extension, worth approximately $16 million.

Click Here to See City of Statesboro, Georgia, CIP

What We Are Reading

Here are some recent articles our team has been reading:

• Committee releases financial recovery estimates for the $13.6B drinking water PFAS settlement
• EPA sends Congress 7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey
• Pace announces availability of new PFAS test method
• EPA Proposes Draft NPDES Permit for General Electric facility in Pittsfield, Mass.
• EPA to invest $7.5 billion to upgrade water infrastructure across the country
• EPA penalizes American Seafoods Company almost $1M for Clean Water Act violations off Oregon, Washington coasts
• To Conform with Recent Supreme Court Decision, EPA and Army Amend “Waters of the United States” Rule
• Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Transmission Authority (WWTA) agrees to major sewer system upgrades
• EPA Takes Action to Address Ongoing Pollution Violations at Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Biden to send federal disaster assistance to Louisiana amidst high saltwater levels in drinking water

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. Also, FirmoGraphs has recently implemented a free-of-charge service for tracking notable infrastructure events. 

Meetings in October and November 2023

Early Bird Registrations

• Event: AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference
  Dates: November 6, 2023 - November 8, 2023
  Deadline for Early Registration: October 20, 2023