A 60,000-pound waste hauler semi-truck in Rome, Georgia, recently rolled down an incline and crashed into a wastewater treatment plant’s drain pump station, causing an estimated $100,000 in damages.
The truck was fully loaded at the time of the incident, and it’s suspected that the driver didn’t set the brake properly before he got out of the truck to fill out some paperwork at the plant.
Officials at the Rome Wastewater Reclamation Facility say no one was injured in the incident and they’ve been bypassing the electrical system with a diesel-powered pump until the station can be fixed.
Florida Utilities Department Offering Treatment Plant Tours in 2020
The Charlotte County (Florida) Utilities Department has announced it will offer public tours of three of its water and wastewater treatment facilities in early 2020.
The tours will offer citizens a behind-the-scenes look at the services its facilities provides to the community. For more information and to see a full schedule of the tours, click here.
Ohio Governor Unveils H2Ohio Water Quality Plan
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently unveiled H2Ohio, a comprehensive, data-driven water quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure and prevent lead contamination.
“We have a moral obligation to preserve and protect our natural resources,” DeWine said during a speech at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo. “My H2Ohio plan is a dedicated, holistic water quality strategy with long-lasting solutions to address the causes of Ohio’s water problems, not just the symptoms.”
DeWine’s H2Ohio plan is an investment in targeted solutions to help reduce phosphorus runoff and prevent algal blooms through increased implementation of agricultural best practices and the creation of wetlands; improve wastewater infrastructure; replace failing home septic systems; and prevent lead contamination in high-risk daycare centers and schools. The Ohio General Assembly invested $172 million in the plan in July, and since then, H2Ohio experts have been developing strategies for long-term, cost-effective and permanent water quality solutions.
U.S. Senators Announce $38 Million in Water Infrastructure Funding for Maryland
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin of Maryland have announced $38.4 million in federal funding for the implementation of several key water infrastructure projects in the state. The funding, allocated through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), will go towards Maryland’s Intended Use Plan – a $297 million plan, approved by the EPA, which aims to upgrade wastewater treatment plants and stormwater control measures throughout the state.
Earlier this year, the senators wrote a letter urging Congress to maintain full funding for the EPA’s CWSRF. “This is a huge investment in Maryland’s efforts to upgrade our water infrastructure, protect public health, and reduce costs to consumers,” says Van Hollen. “These funds will reduce water pollution and improve the efficiency of our water use, ultimately resulting in better service and lower costs for Marylanders . . . Maryland’s success depends on modernizing our infrastructure, from our transportation networks to our sewage and water systems, and I will continue working in the Senate to secure investments for projects like these.”
Cardin says safe, reliable water infrastructure is of the utmost importance for communities throughout Maryland. “These investments will improve the reliability of sewer systems, prevent pollution from reaching public waters including the Chesapeake Bay, and protect against future flooding.” The CWSRF program provides low interest loans for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and other projects vital to protecting and improving water quality in rivers, lakes and streams for drinking water, recreation and natural habitat. The loans help communities keep water and sewer rates more affordable while addressing local water quality problems.
