The folloging is a transcript for the WaterWorld Weekly Newscast for the week of May 9, 2016.
Hi, I'm Angela Godwin for WaterWorld magazine, bringing you water and wastewater news headlines for the week of May 9. Coming up...
Senate committee passes WRDA bill
Atlanta faces $378K penalty for wastewater violations
Stantec completes acquisition of MWH Global
Thousands contract norovirus from bottled water in Spain
[story1]
The Water Resources Development Act of 2016 -- WRDA -- was reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on April 28 by a vote of 19-1.
WRDA authorizes 25 Army Corps projects in 17 states. It also provides critical investment in the country’s aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and promotes technology innovations to address drought and other critical water resource needs.
The bill also responds to the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, by providing emergency assistance to Flint and other similar communities across the country facing drinking water contamination.
The bill now heads to the Senate for full consideration.
[story2]
The city of Atlanta could be facing $378K in state fines to settle alleged wastewater violations.
The violations include unpermitted discharges, effluent permit limit exceedences, and major spills from January 2009 through August 2015.
A resolution from the City Council Utilities Committee -- to be presented this week -- authorizes Mayor Kasim Reed to make the payment under a consent order with the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
According to the resolution, the city neither agrees to any violation nor admits liability by paying the penalty.
[story3]
Canadian engineering firm Stantec has completed its $795M acquisition of Broomfield, Colorado-based MWH Global, a 6,800-person engineering, consulting and construction management firm focused on water and environmental infrastructure.
Stantec said the acquisition expands its position as a global leader in water resources infrastructure while gaining presence in key geographies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Europe and the Middle East.
The firm will now have 22,000 employees in 400 offices around the world.
[story4]
In international news, health officials in Spain are trying to understand how bottled spring water sickened thousands of people.
More than 4,000 people became infected with norovirus, which causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
Six had to be hospitalized -- but fortunately, no deaths have been reported.
The Eden Springs Bottled Water Company recalled more than 6,000 bottles of spring water that had been bottled at its plant in Andorra.
As of yet, the source of the contamination has not been determined.
[OUTRO]
For WaterWorld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin. Thanks for watching.
