NATIONAL NEWS
CDC Adopts Wastewater-Based COVID Tracking In one of the most significant signs of wastewater analysis’ rising prominence among the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s primary federal health agency has elevated this data to its public tracking site.
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EPA Proposes Guidance to Support Water Affordability and Clean Water Act Implementation EPA announces the Proposed 2022 Clean Water Act (CWA) Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance. The proposed guidance outlines strategies for communities to support affordable utility rates while planning investments in water infrastructure that are essential for CWA implementation.
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Scientists think they've found the source of Earth's water Scientists may have finally discovered the answer to a long-standing question about the origin of life on Earth.
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ASDWA Releases Lead Line Inventory Framework and Model Excel Template On February 9th, ASDWA announced the “State Implementation Framework for Lead Service Inventories.”
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Six tips to deal with legacy nitrogen While critical for growing crops, nitrogen can also pollute groundwater for decades. A new study from the University of Waterloo provides six steps to deal with legacy nitrogen.
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Sewage Sampling Already Tracks Covid. What Else Can It Find? Everyone poops—and that reveals traces of pathogens. Comprehensively analyzing wastewater could help find flu and detect the next pandemic.
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Solar-powered system offers a route to inexpensive desalination Passive solar evaporation system could be used to clean wastewater, provide potable water, or sterilize medical tools in off-grid areas.
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Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce coastal resilience legislation A group of bipartisan lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill that aims to protect against coastal and river flooding as climate change makes sea levels rise.
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Withdrawal of rivers and lakes is faster near cities The depletion of water resources (e.g., rivers and lakes) is more rapid and evident in proximity of urban areas and, away from cities, it gradually decreases.
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CISA Releases Personal Security Considerations Fact Sheet In recent months, the U.S. has experienced civil unrest across various jurisdictions. Due to continued sociopolitical issues, there remains a potential for further unrest.
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Every Republican U.S. Senator Wrote EPA Urging the Agency to Suspend the Pending EPA WOTUS Rulemaking Until the Supreme Court Rules on an Idaho Landowner’s Case U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined the entire Senate Republican Conference in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to suspend the pending rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA), specifically “waters of the United States” (WOTUS), until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA, a case that is expected to have major implications on CWA scope and enforcement.
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Sioux City eyes biogas revenue to help offset future sewer rate hikes, resolve legal issues related to plant | Sioux City Journal Sioux City's wastewater treatment plant is generating biogas to be sold in the cellulosic biofuels market and, in the process, capturing pollutants that used to be released into the atmosphere.
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State-Of-The-Art Wastewater Analysis Systems Will Be Key To Guarding Public Health In The Future Wastewater is suddenly an important source for data and insight for solving problems beyond the scope of traditional water management.
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GOP senators want EPA, USACE to pause work on WOTUS The entire Senate Republican Conference is urging the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to suspend rulemaking to redefine “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA.
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Ga. utility may be accepting unpermitted wastewater The water treatment plant discharges into the Coosawattee River, which feeds into Carters Lake.
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Online Tracker Captures ARPA Spending The Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker launches to provide a detailed local investment picture of American Rescue Plan Act funding
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Funding for Water Systems Due to an Emergency Event Grants from USDA Rural Utilities Service, acting through USDA Rural Development, can be used to repair existing system damage and to prevent future issues that are imminent — without a federal disaster declaration.
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STATE NEWS
Ben Albritton to amend water bill amid Gov. DeSantis opposition | Florida Politics Reacting to opposition from fishing guides, environmentalists, tourism officials, Gov. Ron DeSantis and some fellow Senators, Sen. Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, filed an amendment Wednesday night to his bill that would divert funding from an Everglades reservoir.
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Water panel investigating last spring's cyanotoxin contamination set to issue final report | Palm Beach Daily News Town officials continue to express concern about disinfection byproducts in water supplied by West Palm Beach, and want residents notified when free chlorine treatment will be performed.
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‘Don’t poop on Putnam:’ Plan to dump biosolids on property in Putnam County faces opposition | Action News Jax There’s a 47-acre parcel in Putnam County that has become a battleground between the man who owns it and the people who live nearby.
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West Palm Beach, Fla., backs proposed Senate water bill The city of West Palm Beach is endorsing a Senate proposal aiming to protect the current water supply for “existing legal users.”
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Lake Okeechobee draining triggers rift between farming towns, coastal communities | Sun Sentinel How to fix the toxic ooze of algae fouling Florida waterways is pitting coastal tourist destinations against South Florida farming towns.
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Milton treatment plant project continues as commissioners approve site analysis | Santa Rosa Press Gazette The item, which passed through the consent agenda without objection, would allow Santa Rosa to cede the land to the City of Milton along with the necessary investigation for RIBS viability.
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Florida governor announces over $91 million to help aid Hurricane Michael recovery efforts More than $91 million will be coming to Florida’s panhandle to continue to support recovery for areas impacted by Hurricane Michael through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunities Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program.
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Broward County, Fla., announces water reuse pipeline expansion Broward County leaders teamed up with the South Florida Waste Water Management District at Quiet Waters Park Friday to announce a water reuse pipeline expansion that will process 16 millions of gallons of water a day.
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Southwest Florida is overdue for devastating storm surge Often, it's not the immediate massive storm causing the most damage, but during a hurricane we worry about storm surge. Storm surge is when water pushed ashore causing flooding and measured in height from right where you toes would touch the water on a normal, non-storm day.
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Officials raise questions about pipe and pump replacements in The Villages | Villages News More than $1 million in repairs for pipes, pumps and sinkholes prompted questions Monday morning from members of the Project Wide Advisory Committee.
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Environmental conditions improve in lake and estuaries | Okeechobee News As predicted, the dry season has brought less than average rainfall, according to the report given by South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Chief District Engineer John Mitnik at the Feb. 10 SFWMD Governing Board Meeting.
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Senate bill could set stage for fight over water quality | WINK A fight over the future of our water quality is brewing. A bill in the Florida Senate would make requirements to release state money for water projects. Some believe this could threaten the fight for clean water.
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Delray Beach, Fla., receives nearly $11 million to help fund new water treatment plant After touring the city's existing 70-year-old facility with U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, Mayor Shelly Petrolia announced that Delray Beach has received nearly $11 million in federal funds toward the construction of a new one.
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More than $1 million needed for sinkhole and pipe repairs in The Villages | Villages News There have been several “unexpected repair costs for depression repairs” and stormwater pipe repairs, according to a memo from Budget Director Brandy Cook to the Project Wide Advisory Committee.
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Water main break floods street in neighborhood near Pompano Beach | Local 10 A neighborhood near Pompano Beach was flooded Friday afternoon after a water main ruptured. That pipe has since been repaired.
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Florida's new chief resilience officer visits Hernando Beach as part of this statewide tour | WUSF Florida’s new chief resilience officer toured Hernando County last week. He's visiting local communities throughout the state to discuss resiliency goals.
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DeSantis claims Biden administration short-changed Florida for EAA project | NBC-2 Governor Ron DeSantis said he and other Republican legislators were disappointed that the Biden administration failed to dedicate any of the $1.2 billion infrastructure funding for the EAA reservoir.
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Residue after Fort Lauderale pipe repair affects water for weeks | Local 10 A water pipe burst near Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale about three weeks ago. It was fixed within hours, but the residue was still polluting the water on Friday.
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Nassau County tried to force American Beach residents to pay $1.8M to get clean water | WJCT The historically Black coastal community of American Beach is demanding answers, after county commissioners tried to force them to pay more than $9,000 apiece for a new water and sewer system.
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