Archive for February, 2011

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Corroding sewer lines in Hawaii concerning residents, businesses

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Some people in Kahului, Hawaii, are worried about deteriorating sewage pipes, which residents say are rotting and leaking wastewater near beaches, the Maui News reports.

Steve Allen, a plumbing company owner in Kahului, told the paper his employees see sewage system issues often, mostly near the ocean. Allen told the news source cast-iron pipes can corrode in as little as 20 years, which he suspects is occurring throughout the island. "The pipes are rotting right at the beachfront," he told the paper.

Responding to Allen's claim that water leaks and other plumbing issues in Kahului go unchecked, Hawaii Department of Health deputy director Gary Gill told the newspaper he thinks it's all residents' obligation to report leaks to the city, or, if they're on private property, for home and business owners to fix them.

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle recently stated the city has plans to fix wastewater infrastructure with the help of state funding, which is aimed to repair the aging system while also create jobs.

Posted in Plumbing Information | No Comments »

Water-smart park approved for construction in Texas

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Officials in League City, Texas, were granted more than $650,000 from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the construction of a park aimed to teach residents various water conservation methods.

Through water usage lessons in community gardens, native plant displays and a play area for children and an outdoor classroom, the 3-acre park will reportedly educate citizens the importance of water conservation, the Galveston County Daily News reports.

Texas Coastal Watershed Program environmental specialists will reportedly test storm water that passes through natural purification systems at the park, which should reduce chemicals in the water, according to the paper.

The news source states the park, which should begin construction in 4 to 6 months, will have the most water conservation and natural storm water treatment features of all parks in Texas.

In addition to the grant, League City received more attention for its water. Texas Independence Water from League City recently won the award for best purified water at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition in West Virginia.

Posted in Water Conservation News | No Comments »

Texas city’s senior center requires leak repairs

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Leak repairs are necessary at a senior center in Killeen, Texas, after a pipe broke and caused extensive damage to the building, the Killeen Daily Herald reports.

A water pipe in the center's mechanical room flooded the entire center, but wasn't due to weather as officials initially thought. Instead, authorities suspect a flaw in the plumbing infrastructure as the reason for the pipe break, the paper states.

"It's going to be major plumbing repairs so they were working with the contractor to figure out the best course of action," Hilary Shine, executive director of public information for the Lions Club park Senior Center, told the news source.

Pete Hilliard, president of the senior council, told the newspaper the water leak is just one of a number of problems the center has experienced lately, including a general lack of space.

A car wash in El Paso also dealt with a water leak, according to KVIA-TV. A pipe reportedly burst at the business, which couldn't be turned off due to a faulty water valve, the station reports. El Paso is reportedly under strict water use limitations due to a lack of resources.

Posted in Water Infrastructure News | No Comments »

Study recommends California water system reform

Monday, February 28th, 2011

California's water conservation efforts need to be increased and water management needs to be overhauled to modern standards, according to a new study by a few state universities.

According to the University of California at Davis, one of the authors of the report, California's water system lags behind many other states, both economically and environmentally. The study reportedly discusses how the state can improve engineering at water treatment plants, as well as how lawmakers can help create a larger water supply while maintaining healthy ecosystems.

"California must take bold steps to make water management more effective environmentally and economically," Jay Lund, a UC Davis professor of environmental engineering and co-author of the study, said. "Our water policies were made for historical problems and have not kept up with changes in our society and economy, or tremendous declines in native fish species. We continue to fall behind."

Ellen Hanak, an economist at the Public Policy Institute of California who co-authored the report, told Science Magazine that the state has run out of cheap, new water resources.

Posted in Water Conservation News | No Comments »

Utility workers deal with gas leak in California city

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Gas company employees and city utility workers in Big Bear City, California, braved freezing temperatures to fix a gas leak near the city's fire station, reports the Big Bear Grizzly.

A 2-inch PVC pipe reportedly broke near the station – nearly the same location of another gas leak weeks prior to this incident. Cynthia Messina, public information officer for Southwest Gas, told the newspaper periodic checks will be conducted on gas pipes to ensure no more leaks arise, and that the incident is no cause for concern among citizens.

Messina also told the paper that leak detection methods were used to identify the origin of the gas leak – which was discovered beneath the street, not a structure, as initially believed – and that weather likely played a role in the pipe breaks, not their old age.

According to the paper, six residents and members of the fire station had to be evacuated temporarily while the leaks were repaired. Local radio station KBHR reported that the first gas leak displaced four residents. 

Posted in Leak Detection Industry | No Comments »

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