On Friday, November 30th, at 8:29 a.m., Anchorage, Alaska was struck with a magnitude 7.0 earthquake.  The quake occurred just prior to the release of a three-year study by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) that states that if hit with a magnitude 7 earthquake or greater, Seattle and suburbs such as Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland, Redmond, and Bellevue would lose all water pressure within 24 hours and “would need at least two months to entirely restore water service.”[1]  On average, SPU’s pipes are 70 years old, and the impact of an earthquake would be substantial to the major transmission pipelines that transport […]

Drought conditions and the soon-to-be-completed Drought Contingency Plan have driven leaders in communities in Arizona to amass as much water as possible in preparation for the day when current water sources are unable to meet existing water demands. Counties in central Arizona are affiliated with CAP, the Central Arizona Project, which is a canal system that takes water from the Colorado River and moves it across 336 miles to supply their communities.  Many of the entities who use CAP have been increasing their water orders.  For the past three years, Phoenix has ordered the maximum allowed by the CAP although […]

When you think of “water cops,” images of the Coast Guard or State Highway Patrol Water Division may come to mind.  In many communities facing drought conditions, an investigator prowling through neighborhoods making note of water restriction violations may come to mind.  In Colorado, there is a much different image that likely comes to mind.  In Montezuma County, Dave Huhn is the Water Cop, well-versed with the nuances of water law.  After consecutive summers of hot and dry weather, farmers are “desperate for water, and more willing to steal it or go to battle over it,” and Huhn is a […]

In recent weeks, millions of children across the United States have returned to school.  Yet, many of them are faced with the challenge of having safe water to drink while at school.  The U.S. Government Accountability Office, in a recent report, found that “that fewer than half of the nation’s schools tested for lead in 2016 – and among these schools, about 37 percent identified elevated levels of lead.”[1]  The frightening reality is that “there is no federal requirement for schools to test their water supply.”[2] In addition to antiquated equipment, drinking water in schools is more likely to have to […]

Across the country municipalities are dealing with aging and ineffective infrastructure and the solution often entails financial implications to the public.  An example of a city dealing with this issue is Pittsburg.  The Steel City has been hit, again, with a rate increase.  In January of this year, the Pittsburg Water and Sewer Authority imposed a sizeable increase on its residents of 28 percent, and at the end of August raised the rates, again, an additional 16.7 percent.[1]  A typical consumer who uses 3,000 gallons a month could see their monthly bill go from $63.62 to $74.23.[2] Although this increase […]