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12 September 2025
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Sep 12, 2025Underground Infrasturcture
(UI) — Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is replacing the 21-million-gallon Bitter Lake reservoir with a partially buried structure designed to improve long-term water quality and reliability.
The new facility will maintain the same storage capacity as the current open-air reservoir but provide greater protection from sunlight, dirt, and debris. By enclosing the system, SPU says the project will help preserve drinking water service for years to come.
The 13-acre site sits near Linden Avenue North and North 143rd Street. Design work is underway, with the project expected to reach the 90% completion milestone in fall 2024. Construction will follow, and SPU anticipates completing the project in spring 2026.
Much of the new underground distribution lines will be installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to minimize disruption in areas outside of the roadway. Trenching will be used in street sections where crews need to locate or avoid existing utilities.
The project is part of SPU’s regional drinking water system and is intended to modernize aging infrastructure while reducing risks associated with exposed reservoirs.
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Dedham-Westwood Water District Awarded More Than $4.9 Million From 3M Pfas SettlementThe Dedham-Westwood Water District will receive more than $4.9 million in settlement funds from 3M Company through a lawsuit filed in Feb 2023 against several manufacturers of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). The suit addressed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have contaminated groundwater supplies in the district’s service area.
The first disbursement of $984,124 will be received this month, with a further $2.24 million due by the end of 2025. The remaining balance will be provided in smaller annual payments over eight years, concluding in 2033.
PFAS have been used for decades in AFFF, industrial processes, and the manufacture of thousands of household and commercial products due to their heat-, stain- and water-resistant properties.
The district conducts monthly PFAS testing at both of its treatment plants. Results show current levels remain below the maximum contaminant threshold set by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which is 20 parts per trillion on a quarterly basis.
“Design plans for PFAS treatment at the White Lodge Water Treatment Facility are shovel-ready, and construction will begin shortly,” said executive director Blake Lukis. “Although these funds will help with the costs associated with removing PFAS, they only cover a fraction of the overall remediation.”
Construction at White Lodge is expected to cost around $15.55 million. The district has secured a 20-year interest-free loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, which, together with the settlement funds, will reduce the financial burden on ratepayers.
PFAS are entirely man-made chemicals that have impacted surface and groundwater across the US, leading to hundreds of lawsuits by water providers against manufacturers. These are being heard under a Multidistrict Litigation process supervised by a federal judge in South Carolina.
“We are honoured to have helped the Dedham-Westwood Water District assert its rights to ensure the quality and availability of water resources,” said Ken Sansone, senior partner at SL Environmental Law Group. “It is the corporations whose products contaminated the water that should shoulder the clean-up costs. By acting early and filing a lawsuit before the drinking water settlements were reached, the district secured a higher settlement payment. This increase, known as a litigation bump, rewards proactive action.”
The district is represented by SL Environmental Law Group, which focuses on water contamination litigation on behalf of public and private water providers. The firm has recovered more than $1.2 billion from corporate polluters for its clients.
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13 September 20252 min readDedham-Westwood Water District Awarded More Than $4.9 Million From 3M Pfas Settlement
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13 September 2025
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Yorkshire Water Kicks Off £250 Million Amp8 Storm Overflow Improvement Plan For South YorkshireContract partners, Ward & Burke, will start work to create a new underground storm tank to hold excess wastewater and reduce storm overflows discharging into the river Dearne during periods of prologued and excessive rainfall.
The programme immediately follows a £180 million investment over the past two years, which has helped to reduce storm overflows discharging into watercourses by 12% in 2024, compared to 2023.
The upgrade is the first of a £95 million investment package to upgrade 28 Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) across Barnsley - one of nearly five hundred separate schemes - to improve storage capacity across Yorkshire over the next five years.
Tom Broderick, senior project manager, Yorkshire Water, said:
“We made great strides in reducing the number of storm overflow incidences in the last year. But we know there is more to do, and we are working hard to make sure that we tackle storm overflows operating more often than we and our customers would like.
“This marks the first of 92 projects across South Yorkshire to bring down the number discharges over the next five years. It’s part of our largest ever environmental investment and we are really pleased to start this huge phase of work here in Darton, Barnsley.”
The new storage tank will hold up to a capacity of 190m3 of water - the equivalent of 1,266 bathtubs – holding the excess wastewater will reduce the number of overflows discharging into the river and help to improve water quality of the Dearne. Flows are sent for treatment once capacity in the network has returned to normal levels. The upgrade At Darton Church Street should be completed by May 2026.
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12 September 20252 min readYorkshire Water Kicks Off £250 Million Amp8 Storm Overflow Improvement Plan For South Yorkshire
Water Briefing
12 September 2025
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Seattle To Replace 21-Million-Gallon Bitter Lake Reservoir With Buried System(UI) — Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is replacing the 21-million-gallon Bitter Lake reservoir with a partially buried structure designed to improve long-term water quality and reliability.
The new facility will maintain the same storage capacity as the current open-air reservoir but provide greater protection from sunlight, dirt, and debris. By enclosing the system, SPU says the project will help preserve drinking water service for years to come.
The 13-acre site sits near Linden Avenue North and North 143rd Street. Design work is underway, with the project expected to reach the 90% completion milestone in fall 2024. Construction will follow, and SPU anticipates completing the project in spring 2026.
Much of the new underground distribution lines will be installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to minimize disruption in areas outside of the roadway. Trenching will be used in street sections where crews need to locate or avoid existing utilities.
The project is part of SPU’s regional drinking water system and is intended to modernize aging infrastructure while reducing risks associated with exposed reservoirs.
Underground Infrasturcture
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12 September 20251 min readSeattle To Replace 21-Million-Gallon Bitter Lake Reservoir With Buried System
Underground Infrasturcture
12 September 2025
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Southern Water Gives Supply Chain Early Heads Up On £84 Million 25 Km Andover Pipeline ProcurementThe Andover Link Main (ALM) scheme is being delivered by the water company under the Major Projects Directorate – the project is part of the Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) programme.
The project is associated with Southern Water’s agreement with the Environment Agency to reduce its abstraction licenses for public water supply. Its purpose is to provide environmental protection for the rivers Test and Itchen - the rivers are rare chalk streams.
The WRMP Programme aims to create greater resilience to water shortages, especially during dry weather and droughts. Existing abstraction licences for the River Test and River Itchen have been substantially reduced through changes required by the Environment Agency to protect the rivers,
The proposed scheme will support environmental improvement by increasing the protection of these rivers while addressing the need for secure water supply.
The ALM scheme involves approximately 25km of below-ground pipeline connecting critical infrastructure between Winchester and Andover, alongside upgrades to existing and new booster stations. It aims to deliver a bi-directional transfer capacity of 15Ml/d by March 2030, ensuring both strategic drought resilience and operational reliability for the isolated Andover Water Resource Zone (WRZ).
Southern Water’s delivery strategy is to appoint a single Principal Contractor to design and build the Andover Link Main – delivery will include a detailed design and construction package with enabling work to be completed prior to construction. This will also include support to discharge planning conditions and submission of certain environmental consent and permits.
The Principal Contractor will act as a Tier 1 provider and sub-contract specialist elements. Southern Water have developed the scheme proposal to early outline design and are planning to complete this phase of work to enable the design to be released with the Invitation to Tender (ITT) post participation stage, comprising a detailed design and construction package, with enabling work to be completed prior to construction. This will also include support to discharge planning conditions and submission of certain environmental consent and permits.
The procurement process has yet to be finalised but is anticpated as:
Current estimated total value is £84 million (inc VAT) and current estimated start and end contract dates are 30 June 2026 to 31 January 2030.
Qualification criteria at Participation Stage will be shared when the tender is issued
The water company currently expects to issue a formal tender notice in the last week of September 2025, with a deadline of 11:59pm on 10 October 2025 for enquiries about the tender and deadline to submit requests to participate on 11:59pm 27 October 2025.
Southern Water is advising suppliers who are interested in bidding for the tender that will need to be registered on the central digital platform before they are able to bid and also need to be registered on Southern Water’s own Jaggaer Sourcing Portal
The water company currently expects to make an award decision date in April 2026.
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09 September 20253 min readSouthern Water Gives Supply Chain Early Heads Up On £84 Million 25 Km Andover Pipeline Procurement
Water Briefing
09 September 2025
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Thames Water Seeks Creditor Approval For £122.7 Million Penalties Payment Plan Agreed With Ofwat In AugustOn 27 August 2025 Thames Water and the water sector regulator announced the agreement of scheduled payments in relation to penalty notices issued by Ofwat for two enforcement cases on 28 May 2025. Ofwat imposed two penalties on the company, one of £104.5 million from the investigation into its wastewater business, and one of £18.2 million from the investigation into dividend payments the company had made.
While the penalties were originally due to be paid by 20 August 2025, legislation sets out that a company can apply to Ofwat to request a payment plan for an enforcement penalty it has received.
Following an application from Thames Water, Ofwat agreed a payment plan with Thames Water which will see the payment of 20% of the two total penalties paid no later than 30 September 2025, a sum of £24.5 million.
Prior to making the first payment scheduled under the Payment Plan, Thames Water and its subsidiary, Thames Water Super Senior Issuer PLC yesterday launched a fourth set of consent requests seeking the consent of the super senior creditors to designate the Payment Plan agreed with Ofwat in August 2025 as an approved payment plan.
The Fourth Consent Requests have a voting date of 19 September 2025 and follow three previous sets of consent requests which were approved by creditors in April, May and July 2025.
The payment of the remaining 80% of the penalties is due to take place on the earliest of three possible events:
Announcing the requests, Thames Water reiterated its position that it continues to work closely with stakeholders to secure a market led solution.
Thames Water announced on 15 August it had drawn down the remaining available sum of the first £1.5 billion tranche of emergency funding under the restructuring plan proposed by the company in connection with implementing the liquidity extension transaction sanctioned by the High Court on 18 February 2025.
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06 September 20252 min readThames Water Seeks Creditor Approval For £122.7 Million Penalties Payment Plan Agreed With Ofwat In August
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06 September 2025
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Springfield, Mo., Completes 11-Mile, 48-Inch Water Main After Decades Of Work(UI) — After more than two decades of planning, design, and construction, Missouri’s City Utilities of Springfield has completed its 48-inch water main—an 11-mile pipeline that enhances both the reliability and transmission capacity of our community’s water supply. This critical infrastructure project began in 1999 and was constructed in phases to spread out costs and minimize customer impact.
Designed to deliver additional water to the Blackman Water Treatment Plant, the new main runs parallel to an existing 36-inch line from Fellows Lake, which currently brings water to the Blackman Water Treatment Plant. The new line creates critical redundancy between Fellows Lake and City Utilities’ largest water treatment plant, ensuring that if one line experiences a break, the other can continue to supply water without interruption.
Over the life of the project, more than 15 contractors and around 25 City Utilities employees contributed to its success. The phased approach allowed the utility to avoid borrowing while taking advantage of $3.5 million in congressionally directed spending which was administered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Despite the extended timeline, this approach also allowed City Utilities to carefully coordinate each segment of construction around existing infrastructure and development. In total, the project includes:
Each foot of the 48-inch pipe carries nearly 100 gallons of water, totaling an estimated 5.5 million gallons across the full pipeline. Special casings were installed at each crossing—66 inches wide—to allow for easier, lower-cost repairs in the future without disrupting roads or railways.
“This infrastructure project represents a major milestone for long-term water reliability in Springfield,” said Krista Shurtz, VP-Natural Gas and Water Operations. “We appreciate the many employees and contractors whose expertise and teamwork made this project possible. We’re also thankful to our customers—not only for their patience throughout the construction process, but for the trust they place in us every day to deliver safe drinking water.”
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29 August 20252 min readSpringfield, Mo., Completes 11-Mile, 48-Inch Water Main After Decades Of Work
Underground Infrasturcture
29 August 2025
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Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Invites Wider Water Sector To Register Interest In Major £667 Million Design-Build-Finance SchemeWelsh Water is now encouraging responses from:
As part of its Cwm Taf Supply Strategy, the water company is seeking to progress a major investment project to design and build a new water treatment works and develop an existing water treatment works (the Cwm Taf Scheme).
The Cwm Taf Scheme, which has been designated under Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) programme, is intended to be delivered primarily on two separate sites, one located in the Merthyr Area of South Wales and one in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
The Scheme is now about to enter a planning application stage following statutory consultation.
DCC/Welsh Water is looking to utilise a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) through a Design-Build-Finance (DBF) model. The scheme includes design and build of a new water treatment works on a brownfield site at Dan-y-Castell Farm, along with a raw water pumping station at Pontsticill (referred to as the Dan-y-Castell project) and upgrading Llwyn-onn water treatment works (referred to as the Llwyn-onn project).
The Cwm Taf Scheme is a two-site project comprising Dan-y-Castell (with an estimated value of £362 million excluding VAT) and Llwyn-onn (with an estimated value of £194 million excluding VAT).
Welsh Water is looking to appoint a CAP through a competitive procurement process and anticipates that the CAP will be responsible for the design, build, and financing of the scheme for a defined contract term of 25 years.
Current estimated total value is £667.2 million including VAT and current estimated start and end dates for the contract.which will run for 30 years in total, are 31 August 2028 to 30 August 2058. Contract award is envisaged to be August 2028. Milestone dates include Drinking Water Inspectorate Regulatory Completion (envisaged to be March 2032) followed by an estimated 12 month period for testing, and a 25 year term from completion of testing.
The water company has now issued a preliminary market engagement notice seeking interest from suitably qualified parties capable of delivering a secure, sustainable, and value-oriented solution for customers for the major project. The solution must be aligned to Welsh Water's Cwm Taf Water Supply Strategy and the sustainable and environmental objectives of the Welsh Assembly Government, including the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The Cwm Taf Scheme currently includes:
All values and dates set out in the preliminary market engagement notice are indicative and reflect current analysis.
Welsh Water has issued the notice as part of its early market consultation for the Cwm Taf Scheme to engage with market participants who may be interested in delivering the scheme through a DBF model. The first activity as part of the market engagement involves the response to a questionnaire to help shape the legal, commercial, technical, and delivery strategy of the project and inform the forthcoming procurement process.
DCC/Welsh Water intends to undertake further market engagement activities which may include a briefing event and 1-2-1 meetings with interested organisations. The water company will publish further updates to reflect future activities.
The market engagement is intended to focus on:
The scope of the market engagement is intended to include seeking feedback on:
DCC/Welsh Water is now encouraging responses from:
The water company is asking interested organisations to email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
to register their interest in participating in the market engagement process - deadline for registering is 22nd September 2025.
DCC/Welsh Water is highlighting the fact that it reserves the right to alter or terminate the market engagement process at any time without notice and is not liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any party in responding to the market engagement.
The utility also points out that submission of a response does not guarantee inclusion in any future procurement process.
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27 August 20254 min readDwr Cymru Welsh Water Invites Wider Water Sector To Register Interest In Major £667 Million Design-Build-Finance Scheme
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27 August 2025
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Paterson, N.J., Crews Deploy Line Stops To Fix Massive 42-Inch Water Main Break(UI) — Passaic Valley Water Commission crews have begun installing line stops to repair a 42-inch water main break at North First and Arch streets in Paterson, according to NJ.com.
The procedure allows workers to isolate sections of the pipeline while limiting disruption to the wider system.
Restoration efforts are targeting service areas in the Riverside section of Paterson and Fair Lawn in Bergen County. This break is unrelated to the recent pipeline failures around Hinchliffe Stadium, where service to 24-inch and 30-inch mains has already been restored.
To prioritize emergency repairs, a system-wide flushing program — designed to boost water quality and support lifting the Boil Water Advisory — has been temporarily suspended. While roughly 77,000 Paterson residents have had the advisory lifted (covering areas such as Broadway and south to Route 20), it remains in effect for parts of Paterson, Prospect Park, as well as Haledon and North Haledon, served by the Manchester Utilities Authority, according to NJ.com.
Underground Infrasturcture
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27 August 20251 min readPaterson, N.J., Crews Deploy Line Stops To Fix Massive 42-Inch Water Main Break
Underground Infrasturcture
27 August 2025
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United Utilities Appoints Turner & Townsend Infrastructure Ltd As Independent Technical Adviser To £3 Billion Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience ProgrammeThe CAP has been procured using Ofwat’s new Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) approach. Under the DPC approach, Ofwat requires the appointment of a Consultant to protect customers in relation to the DPC project to obtain assurance around the costs and delivery of a DPC project.
United Utilities views the role of the Consultant as crucial to ensure objective, independent oversight of costs that may be passed on to customers and to provide robust scrutiny and assessment of the CAP’s
management of project costs and delivery. The Consultant will act as an independent party to the water company, the CAP, and Ofwat, and will therefore owe a duty of care to all three parties.
The services to be provided by the Consultant include:
(a) the performance of the duties and roles assigned to the Consultant under the HARP Project Agreement
(b) those required of the Consultant by or for the purposes of UU's Statutory Licence, the DPC Allowed Revenue Direction, the DPC Designation or Ofwat, including in terms of assurance and reports
(c) associated services such as:
(i) the assessment of the CAP's allowable construction costs, programmes and any claims for Project Compensation Events, throughout the construction (and defects) period;
(ii) certifying the completion and readiness of each of the sections; and
(iii) the provision of quarterly assurance reports to Ofwat and UU.
The Agreement is anticipated to be in place for 11 years however, it will be in place for the time that is necessary for the Consultant to fulfil its duties until completion of the CAP construction works and any subsequent cost reconciliation.
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22 August 20252 min readUnited Utilities Appoints Turner & Townsend Infrastructure Ltd As Independent Technical Adviser To £3 Billion Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme
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22 August 2025
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Funding Approved For $1.3 Billion, 60-Mile Water Reuse System In Southern Utah(UI) — Plans for a large-scale water reuse network in southern Utah are moving forward after the Utah Division of Water Resources approved $195 million toward the project, according to ABC4.
The multi-phase initiative, estimated at $1.3 billion, will add more than 60 miles of pipeline, four reservoirs, expanded reclamation plants, and a new advanced purification facility. Zachary Renstrom, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, said the system has been in development for two decades and will capture water already processed through local treatment facilities for reuse.
Renstrom told ABC4 the community is already supportive of reuse, citing its safety record and strict treatment standards.
Underground Infrasturcture
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15 August 20251 min readFunding Approved For $1.3 Billion, 60-Mile Water Reuse System In Southern Utah
Underground Infrasturcture
15 August 2025
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Southern Water Awards £338 Million 20 Year Contract For Smart Metering ProgrammeWith an estimated total value of £338.07 million (ex VAT), the contract has been awarded to Salisbury-headquartered firm Horizon Water Infrastructure Ltd. To deliver the ambitious programme, Horizon has formed the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance (HWI SWS Alliance) – a collaborative partnership, led by Horizon, with SUEZ and M Group Water.
The Alliance brings together first-class delivery, technology and innovation experts with a proven track record in large-scale infrastructure and water metering programmes.
Daniel Reilly, Managing Director of Horizon Water Infrastructure, commented:
“We’re extremely proud to partner with Southern Water on this groundbreaking meter upgrade programme setting a new industry benchmark for efficiency, excellence, and impact. As the first provider of an alternative meter service appointed as a prime contractor, HWI, in collaboration with our Alliance partners, will deliver a future-ready model that redefines what’s possible in the water sector.”
The Alliance offers fully outsourced Metering-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions for both new and existing smart water programmes, which include everything from solution design, initiation, funding, and deployment to meter provisioning and network management over a 20-year programme lifespan. It also manages repair, maintenance, and warranty concerns, ensuring a seamless operational deployment.
The Metering-as-a-Service (MaaS) model will see the Alliance own the meter assets and take on the asset risks, with Southern Water paying service fees over the term. for both new and existing smart water programmes. The company says on its website:
“We guarantee performance outcomes over a 20-year programme and offer the lowest total cost for rollout.”
The HWI SWS Alliance will operate across Southern Water's supply area, for household and non-household premises.Southern Water already has a high percentage of metered customers (88%) through its pioneering Universal Metering Programme - by 2030 the water company’s household meter estate of ~934,000 household meters, and 52,000 non-household meters,will be upgraded to Smart AMI enabled meters.In total, the number of Smart meter assets in the scope of the full service is 1.02 million.
Scope of services to be provided by the Alliance include:
Horizon Water Infrastructure Ltd was one of four organisation in the bidding for the work.
In February 2025 Horizon Water Infrastructure Ltd. announced that it had become part of KKR and that together with Horizon Energy Infrastructure (HEI) and Smart Meter Assets (SMA), it had completed a combination with Smart Metering Systems (SMS). The new Group, backed by global investment firm KKR, is now one of the of the leading providers of UK smart metering assets.
KKR, a US private equity firm, was previously a potential investor in Thames Water – named as Thames Water’s preferred partner in March 2025, KKR ultimately pulled out of a rescue deal.
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12 August 20253 min readSouthern Water Awards £338 Million 20 Year Contract For Smart Metering Programme
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12 August 2025
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Scottish Water Nears Completion Of Million Pound Upgrade To Dollar Wwtw In ClackmannanshireThe Devon Way site in Dollar plays a crucial role in treating waste water, handling up to 1500 cubic metres per day. However, after around 30 years, the equipment was nearing the end of its serviceable life and needed to be upgraded.
The first phase required a giant 300-tonne crane to be brought to the site to install temporary treatment machinery to used during the upgrade while the investment work was carried out.
Ten months on, the crane and other heavy machinery is now needed to demobilise the site and a special track will again be laid to protect the road surface along the single track road which provides access to the site. Devon Way will be closed between the A91 west of Dollar and Walton Crescent from Wednesday 13 August to Monday 18 August 2025.
Scottish Water says it is investing record amounts – more than £2 billion over the past 10 years - to address the challenges of ageing assets, increasing demand and climate change.
The Dollar Waste Water Treatment Works project is being delivered by WGM Engineering.
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08 August 20251 min readScottish Water Nears Completion Of Million Pound Upgrade To Dollar Wwtw In Clackmannanshire
Water Briefing
08 August 2025
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