News Briefs: Vandalism to Lift Station Project Not Covered by City's Insurance

In this week's news, vandals are responsible for nearly $50,000 in damages to an Iowa lift station project, and drought-stricken states will receive $50 million in federal funding
News Briefs: Vandalism to Lift Station Project Not Covered by City's Insurance

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Vandalism at a city lift station project in Waterloo, Iowa, will cost taxpayers close to $44,000.

Though the city has a grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to build the pumping station, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports, the funds do not cover the vandalism damage, which leaves the City with the bill.

The City holds the builder’s risk insurance on the project. Mayor Buck Clark told the newspaper that the City’s insurance carries a $50,000 deductible, “so city taxpayers will be footing the full cost.”

The lift station is designed to prevent a creek from backing up behind the Cedar River flood levee, causing damage as it did in 2008. On Feb. 3, vandals broke into the construction site and stole a small amount of copper wire from the job site where the lift station is being built and caused significant damage to the control house, according to city engineer Eric Thorsen.

No arrests have been made in the vandalism case.

Source: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Drought-Stricken States Receive $50 Million in Federal Funding for Water Projects

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced the U.S. government will invest nearly $50 million in water conservation and reuse projects in 12 drought-stricken Western states.

“It is absolutely critical that states and the federal government leverage our funding resources so that we can make each drop count,” says Jewell. 

More than 60 projects in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington will be partially funded by federal money. It will support the creation of pipelines, eliminate leaky open canals and upgrade existing reclamation and water treatment plants, all with the goal to conserve water supplies.

Source: CBS Los Angeles   

Town Recognized by Maryland Rural Water Association

The Town of La Plata, Maryland, received the Wastewater System of the Year award from Maryland Rural Water Association (MRWA) during the annual MRWA conference in early May.

The town received the award for the improved quality and consistency of the treatment process used in its wastewater treatment plant and the quality and consistency of wastewater service it provided to its customers, according to a press release.

Over the past five years, several major improvements were made to La Plata’s sewer collection system, eliminating sanitary sewer overflows.

In 2002, La Plata converted its wastewater treatment plant to a biological nutrient removal process that reduced the amount of nutrients being discharged into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, the press release reports. This upgrade greatly reduced the amount of chemicals being used to treat sewage and was a requirement of the Maryland Department of the Environment.

This award recognizes the years of dedication by Director of Operations Bobby Stahl, consultant Bill Eckman, the entire operations team and the Maryland Environmental Service.

Source: TheBayNet.com



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