As the year comes to a close, we take a look at some of the most popular stories on mswmag.com. If you missed any of these, now is your chance to catch up. Enjoy this look back at 2022.
10. New Flood Maps Clarify the Risk Homeowners Face
New research from the University of Georgia outlines a simplified, cost-effective method for developing flood maps that reflects the uncertainty in flood predictions. The study offers what the researchers describe as “a practical, simplified approach for quantifying uncertainty in flood hazard estimates” by modeling flooding in two urban watersheds: Proctor Creek in Atlanta and Bronx Wash in Tucson, Arizona.
9. Bureau of Reclamation Takes Action to Boost Drought-Stricken Lake Powell
Earlier this year, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made an unprecedented move to protect water levels in Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border, announcing it would delay a water release that normally goes to Arizona, California and Nevada. In order to keep levels in the lake high enough to continue producing hydropower, Reclamation announced it would keep the more than 480,000 acre-feet in the reservoir.
8. Helping Rain Stay Where It Lands
While rain is usually welcome for various reasons, in developed areas like cities and towns, it can produce polluted runoff. This article explores the use of green infrastructure such as bioretention cells — a popular example for improving stormwater at a large scale, and rain gardens on a residential scale.
7. 380-Ton Boring Machine Arrives in Virginia to Dig New Waterfront Tunnel
It was hard to miss the arrival of Hazel this year, a new 380-ton, 14-foot 8-inch tall tunnel boring machine unveiled by AlexRenew — Alexandria, Virginia’s wastewater authority. It was a significant milestone in its RiverRenew program to improve local waterways.
6. Data From Multiple Sensors Helps South Bend Set Sewer Maintenance Priorities and Minimize CSOs
The numbers generated by a network of sensors in the South Bend (Indiana) Wastewater Department collection system, along with data visualization tools, enable the team to see trends and spot issues before they become problems. As a result, overflows have been drastically reduced.
5. What Lies Beneath: Crews Repair Manhole After Infiltration Causes Major Sinkhole
On an early winter morning in Parkersburg, West Virginia, collections system operators faced a major catastrophe when a garbage truck fell into a sinkhole adjacent to a manhole. Quick thinking and trenchless technology saved the day to return the area to service quickly, limiting the impact to local community businesses while protecting nearby buried utilities.
4. Routine Lagoon Draining Unearths Jurassic 'Sea Dragon' in Britain
Earlier this spring, the routine draining of a lagoon in Britain exposed the remains of a Jurassic reptilian sea-dweller called the ichthyosaur — more impressively known as the “sea dragon.”
3. Washington Utility Dovetails Data Collection With Strong Community Engagement
In an effort to explore I&I remediation as an alternative to expensive sewer upgrades, King County, Washington, is embarking on a dual-purpose public outreach and data collection program. The Thornton Creek Basin Sewer Study and Upgrade Project will ensure the 1.2-mile Thornton Creek sewer trunk that serves 9.6 square miles of North Seattle is able to handle its flow during heavy rains and prevent overflows.
2. EPA Announces First Distribution of Infrastructure Law Funding to 18 States
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding was a major story in 2022, as it allocates more than $50 billion to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency toward repairing the nation’s essential water infrastructure. This article announces the first distribution of funds.
1. Pros and Cons of Butterfly Valves
Our most popular article of the year examines the butterfly valves municipal water distribution and wastewater treatment facilities rely on to function. How well are these valves adapted to their applications and what advantages and shortcomings do they have? Find out in this online article.
