Hi, I'm Angela Godwin, digital media editor for WaterWorld magazine, bringing you this week's water and wastewater news headlines. Coming up...
• NY backs off ballast rules
• Major water main replacement project underway
• BP, Andarko ruled liable for CWA violations
• Christchurch sewer upgrade reaches milestone
[story1]
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is backing away from its stringent ballast water rules, approved in 2008, that were set to take effect in August 2013.
The state said that, although it supports tough ballast water standards, it will work toward stronger national limits rather than state ones.
EPA released its proposed federal ballast water regulations last November. The public comment period closed last week.
The shipping industry breathed a sigh of relief, having feared the New York state regulations would cripple commercial traffic in the northeast. They contend also that the treatment technology for meeting the New York DEC's standards does not exist.
Environmental groups expressed disappointment, saying that EPA's proposed federal standards are too weak and New York's abandonment of its own rules in favor of the federal version will push out the deadline for compliance three more years.
[story2]
This week, California American Water will start Phase 2 of a $6 million water main replacement and meter installation project in Sacramento's Parkway and North Parkway neighborhoods.
Around 30,000 feet of water mains, originally installed in the 1950s, will be replaced and relocated from customers' backyards to the street side of neighborhood properties.
The relocation is expected to improve accessibility for maintenance crews and reduce the amount of time required to shut down service for maintenance and repair.
Many of the mains being replaced will also be upsized to improve fire protection and system reliability.
At the same time, the utility will install about 500 new meters on homes within the project zone in order to comply with state law and encourage water efficient practices.
[story3]
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ruled last week that BP and Andarko Petroleum Corporation are liable for Clean Water Act violations stemming from the April 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The ruling allows the U.S. to seek fines as high as $1,100 per barrel of oil spilled -- without having to prove the issue of liability at trial.
Since the accident, BP has paid out more than $8 billion in claims to individuals, business, and governments. The company said it will continue to stand behind its commitment to pay legitimate claims and restore the Gulf Coast environment and economy.
Judge Barbier will hold a nonjury trial on February 27 to determine liability and apportion fault for the oil spill.
[story4]
In international news, a major sewer upgrade project in Christchurch, New Zealand, has reached a significant milestone: the full length of the Western Interceptor pipeline has been successfully tunneled.
The Western Interceptor sewer project is part of a 15-year program of wastewater projects in Christchurch.
The upgrades are expected to help relieve earthquake-damaged sewers and reduce wet weather overflows into the city's waterways.
The next milestone, which includes manholes, other additional sewer works and the reinstatement of roads, is expected to be completed in July 2012.
For WaterWorld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin. Thanks for watching.
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